OVA
Description
Roy Mustang, a State Alchemist and high-ranking Amestrian military officer known as the "Flame Alchemist," was orphaned young and raised by his aunt, Chris Mustang. He studied alchemy under Berthold Hawkeye before entering the military academy, where he befriended Maes Hughes and nurtured idealistic goals of citizen protection. After Berthold's death, his daughter Riza Hawkeye entrusted Roy with her father's flame alchemy research, encoded as a tattoo on her back, demanding he use it solely for good. Mastering this alchemy earned him State Alchemist certification and the rank of Major.
Deployed as a human weapon during the Ishval Civil War, Roy unleashed devastating flame alchemy in the Daliha district, gaining the moniker "Hero of Ishval" but becoming haunted by guilt over participating in genocide. Following orders to execute non-combatants, including Amestrian doctors, intensified his self-loathing and suicidal thoughts. This trauma shattered his idealism, replacing it with a resolve to rise within the military hierarchy, reform the system, and prevent future atrocities. He vowed to become Führer to protect citizens from above, spurred by the gratitude of men he saved. Riza Hawkeye, equally guilt-ridden, requested Roy burn the research tattoo off her back to prevent another Flame Alchemist.
Post-war promotion to Lieutenant Colonel placed Roy in East City under Lt. General Grumman. As commander, he recruited loyal subordinates, including Riza as his aide, charging her to shoot him should he stray from righteousness. Discovering Edward and Alphonse Elric after their failed human transmutation, Roy recognized Edward's talent. He recruited Edward as a State Alchemist, offering military resources to restore the brothers' bodies in exchange for Edward's service under his command. Roy shielded the Elrics' secrets and granted them autonomy to research the Philosopher's Stone.
Roy's duties involved investigating threats like Scar and the rogue chimera project. The murder of his closest friend, Maes Hughes, triggered a covert investigation into military corruption, revealing a conspiracy involving Homunculi infiltrating Central Command. Roy faked the death of Maria Ross, falsely accused of Hughes' murder, to protect her while pursuing the truth. His actions against the Homunculi, including killing Lust, drew scrutiny from Führer King Bradley—a Homunculus himself—resulting in Roy's subordinates being reassigned across Amestris.
Roy's flame alchemy utilizes custom gloves of ignition cloth, embroidered with transmutation circles that create sparks when snapped. By manipulating oxygen density, he ignites precise fiery pathways to incinerate targets with high accuracy. Rain or wet gloves hinder this ability. His tactical prowess and adaptability make him formidable, acknowledged by Homunculi as highly troublesome.
In the manga and 2009 anime, Roy allies with General Olivier Armstrong to storm Central Command during a Homunculus-led coup. Consumed by vengeance upon learning Envy murdered Hughes, he brutally tortures Envy but is persuaded by Edward, Hawkeye, and Scar to spare the Homunculus. Forced into human transmutation by Homunculi, Roy encounters Truth and sacrifices his eyesight. Post-conflict, using a Philosopher's Stone provided by Tim Marcoh, Roy regains his vision in exchange for spearheading Ishval's restoration as Brigadier General of the East.
In the 2003 anime, Roy's guilt over Ishval includes executing Winry Rockbell's parents under orders. After Hughes' death, he abandons reforming the corrupt military internally, recognizing its irredeemable state under Homunculi. He assassinates Führer Bradley in civilian clothes, symbolizing his break from the institution. During escape, Frank Archer shoots him, costing his left eye. In *Conqueror of Shamballa*, Roy resigns from alchemy and military rank, becoming an enlisted man before defending Amestris against interdimensional invaders. He helps Edward and Alphonse return to their world, accepting responsibility for closing Amestris' Gate of Truth.
Roy projects a facade of arrogance, laziness, and womanizing to mask his strategic acumen and ambition, allowing him to manipulate situations while appearing nonthreatening. Beneath this lies fierce loyalty to subordinates and profound protectiveness, particularly toward the Elrics, though his methods sometimes involve controlling or harsh guidance. His relationship with Edward evolves from mutual exploitation to respect, culminating in a handshake replacing a military salute. Riza Hawkeye remains his moral compass and most trusted confidant; their bond, rooted in shared trauma and duty, implies romantic undertones, though military fraternization laws prevent formal union.
