TV-Series
Description
In the universe of Fullmetal Alchemist, the homunculus known as Envy is the physical incarnation of the sin of jealousy. As one of the seven homunculi, Envy is not a human but an artificial being created from the Philosopher's Stone, serving as a primary antagonist throughout the story. The character has notable differences between the original 2003 anime adaptation and the manga canon, which was faithfully followed in the Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood series.
Envy’s origins are central to understanding the character. In the manga and Brotherhood, Envy was created by the entity known as Father, the dwarf in the flask, who used the souls of the Xerxes people to craft the Philosopher's Stone. Envy was made by extracting the sin of jealousy from Father himself, making the homunculus a direct extension of his creator’s own flaws. In the 2003 anime, however, Envy has a profoundly different background. This version was originally the human son of Van Hohenheim and Dante, who died of mercury poisoning. Hohenheim attempted to revive him through human transmutation, and the resulting homunculus was a twisted, immortal version of his deceased son. This Envy harbors a deep-seated grudge against Hohenheim for abandoning him and starting a new family with Trisha Elric, a rage that is then projected onto her sons, Edward and Alphonse.
Envy’s personality is marked by extreme cruelty, sadism, and a deep-seated contempt for humanity. Among the homunculi, Envy is arguably the most vicious, delighting not just in killing but in the psychological torment of victims. This is accomplished by using shapeshifting abilities to take the form of a target's loved one, as seen in the murder of Maes Hughes, where Envy transformed into his wife to create a fatal hesitation. This behavior stems from a core of self-loathing and a profound jealousy of humans, the very emotion from which the character is named. Despite viewing humans as weak, foolish creatures easily manipulated, Envy secretly envies their ability to form bonds, to grow, and to persevere despite their fragility. This contradiction creates a volatile and emotionally unstable personality; Envy is easily goaded into a furious rage, especially by Edward Elric, which often leads to reckless mistakes and critical information being revealed. The chosen form of a beautiful androgynous youth reflects a desire to be admired and to inspire envy in others, hiding the monstrous, self-hating true nature underneath.
Motivationally, Envy acts as an agent of chaos. Aligned with Father and Dante in different versions, Envy’s primary goal is to see the downfall of humanity, specifically the Elric brothers. In the manga, Envy’s actions are in service of Father’s grand plan, which includes instigating the horrific Ishvalan Civil War. Disguised as an Amestrian soldier, Envy shot a young Ishvalan child, providing the spark that ignited the devastating conflict, thereby creating countless deaths needed for a massive Philosopher's Stone. In the 2003 series, the motivation is more personal and vengeful, focused on destroying Hohenheim’s new family to get revenge for being unloved and replaced.
In the story, Envy serves as a recurring, formidable foe for the protagonists. Envy is the true culprit behind the death of Colonel Maes Hughes, a beloved character whose murder motivates Roy Mustang for much of the series. The homunculus frequently appears to sabotage the Elric brothers’ progress, using disguises to manipulate events and sow discord. A pivotal role involves swallowing the group of Edward, Ling Yao, and Envy's sibling Gluttony, leading the heroes into a dark, pocket dimension filled with the blood of the sacrificed Xerxians, where Envy’s terrifying true form is revealed.
Envy’s relationships are largely defined by manipulation and conflict. There is a deep-seated rivalry with Greed, another homunculus, and a consistent antagonistic relationship with all human characters, especially Edward Elric. The relationship with Roy Mustang is intensely hostile due to Hughes’ murder. Among the homunculi, Envy is often dismissive and cruel, showing little camaraderie and viewing them as tools or fools. The most critical relationship is with the Elric brothers; they represent everything Envy hates and envies about humanity, specifically their unwavering will and the bonds they share.
The character’s development culminates in a powerful, tragic conclusion in the manga and Brotherhood. After being cornered by Roy Mustang and relentlessly incinerated, Envy is reduced to a pitiful, weak, worm-like true form. When Edward Elric offers mercy and empathy, seeing through the cruelty to the core of self-loathing and jealous pain, Envy is shattered. Unable to bear the humiliation of being pitied by a human, the very beings Envy considered inferior, the homunculus tears out the Philosopher's Stone core, effectively committing suicide rather than accepting compassion. In the 2003 anime, after pursuing Hohenheim through the Gate, Envy is captured and ultimately used as a sacrifice, dying to help open the portal and, in death, finally finding a form of resolution to its obsessive quest for revenge.
Envy’s notable abilities center on shapeshifting. As a perfect metamorph, Envy can assume the appearance, voice, and mannerisms of any person or animal after seeing them once, though the weight remains the same. This is used for espionage, assassination, and psychological warfare. The typical form is a long-haired, green-clad youth. When pushed to a limit, Envy discards this humanoid guise to reveal a gigantic, reptilian monster with four legs, four arms, multiple pupils, and a grotesque body covered in the screaming, agonized faces of the countless souls comprising the Philosopher's Stone. This massive form possesses immense physical strength. The true original body, when deprived of the Stone’s power, is a small, defenseless, parasite-like creature that resembles a tadpole or lizard. As a homunculus fueled by the Stone, Envy possesses incredible regenerative abilities and is virtually immortal, able to survive most physical injuries unless the Stone’s souls are completely depleted.
