Spotlight Character: Edward Elric (Full Metal Alchemist) MAL Character Information Page: Edward Elric MAL Favorite Character: #7 (with 2044 favorites) For the next two weeks I would like to have everyone familiar with Ed discuss what they think makes him an exceptional character. What attributes make him stand out in the ocean of interesting characters that exist in the realms of anime and manga. Unlike the other two subjects I will not force this conversation to fall into any set structure. Characters that are nominated typically get here because they are adept at breaking the existing character molds and defying definition. Because of this freedom I encourage everyone to do their very best to stay on topic and keep any and all debate civil. Have fun and I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say about this character. Link to original Spotlight discussion can be found here: Original Spotlight: Edward Elric |
BlackMagicDec 12, 2008 9:52 PM
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| Another one of my least favorite main characters. We're really on a role this week. (My opinion of him is based solely on the anime, as I can't be bothered to read a manga with an anime adaptation that I hated with a passion) To begin with, I don't understand Ed's motivation. Apparently, he lost one arm and leg in an attempt to resurrect his mother from the dead. If this had made him a cripple, I might have liked his character. However, in return for his lost limbs, he receives super-powered limbs that he can morph at will and are much more durable than his original limbs. So... basically, he's better off now. :-/ Later on in the anime, we find out that Ed is actually working to return his brother's body back to normal. This seems like a better motivation, but his brother is (for all intents and purposes) an immortal suit of armor. The downside? He lost his sense of touch, and sticks out like a sore thumb. Let's see... immortality or sense of touch? Which would I rather have? This is where the series utterly failed for me. It was constantly trying to get me to feel sorry for the two main characters' "tragic" fate, when I felt like they were pretty fortunate, and ungrateful. I mean, sure, they're orphans, and that's sad. But there are plenty of orphans in the world. Most of them don't have mad haxxor alchemist powers. The humor in the series is overbearing. It seems like there's not a person in the entire world who fails to comment on how short Ed is. It might be funny to comment on it once, or if there was a particular character who liked to poke fun at him. But no - everyone - from random innkeepers, to powerful enemies, to deadly rivals immediately notices how short he is and feels compelled to comment on that point. Ed always overreacts when someone calls him "chibi", and it gets pretty annoying 40 episodes in. Another thing that bugged me was that Ed seemed to be led around by the nose for most of the series. He rarely makes a correct decision. He misunderstands who the real enemies are, he gets confused as to what and where the Philosopher's stone is, and he underestimates the cost of creating it. He even misjudges the central principle of "Equivalent Trade." (Although, apparently "Equivalent Trade" doesn't exist in the first place, according to the end of the series. That's lame.) 2/10 - He's more developed than Watanuki, but he loses a point for being a generic shounen character, and a point for bad fashion sense. What kind of guy wears a braid, seriously? |
| Meh... I don't really find him to be that great of a character, and if my memory doesn't fail me, he didn't really develop a lot during the series, and he didn't do anything that made him stand out. |
| Base Score- 7/10 Moves along the plot decently well. Strangely enough, he's not horribly annoying, despite being voiced by what is obviously an older Japanese woman. He's resourceful and tough, but the childish, "funny" moments of the series really don't fit his character at all. Obviously meant to appeal to little kids. Rarely do we see him have any unique or compelling thought about anything. Bonuses and Deductions +1 The anime series rocked -1 The anime film was God-awful +/- 0 Long blonde hair tied in a braid? Final Score- 7/10 Decision- No |
| ^ Agree. No from me as well. |
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| To me he's just a generic shounen protagonist in a great anime. Not a bad character neither memorable. 7/10 - No. |
| Well.... lets sart with the basics.... cloths, hair, appearence in general : 7/10... I've seen better but not bad Actions, fighting style, physical : 8/10 - liked the fighting, but probably could have used his resources more. Thought it was strange that he could do amazing things with alchemy.... only some of the time. When he went to fight.... should have utilized his stengths better. Emotional, attitude, character: 4/10 - he annoyed the hell out of me. How many times did he get angry over being small.... ok a few times makes a funny joke... but its just like Naruto saying " believe it!" Overall: 6.3/10 - No... just more deserving characters |
| i only watched the dub and some subs imo the dub was better -1 pt generic character -1 pt not using resources wisely +2 for being in my first completed anime (bias) -3 for being a F****ing idiot overall: 7 but stiss a yes vote |
| +1pt because he's not the heroe that's perpetually hesitating before thinking that fighting is good or not But he's not paying attention to the people around him (e.g : winry) And he doesn't exploit his abilities enough. Overall I'll not give him more than 7, and I don't find him that exceptional so it's a no vote. |
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manasteel88 said: I'm basing this off of the manga version and yes he is a stereotypical shonen lead which gave him a 7. He's that high because I thought they did do alot of different things to make the character likable, but not enough to make him excel over some of the other characters. I guess he's just too wishy washy with winry for my tastes. |
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| He is whatever :D 6/10 |
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| Finally got around to reading enough of the manga to qualify my no vote, not that it matters here anyway. |
siahvasch said: Yes (specially in the first series) he was a rather interesting, lively and short! the style with which the first series was created, makes him a memorable character Edward is permadead. Saying yes the better part of two years late isn't going to help, especially if you're not going to add anything intelligent. |
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