Shou Tucker, the Sewing-Life Alchemist, was referred by Colonel Roy Mustang to Edward Elric in Chapter 5. This was when the Fullmetal Alchemist needed a bio-alchemist to help him and Alphonse. Tucker was well-known and earned his State Alchemist License by creating a chimera capable of human speech. Al and Ed begin to visit Tucker at his estate. They pore over Tucker’s text library and establish a friendly relationship.
Tucker’s wife was reported to have left the family two years ago. Tucker tells the Elrics that bioalchemy, particularly in the field of chimeric research, is experimental at best. It results in many failures and false starts. Tucker notes that he has not presented an alchemical breakthrough worthy of his State Alchemist assessment since his speaking chimera earned him his license. He fears that this year’s failure will result in him losing his research privileges and certification.
Edward is quick to notice that Tucker has overcome the obstacles of artificially creating another speaking chimera by alchemically merging a human with an animal. In this case, Nina, Alexander, and his wife. Edward is shocked when Tucker confirms his gruesome suspicions. Edward then responds violently. Fullmetal taunts and gaslights the Sewing-Life Alchemist. Fullmetal states that Edward’s plot to kill his mother and Tucker’s use of his family’s lives for research are both evidence of scientific minds that are open to learning despite any taboos.
APPEARANCE
Shou looks like a middle-aged man with little muscle and height. His receding hairline leaves him with only a tiny amount of brown hair and a slight beard. Shou has been seen wearing one outfit. It is a faded green shirt with sleeves that are rolled up to the elbows and a second, black shirt underneath. He is a pleasant person when he is around others, but in private he is more anxious and downcast. This is evident in his caption on the title card for the 2009 Anime.
PERSONALITY
Shou is initially a quiet, reserved man who prefers to be alone than to spend time with others. He does present a polite personality when hosting guests and is very friendly, kind, and gentle. As Nina, his daughter, noticed, he was often more involved in his work than his family. Shou was actually a victim of a lack of confidence as his research failed to produce viable results. He is delusional, selfish and manipulative and has no conscience. To obtain his State Alchemist qualification, Shou was willing to sacrifice his wife and then his daughter to keep it.
He also feared that he would return to poverty and regret. Shou, who was not remorseful for his actions after they were revealed, claimed that it was just the advancement of science and that he would continue to be a State Alchemist. Shou lacks empathy and can’t understand other perspectives. He intellectually knew that others would be outraged by the truth behind his experiments, hence his lying to Nina (and the Elric brothers) that his wife had abandoned them. But he couldn’t explain why and believed that any other alchemist would do the same thing if they were in the same financial position. Ed was taken by surprise when Shou made his wife and daughter chimeras.
MANGA & 2009 ANIME
Shou Tucker’s death and that of his daughter. The Elrics are unable to reverse the damage Tucker has done to Nina. They leave the estate and report the incident to Colonel Mustang. The Sewing-Life Alchemist is placed under house arrest along with his daughter, until he is tried in Central City. While waiting for Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes and Major Alex Louis Armstrong to arrive in East City to arrest him, Tucker tells his Chimera daughter that he doesn’t understand.
The mysterious Scar appears at that time, breaking into Shou Tucker’s estate and killing him. Scar allows Shou Tucker’s daughter to grieve briefly before he mercilessly kills her. Later, Hawkeye informs the Elrics of the fates of the Tuckers. They learn that Tucker would have been decommissioned and subject to court-martial. Soon after, Scar attacks them and reveals that he is the Tuckers’ murderer. Lust and Envy briefly talk about Tucker’s fate while this is happening in Reole.
Later, Tucker appears in a dream in chapter 43. He accuses Edward of making his mother and brother monsters. Episode 7: Maes Hughes briefly mentions that Tucker and Nina are still open, but Ed immediately drops the topic because it is annoying to Ed. Episode 20: Ed is haunted in Episode 20 by Tucker’s taunting after Nina was turned into a chimera. Episode 22: Scar confronts the Elrics about the lives he has taken, including Tucker’s and Nina’s.
2003 ANIME
Tucker in the original anime series. Although the Elrics and Shou Tucker meet in the manga, the Tucker arc in the 2003 anime is a flashback that takes place as the brothers prepare for the State Alchemy exam. Tucker is still very distant from Nina, except for giving them advice and letting them use his library to study. Tucker allows Nina to go with the Elrics, and trusts that the Elrics will keep an eye on Nina as they take her to the Hughes’ to celebrate Ed’s birthday, and to their State Alchemy Examination during this time. Tucker plays an important role in the anime’s storyline.
Instead of being another Alchemist under Colonel Mustang’s jurisdiction in East City, Tucker is now under the command of Brigadier General Basque Grand in Central. He constantly pressures Tucker to meet the high standards set forth by his first chimera. The Elrics are forced to leave Tucker’s house as a result of Ed’s research. Both Tucker and Nina are clearly upset and begin to embrace one another. Tucker, however, decides to transform Nina and Alexander into a chimera once the Tuckers are no longer together.
