In anime, disability is often either something to be overcome, or something which makes a character stronger. It extends the character’s bodily limits along with the reaches of their compassion or fury, giving them far deeper reserves for their personal battles. For Edward Elric, the driving force is far deeper than the loss of his arm and leg in an alchemical ritual gone wrong. His little brother Alphonse lost his entire physical form, still alive by the grace of the hulking suit of armour his soul is tethered to. Though Edward has lost much, his brother has lost part of his old identity. In a sense, he sacrificed his youth. Ed feels that loss is his fault, since he was the one who convinced Al to help him bring their mother back from the dead. Not only that, but he has sent a sickness out into the world through his beloved alchemy. He has committed an unforgivable sin, one which was enough to scar his world with its repugnance. So he quests and fights, for the vulnerable and against evil, all the while searching for his brother’s cure. There is a lot to unpick from Ed’s attitude towards his disability [...]

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