Fullmetal Alchemist Review

If you read my review for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, you might be wondering why am I reviewing it again, but that is not the case. Today I am reviewing the original Fullmetal Alchemist series. While the setup may be similar, the end result is a significantly different story that is great in its own way.

First off, I am going to explain the differences between Brotherhood and the 2003 FMA (Fullmetal Alchemist). Back in 2001, FMA was a manga (comic book) by Hiromu Arakawa, and when it grew in popularity an anime series was produced. However, since manga is released relatively slow compared to anime, the anime series caught up to the manga, and therefore the anime producers were forced to depart from the manga storyline and craft an entirely different story from roughly the halfway point onwards, as well as adding a couple of filler episodes early on. On the other hand, FMA: Brotherhood is nearly a word for word, panel for panel adaptation of the manga, therefore the story is focused and never strays from the main storyline. 

To put it briefly, FMA: Brotherhood is the better series; however, the original FMA is still fantastic because some of the changes it makes offers a different perspectives on the story and themes. If you want to have the most manga accurate experience, watch the first three episodes of Brotherhood and then watch episodes 5 and 9 of the original FMA, and then continue watching Brotherhood. However, watching either series in their entirety works just fine as a viewing experience.

Now that you know the difference the two FMA series, let the review begin.

The Good: Lovable characters, Unique blend of science and fantasy, Mostly great English dub, Thematically strong, Opens one and two are fantastic, Good sense of humor, Excellent development of main characters, Effective drama and tragedy, Emotionally impactful, Perfect portrayal of a brotherly bond, Excellent feature film, Unique protagonists, Some of the best villains, Lust is given superb characterization,

The Bad: Dissatisfying ending (film gives conclusion), Meanders at the halfway point, 

Plot summary: Fullmetal Alchemist is a science fantasy epic about two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric that are Alchemists, who tried to bring their mother back from the dead through human transmutation. However, something went wrong and Alphonse, Ed's younger brother, lost his entire body and Ed lost his leg. To save his brother, he transmuted his soul onto a suit of armor, but it cost Ed his arm to save his brother. At first, the series seems to be only about the brothers trying to get their bodies back, but it is so much more than that.

Plot: 9.6/10- Fullmetal Alchemist is a series with a lot of strong themes throughout its story. While not as large scale and epic as Brotherhood, FMA's story is a more personal and tragic narrative, which works well in its own way. After two episodes that serve as an introduction to the characters, the series jumps back in time to tell the story of how the brothers lost their bodies when they were children, and their journey to become State Alchemists, which refers to the alchemists that serve the military in exchange for funding and resources. 

In the flashback episodes, the story switches to a somewhat episodic nature with a "threat of the week" type stories. Fortunately, each story fleshes out the characters and the world, while also effectively conveying strong thematic elements. Around episode 14, when the characters and world are established, the plot becomes more focused and serialized, which is good. One of my problems with the plot in general is that when the series departs from the manga, it seems to lose steam and focus, with the next few episodes meandering a little too much, granted the plot is still better than almost any other shounen series. The other problem is that the story introduces a few elements into the story in the last three episodes that do not mesh well with what was previously setup, and the finale leaves the viewer dissatisfied. Fortunately, the Conqueror of Shamballa feature film gives proper closure, and since it is such an integral part of the story, it is included in my overall opinion of the series.

Characterization: 9.7/10- Edward and Alphonse Elric are two of most well developed characters in any anime. Having already seen Brotherhood, I was already attached to these characters, and FMA gave me more time with these characters. Just like Brotherhood, their brotherly bond is executed believably. What fascinates me is how the original creator of the manga, Hiromu Arakawa, was able to craft such a believable and accurate representation of brothers, yet she is a woman. I am not saying that women cannot write characters like this, to the contrary, she was able to write characters that are relatable to someone, like myself, who has a strong bond with his brother, and that is quite an impressive feat. No other work of fiction has captured it so well, regardless of which version of FMA you are comparing it to. 

As for the other characters, The Homunculi seem to have more characterization and focus than Brotherhood due to the alteration of their origin, which added an extra layer of tragedy and drama, even if it did not mesh as well into the plot as Brotherhood. In general, the Homunculi are fantastic villains! Each one except for Gluttony is well developed. 

