Monday, July 1, 2019

Character Analysis:Edward Elric


In case you were wondering

I am going to list stuff from the two movies and the 2003 anime. Though I’m focusing mainly on the brotherhood anime/manga for story and am only bringing up physical feats and alchemic creations from the others I think Ed’s more mainline counterpart could perform(so nothing weird that was established as an alchemic mechanic specifically in the 2003 anime).

Timecodes

Source for the manga https://manganelo.com/manga/read_fullmetal_alchemist_manga
Source for the 2003 dub https://kissanime.ru/Anime/Fullmetal-Alchemist-Dub/Episode-051?id=74095&s=default 
Source for the 2003 movie https://vrv.co/watch/GYGG2WNEY/Fullmetal-Alchemist-The-Conqueror-of-Shamballa-Dub 
Source for the brotherhood movie http://animedub.biz/fullmetal-alchemist-the-sacred-star-of-milos-dub/ 
I used hulu as the source for the brotherhood eps

Anything referring to the 2003 incarnation is specified as such.

Backstory

One of two brothers who lived in a country known Amestris. In this country, there existes a form of pseudo-magic that allowed people to transmute matter, called alchemy. Growing up, Ed and his brother took interest in this field of transmutation after encouragement from their mother. They then consequently tried to use transmutation to bring her back to life after she unexpectedly passed away from illness.

…...it didn’t end to well.

Turned out that god or whatever the fuck didn’t like them trying to well………. play god. As a consequence, Ed lost his left leg and his brother lost his entire body after said godly being forced them through a doorway called the gate as penance. Ed not wanting to lose the only family he had left was able to pull his brother Al’s soul back and bound it with a suite of armor at the cost of his right arm. The series in general deals with the brothers trying to find out a way to get their bodies back, eventually joining the military as “state alchemists”, and uncovering various conspiracies in the government regarding objects known as philosophers stones.

Arsenal

Automail
A form of prosthetic limb used by Ed and other characters in the Fullmetal Alchemist universe. They function almost exactly like normal human limbs (with them even being attached directly to a person's nervous system to move and function). Due to their mechanical nature, they’re typically stronger and more durable than normal human limbs. Due to Ed’s accident involving human transmutation and the cost of Al’s revival, Ed needed to replace his right arm and left leg with automail prosthetics. These are typically maintained by his friend and mechanic Winry.

Ed starts the series with automail comprised mainly of a steel composition, but as the series progressed(and he broke his limbs several times, much to Winry's annoyance) he has gotten minor upgrades. After his first model was damaged beyond repair Ed’ was given a second model incorporating a more chrome composition. This made it less prone to rusting but was weaker physically than the previous model. When he and Al found themselves traveling to colder regions towards the mid-end of the series, he was also given the “northern automail” which was composed of a more flexible cold resistant aluminum-carbon nanotube fiber. This one was also lighter than his previous models, and its unique composition made it more suited for combination with his alchemy abilities. In the 2003 movie, Ed also had a gas powered set of limbs made by that versions Hohenheim 
  • An example of an automail being connected to Ed’s arms v 18 ch 70 pg 8 
  • His automail being connected in ep 6 18:47

The first model(full steel)
  • Getting it in the manga V 6 ch 24 pg 24 and 25 


Second model(17% chrome)
  • Getting it in the manga v 11 ch 43 pg 15 and 16 
  • Getting it in ep 6 19:25
  • It getting frozen in ep 33 17:50

Northern automail (aluminum/carbon type)
  • The concept of this type of automail being explained in v 16 ch 65 pg 5 and  ep 34 2:05
  • Getting it in the manga v 18 ch 70 pg 9 and 10 
  • Getting it in ep 37 4:46

Gas powered
  • Using it in 2003 movie 14:55
  • He’s also shown to be able to maintain these automails on his own in 2003 movie 18:05


Alchemic modifications to automail
As Ed is an alchemist,he can reshape the matter comprising his automail somewhat to suit his combat needs. This is typically regulated to reshaping the metal on the outer layer of his arm to form melee weapons like saws, daggers, and swords. After studying the carbon armor technique used by the character greed, Ed also learned how to rearranged the molecular connections of the carbon molecules comprising his carbon nanotube northern automail specifically to increase its durability substantially
  • Making a Saw blade v 1 ch 2 pg 14 
  • Making a saw blade in ep 3 14:44
  • Making a backhand blade v 2 ch 6 pg 43 
  • Making a dagger  V 3 ch 11 pg 34 
  • Making a dagger in ep 8 3:50
  • Making a dagger ep 33 16:54
  • Making a bite toy in ep 4 12:47
  • Increasing his automails durability by hardening the carbon composition in the manga V 21 ch 87 pg 32 and 33 
  • Increasing his automails durability by hardening the carbon composition in the anime ep 48 15:06
  • An umbrella in 2003 ep 11 21:14
  • Spiked knuckles 2003 ep 34 15:54
  • A knife in movie 3:17

