"In order for something to be obtained, something of equal value must be lost."
Alchemy is bound by this Law of Equivalent Exchange—something the young brothers Edward and Alphonse
Elric only realize after attempting human transmutation: the one forbidden act of alchemy. They pay a
terrible price for their transgression—Edward loses his left leg, Alphonse his physical body. It is
only by the desperate sacrifice of Edward's right arm that he is able to affix Alphonse's soul to a
suit of armor. Devastated and alone, it is the hope that they would both eventually return to their
original bodies that gives Edward the inspiration to obtain metal limbs called "automail" and become a
state alchemist, the Fullmetal Alchemist.
Three years of searching later, the brothers seek the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical relic that
allows an alchemist to overcome the Law of Equivalent Exchange. Even with military allies Colonel Roy
Mustang, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes on their side, the brothers find
themselves caught up in a nationwide conspiracy that leads them not only to the true nature of the
elusive Philosopher's Stone, but their country's murky history as well. In between finding a serial
killer and racing against time, Edward and Alphonse must ask themselves if what they are doing will
make them human again... or take away their humanity.
(Source: MAL Rewrite)
Um dos, se não O, shõnen mais bem trabalhado dessa geração. A autora em nenhum momento subestima a inteligencia dos espectadores, a trama vai do micro para o macro de uma maneira muito natural e coerente, tudo já estava muito bem preparado por ela desde o incio, ela subverte diversas expectativas e cria varias situações interessantes e inesperadas dentro do gênero de 'anime de porrada'. Um dos pontos que mais favorecem a grandiosidade do anime em termo de popularidade e qualidade são seus personagens cativantes e memoráveis, desde os personagens principais como Ed e o Al que você acompanha o sofrimento (muito bem explorado) de perder seus corpos e todos os ecos que aquela experiencia traumática teve em suas vidas e personalidades até aqueles personagens de suporte que aparecem em poucos episódios todos são bem trabalhados tornando-os mais memoráveis que diversos protagonistas genéricos existentes em tantos animes por ai. Arakawa cuida para que cada personagem tenha seu desenvolvimento e para que o publico não consiga ser indiferente a ele (e as vezes quebre nossa cara pouco tempo depois). Outro fato encantador de FMA é o seu ritmo que consegue ser frenético e por vezes calmo, sempre nos estimulando a querer saber mais e descobrir ___tudo___ que esta por trás dos acontecimentos da trama regulando o nível de intensidade de uma maneira muito cautelosa criando momentos de quebra de tensão mas nunca tornando algum episodio desnecessário. Além de tudo isso vale destacar é na coragem da obra de abordar temas adultos mesmo voltado para um publico jovem ela não teme em abordar temas como militarismo, fascismo, guerra, preconceito racial, corrupção, discussões filosóficas e fazer referencia a cabala. PONTO BÔNUS: Nenhuma das personagens femininas é hipersexualizada ou diminuída em momento algum, todas elas tem pontos e momentos de destaque no anime.
__Even though the shounen genre may have been overrated sometimes by the anime community itself, and me myself hated it being a repeated concept in the industry, FullMetal Alchemist;Brotherhood showed me what this kind of genre really is capable of. I see shounen as being just non-stop action and hype with main characters generically and always striving to be the best like this or the best like that, while this show isn’t just about a story of an underdog trying to attain something. And hell nor it may have overpowered protagonist where every female bitches is falling inlove with them. And yes, I see this show great as well because its not just about the story of the main characters itself, but as the camera takes you away from the protagonist which are the Elric Brothers, you can see that every character lines on this show is being progressed as if it in a very realistic manner. When one moves, also everyone does. AND I ALSO FORGOT, THIS SHOW HAS THE LEAST BIT OF PLOTHOLES ON IT SO YOU WILL NOT BE TROUBLING YOURSELF FROM ANALYZING EACH BITS OF IT. IN FACT IT’S CLOSE TO BEING FLAWLESS.__ __Story 10/10__ Now the story basically takes place on two brothers, Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric committing a forbidden action in alchemy which one must not act, also called as “human transmutation” or reviving someone from the dead. They want to revive their mother, Trisha Elric, who overworked herself because of solitude. They basically tried to commit this taboo and seemingly they receive nothing but a painful punishment; from Edward being taken his legs off and Alphones his whole body. And now the overall goal of the main characters is to basically find the philosopher’s stone which is capable of returning both of their bodies back. Little does they know that this stones has a lot of mysterious components in that makes the story captivating and amazing. From the first episode you can already tell that the story is going somewhere deep and mysterious that every viewer may have not been predicting. The shows starts of a little bit lighthearted and comedic because some of its scenes are animated cartoonishly but as you pass halfway through the series the comedies are being reduced, not abruptly but