My favorite aspect of the original FMA is how the series handled the backstory of the Homunculus Lust. In Brotherhood, Lust was one of my favorite characters, yet her screen time was shorter than I would have liked. In FMA however, Lust is even given an entire episode devoted to her character, and the direction the writers go with the character is fantastic. Scar is another antagonist of the series, and, just like Brotherhood, his character is superbly developed and given motivation. The only problem with the characterization in FMA is that many of the side characters not mentioned here, with the exception of Mustang, are left with little development. However, it is not a huge problem since the lack of development is only noticeable in comparison to Brotherhood.

Action: 8.3/10- For a shounen, Fullmetal Alchemist is not particularly action heavy, and, for me, that is more of a plus than a negative because it focuses on the story and characters. That being said, the action scenes that are present are quite good. Alchemy in FMA's universe is one of the coolest powers ever, and it allows for some unique battles that use strategy and chemistry to defeat foes.

Acting: 9.3/10- Just like my issue with the Japanese dub in Brotherhood, casting a woman, Romi Park, as Edward is distracting to me because I cannot stop thinking of the voice as a woman in a guy's body. However, since Edward does not age as much as he does in Brotherhood, it is not quite as noticeable. My general opinion about casting a woman as a male character is that if the character is 13-15 or older, cast a man in the role, otherwise it is distracting to me.

Due to this and the fact the canonical language of the FMA is English, I much prefer the English dub, but if you prefer the Japanese that is perfectly fine. As for the dub itself, while it does have some weak points early in the series, the main cast is superb, especially later in the series. Vic Mignogna is absolutely perfect as Edward, and same goes for Travis Willingham as Mustang. Unlike either series in either dub, the voice actor for Alphonse is actually a 12 year old boy. Considering that his performance as Al was excellent, the added layer of believability was greatly appreciated. In fact, I prefer him to Maxey Whitehead in Brotherhood.

Art Style: 8.5/10- Considering that the series is more than a decade old, the animation holds up rather well. At times it shows it age, but thanks to the style of animation that mimics the manga, it can maintain a mostly constant quality throughout. 

Soundtrack: 7.7/10- FMA's score fits the tone of whatever scene it is used, but many of the tracks are reused almost too frequently.

Humor: 8.6/10- Unlike Brotherhood, FMA does not have quite the perfect balance of drama and humor. That being said, the short jokes about Ed are always funny, and there is still some good physical comedy.

Opening and Ending: 8.2/10- FMA's first two openings, particular the second, "Ready Steady Go!," are fun, fast paced, and well animated. On the other hand, the endings and other openings are almost entirely forgettable and not worth listening to more than a few times.

Non-Otaku Appeal: If you want to see a science fantasy epic that uses some classic anime tropes but still has a serious plot, either Fullmetal Alchemist series will certainly suffice. However, I would say that Brotherhood is easier to get into rather the original FMA for newcomers.

Entertainment Value: 9.4/10- Even though the series lost my attention for a couple of episodes during the middle section of the series, it rarely ceased to entertain, even when I was watching almost word for word adaptation of the scenes that I have already seen in Brotherhood.

Overall: 9.6/10- While not flawless, Fullmetal Alchemist is difficult for me not to love. The story is thematically resonating, the characters are lovable, and the story is very involving. All in all, regardless of which Fullmetal Alchemist you watch, it is one of anime's greatest achievements.

Closing comments: Fullmetal Alchemist as a franchise including both series is my favorite anime ever, and easily one of my favorite franchises as whole. Everything from the core brotherly bonds to the epic story appeals to me.

Recommended for: Anyone, Brotherhood fans, Fantasy fans, Sci-Fi fans, Action fans, Shounen fans,

For my two part review of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, click on the links below.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Review Part 1
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Review Part 2
To read more of my anime reviews, you can click here.

Also, if you have reviewed this anime, leave a comment with a link to your review and I will post it here (providing it does not contain any explicit content).

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Review Part 2

Here is part two of my Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Review, please comment below and let me know if you have seen the series or are interest in watching it. If you have not read part one, you can click here.

Plot: 9.9/10- In general, the biggest difference between a series like FMA: Brotherhood and another one of my favorites, like Death Note or Fate/Zero, is Brotherhood's lighter tone, while also maintaining a serious side. It is just more fun as a whole. 