Misc arsenal
  • He carries a gun in 2003 movie 29:07
  • He also uses a wing like glider in movie 1:25:17


Abilities

Alchemy
Alchemy is the ability to transmute matter into another form. Despite its magical appearance, it’s generally considered to be “a science” in the fullmetal universe, and has a very strict set of scientific regulations regarding what circumstances it can be used in, how it can be used and what you can do with it.

The first set of rules are the 3 principles, which are known as comprehension, destruction, and reconstruction. Essentially comprehension means a person must first understand the composition of their chosen material on both an atomic and molecular level, as well as the properties of said objects energy and kinetic flow. Failure to understand an objects composition(or mistaking what material an object is made during the act of transmutation) will typically result in a failure for the alchemic act.

The Destruction principle involves the act of introducing energy to an object in such a way that it breaks down the bonds of it, allowing the said object to be reshaped. Finally, reconstruction involves introducing more energy to a target in such a way that the structure is reformed into the desired shape. In other words, alchemy is essentially like creating a series of rapid chemical reactions, breaking down molecular bonds and reforming them in a desired pattern.
  • The concept of the 3 principles of alchemy being mentioned in the manga V 2 ch 7 pg 19 and 20 
  • Ed mentioning he couldn’t break a persons autmail due to misunderstanding what it was made of V 16 ch 65 pg 6 


Alchemy also follows another important rule that forms the crux of a lot of the conflict of the story. Any transmutation must follow the rule of “Equivalent exchange”. In short, anything that’s created must be created from something of equal value in terms of both weight and composition. You cannot create matter out of nothing, you can’t change an element into another element of matter fundamentally different, and you can’t break the laws of physics in regards to anything you make(though it’s worth noting the series seems to imply that by “elements” it means the 4 classical ones). These rules are also known as the “law of the conservation of matter” and the “law of natural providence”. Failure to follow said rules can lead to a “rebound” an unpredictable backlash of energy that can harm the person performing a transmutation.
  • Al talking about equivalent exchange and laws in the manga V 1 ch 1 pg 22 
  • Ed being unable to create a bridge due to lack of material and its own weight making it collapse in the manga V 5 ch 18 pg 32,33,34, and 35


Anyway, the energy used for alchemy can come from varying sources based on the style of alchemy learned by the user. The alchemy that Ed uses is Amestrian alchemy and this form of transmutation draws its power from the energy of tectonic plates moving beneath the earth's surface. In contrast, another form of transmutation known as “alkaestry” is used by more eastern countries and taps into the chi or life energy present in the surrounding world.  
  • The Tectonic plates power source being talking about in the manga V 26 ch 106 pg 4 and 5 
  • The Tectonic plate energy source being talked about in ep 61 14:20(plex 14:23)
  • The explanation for the tectonic power of alchemy in ep 35 9:48(plex 9:53)
  • The explanation for alkahestry in ep 35 8:38(8:56 plex)


Now having access to energy for alchemy normally isn’t enough unless a person can focus it correctly. This energy is typically focused through the use of an “alchemic circle” by most normal people, which are circles filled with rune like diagrams that can be drawn on any surface. The circle part of the diagram focuses energy from a chosen energy source and the runes inside that circle channel that power in the way most conductive to the reconstructing of material. Some people also use something called transmutation arrays, which are essentially more complex transmutation symbols centered around a circle. Because most people in the series need a circle to perform transmutation(and they can’t always be bothered to draw one on the spot), many characters will have transmutation circles or arrays stitched directly onto their clothing or tattooed onto their bodies.
  • Al using a circle to fix a clock in the manga V 1 ch 1 pg 10 
  • Al using a circle to make a cage in V 5 ch 17 pg 34 and 35 
  • Scar’s transmutation array V 11 ch 45 pg 4 
  • Transmutation circle ending explained in ep 12 16:58


It is possible for people to use transmutation without any given symbols, however, and Ed is one of those people. Those who attempt to perform human transmutation(which is taboo given a human soul is priceless) will be brought to a white void where they will come into contact with a god like being called the truth. In exchange for a toll(generally a body part) truth forces people through the gate, a passageway to gods domain and a source of alchemical knowledge present in all living things. When pulled into the gate alchemical knowledge and abilities are forced into a person, giving them the ability to transmute without a circle. This transmutation method is typically performed by the person clapping their hands together in a circular fashion to focus power (from whatever energy source they’re using ) similar to an alchemical circle. Their body and will then serve as the rune matrix. 