Grand intervenes immediately to take Tucker into custody. He also orders the Elrics not to tell anyone the truth about the matter (implying that Tucker knew the truth about Tucker’s chimera). Although Edward intervenes to allow Nina to escape from being a test subject in Edward’s attempt at creating a “half-beast army”, Tucker is still in custody. The Elrics are given the task of going through Tucker’s research, much to the dismay of Ed. Shou Tucker, a chimera, holding the lifeless Nina doll. Tucker was actually sent to Laboratory 5 as a researcher, and test subject.
In the 2003 anime’s Lab 5 arc, Ed meets Tucker during his investigation into the more secluded echelons at the facility. Ed was shocked to see Tucker alive, and he still hates Tucker for the things he did to Nina. Tucker tried to bring his daughter back in chimera form every day since the loss of his daughter. He failed every time. One of these failures led to a rebound that made Tucker a chimera. Tucker was also able to create several non-Nina Chimeras, and he acts as their master. He works with the Homunculi to manipulate Edward so that he can create a Philosopher’s Stone from prison inmates.
This is in the hope that the Homunculi with his memories will be able to help Nina get a new Homunculus body and a new soul. Tucker, paranoid and unstable, joined with anyone who could provide him the protection he needed to achieve his goal. Shortly, he joined Greed’s team, most likely because he believed he could give the Homunculus immortality and also serve as a doctor for the other chimeras working with Greed. Shou accepted Frank Archer’s offer to re-join the military.
Tucker took advantage of his military privileges to build an army of chimeras for Archer and the Fuhrer. He also used his research to make lifeless dolls inspired by Nina. Al was made a vessel by the Philosopher’s Stone. Tucker deceived the boy and offered to teach him how to master it. In reality, he wanted to use Al to transform Nina into a human from his chimera dolls.
Although Tucker was successful in his first flawless Human Transmutation. Sloth said that Tucker’s will wasn’t strong enough to bind Nina into her new body. Tucker was crushed by this piece of information and he became madder still. With the Nina doll in hand, he was seen last drawing alchemy patterns on a wall. He may have been trying to bring his daughter back or reliving the happy times that existed before she became a victim of his research.
TRIVIA
- Tucker’s name in Japanese is “Show”, but it is incorrectly pronounced “Shao” in English. Ironically, May Chang’s pet panda Xiao–Mei can be pronounced as “Shao” in Japanese and sometimes as “Show” in English.
- Tucker is the only character known to have been killed in the official manga canon storyline. However, Tucker was alive in the 2003 anime timeline (unlike many other characters who survived the manga storyline but were killed in the 2003 anime storyline).
- Tucker, who created a soulless Nina in 2003’s storyline is never seen again. He failed to create a soulless Nina, which likely ended his grip on reality.
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST – HOW SHOU TUCKER’S DARK ALCHEMY SHOCKED EDWARD AND US
Alphonse Elric and Edward got an early lead in the story of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. A Shou Tucker state alchemist was the key to how they could restore their mangled bodies. Alphonse and Edward committed the grave sin of trying human transmutation years ago and would do anything to rectify that. Tucker was known for being the “sewing life alchemist”, so the Elric brothers visited him. They didn’t know how capable Tucker was.
SHOU TUCKER UNDER PRESSURE
Alphonse and Edward were eager to meet Shou. They visited his home. Tucker was busy at the time, deep in research. He was under pressure to renew his state alchemist license and needed to show state officials that he was worthy of it. Tucker didn’t have any leads for the Elrics, but he allowed his brothers to stay with him and his small family. He also granted them access to his extensive library. Al and Ed had a wonderful time looking through the Tucker family collection. Shou Tucker was not the only one.
He shared his home with Nina, his daughter, and Alexander, the family dog. Tucker was determined to keep his license to support his family. However, he couldn’t do it alone. Two years prior, Tucker’s wife had left him and he never saw her again. Al and Ed took everything at face value and decided to move on after a few days. Ed and Al went back to their business one rainy afternoon. Nina and Alexander were strangely absent. Shou was found by the Elric brothers upstairs in a large space with a strange new creature… RELATED: Fullmetal Alchemist, Father’s Grand Plan, Explained
SHOU TUCKER’S DARK SECRET
Al and Ed spoke with Shou Tucker again as the weather got worse. Mr. Tucker was quite thrilled about what he had just accomplished. He had achieved the impossible. Using his sewing-life skills, he had made a talking chimera that could live off of his sewing machine, something once thought impossible. Al and Ed were both deeply impressed by the ability of the dog-person to talk to them in slow, deep voices. Ed then noticed Nina and Alexander had left, so he asked Tucker about it.
