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Fullmetal Alchemist is set in the early 20th century in a country called Amestris in an alternate-historical Earth with technology dating from early 20th century Europe. In this alternate world, the pseudoscience of alchemy is heavily used in conjunction with acretian soul wanderers, but takes on a further fantastic element not seen in real-life alchemy. Real-world alchemists attempted to transmute gold from lesser metals. In the fictional world of the series, alchemy becomes the science of transmuting matter into different matter through the use of transmutation circles—based on real-world science, yet also magical, with seemingly infinite uses. Talented alchemists may apply to take a State Alchemist test to join the Amestris military's State Alchemists.

Edward and Alphonse Elric were children living in the rural village of Resembool in the country of Amestris. Their father, a talented alchemist, had left home when Edward was very young and Alphonse was still an infant. Years later, their mother, Trisha Elric, died of a terminal illness. After their mother's death, the two boys decided to attempt to revive their deceased mother using alchemy; human transmutation. They studied alchemy with a teacher and then used their father's books and notes that he had left behind to recreate a human transmutation circle. However, this attempt failed, costing Edward his left leg and Alphonse his entire body. In a desperate effort to save his brother, Edward sacrificed his right arm to affix his brother's soul to a suit of armor. After that, Edward's left leg and right arm are fitted with two sets of Automail, a type of advanced prosthetic limb. In the original Japanese, the term "Fullmetal" is used to describe a person who is stubborn. In the series it is often mistakenly attributed by minor characters to Ed's automail arm and leg, or Al's armor body.

A State Alchemist by the name of Roy Mustang arrives during the failed human transmutation in response to letters the boys had sent out seeking information about their father (in the hopes that they could get the attention of their father so that he would come home). (Note: This event occurred differently in the manga. In that version, Mustang was in charge of recruiting new State Alchemists after the disastrous events of Ishbal caused many State Alchemists to leave the military service in disgust. A typo in the military records sent Mustang to Risembool in search of "Edward Elric, age 31." He was dismayed to find a crippled 11 year old instead, but wound up making the recruitment offer anyway.) After seeing their skill at alchemy, Mustang suggested that the way for the two boys to achieve their goals would be to become State Alchemists and work for him. Spurred on by the man's proposal, Edward set out to become a State Alchemist, enabling him to use the resources available to State Alchemists to discover a way to restore what he and Alphonse had lost. The brothers eventually learn of the Philosopher's Stone and set off in search of it as a means to restore their bodies. Along the way they discover secrets about the Philosopher's Stone they never wanted to know; and, find other people who seek it as well, doing whatever it takes to get their hands on it.

• Edward Elric: The main protagonist, Edward ("Ed") Elric is the titular Fullmetal Alchemist, though Al is occasionally mistaken for him because of his armored body. He has a prosthetic automail arm and leg, is of short stature, and typically reacts in an exaggerated manner to any remarks about his height. He is known for being the youngest State Alchemist.
  
• Alphonse Elric: Alphonse, often nicknamed Al, is Fullmetal Alchemist's secondary protagonist; he is Edward's younger brother. For most of the series his soul is trapped in a large suit of armor, causing other characters throughout the series to confuse Al for the "Fullmetal" Alchemist. Alphonse is the calmer of the two, and can be seen as a foil to Edward's character.
• Al (Left) Ed (Right)

                     Edward       ---  ---        Alphonse
       Alias: Ed                    ---   ---      Al
                Fullmetal Alchemist
       Race: Human (With prosthetic limbs) ---  Human soul trapped in armor
       Gender: Male                                    --- Male
       Age: 15-16 Years (Through most of the Series) 11 Years (In the beginning) ---- 14 Years
       Hair: Blond             ---- None (Brown originally)
       Eyes: Gold              ---- Red (Brown originally)
       Height: 4'11"            ---- 7'3"
       Weight:
       Status: State Alchemist ---- Stuck in a suit of Armor
       Quote: "Don't say pipsqueak!"   --- "Big Brother"
       Voice:Vic Mignogna    -----    Aaron Dismuke

