He started as a smudge. A literal puff of gas in a glass jar, born from the blood of a slave and the hubris of an ancient alchemist. If you’ve seen Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, you know that the Dwarf in the Flask—later known simply as "Father"—isn't just a monster. He is a warning. Most villains want to rule the world or maybe get a little bit of revenge for a childhood trauma, but this guy? He wanted to swallow God.
Honestly, it’s wild how Hiromu Arakawa managed to make a tiny shadow with a single eye seem so menacing before he even had a body. He’s the ultimate manipulator. He didn’t just destroy the kingdom of Cselkcess; he convinced them they were achieving immortality while he was busy turning their souls into a battery for himself.
People often confuse the two Fullmetal Alchemist series, but the Dwarf in the Flask is strictly the mastermind of the 2009 Brotherhood adaptation and the original manga. In the 2003 version, the antagonist is Dante, who is creepy in her own right, but she lacks the cosmic, existential dread that the Homunculus brings to the table. We’re talking about a creature that spent centuries underground, literally weaving a country-sized transmutation circle into the very soil of Amestris.
The Birth of the First Homunculus
Everything started in the lost city of Cselkcess. King Xerxes was obsessed with living forever, which is usually how these things go south. An alchemist—whose name history forgot—created the Dwarf in the Flask by using the blood of Slave Number 23. That slave, of course, became Van Hohenheim.
The Dwarf was smart. Way too smart for a glass jar.
He didn't have a physical form of his own, so he was stuck. He was a creature of information and soul, but he lacked a vessel. You’ve got to appreciate the irony: the most powerful being in the world started out unable to even open a door. He spent his days teaching Hohenheim how to read, how to write, and how to perform alchemy. It looked like a friendship. It felt like a mentorship. It was actually a long-con survival strategy.
When the time came for the "Great Transmutation," the King of Xerxes thought he was becoming a god. Instead, the Dwarf in the Flask sacrificed every single man, woman, and child in the city to create two Philosopher's Stones. He took one for himself, creating a body that looked exactly like Hohenheim, and gave the other to Hohenheim to keep him alive as a "thank you" (and a way to ensure his own survival).
Why the Dwarf in the Flask Is Different From Your Average Villain
Most bad guys have an "aha!" moment where they realize they were wrong. Or maybe they have a tragic backstory that makes you feel bad for them. The Dwarf? Not really. He’s driven by a pure, cold curiosity mixed with an inferiority complex the size of a planet.
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He hated being in that flask. He hated being "lesser."
His entire plan in Amestris—founding the country, sparking wars, creating the State Alchemist program—was all just a repeat of what he did in Xerxes, but on a massive scale. He needed five "sacrifices," people who had opened the Gate of Truth, to act as the anchors for his circle.
Think about the patience that requires.
He waited hundreds of years. He sat in his basement under Central Command, popping out "children" (the Seven Sins) like he was checking off a to-do list. He didn't care about the politics of Amestris. He didn't care about King Bradley's leadership style. He just needed the population to reach a specific number so their souls would have enough "juice" to pull the Truth down to Earth.
The Seven Deadly Sins: More Than Just Henchmen
One of the most fascinating things about the Dwarf in the Flask is how he shed his own humanity. He literally purged his emotions to become "perfect." He took his pride, his lust, his greed, his envy, his sloth, his gluttony, and his wrath, and he bottled them up into the Homunculi.
It’s a bit of a psychological self-own, though.
By getting rid of these traits, he didn't actually become a god. He became hollow. Look at Greed—he eventually turned against Father because his "greed" manifested as a desire for real friends. Look at Envy, who was actually jealous of how humans keep fighting despite being weak. The Dwarf in the Flask thought these traits were weaknesses, but they were the only things that made him remotely alive.
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When he finally achieves his "Ultimate Form" during the Promised Day, he looks like a young Hohenheim, then a giant shadow, and eventually a gold-clad deity. But underneath the flashy powers, he’s still just that terrified little thing in a jar. He hasn't grown. He hasn't learned. He just got bigger.
The Final Confrontation and the Irony of "Truth"
The ending of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is widely considered one of the best in anime history because of how it handles Father's defeat. He actually succeeds for a minute. He opens the planet’s gate. He swallows the "God" of the FMA universe.
And then Edward Elric and the rest of the crew start tearing him apart.
The battle isn't just about punching hard. It’s about the fact that the Dwarf couldn't contain what he took. He tried to hold the infinite within a finite soul. While Hohenheim used his own Philosopher’s Stone to counter the transmutation, the souls inside Father began to revolt.
When he is finally dragged back to the Gate of Truth, he meets "Truth" (the God-figure of the series). The conversation they have is brutal. The Dwarf asks why Truth won't let him have what he wants. He wants to know everything! He wants to be free!
Truth basically tells him he’s a loser.
"You didn't believe in yourself," Truth says. "You used others. You stole power. You never grew beyond that flask."
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It’s a crushing realization. The villain who thought he was the most evolved being in existence was actually just a parasite who refused to do the work. He wanted a shortcut to divinity, and in the world of alchemy—where Equivalent Exchange is law—there are no shortcuts.
Real-World Lessons from a Shadow in a Jar
It might seem weird to take life advice from a 20-year-old manga character, but the Dwarf in the Flask represents a very real human tendency: the desire to bypass the struggle.
We see this in everything. People want the result without the process. They want the "immortality" without the "living."
The Dwarf’s failure highlights that true power comes from connection and understanding, not just accumulation. While Edward Elric gave up his ability to perform alchemy to save his brother—trading his "power" for his "humanity"—the Dwarf did the exact opposite. He traded his humanity for power, and in the end, he had nothing left to trade back when the bill came due.
How to Analyze the Dwarf in Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning on going through the series again, keep an eye on these specific details that most people miss:
- The Eyes: Notice how the Dwarf's original form is just one eye. Throughout the series, the presence of eyes on the Homunculi and the Gate of Truth signifies "knowledge" and "observation." Father tries to see everything, but he understands nothing.
- The Contrast with Hohenheim: Hohenheim spent centuries talking to every single soul inside his body. He learned their names. He shared their grief. Father treated his souls like fuel. This is why Hohenheim could coordinate with his souls, while Father’s souls eventually fought back.
- The Design of his "God" Form: When he finally absorbs Truth, his appearance mimics the "perfect" human form, but it’s fragile. He starts leaking. He can’t maintain the shape. It’s a visual metaphor for his internal instability.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Writers
If you’re a writer or a creator looking at the Dwarf in the Flask as a template for a villain, there are a few key takeaways you can apply to your own work.
- Give your villain a limitation that defines them. The flask wasn't just a physical container; it was a psychological one. Even when he was free, he acted like he was still trapped.
- Use "The Mirror Rule." The best villains are dark reflections of the hero. Father is what Edward Elric could have become if Ed had stayed obsessed with the idea that alchemy can fix everything.
- The "Cost" must be visible. Every time Father uses his power, remind the audience what it cost (human souls). This keeps the stakes high and the villain genuinely loathsome.
Next Steps for FMA Enthusiasts:
Go back and watch Episode 40 of Brotherhood ("The Homunculus"). It’s the flashback episode that covers the fall of Xerxes. Pay close attention to the Dwarf's dialogue. Almost every line is a double-entendre about his future plans. Once you see the "little one" for what he really is—a desperate, lonely ego in a glass cage—the entire series takes on a much darker, more tragic tone. You'll realize the show isn't just about two brothers; it's about the difference between growing up and just growing big.