Do we like Edward Elric?
A character from Fullmetal Alchemist (2001)
Our score: 9 out of 10. Hot-headed, short-fused and stubborn, but he is loyal, brave and honest to a fault. We'd back him all the way, though we'd keep clear of anyone who mentions his height.
Edward Elric is the title hero of Hiromu Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist, which began as a manga in 2001 and was adapted into anime and live-action films. He and his younger brother Alphonse grew up in the country of Amestris, learning alchemy, a science of transforming matter. As a boy, Ed made a terrible mistake with it. He now wears metal prosthetic limbs called automail and is on a quest to repair the damage he and Al suffered.
To fund the search, Ed joins the military as a State Alchemist. He is the youngest in the program's history, having joined at 12. The job gives him access to research and resources, and it also pulls him into the schemes of the people who run the country. He and Al travel widely, helping strangers and meeting some of the worst people in Amestris.
Ed is loud, sarcastic and very proud. He is also clever, deeply loyal and willing to sacrifice anything for the people he loves. His temper and stubbornness get him into trouble, but his conscience is reliable. He takes responsibility for his mistakes, and he refuses to take shortcuts that cost other people's lives. That makes him an easy hero to root for, and it earns him a high score.
By the end, Ed has to decide what he is willing to give up to put things right. He chooses a personal sacrifice over power, which confirms that the series treats him as a hero.