Even though the series is mostly serious in its overall themes and story, there is a lot of great humor, drama, and unexpected deaths. The tone of the series is one of the most unique things about it since it is never too dark, nor it is too light. At first, the show starts out fun, action-packed, and somewhat violent, but then episode 4 hits, it demonstrates the series’ ability to have a very dark side when necessary. However, the series' overall tone is somewhat similar to American TV’s mix of humor, action, and drama, although Brotherhood balances those aspects better most other series. Brotherhood's first half the brothers’, Ed and Al, quest to discover a way get their bodies back, but the second half is more like a rebellion, which reminded me of Star Wars, that results in an all out war. There are elements of political intrigue, an overly controlling government, and many other elements from various genres, which results in a series that is unique and original. My only real compliant with the plot is that the ending went into the weird territory a little too much, but only for half an episode, and the ending in general is one of the more satisfying ones to date. 

Characterization: 10/10- FMA: Brotherhood has some of the best and most compelling characters from any series. 

Edward and Alphonse Elric: Not only are the two leads, Edward and Alphonse, the best representation of brothers in any work of fiction, almost all of the side characters are well developed and memorable, and there are a lot of side characters. The brother relationship between Edward and Alphonse Elric shows a very realistic and relatable brotherly bond. Even though brothers might have their disagreements, in the end we always have each other's back no matter what and that is exactly how Edward and Alphonse are characterized. Typically, brothers in fiction almost always conflict with each other or have troubled relationships, but Ed and Al are a refreshing take on siblings, and they are easily the best. As individuals both have excellent character traits that often result in some hilariously comical moments as well as serious ones. 

Roy Mustang: Redefining the definition of Bada** since 2001

Roy Mustang: Colonel Roy Mustang is quite possibly the most bada** character ever. He has an absurd amount of epically cool scenes throughout the entity of the series yet, he also has great character development and shows a more comical side on occasion. 

Winry: Winry is one of the better romantic interests in anime because she is neither the clichéd butt-kicking chick nor is she a damsel in distress. She is a smart and very skill automail (mechanical arms and legs to replace lost limbs) mechanic that helps Ed and Al, albeit not usually in combat. 

Something else FMA: Brother does well are the villains, and there are many menacing villains throughout the series. My favorite of the villains is the character named Lust, and while she does not receive the most screen time, she is a compelling antagonist. However, discussing the villains in detail would spoil the surprise. 

There are far too many characters like Armstrong, Riza Hawkeye, and Hughes to discuss in one review, but be assured that if I made a Top 25 anime characters list, there would be a lot of FMA: Brotherhood characters. Also, since the series is longer than the typical anime, there is ample room for character development and the series uses it effectively.

Action: 10/10- Few other animated series out there matches FMA: Brotherhood's quality of action scenes (only Black Lagoon and Attack on Titan). 

Seriously, the last quarter of the series is essentially one epic battle, and it is amazing. The use of alchemy and a complete disregard for physics allows for some insanely awesome battles throughout and the animation during those scenes hold up incredibly well. Not only is the quality of action impressive, the variety is even more impressive since the battles range from epic alchemy battles to large scale military assaults to skillful hand-to-hand combat. Also, it should be noted that while the series is not overly gory, there is a lot of blood and death throughout. 

Acting: 9.9/10- While there is not a lot wrong the Japanese dub, I do have one big problem that distracts me, Edward's voice. Edward is voiced by Romi Park, a woman. 

Vic Mignogna cosplaying as Edward

Women voicing young male characters is not uncommon in all animation voice acting (Alphonse is voiced by a woman in both the dub and sub), but when Edward is 15-18 years old throughout the series, it more obvious that a woman is the voicing the role, and I cannot get past that fact. On the dub side, Vic Mignogna manages to sound like a teenage boy. If you did not mind Park's performance, that's great, but it was difficult for me not to notice. Granted, I pay more attention to voicing acting than most. That being said, the English dub is positively fantastic! It is easily one of the best dubs out there. It perfectly captures the over-the-top nature of characters, as well as the more dramatic scenes. Vic Mignogna and Maxey Whitehead voice Ed and Al perfectly giving the characters depth, yet showing their naivety. Travis Willingham should be given special praise for his portrayal of Roy Mustang. All of the other English dub actors are also top notch and essentially perfect. Also, another reason I prefer the dub is that the canonical language of the universe if English, so it makes sense.