with ease, and you’ll be starting to wander the world of alchemy. The story is well written not just because of how it transitions its lightheartedness, but also because of its fast paced plotline, the mysteries, the emotions, the satisfaction and most of all, the action. Its just one of those shows blended with other genres as well but staying consistent on its roots. __ Characters 10/10__ How do you make a nice plot? Well develop a good and consistent character. And FullMetal Alchemist Brotherhood exactly does that. If its a villain,then its a villain. If the character is like this, then it won’t change from insignificant reasons. This show does that well that every characters in this show is somewhat significant and engaging with the plot and not a single one of them can be considered as ‘trash’. Not the trash I mean that has poor character but trash as in being disposed. You see one problem of fiction stories here is that they introduce a character and after they fulfill their respective roles on the show they will just be forgotten and disappear like they never exist, you see “TRASH”. While on the other hand, instead of just being forgotten this show made it so that every character is still engaging with one another and not being completely forgotten about. And with that its a big advantage on the show because it made the plot a lot more realistic and lessen a lot of plot holes. And also the bad guys here are very well written. The 6 sins (excluding greed) made it so that every viewer needs to be fulfilled with various kinds of bad guys. And of course the main antagonist was well-written as well clearly stating his ambitions within the show. All in all the characters here were all just great and fantastic. Ohh.. Here are may favorite characters on the shows-. - Well of course I’ll consider the protagonists, the Elric Brothers, I don’t think I need some explanation in that or some clarification. - -Roy Mustang: Because he has this genius side on him staying true to his dream as the Fuhrer President even though holding immense amount of capabilities he still didn’t use it for something evil. - Lin Yao and Greed: They made it seem so that being greedy isn’t really a sin. - Van Hohenheim- who doesn’t like a bad ass father? __Sound 9.7/10__ The sounds in this show were clearly also a masterpiece. I’ll divide it into three parts though so that it’s organize, the OST, OP and ED and the voice acting and usage of Sound Effects. - __Opening And Ending (10/10)__ The 5 Openings was really great and unique that it hit every viewer hard so that they couldn’t forget the show just like that. Each opening has their unique sounds and all were not just generic JPOP Rock, but also something emotional and sad that it can pierce through my heart when watching emotional portions of the show. I love how they made the 5th Opening more soft and not rock as the show is really engaging not just actions and hype but also something more emotional as the show seems to be ending and every character who just suffered in the show will have an end to it. The first opening also has a soft touch to it introducing each characters while rapping but with no flashy instruments used, the rap was intense, but the production was made more like an acoustic and with no EDM beats or something which is really fantastic. The Ending songs was all average to me but they do the job perfectly so I wouldn’t mind it specifically and just give a 10. - __OST 9/10__ Perfect tracks on perfect moments although nothings new is grabbing me though since all were just doing the job fine but not exceeding my expectations. But I think they were great pieces its just they’re a little bit too bland. But still as I said, perfect timing on perfect tracks. - __Voice Acting and Usage of Sound Effects 9.8/10__ I wouldn’t mind the Japanese if they made minor mistakes on voice acting the show, hell even if they do made some mistakes I’ll still be grateful that they’re working hard on this Japanese Cartoons. Well pretty much I don’t see some problem in voice acting in particular but I see some minor flaws on the usage of SFX. The sounds were nicely pick its just the timing sometimes could be a little off. Its just subtle, but I do notice some of it. Many of it particularly the animation of walking not matching the footstep sound effects. But still it didn’t affect the show int the fullest but still I’ll reduce the score for it a little bit. __Animation 10/10__ Ahhhhhh! S A K U G A __Enjoyment (10/10)__ Do you expect me not to enjoy a well-written action and adventure show incorporated with blending genres and different kinds of emotions with well written characters? Well to be true there may be some point you’ll be bored in the series. Especially some of the flashbacks, but it doesn’t really matter because those are all significant to the plot, its just anybody would always anticipate action on this show and sometimes they don’t give a fuck about the details on how a particular event occured. But still you’ll enjoy it. __OVERALL 10/10 -WATCH THIS WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE ANY HOMEWORK FOR FIVE WEEKS__
# __Verdict__ This is __undoubtedly__ one of the top 3 animes to have ever been produced. The art, the music, the story and it's characters all fit together perfectly. If you choose this as your first anime, you will hold almost every other anime to it's standards for quite a while. For this reason I cannot recommend anyone breaking into watching anime for the first time, to pick this one