Envy’s origins are central to understanding the character. In the manga and Brotherhood, Envy was created by the entity known as Father, the dwarf in the flask, who used the souls of the Xerxes people to craft the Philosopher's Stone. Envy was made by extracting the sin of jealousy from Father himself, making the homunculus a direct extension of his creator’s own flaws. In the 2003 anime, however, Envy has a profoundly different background. This version was originally the human son of Van Hohenheim and Dante, who died of mercury poisoning. Hohenheim attempted to revive him through human transmutation, and the resulting homunculus was a twisted, immortal version of his deceased son. This Envy harbors a deep-seated grudge against Hohenheim for abandoning him and starting a new family with Trisha Elric, a rage that is then projected onto her sons, Edward and Alphonse.
Envy’s personality is marked by extreme cruelty, sadism, and a deep-seated contempt for humanity. Among the homunculi, Envy is arguably the most vicious, delighting not just in killing but in the psychological torment of victims. This is accomplished by using shapeshifting abilities to take the form of a target's loved one, as seen in the murder of Maes Hughes, where Envy transformed into his wife to create a fatal hesitation. This behavior stems from a core of self-loathing and a profound jealousy of humans, the very emotion from which the character is named. Despite viewing humans as weak, foolish creatures easily manipulated, Envy secretly envies their ability to form bonds, to grow, and to persevere despite their fragility. This contradiction creates a volatile and emotionally unstable personality; Envy is easily goaded into a furious rage, especially by Edward Elric, which often leads to reckless mistakes and critical information being revealed. The chosen form of a beautiful androgynous youth reflects a desire to be admired and to inspire envy in others, hiding the monstrous, self-hating true nature underneath.
Motivationally, Envy acts as an agent of chaos. Aligned with Father and Dante in different versions, Envy’s primary goal is to see the downfall of humanity, specifically the Elric brothers. In the manga, Envy’s actions are in service of Father’s grand plan, which includes instigating the horrific Ishvalan Civil War. Disguised as an Amestrian soldier, Envy shot a young Ishvalan child, providing the spark that ignited the devastating conflict, thereby creating countless deaths needed for a massive Philosopher's Stone. In the 2003 series, the motivation is more personal and vengeful, focused on destroying Hohenheim’s new family to get revenge for being unloved and replaced.
In the story, Envy serves as a recurring, formidable foe for the protagonists. Envy is the true culprit behind the death of Colonel Maes Hughes, a beloved character whose murder motivates Roy Mustang for much of the series. The homunculus frequently appears to sabotage the Elric brothers’ progress, using disguises to manipulate events and sow discord. A pivotal role involves swallowing the group of Edward, Ling Yao, and Envy's sibling Gluttony, leading the heroes into a dark, pocket dimension filled with the blood of the sacrificed Xerxians, where Envy’s terrifying true form is revealed.
Envy’s relationships are largely defined by manipulation and conflict. There is a deep-seated rivalry with Greed, another homunculus, and a consistent antagonistic relationship with all human characters, especially Edward Elric. The relationship with Roy Mustang is intensely hostile due to Hughes’ murder. Among the homunculi, Envy is often dismissive and cruel, showing little camaraderie and viewing them as tools or fools. The most critical relationship is with the Elric brothers; they represent everything Envy hates and envies about humanity, specifically their unwavering will and the bonds they share.
The character’s development culminates in a powerful, tragic conclusion in the manga and Brotherhood. After being cornered by Roy Mustang and relentlessly incinerated, Envy is reduced to a pitiful, weak, worm-like true form. When Edward Elric offers mercy and empathy, seeing through the cruelty to the core of self-loathing and jealous pain, Envy is shattered. Unable to bear the humiliation of being pitied by a human, the very beings Envy considered inferior, the homunculus tears out the Philosopher's Stone core, effectively committing suicide rather than accepting compassion. In the 2003 anime, after pursuing Hohenheim through the Gate, Envy is captured and ultimately used as a sacrifice, dying to help open the portal and, in death, finally finding a form of resolution to its obsessive quest for revenge.
Envy’s notable abilities center on shapeshifting. As a perfect metamorph, Envy can assume the appearance, voice, and mannerisms of any person or animal after seeing them once, though the weight remains the same. This is used for espionage, assassination, and psychological warfare. The typical form is a long-haired, green-clad youth. When pushed to a limit, Envy discards this humanoid guise to reveal a gigantic, reptilian monster with four legs, four arms, multiple pupils, and a grotesque body covered in the screaming, agonized faces of the countless souls comprising the Philosopher's Stone. This massive form possesses immense physical strength. The true original body, when deprived of the Stone’s power, is a small, defenseless, parasite-like creature that resembles a tadpole or lizard. As a homunculus fueled by the Stone, Envy possesses incredible regenerative abilities and is virtually immortal, able to survive most physical injuries unless the Stone’s souls are completely depleted.