Deployed as a human weapon during the Ishval Civil War, Roy unleashed devastating flame alchemy in the Daliha district, gaining the moniker "Hero of Ishval" but becoming haunted by guilt over participating in genocide. Following orders to execute non-combatants, including Amestrian doctors, intensified his self-loathing and suicidal thoughts. This trauma shattered his idealism, replacing it with a resolve to rise within the military hierarchy, reform the system, and prevent future atrocities. He vowed to become Führer to protect citizens from above, spurred by the gratitude of men he saved. Riza Hawkeye, equally guilt-ridden, requested Roy burn the research tattoo off her back to prevent another Flame Alchemist.
Post-war promotion to Lieutenant Colonel placed Roy in East City under Lt. General Grumman. As commander, he recruited loyal subordinates, including Riza as his aide, charging her to shoot him should he stray from righteousness. Discovering Edward and Alphonse Elric after their failed human transmutation, Roy recognized Edward's talent. He recruited Edward as a State Alchemist, offering military resources to restore the brothers' bodies in exchange for Edward's service under his command. Roy shielded the Elrics' secrets and granted them autonomy to research the Philosopher's Stone.
Roy's duties involved investigating threats like Scar and the rogue chimera project. The murder of his closest friend, Maes Hughes, triggered a covert investigation into military corruption, revealing a conspiracy involving Homunculi infiltrating Central Command. Roy faked the death of Maria Ross, falsely accused of Hughes' murder, to protect her while pursuing the truth. His actions against the Homunculi, including killing Lust, drew scrutiny from Führer King Bradley—a Homunculus himself—resulting in Roy's subordinates being reassigned across Amestris.
Roy's flame alchemy utilizes custom gloves of ignition cloth, embroidered with transmutation circles that create sparks when snapped. By manipulating oxygen density, he ignites precise fiery pathways to incinerate targets with high accuracy. Rain or wet gloves hinder this ability. His tactical prowess and adaptability make him formidable, acknowledged by Homunculi as highly troublesome.
In the manga and 2009 anime, Roy allies with General Olivier Armstrong to storm Central Command during a Homunculus-led coup. Consumed by vengeance upon learning Envy murdered Hughes, he brutally tortures Envy but is persuaded by Edward, Hawkeye, and Scar to spare the Homunculus. Forced into human transmutation by Homunculi, Roy encounters Truth and sacrifices his eyesight. Post-conflict, using a Philosopher's Stone provided by Tim Marcoh, Roy regains his vision in exchange for spearheading Ishval's restoration as Brigadier General of the East.
In the 2003 anime, Roy's guilt over Ishval includes executing Winry Rockbell's parents under orders. After Hughes' death, he abandons reforming the corrupt military internally, recognizing its irredeemable state under Homunculi. He assassinates Führer Bradley in civilian clothes, symbolizing his break from the institution. During escape, Frank Archer shoots him, costing his left eye. In *Conqueror of Shamballa*, Roy resigns from alchemy and military rank, becoming an enlisted man before defending Amestris against interdimensional invaders. He helps Edward and Alphonse return to their world, accepting responsibility for closing Amestris' Gate of Truth.
Roy projects a facade of arrogance, laziness, and womanizing to mask his strategic acumen and ambition, allowing him to manipulate situations while appearing nonthreatening. Beneath this lies fierce loyalty to subordinates and profound protectiveness, particularly toward the Elrics, though his methods sometimes involve controlling or harsh guidance. His relationship with Edward evolves from mutual exploitation to respect, culminating in a handshake replacing a military salute. Riza Hawkeye remains his moral compass and most trusted confidant; their bond, rooted in shared trauma and duty, implies romantic undertones, though military fraternization laws prevent formal union.