as your first. __Pick another__. Hold off long enough so you can appreciate some of the lesser ones a bit better. Nothing else can be said about this apart from that it's not just an anime. It's a __masterpiece__. # __Review__ ## __The Music__ youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dNkQoE76nY) I don't know how to say this. But when "Again" by Yui started playing to the intro, I felt a teardrop rolling down my cheek. I rarely cry to any sort of media, but this one really got me. To put things into perspective, that song was my ring tone for a whole 2 years. youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0cbUHmVdu4) The other opening song that really caught my attention was "Golden Time Lover" by Sukima Switch. Still all the opening songs were amazing. That's not the only thing, the scores were downright perfect as well. If the story and the art weren't just as intriguing, then one could argue all your focus would be on the music. ## __The Art__ I'm going to let the art speak for itself. ~~~img220(http://prettymuchgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fma62-28.jpg) img220(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rlDLgiTQe-k/maxresdefault.jpg) img220(https://reviewsfromtheabyss.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood-general-armstrong-fullmetal-alchemist-manga-13104304-1280-720.jpg) img220(https://shinyui.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/eclipse-fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood-07-1280x720-h264-b9aa0038-mkv_001015557.jpg) img220(https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*A9n888HhQMIMgtfi8FQ0mA.png)~~~ ## __The Story__ Without spoiling anything, the story is about a search for something by two brothers and the epic adventure that follows it's wake. The emotional connection between the brothers and the characters they encounter in their journey is what sets this story apart. There is something for everyone, be it romance, adventure, drama or action packed fighting. The whole thing is set in an alternate universe where military rule and strange powers preside. The bewildering mysteries will keep you on your toes and the action packed sequences will make some characters bad-ass and others hated beyond reason. Despite the story being serious overall, it still manages to squeeze in comedic effect where none would expect. You __cannot__ be disappointed. ## __Reason for the Score__ Some of you might be wondering, "How can any anime deserve a perfect score?". There's a lot of obscure anime out there that might fit your taste better in the long run like it did for me. But this isn't about personal (subjective) tastes. This is about objective popularity. In the majority of cases it is indubitable that this anime will be in the top 10 of lists that rank anime TV series by quality. Don't get me wrong, I'm not appealing to the majority. Rather the contrary, I'm appealing to the genius is takes to appeal to everyone. To be fun for everyone. So if we're going to say there are objectively some really good anime, then you'd have to agree with me that this should always top the list.
Hello, dear readers. In stark contrast to the cascade of positive reviews Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood has, this relatively short write up is going to hit many fans in the raw nerve. Am I new to anime? No. Am I a Shounen lover? No. Perfect- the least amount of bias. Before we begin, I'll give you a little background on what this anime is about. In essence, two brothers decide to revive their dead mother, but failed and one brother, Al, lost his body. The other lost his leg and later, his arm. These two then decide to be civil servants, while also attempting to achieve their goal- to get their bodies back. The first few episodes start with explaining the events of FMA, summarising its plot and staying true to the manga. Without spoiling, it's impossible to do a decent review, so beyond this point those who haven't watched the anime I urge you to form your own opinion about it before continuing. The humor of FMAB relies solely on long awkward pauses and cartoon imagery that's often overused and bland. The same gag is used so often that it destroys the immersion that FMAB already lacks. But this anime is a Shounen, right? Let's focus on the fight scenes then. The opening fight between Elsa and the brothers was shockingly the best in the anime. Huge chunks of ice being generated, the skills of other state alchemists being displayed- one couldn't ask for a more exciting battle. The "Oh my god he doesn't need a transmutation circle!" opened the door to many possibilities, leading the watcher to believe that Ed is full of potential and maybe (?) OP. However as the anime goes along, we learn that he has the fighting ability of a chimpanzee, with him barely using any alchemy during fights and instead, using the same spear every battle. If you had the ability to create giant pillars to chase after a pickpocket toddler, what would you do against a serial killer? He could perhaps... 1) throw rocks that turn into spears like Baldy Fist 2) turn moisture into water 3) try to IP man his fight against a seasoned war veteran __(Ding ding!)