Art Style: 9.8/10- Since FMA: Brotherhood was the first true shonen that I watched, the slightly odd art style was off putting at first because the animations changes to a style like the gif below for comedic effect. However, after watching a few episodes and a lot of other somewhat similar series, those brief parts of the series were actually hilarious! The animation in the other parts of the series is often very fluid and detailed, particularly during the impressive action scenes. The character models are one of the stronger aspects of the series in terms of animation quality. While the somewhat blocky shape of the characters is different at first, it works perfectly for the series. In fact, most modern shounen series do not look nearly as crisp and consistent as studio Bones’ animation for Brotherhood. 

Ed's not a fan of milk, which reminds me of my brother.

Soundtrack: 8.3/10- Brotherhood's soundtrack is its only weaker element. While all of the tracks are very good and fitting for the situation in which they are used, very few specific tracks are especially memorable, with a few exceptions. 

Humor: 9.9/10- As stated previous, FMA: Brotherhood can be a very serious show when it needs to be, but it can also be utterly hilarious! 

Most episodes have at least one or two laugh-out-loud moments spread throughout thanks to the comedic chemistry between Ed and Al. Also most of the other characters in the series are also funny and add great humor. Brotherhood has the type of humor that adds to the overall quality of the show, rather than detracting from its story.

Opening and Ending: 9.7/10- FMA: Brotherhood changes the opening and ending themes often, and while all but the last opening is superb, none can top the first opening, "Again" by Yui. Two of the ending themes are memorable enough to listen on their own, and admittedly, I listen to first four openings and the fourth ending often.

Sound Design: 9.9/10- From Alphonse's voice actually sounding like it is coming a metal body with the echoing, to cool sound effect that the Alchemist's transmutations make, all of the sound effects in FMA: Brotherhood are top notch.

Non-Otaku Appeal: Despite my initial skepticism that Brotherhood is not the best gateway series, after actually testing said theory on a true Non-Otaku that I know personally, he ended up enjoying quite a lot. Therefore, my verdict is that non-Otaku should at least give it a watch to see what they think about the series.

Entertainment Value: 9.9/10- Rarely was I not entertained while watching Brotherhood; it is a ton of fun, but smart fun.

Alex Louis Armstrong: The Strong Arm Alchemist

Overall: 9.9/10- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of those series that combines a fun, sometimes, lighthearted tone, with an epic story, and lovable characters that results in one of the best works of fiction I have ever seen. While there are a few flaws in the series, they can be more easily overlooked due to the sheer amount of quality episodes that Brotherhood contains. Also, even though the epic story and humor is great, the characters and how well they are developed is what raises Brotherhood above the rest. In fact, FMA might just be my favorite anime of all-time.

Closing comments: Despite the length of my review, I have barely scratched the surface of what makes Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood a classic and there are so many things that you can discover for yourself as to why it is one of the best. Also, if you are already an anime fan, Brotherhood or the original Fullmetal Alchemist is mandatory viewing.

Note: It should go without saying the FMA: Brotherhood is recommended for more mature audiences, however compared to other shows like Fate/Zero, Brotherhood is more in line with the majority of shows on network TV with mild profanity and violence that is mostly suitable for teenagers and maybe even younger.

Recommended for: Fantasy fans, Action fans, Anime fans, Animation fans, Science-Fiction fans, Epic fans, Avatar: The Last Airbender fans,

Extra Recommendations: If you are a fan of the Avatar: The Last Airbender series, FMA: Brotherhood is highly recommended since it is somewhat similar in terms of the setting and Avatar was obviously influenced by Fullmetal Alchemist.

Watch FMA or Roy will not be pleased...

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Review Part 1

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of those shows that after you finish it that you have such an amazing feeling of satisfaction and overall bewilderment that you just have to sit back and take in all of its greatness. It is one of those rare series that has something for almost anyone, and it is considered by critics to be one of, if not, the best anime series of all time. There is action, comedy, strong characterization, drama, and tons of epicness. In the beginning of most of my anime reviews, I feel the need to convince non-fans of the genre why they should give the series a chance, and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood definitely falls in this category since it is one of the best television series I have ever seen, not just anime. 

Fullmetal Alchemist is a science fantasy epic about two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who are Alchemists, that tried to bring their mother back from the dead through human transmutation. However, something went wrong and Alphonse, Ed's younger brother, lost his entire body and Ed lost his leg. To save his brother, he transmuted his soul onto a suit of armor, but it cost Ed his arm to save his brother. At first, the series seems to be only about the brothers trying to get their bodies back, but there is so much more to it than that.

Best supporting cast ever.

