OVA
Description
Envy, an artificial humanoid Homunculus embodying the sin of envy, was created by Father in the manga and 2009 anime as a manifestation of his envy toward humanity. Forged from a Philosopher’s Stone infused with souls from the fallen nation of Xerxes, Envy wields immortality, rapid regeneration, and shapeshifting—able to assume any human, animal, or original guise. Their true form emerges as a colossal reptilian beast: a serpentine body bristling with multiple legs and human faces embedded in its flesh, each visage echoing the absorbed souls of Xerxes. When critically drained, Envy collapses into a diminutive, parasitic worm capable of seizing control over hosts through venomous bites.
Contrasting this origin, the 2003 anime reimagines Envy as the product of Hohenheim and Dante’s failed attempt to resurrect their deceased son through human transmutation. This iteration sustains its existence via red stones rather than a Philosopher’s Stone, preserving shapeshifting and regenerative powers. Its true form manifests as a twisted humanoid figure bearing ancestral ties to Hohenheim, diverging sharply from the manga’s bestial depiction.
Driven by bitter resentment toward humanity, Envy relishes orchestrating strife and anguish. Their machinations include sparking the Ishvalan War through impersonation of an Amestrian officer, framing political moderates, and assassinating pivotal figures such as Maes Hughes. Beneath this cruelty lies a seething jealousy of humanity’s capacity for connection and endurance—a weakness laid bare during clashes with Edward Elric. Ultimately, after sustained defeats and exhaustion of their Philosopher’s Stone, Envy’s self-hatred drives them to self-annihilation by obliterating their own core.
Envy’s psyche wavers between predatory sadism and brittle fragility. Obsessed with maintaining an androgynous, aesthetically pleasing human facade, they harbor visceral disgust for their grotesque true form. Interactions with fellow Homunculi remain predominantly utilitarian—scornful of Gluttony’s naivete, competitive with Greed, and sparing only occasional, hollow deference to Lust.
Both versions possess toxin immunity, heightened physical prowess, and limb-extension combat capabilities. The 2003 adaptation introduces an additional flaw: susceptibility to remnants of their original human host’s body, a vulnerability nonexistent in manga-based portrayals.
Envy’s demise underscores tragic irony: the living incarnation of envy meets its end through envy of humanity’s communal strength, unraveling into a paradox of self-consuming hatred.
Contrasting this origin, the 2003 anime reimagines Envy as the product of Hohenheim and Dante’s failed attempt to resurrect their deceased son through human transmutation. This iteration sustains its existence via red stones rather than a Philosopher’s Stone, preserving shapeshifting and regenerative powers. Its true form manifests as a twisted humanoid figure bearing ancestral ties to Hohenheim, diverging sharply from the manga’s bestial depiction.
Driven by bitter resentment toward humanity, Envy relishes orchestrating strife and anguish. Their machinations include sparking the Ishvalan War through impersonation of an Amestrian officer, framing political moderates, and assassinating pivotal figures such as Maes Hughes. Beneath this cruelty lies a seething jealousy of humanity’s capacity for connection and endurance—a weakness laid bare during clashes with Edward Elric. Ultimately, after sustained defeats and exhaustion of their Philosopher’s Stone, Envy’s self-hatred drives them to self-annihilation by obliterating their own core.
Envy’s psyche wavers between predatory sadism and brittle fragility. Obsessed with maintaining an androgynous, aesthetically pleasing human facade, they harbor visceral disgust for their grotesque true form. Interactions with fellow Homunculi remain predominantly utilitarian—scornful of Gluttony’s naivete, competitive with Greed, and sparing only occasional, hollow deference to Lust.
Both versions possess toxin immunity, heightened physical prowess, and limb-extension combat capabilities. The 2003 adaptation introduces an additional flaw: susceptibility to remnants of their original human host’s body, a vulnerability nonexistent in manga-based portrayals.
Envy’s demise underscores tragic irony: the living incarnation of envy meets its end through envy of humanity’s communal strength, unraveling into a paradox of self-consuming hatred.