__ This leads me to another flaw. It's barely explained what alchemy actually is. Sure, the "LaW 0f 3quIvaLeNt EXchAnG3" is shoved down our throats every opening sequence, but the exact mechanism is yet to be explained. Why can't Ed just create a metal box every time he needs to catch someone like Lan Fan? I know Chinese women are known for their ferocity, but saying she can break through steel is too much. Again, there's just so much potential in Ed that the anime refuses to use. Lust's death was satisfying to say the least, but for someone with the ultimate spear, it's barely been used properly. She couldn't even kill 2 men with it, and then she died shortly after all that trash talking. If this doesn't make it into the top 10 saddest anime deaths, I don't know what will. Let's talk about the music. When I mused about what to write for this section, I actually asked myself- was there even a single musical note in the entire anime? The soundtrack was so forgettable and sometimes even mismatched. I would still give credit to the first OP of the anime, as that was written beautifully. Regarding the plot, the anime has tons of potential. I daresay the directing of the whole anime was what pulled FMAB down. If Yasuhiro Irie had taken the anime to a Tokyo Ghoul cum Akame ga Kill-esque plot, I think the plot would have been much better represented. For an action orientated anime, the pacing is terrible. With fight scenes mixed with cartoony reactions and humor, I can't help but compare this to Gintama. Gintama balances between comedy and action so well, with the occasional remarks from the leads leaving a smile on my face. I found the casual conversations between Al and Gluttony, and Ed and Envy ridiculous- they're the villains for crying out loud! To conclude, it was an interesting watch. This anime has loads of potential but its pacing and overall direction needs tweaking. I often found myself dissociated from the anime and staring blankly at the screen. To others, FMAB may be a a gift from Santa himself. To me, FMAB will always be an anime that one would only watch after getting their brains fried by the better, more immersive seasonal anime. Unfortunately, I fall into the minority who dislike FMAB.
Humankind cannot gain anything without giving something up in exchange. To obtain, something of equal or greater value must be lost. That is alchemy’s first law of equivalent exchange. As it follows, there is another law, and one that’s harshly enforced, both by humanity and by fate… No matter how skilled an alchemist may be, and no matter how much they offer up in exchange, they must never attempt to transmute a human being. Yes, it is possible to map out the chemical make-up of a human body… It’s been thoroughly explored, all the way down to the follicles on an average adult’s eyelashes… But there is nothing in existence that can be exchanged for a human soul. To most, this warning would be more than enough to strike fear into their hearts, and make them think twice about putting their lives and livelihoods on the line to bring a deceased loved one back from the grave. For every rule, however, there are people who will be tempted to break it, and to prove themselves above it. Normally, these individuals are foolhardy, courageous, and naive, believing their abilities to surpass those of others. This is exactly the attitude that one young prodigy named Edward Elric, a child from Risembool, and the son of one of the greatest alchemists alive. With his father having disappeared from his family under mysterious circumstances, and his mother having been taken from him at the whims of a lifelong illness, he and his younger brother Alphonse attempt to resurrect their beloved mother, a venture that costs Ed a literal arm and a leg… Oh, and his brother, whose soul he saves by binding it to a suit of armor at the last minute. Looking nothing like the naive children they once were, both in body and soul, the Elric brothers burn down their house, and set out on an epic journey to restore their bodies to the flesh and redeem themselves for the sin that they’ve committed.. A task that will require the use of a Philosopher’s stone, an artifact of legend whose power is rivaled only by it’s danger… Much like alchemy itself. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood… Which I’m just going to call Brotherhood, from here on out… Was, unsurprisingly, an effort of Studio Bones. Bones doesn’t always give it’s productions the budgets that they deserve, but most of their titles were directed well enough to compensate for this issue. Some of them use smart editing and enchanting uses of lighting and shading to enhance the visuals, achieving mixed to positive results… I am sad to say, however, the Brotherhood is not one of them. It would be generous of me to say that even half of this anime looked good, but it really doesn’t. It does have some impressive looking visuals… There’s a lot of CGI used for special effects, and it looks competent enough. There are also times when certain shots will have fluid animation, such as most of the fight scenes and a violent riot in the settlement of Liore, but such animation doesn’t come cheap, and Brotherhood’s budget saving tactics are about as blatant as a punch to the face. Throughout the series, there are constant key frames. For the most part, they stay on screen for two to thirteen seconds, with minimal movement happening in them aside from flapping lips and occasional shifts in posture. Sometimes, it’ll freeze on one character’s face while other characters are talking, so they don’t even have to pay for lip flaps in the first place. This isn’t something that has to be noticeable or distracting under the right direction, but here, it’s just an eyesore. The actual alchemy looks nice, as that’s where the 3D aspect comes into play, but