Aside from the great cast of characters, one of the best aspects of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, or FMA: Brotherhood for short, is the unique setting. In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, alchemy actually works, and while the idea of alchemy is obviously not realistic, the rules that govern how alchemy can be used and the scientific principle of "Equivalent Exchange" add a unique twist on the rules of "magic" that are usually present in a fantasy setting and it makes the "magic" like elements more science fiction than fantasy. However, it should be noted that the show does not in the slightest apply to the rules of gravity, physics, or believably in the action scenes, which results in utterly awesome action scenes. The series is set in an alternate world that resembles 1910s and 20s, except it is set in the land of Amestris‎, which is a lot like Europe. As a fan of world building and stories that take place in a land other than earth, the setting was executed perfectly. 

It should be noted that there are two different versions of Fullmetal Alchemist. The original Fullmetal Alchemist series, which air in 2003, and the newer one, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which is what I what I am reviewing today. The original series was made while the manga was still being written and when the series caught up to the manga; the series created a new path for story, which was obviously different than where the manga ended up. Several years later in 2009, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was created, and it followed the manga also verbatim. 

At the time of writing the majority of this review, I had not seen the original Fullmetal Alchemist. However, after watching the original FMA last month, I can say that while Brotherhood is a better, more focused series, with more development of the side characters, the original FMA is not to be missed. It is nearly as well written, and the different path the story takes is intriguing. Be sure to look for my review of the original FMA at some point in the near future.

Unlike many of the other anime series I have seen, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is longer than the typical 24 episode series with 64. Because of its length, the series is sometimes quantity over quality, by which I mean that the series does not always have riveting episodes in the beginning like Death Note, but rather it is a series that has large overarching story lines that offer ample character development and world building. However, the pacing of the series is rarely slow since an amazing action is thrown in often, with the final 20 episodes being one of the most epic battles ever conceived. 

Brotherhood is a shounen series. Technically, shounen refers to the demographic of teen boys with tropes of the genre being relentless action and cartoony animation with the most popular series in the genre being Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach. However, unlike many other shounen series, FMA: Brotherhood is a focused narrative without filler episodes, and it is full of deep themes, strong character development, and a compelling narrative, although there is plenty of action and comedy throughout the series. 

One of my only minor issues with the series is that it starts out a little slow. The pacing is fine, but I was not encapsulated in the story until later in the series. Actually, I started watching the series back in September or October of 2013, but did not finish it until February of this year, because I took a relatively long break in the middle to watch The Walking Dead and a few other shows. However, after you get through the first several episodes, it turns out excellently. 

My other small issue is that, in the series, firearms are a common weapon by the military, and while it is not explained, the State Alchemists are not said to be bulletproof with the exception of a few characters. Obviously, a bullet to the head would kill them, yet they often fight hand-to-hand, which is much more entertaining to watch, but it bothered me a few times that the characters were not killed easier. Maybe, since Alchemists can do all other kinds of superhuman things, they are bulletproof, but it was never explained clearly. Also, some of the dialogue was the typical shonen, "I'm going to explain how I am beating you in slow motion while I am fighting," which worked sometimes while other times it did not.

On a side note, there is basically no fan-service. Aside from one scene that is borderline mild fanservice, the series is almost entirely void of it. 

The Good: Incredibly strong characterization, Perfect mix of action drama and humor,  Epic scope and scale, Lovable characters, Well developed main and supporting characters, Unique and original, Impressive action scenes, Good message, Surprisingly deep, Often hilarious, Accurate and strong representation of brothers, Edward and Alphonse are excellent characters, Awesome villains, Unexpected plot twists, Epic finale, Superb English dub, Surprisingly sad and dramatic when it needs to be,

The Bad: Potentially slow start (not a problem for me), Some cliched dialogue,

While my overall opinion will be coming in the second part next week, explanation below, in short, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the best experiences I have had with any franchise. It hits the mark with its action, drama, humor, themes, and even emotional notes, flawlessly. 

As for the non-Otaku audience, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is not exactly the best place to, or at the same time, if you do try it and enjoy it, Brotherhood is an excellent example of the variety of content that anime can offer. Interestingly, I introduced my brother's best friend to anime with Brotherhood, and unlike my brother, he actually enjoyed Brotherhood a lot. Also, the entire series is on Netflix in both English dub and sub.

Note: Due to length of my review, the review had to be split into two parts, so please be sure to check back next week for the continuation of the review with a breakdown of the characters and other elements.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.