  • The door of truth in ch 53 V 13 ch 53 pg 29 and 30 
  • First coming to the door in ep 2 8:42(plex 8:28)
  • It being mentioned Ed’s ability to use alchemy without a circle is special V 5 ch 20 pg 21 
  • Ed using it without a circle in ep 3 18:23(plex 18:10)

Alchemical creations and uses by Ed
Ed has used Alchemy in various different ways over the series including.

Making various spear like weapons

  • V 1 ch 1 pg 44 and 45 
  • V 6 ch 24 pg 31 and 33 
  • V 27 ch 107 pg 63 
  • Ep 2 20:10
  • Ep 52 10:57
  • 2003 ep 1 19:34
  • 2003 ep 41 16:09
  • Movie 1:20:29
Making knives


Creating various stone Barriers


Making pit traps

  • Ep 24 14:34(plex 13:30)

Turning the ground around him into Battering rams to hit opponents


Creating a giant Golem

  • V 1 ch 2 pg 28, 29 and 30 
  • 2003 ep 2 16:10

Turning coal into Gold


Creating piping to redirect water


Creating Giant stone hands to grab or ram into opponents


Creating cages

  • V 5 ch 17 pg 32 and 33 

Making statues 

  • V 5 ch 20 pg 20 and 21 

Performing Housing repair

  • V 6 ch 23 pg 8 and 9 

Making Platforms to increase his mobility and height

  • V 7 ch 28 pg 33 and 34 
  • Ep 1 16:09
  • Ep 13 17:25
  • 2003 ep 30 10:00
  • 2003 Movie 2:17
  • 2003 Movie 1:29:17

Shooting spikes out of the ground to impale opponents 


Creating pole bo staff like weapons

  • V 8 ch 33 pg 9 and 10 
  • Ep 15 13:44
  • 2003 ep 8 16:24

Creating whip weapons 


Purifying sources of polluted water


Using piping to bind opponents


Creating ammonium gas from sources of ammonium nitrate

  • V 19 ch 76 pg 22 ,23 and 24 
  • Ep 41 13:26

Making a cannon that can launch improvised bullets 

  • V 26 ch 106 pg 9 and 10 
  • V 1 ch 4 pg 24 
  • Ep 61 14:48
  • 2003 ep 5 15:28
  • Makes a giant building-sized canon in 2003 ep 13 17:00

Making drills that can impale opponents


Altering states of matter like carbon to weaker forms 


Opening locked doors

  • V 1 ch 2 pg 11 and 12 

Fixing  tools


Turning a gun into a trumpet(could be applied to other weapons)


Making makeshift doors


Making clothing


Making a spiked mace weapon

  • Ep 1 3:18

Disguising a car

  •  Ep 44 14:19

Turning a tree into a swinging log trap


Boiling water

  • 2003 ep 6 11:22

Turning stone and paper material into flower petals

  • 2003 ep 6 21:02

Creating an underground tunnel 

  • 2003 ep 11 18:08

Making a dummy of himself to trick opponents

  • 2003 ep 13 16:41(plex 16:41)

Turning his jacket into a parachute

  • 2003 Movie 1:23:35

Bending segments of a train 

  •  Movie 17:33

Making a giant slide for traveling off high places

  • Movie 1:17:55

Transmuting a giant ship into a bird thing

  • 2003 Movie 1:25:12

Being used to increase the speed of horizontal movement

  • Ep 11 5:03
  • Movie 1:20:53

Making climbing equipment

  • Movie 26:02

Plugging up a cannon

  • Movie 4:31

Misc constructions other have made, Ed reasonably could also do
There’s also a few alchemic techniques other characters have used that Ed probably could replicate if he wanted, including.

