TV-Series
Description
Darius is a character from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, initially introduced as a soldier in the Amestrian State Military. He is one of four human chimeras assigned to bodyguard and report to the State Alchemist Solf J. Kimblee during his mission to the northern region of Amestris.
In terms of appearance, Darius is a tall, muscular, and well-built man with tanned skin, short dark hair, and sideburns. His nature as a chimera allows him to transform into a powerful, more humanoid form that resembles a gorilla, granting him immense physical capabilities.
Darius possesses a serious and grounded personality. He shares many traits with his partner, Heinkel, including a cynical and dry sense of humor, a pragmatic willingness to change loyalties when circumstances demand it, and a general acceptance of his status as a chimera. He is very in tune with his animal instincts, often relying on his gut feelings to make decisions when logic fails, though he is capable of overriding these instincts when the situation calls for it. Despite his gruff exterior, Darius appears to be content with his life. He values true friendship and camaraderie highly, and he enjoys the unique strengths that his chimera form provides him, maintaining a surprisingly positive outlook on his condition.
Darius's primary motivation shifts over the course of the story. Initially, he is a soldier following orders under Kimblee. However, after a confrontation in an abandoned mining city, Edward Elric saves Darius and Heinkel from a collapsing building. In gratitude, they assist Ed in removing a steel pipe that had impaled him and subsequently agree to help him, marking a definitive break from their original assignment. From that point forward, Darius is driven by a sense of loyalty to his new companions and a desire to support their cause against the homunculi and Father. Unlike some other chimeras, he never expresses a desire to return to his original human form, suggesting he is not motivated by a need for a cure.
Darius plays a significant role in the latter half of the series as a member of the protagonist-aligned forces. After teaming up with Edward, he and Heinkel travel with Ed to Central, where they encounter Ling Yao and form an alliance with Greed, the homunculus inhabiting Ling's body. He is a key participant in several major battles. In the slum town of Kanama, he fights against the homunculi Pride and Gluttony, engaging Gluttony directly in his chimera form. During the final battle beneath Central Command, Darius fights against waves of mannequin soldiers, his gorilla-like durability allowing him to withstand bites from the creatures that would harm ordinary humans. He is later seen in the epilogue working at a circus, as shown in a photograph with Heinkel and the former chimera Yoki.
His most important relationship is with his fellow chimera and constant companion, Heinkel. The two are almost always seen together, acting as partners and sharing a similar worldview. He also develops a strong, if unspoken, bond of loyalty with Edward Elric, which is cemented when he and Heinkel save Ed's life. He becomes part of the informal team led by Edward and Greed, interacting frequently with other chimeras like Jerso and Zampano, despite an initial, quickly-resolved argument with them over mistaken loyalties.
Over the course of his appearance, Darius shows notable development in his allegiances and outlook. He transitions from being a mercenary soldier working for a dangerous alchemist to a reliable ally who risks his life for others. This change is not a dramatic internal transformation but a practical and believable shift, driven by a simple action of gratitude and a growing recognition that he is better off with true companions than following questionable orders. His ability to trust Edward and Greed, despite being natural enemies, shows his adaptable and instinct-driven nature working in a positive direction.
Darius's notable abilities are entirely derived from his nature as a human-chimera hybrid fused with a gorilla. In his transformed state, he possesses superhuman strength, sufficient to tear large chunks of concrete from the ground and throw them considerable distances. He also has enhanced durability, allowing his skin to resist the bites of the mannequin soldiers. His agility and senses, particularly his sense of smell, are also heightened, making him acutely aware of danger. Even in his human form, he retains a degree of enhanced strength and senses, as well as his training as a soldier. Edward Elric even nicknames him "Donkey Kong" as a playful reference to his primate-like abilities.
In terms of appearance, Darius is a tall, muscular, and well-built man with tanned skin, short dark hair, and sideburns. His nature as a chimera allows him to transform into a powerful, more humanoid form that resembles a gorilla, granting him immense physical capabilities.
Darius possesses a serious and grounded personality. He shares many traits with his partner, Heinkel, including a cynical and dry sense of humor, a pragmatic willingness to change loyalties when circumstances demand it, and a general acceptance of his status as a chimera. He is very in tune with his animal instincts, often relying on his gut feelings to make decisions when logic fails, though he is capable of overriding these instincts when the situation calls for it. Despite his gruff exterior, Darius appears to be content with his life. He values true friendship and camaraderie highly, and he enjoys the unique strengths that his chimera form provides him, maintaining a surprisingly positive outlook on his condition.
Darius's primary motivation shifts over the course of the story. Initially, he is a soldier following orders under Kimblee. However, after a confrontation in an abandoned mining city, Edward Elric saves Darius and Heinkel from a collapsing building. In gratitude, they assist Ed in removing a steel pipe that had impaled him and subsequently agree to help him, marking a definitive break from their original assignment. From that point forward, Darius is driven by a sense of loyalty to his new companions and a desire to support their cause against the homunculi and Father. Unlike some other chimeras, he never expresses a desire to return to his original human form, suggesting he is not motivated by a need for a cure.
Darius plays a significant role in the latter half of the series as a member of the protagonist-aligned forces. After teaming up with Edward, he and Heinkel travel with Ed to Central, where they encounter Ling Yao and form an alliance with Greed, the homunculus inhabiting Ling's body. He is a key participant in several major battles. In the slum town of Kanama, he fights against the homunculi Pride and Gluttony, engaging Gluttony directly in his chimera form. During the final battle beneath Central Command, Darius fights against waves of mannequin soldiers, his gorilla-like durability allowing him to withstand bites from the creatures that would harm ordinary humans. He is later seen in the epilogue working at a circus, as shown in a photograph with Heinkel and the former chimera Yoki.
His most important relationship is with his fellow chimera and constant companion, Heinkel. The two are almost always seen together, acting as partners and sharing a similar worldview. He also develops a strong, if unspoken, bond of loyalty with Edward Elric, which is cemented when he and Heinkel save Ed's life. He becomes part of the informal team led by Edward and Greed, interacting frequently with other chimeras like Jerso and Zampano, despite an initial, quickly-resolved argument with them over mistaken loyalties.
Over the course of his appearance, Darius shows notable development in his allegiances and outlook. He transitions from being a mercenary soldier working for a dangerous alchemist to a reliable ally who risks his life for others. This change is not a dramatic internal transformation but a practical and believable shift, driven by a simple action of gratitude and a growing recognition that he is better off with true companions than following questionable orders. His ability to trust Edward and Greed, despite being natural enemies, shows his adaptable and instinct-driven nature working in a positive direction.
Darius's notable abilities are entirely derived from his nature as a human-chimera hybrid fused with a gorilla. In his transformed state, he possesses superhuman strength, sufficient to tear large chunks of concrete from the ground and throw them considerable distances. He also has enhanced durability, allowing his skin to resist the bites of the mannequin soldiers. His agility and senses, particularly his sense of smell, are also heightened, making him acutely aware of danger. Even in his human form, he retains a degree of enhanced strength and senses, as well as his training as a soldier. Edward Elric even nicknames him "Donkey Kong" as a playful reference to his primate-like abilities.