when it’s juxtaposed against the stiff, motionless 2D key frames, the two styles mix about as well as oil and water. A good example of this in the early episodes is when Ed and Al, as children, show off their alchemy to their mom, and she’s momentarily bathed in the glow of their experiment… During which she freezes completely, and then has a minimal reaction. Motion wasn’t necessarily needed there, I mean she was just spectating, but come on, guys, try harder. And the art, I’m afraid, isn’t much better. The character designs are fine, and they’re accurate to the manga, but they look way too polished and clean, like they don’t exist in any sort of real world. Part of this is the lack of effort in shading, but a much larger part of it is the cartoony direction of the visuals. These characters almost seem to spend more time in chibi and super-deformed mode than in actual, realistic shape, and while I’m sure that’s a huge exaggeration, it doesn’t FEEL like one. The backgrounds are detailed, but for the most part, they feel lifeless, like the characters are just walking around in life size paintings that have no real personality or depth to them. The only other problem that I feel is worth mentioning is the character’s outlines… And I’m not talking about Ed’s hair having light outlines, although that’s the best way to distinguish Brotherhood footage from ‘03 footage. I’m talking about the choppy outlines that persist throughout the series, especially whenever there’s a close-up of a character’s face. To be fair, this really only seems to be a problem on DVD releases, as it was a problem for a LOT of Funimation DVD sets back in the day. The bluray and Netflix releases don’t have this issue. I decided when I began writing this review that I’d bring up the original 2003 adaptation as little as possible(although, realistically, I’m gonna bring it up once or twice), but when it comes to the music, I did notice what appears to be an interesting role reversal that I can’t help but comment on. The original series had a stellar soundtrack that fit the subject matter of the series to a T, and carried a lot of emotional weight with it, but on the flip side, the opening themes were just generic(but high quality) rock and pop songs that didn’t really tie into anything. They were picked because they sounded good and didn’t feel out of place. The exact opposite seems to be true for Brotherhood, because the musical score is a bit on the generic side, but more than befitting a grand Shonen-Action style epic, and the openings are where the true heart and emotion of the series can be heard. This isn’t a blanket statement, of course… There are some heartfelt tunes in Broitherhood, such as Trisha’s Lullabye, which is used as a beautiful motif throughout the series, but that’s about it. That’s not to say the music isn’t awesome, of course. In addition to Trisha’s Lullabye and it’s hypnotic vocal track, one of my personal favorites is To Be King, the theme of the character Greed, as it’s tribal theme carries a sort of rebellious pride that suits his ambition perfectly. The openings, of course, blow anything FMA ‘03 brought to the table out of the water. They fit the story so well that some of them, most notably the first one, called Again, can even be identified as coming from the perspectives of certain characters. The animation in these openings is so good that they almost make up for the lackluster visuals that are present in the series proper. I don’t think this was intentional, but the best contribution these openings make to Brotherhood is the fact that the two best ones… The first one, Again, and the last one, Rain, just happened to be placed during the beginning and ending arcs, which were arguably the worst parts, and they managed to get a lot of necessary good will out of me. When it comes to the English dub… Well, there’s not a lot that I can say about it, and I mean that in the best way possible. I can normally go into an English dub and say whether or not an actor was able to fit the character they were casts as, what they were able to do with it, how they interpreted the roles… I can’t do that with EITHER version of Fullmetal Alchemist, because to my ears, the actors ARE their characters, to the point that I honestly forget while watching the shows that there are even actors involved. To this day, I associate Vic Mignona with Ed Elric, and vice versa. Some of Caitlin Glass’s most diverse performances have been ruined for me because no matter how good a job she does, I can’t stop thinking “Huh… That does NOT sound like Winry.” None of the other characters have this effect on me quite as bad, but the FMA performances they did will always be lurking somewhere in the back of my mind when I hear other work by them. I feel like the reason I experience this phenomena so strongly with Ed and Winry is because of just how sincere and earnest Vic and Caitlin’s performances were. Speaking of iconic performances, I can think of a couple of actors who were unable to reprise their roles from the first series. Dameon Clarke seemingly retired from anime voice acting two years prior to Brotherhood’s release, and was replaced by J Michael Tatum, who did a stellar job, but was unable to capture the grit and years of lonely pain that had peppered Clarke’s performance. On a much more impressive note is the role of Alphonse, who had a lot of American fans worried when they realized that original actor Aaron Dismuke was too old to go back to the role, having gone through puberty