He also inquired when Shou’s spouse had left the family. Evidently, it was two years ago that Shou created a chimera in order to be eligible for his state alchemist license. It was not a coincidence. Ed immediately made the connection. Tucker had used Nina and Alexander to create a chimera in order to prove his worth. It was impossible to undo the damage he had done. What also shocked Ed and viewers was Shou Tucker’s complete disregard for it. He was determined to make progress in biological and alchemy at all costs, even the lives of other people. Edward beat him furiously, but Mr. Tucker insists that this is the alchemist’s way, and that Ed, as a fellow state-alchemist, should understand.
Edward was different and stormed out with Alphonse, who also hated Shou, but didn’t hit him. Ed and Al had never seen Shou or his new chimera. Shou was left alone and kept under surveillance by police prior to his trial. He spoke to his new chimera and wondered why no one else understood his thoughts. He saw everything could have been done in the name and honor of progress and alchemy, and all of these protests were in direct contradiction to what state alchemy was all about.
He was not alone. Soon enough, an Ishvalan monk arrived, killed Shou Tucker’s guards and then killed himself. Scar was heartbroken by Alexander and Nina’s actions. Scar knew there was no way to save the chimera, so he wished it peace, and then he killed it with one, merciful blow. Shou Tucker’s evil continues to strike a chord with Fullmetal Alchemist fans.
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FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST – WHY NINA TUCKER’S TRAGIC STORY RESONATES SO WELL
Near escapes and miraculous rescues may appeal to you, but anime is known for being a brutal force that can kill large numbers of people. Sometimes, those people have not even grown up. Children of all genres are welcome to the anime scythe, whether it’s baby Conny from The Promised Neverland or the Hyakuya Orphanage at Seraph of the End. The anime community can’t seem not to forget Nina Tucker, Fullmetal Alchemist/Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.
Nina’s transformation to a chimera through her union with Alexander, her beloved dog, is still very touching ten years after the end of FMA.B. Her resulting death is also a poignant moment. Her father is widely resented for her murder. Although Nina is a tragic character, what is the reason that her death resonates with so many viewers, especially considering the show’s history of mass genocide and body horror, as well as the deaths of many beloved characters? Nina is more than just a child’s death.
It is her themes and emotions, not the grief, that keep her in our minds so well. RELATED: Fullmetal Alchemist Reveals New Images From Live-Action Sequel Movies Nina’s suicide is, first and foremost, a betrayal at the fundamental level of parent-child relationship; it’s one of society’s most shameful actions. As if the act of a father killing his child wasn’t bad enough, Fullmetal Alchemist places such great importance on family relationships that Shou Tucker’s use of his only daughter is more disturbing.
Shou Tucker and Nina set up a start of father/child relations in the story, which finally ends with Edward being able to forgive his father. Shou Tucker, von Hohenheim, and the Dwarf of the Flask all represent fathers who neglect their children or are willing to give up his child. Shou Tucker is the worst offender, both morally and in the story. The Dwarf in the Flask, on the other hand, is just Shou Tucker’s escalation of his ideals, ready to give up everything to reach his goals.
Second, Nina could have been saved. There is often an inescapable feeling that child death in anime is inevitable. Conny in The Promised Neverland couldn’t have been saved. Norman and Emma arrive too late for her rescue, and even if they arrived earlier, they would not have been able to save her life. Alphonse and Edward spend the days prior to Nina’s transformation at Tucker’s home learning half-truths and listening to the story of Nina and her missing mother. When Nina tells Edward what happened, Edward and Alphonse arrive at Tucker to discover the chimera created from Alexander and Nina.
The brothers ignore every sign. This is a major personal failure for the brothers, showing that they are unable to protect one little girl. However, it is not enough. Nina is soon murdered by Scar, as Shou Tucker is taken hostage by the assassin. Even though Nina’s death is Scar’s act of mercy, it is what takes Nina away. Nina Tucker is thus twice killed, and the Elrics feel completely responsible and helpless. RELATED: Fullmetal Alchemist’s Promised Day Arrives In Action-Packed Live Action Trailer Her lasting impact is also due to the way Nina’s funeral is presented.
Many child deaths are used to launch a story — The Promised Neverland, Seraph of the End both list obvious instances of child mortality in the first episode. However, Nina is only introduced after several episodes. Because Nina was just introduced, audiences were able to relax and enjoy a sweet little girl making flower crowns. Shou Tucker was introduced to be a trustworthy, helpful character so there wasn’t a need to panic, especially when compared with the new Lust and Gluttony and Envy . While child deaths can be used to shock viewers, Nina’s was shocking.
She died just as the series was about to resume. Nina Tucker was one of the most tragic anime child deaths. This is due to the untimely, preventable and sheer atrocity of a father trying to experiment on his child in anime that emphasizes the importance of family. Many can still vividly recall the cries of Ed…ward and the horror at realizing that the Elric brothers wouldn’t be able to save Nina Tucker. Nina Tucker’s passing was the result of realizing that Fullmetal Alchemist wasn’t about tragic backstories but also tragic lives. This made it one of the most loved anime ever.