Winry Rockbell: Winry is a mechanical expert who is a childhood friend of the Elrics. She, along with her grandmother Pinako, built Edward's automail, and she also helps maintain the automail when it gets broken. Her parents served as impartial doctors during the Ishbal rebellion, but were killed. In the anime, they were killed by then-Major Roy Mustang, but in the manga they were killed by Scar.
       Alias:
       Race: Human
       Gender:  Female                     
       Age: 15 Years
       Hair: Blond           
       Eyes:  Blue
       Height: 5'4"
       Weight: 125 lbs.
       Status: Automail mechanic
       Quote: "Who needs natural when you've got Automail?"
       Voice: Caitlin Glass

Colonel Roy Mustang: Roy Mustang is known as the Flame Alchemist. His gloves are made of a special material, called ignition cloth, which allows him to create a spark by snapping his fingers. He then uses alchemy to change the oxygen density in the air with the help of transmutation circles on his gloves, causing a controlled explosion. He is Edward's direct superior officer in the military, but has his own goals and intentions in mind. His main goal is to become the Führer, the leader of the military.

   Alias: Lieutenant Colonel Mustang
            Colonel Mustang
            Flame Alchemist
       Race: Human
       Gender:  Male                     
       Age: 29 Years
       Hair: Black          
       Eyes:  Onyx
       Height: 5'8"
       Weight: 
       Status: Colonel in Military
       Quote: "I will be Fuhrer someday."
       Voice: Travis Willingham

Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye: A hard-working member of the state military, and a loyal, capable aide to her superior officer, Roy Mustang. She is especially proficient in the use of firearms. While she may be level-headed, she sometimes uses her shooting skills in situations where they may not be entirely necessary.

       Alias: First Lieutenant Hawkeye
       Race: Human
       Gender:  Female                     
       Age: 25 Years
       Hair: Blond          
       Eyes:  Redish Brown
       Height: 5'6"
       Weight: 
       Status: First Lieutenant.
       Quote: "Is that alright, Sir?"
       Voice: Colleen Clinkenbeard

Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes: A member of the Investigations Division and a good friend of Colonel Mustang and the Elric brothers. He wishes to push Mustang up to the position of Führer by working closely under him. Hughes loves his wife, Gracia, and is overly enthusiastic regarding his love for his daughter Elicia.

      Alias: Major Hughes
       Race: Human
       Gender:  Male                     
       Age: 30's Years
       Hair: Black          
       Eyes:  Yellow Brown
       Height:
       Weight: 
       Status: Major, Colonel, Brigadear General
       Quote: "Would you liek to see my daughter? I have some pictures right here."
       Voice: Sonny Strait

Scar: One of the few surviving Ishbalans (Ishvalans in the manga). His real name is never revealed, but he is referred to as "Scar" because of the X-shaped scar on his forehead. Scar's right arm, which is tattooed with a rare transmutation circle, was given to him by his brother shortly before he died. He believes himself to be an instrument of God, and kills State Alchemists using his alchemical skills.

Alias:
Race: Human
       Gender:  Male                     
       Age: About 24 Years
       Hair: White          
       Eyes:  Red
       Height: About 6'0"
       Weight: 
       Status: Serial Killer
       Quote: "My Right hand is the judgement of God."
       Voice: Dameon Clarke

King Bradley: Known as the Führer, he is the military dictator of Amestris, holding the official political title of president (King is his first name). Although he seems to be quite easy-going and perhaps a little eccentric, he has a mind like a steel trap, and maintaining Amestris is his chief priority at all times. He is also renowned as an exceptional swordsman.


Alias: Pride
        The Ultimate Eye
        Race: Homunculus
       Gender:  Male                     
       Age: About 60 Years
       Hair: Black         
       Eyes:  Turquoise
       Height:
       Weight: 
       Status: Fuhrer
       Quote:
       Voice: Ed Baylock

Lust: Sultry and cool-hearted, she is the first of the Homunculi encountered in the series. She has the power to extend her fingers into lances in the blink of an eye to use as a weapon, and is thus known in some translations as the 'Ultimate Lance'.

Gluttony: A large figure who eats anything he can get his hands on, including humans and inanimate objects. He latches on to Lust like a child to his parent.

Envy: Sarcastic, sadistic, and cold-hearted, Envy has the ability to change appearance. He hates mankind, viewing them as pitiful and weak. In the anime, Envy is clearly referred to as a male, but in the manga, Envy is known as an "it".