  • Al making metal rope bindings V 8 ch 33 pg 25 
  • His teacher Izumi making a harpoon launcher V 26 ch 104 pg 11 
  • Al making Spikes on chains to impale opponents V 26 ch 106 pg 7 
  • Al creating a dust cloud  for cover in ep 52 1:37
  • Al creating a stone dragon thing to ride on in ep 52  2:21
  • Al making a ladder in 2003  Movie 3:58

Alchemic Destruction technique
In addition to creating, Ed also learned to apply alchemy in a destructive sense (something he learned after watching and imitating the character scar). Essentially you use alchemy to break down a substance on a molecular level, but you don’t reconstruct it afterward. Ed can use this ability to destroy all manners of material. Additionally, while Ed himself never does this, the technique can be used on humanoid targets, essentially making it an instant kill.
  • Ed using it on an enemy whose soul is embedded in a suit of armor V 3 ch 12 pg 35 and 36 
  • Using it on some random guys automail V 5 ch 17 pg 9 and 10 
  • Using it on the ground to create a pit trap V 5 ch 17 pg 31 
  • Ed using it to take a girls mask off V 8 ch 33 pg 19 and 20 
  • Destroying some odd sludge like substance he gets coated in V 17 ch 72 pg 19 and 20  
  • In ep 9 14:30
  • Using destruction to send shards of earth towards an opponent after destroying a stone construct in ep 13 17:40
  • Reverting slime to water ep 38 15:15
  • Using it to destroy power lines underground in ep 47 15:50
  • In 2003 ep 20 16:41
The technique Being used on humanoid targets(By scar specifically)
  • Scar using it on the homunculus gluttony V 4 ch 16 pg 30 and 31 
  • Scar using it on some dumbasses arm V 7 ch 26 pg 19 and 20 

Blood Rune
An alchemical ability to attach a person's soul to an inanimate object, normally armor. Ed used this ability to put his brother Al in a suite of armor.
  • Using it in ep 2 11:50
Philosopher stone form/ability
An odd sbility Ed has been able to do once or twice. You see a philosopher stone is a taboo object that uses human souls to amplify a person's ability to perform alchemy and bypass normal laws of equivalent exchange. 

Because they're created using human souls, Ed realized he can tap into the power of his own soul similarly to boost his alchemic abilities or take on a form similar to that of a philosophers stone. He’s done this once to heal himself from a serious wound and another time so he could directly integrate and attack the philosopher's stone of the homunculus pride. It's worth noting however that using this skill to boost his abilities apparently shaved several years off his life during the instance when he was healing himself.

Becoming a stone to attack pride

  • V 26 ch 106 pg 41, 43 and 44  
  • Ep 61 21:22

Healing himself by tapping into the power of his soul

  • V 19 ch 77 pg 8,9,11 and 12 
  • Ep 41 19:34

Feats

Strength
manga

  • Cutting a machine gun like weapon in half with his automail V 1 ch 2 pg 23 and 24 
  • Ed’s shown to be able to fully match the destruction technique used by scar V 11 ch 45 pg 40 and 41  and ep 21 21:21
  • Makes a giant golem and a giant stone fist to slam an opponent V 1 ch 2 pg 28, 29 and 30 

Anime
  • Cutting through steel ep 3 18:08
  • Creating giant stone hands in Ep 11 5:29
  • Creating giant stone columns and then a giant stone wall in ep 11 5:03
  • Stops a segment of a train with alchemy in movie 18:23

2003

  • Spinning two grown men around in the air in 2003 ep 1 8:10
  • Strong enough to punch a giant bird chimera a few dozen feat into the air 2003 ep 1 20:18
  • Creates a giant stone spire into the sky with Al in 2003 Movie 1:29:17

Endurance
Manga 

  • His automail can withstand the pressure of a lion chimera chomp V 1 ch 1 pg 46, 47, and  48  
  • Automail survives a direct hit from a shotgun like weapon V 1 ch 4 pg 19 and 20 
  • Being thrown into a bunch of crates by greed V 7 ch 29 pg 9 and 10 
  • Survived having a bomb going off in his face V 8 ch 33 pg 21 and 29 
  • Getting smacked around by Envy’s building-sized monster form V 14 ch 51 pg 39 and 40 
  • Survived a point-blank explosion caused by Kimblee with a philosopher's stone V 19 ch 76 pg 28,29 and 30 
  • Survived a massive explosion that made a large crater from father V 27 ch 107 pg 44 
  • If ed’s carbon hardening technique is as effective as greeds, that should make it his modified automail at least as hard as diamonds V 7 ch 29 pg 33 
  • Father made a giant blast the disintegrated a huge chunk of land and several human like targets. Ed was partially caught in this blast V 26 pg 61,62,63 and V 27 ch 107 pg 6,14,15 

Anime

  • His metal arm could withstand a lion chimera chomp in ep x 12:11
  • Survived a bomb going off in his face in ep 15 16:02
  • Being thrown through a stone wall  in ep 24 14:52
  • Being hit by the monster form of envy ep 25 21:26
  • Falling dozens of feat ep 41 12:54
  • Survived a massive explosion from kimbly ep 41 15:28
  • Survived a massive explosion from a bomb in ep 48 5:13
  • Automail can withstand hits from pride in ep 48 14:37
  • Survived a massive energy discharge that created a large crater from father in ep 62 16:41
  • Survived a massive energy blast from father in ep 62 8:46
  • Survived being frozen solid in Movie 1:33:52

2003

  • A Giant bird chimera breaking its talons on Ed’s metal leg 2003 ep 1 20:17
  • Surviving a building-sized canon blowing up in his face in 2003 ep 13 17:00
  • Taking a cannonball explosion to the face in ep 26 17:16
  • Survives a giant boulder exploding below him from Mustang in 2003 ep 43 18:14
  • Having a massive airship blow up on him in 2003 movie 1:25:30

Speed
Manga


Anime

  • Blocking some bullets in ep 3 13:59
  • Shows a lot of acrobatics while fighting in ep 8 8:04
  • B movie 1:32:11 jumping dozens of feet into the air at standstill during a battle

2003

  • Blocking gatling gunshots 2003 ep 2 4:12
  • Dodges some sort of Gatling gun bullet like attack in 2003 ep 12 14:44(
  • Dodges a cannon shot after it's fired in 2003 ep 12 16:19
  • Outruns explosions from Mustang in 2003 ep 13 16:06
  • Dodging arrows 2003 ep 19 17:28
  • Blocks rocket launcher shots with alchemy after they fire in ep 24 16:06

Scaling


Scar
Ed and scar have both fought multiple times and he’s even been shown to match Scar’s destruction technique, meaning he should be capable of any feats scar can do with it.

  • Scar dodging bullets V 2 ch 7 pg 10 and 11 
  • Scar dodging bullets in ep 6 14:55
  • Scar making a giant hole in the ground with destruction V 2 ch 7 pg 26 and 27 
  • Scar destroys a ton of pavement with the destruction technique ep 6 17:54
  • Scar makes a huge blast via destruction alchemy in ep 28 17:23

King Bradley
They don’t really fight per se but characters Ed has matched characters like Scar and Greed/Ling who have.
  • King Bradley running up a building in seconds in ep 21 21:24
  • King Bradley dodging several bullets and blitzing several soldiers before they can react V 24 ch 98 pg 12 and 13 

Kimbly 
Ed and Kimbly have fought before, and his brother Al was the one to take him out(albeit with help). Notably Ed did survive one of kimbly’s explosions while Kimbly was powered by a philosophers stone. 

  • Kimblee making a massive crater from an explosion  V 15 ch 61 pg 12 and 13 
  • Blows up a huge chunk of land ep 30 16:17
  • Blows a hole in the stone trap concealing pride Ep 51 10:49

misc
Various feats by other characters Ed has fought or has some affiliation to.
  • Izumi making a huge makeshift damn V 5 ch 21 pg 18,19 and 20 
  • Envy breaking a large stone pillar Ep 28 7:28
  • Pride can cut through trees with his attacks in ep 49 2:52

Experience


  • Trained in physical combat and alchemy for years under his teacher Izumi
  • Defeated or aided in the defeated in most of the 7 homunculus
  • Aided in and personally defeated father, foiling his government-wide conspiracy to surpass god by turning millions of people into a philosopher's stone

Weaknesses

Because Ed normally performs transmutation by clapping his hands together, should his automail arm be destroyed or severely damaged, he’ll be unable to perform alchemy in that manner.

  • Being near helpless with his automail broken V 4 ch 13 pg 10 and v 8 ch 33 pg 29 
  • It being mentioned ed can’t use alchemy without his other arm ep 5 13:10

If Ed misunderstands the composition of something he’s trying to transmute, this will also result in a failure for the alchemic act.

  • Not being able to transmute something because  he misunderstood its composition ep 33 18:25
He alchemy can also be disabled if he can’t access the tectonic energy below the earth, something father could take advantage of, as he more or less created an artificial barrier to limit or turn off access to this energy at any time.

  • Father disabling alchemy ep 28 8:13


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