between shows. Through some kind of miracle, Funimation was able to find Maxey Whitehead, who was not only able to perfectly imitate Aaron’s younger voice, but was even able to prove herself a better actor than Dismuke, having of course had more experience than he’d had when taking on the role. In addition, the rest of the cast is back, slipping right into their characters as though they never left. Colleen Clinkenbeard is still playing both Rose and Riza while successfully sounding like she’s actually two different people, even though one is fleshed out a lot more and the other is fleshed out less. Christopher Sabat is still the most masculine fop you’ve ever heard in what is arguably one of his best roles ever, Major Armstrong, and the scores of roles that Travis Willingham landed between shows have transformed him from a promising rookie to a veteran befitting his strong, resolved character. New characters like Lin Yao, Lan Fan and Olivier Armstrong bring a handful of new actors into the mix, and let’s be honest, no dub has ever been worsened by the addition of Todd Haberkorn, and Trina Nishimura, Stephanie Young. The only disappointing returns are from people like Laura Bailey, Chuck Huber and Sonny Strait, who’s characters have been substantially diminished between shows, and Monica Rial, whose new character May is a lot closer to her usual typecasting than her old role was. I included this in my top ten favorite dubs, and it deserves to be there. The original Fullmetal Alchemist manga was released in 2001, by the magazine Monthly Shonen Gangan. The series was met with resounding popularity right from the start, and after only two years of it’s ten year run, the demand for an anime adaptation was overwhelming. Studio Bones took up the production, but with the manga not even a quarter of the way finished, they were left with a pretty big lemon to deal with. Fortunately, they were able to make lemonade by writing an entirely new story using the material they were given. The resulting anime was an immediate success, among fans and critics alike, winding up on more than it’s fair share of top ten lists since then. And yet, despite the fact that it was universally loved and critically acclaimed across the board, there was still heavy demand for a more faithful adaptation. Thus, in 2009, only one year away from the manga’s end, Brotherhood was born, and the fandom was elated at the idea that a more faithful adaptation of the original manga was finally being made. Now there are tons of videos and editorials comparing the two FMA adaptations… I wrote one myself that’s been quite successful… But I’m not gonna do that today. I’m not going to review Brotherhood as a reboot, nor am I going to review it as an adaptation… To be fair, I’ve barely read any of the manga. I’m going to judge it by it’s own merits, as a stand-alone series. Unfortunately, this is going to do it more harm than good, because a good chunk of this show’s early material fucking depends on the added context. Starting with the obvious, the first episode is entirely unique to Brotherhood, and serves largely as fanservice to returning fans, as well as a baffling reintroduction to a lot of the story’s more frequent elements. The episode, I’m sad to say, is horrible, and not just in the way that it fumbled a lot of the biggest reveals and surprises of the early episodes, which were supposed to have massive story-based impacts. It also introduces one of brotherhood’s over-all biggest problems, but we’ll get to that in a bit. With that out of the way, we’re able to start the series proper… Only I wish this were the case, but it turns out they’re not quite done getting things out of the way yet. I’m not gonna beat around the bush about this, the pacing of the first thirteen episodes or so is abysmally fast. We get to know Trisha Elric for about ten seconds before she dies(I don’t THINK that’s a spoiler), we get almost no material with Ed and Al as children, and it just feels like the writers were bumbling from one important moment to the next, looking to get the viewer up to speed on what they presumably already saw so they could get to the new material. I think I’ve heard that’s exactly what they were doing, but it’s a pitiful excuse for shoddy story telling. It was included for new fans, and rushed for returning fans, trying to please everyone and ultimately pleasing nobody. They don’t even make an attempt at suspense, atmosphere, or any kind of emotional investment, just making sure all the exposition is taken care of, violating the rules of show-don’t-tell to an absurd degree. The pacing does fix itself once the series recap episodes are over, but by that point the damage is done, and the effects last throughout the series, even during the legitimately good parts, creating some very troublesome problems. For example, Brotherhood has a very weird attitude towards death. In the first episode, an ice and water based alchemist attacks the capital, and he murders two state alchemists in order to show off some of his powers… And these alchemists are disturbingly forgotten immediately afterwards. He’s attacked by Ed and Al, who seem completely oblivious to the fresh corpses lying less than twenty feet from them, and of COURSE this is an appropriate time for the show’s first “LOL, Ed’s so short” joke. Dude, THERE ARE DEAD BODIES RIGHT OVER THERE. They’re also worried about his Ice powers destroying the government, but I’m pretty sure those glaciers were crashing through buildings at one point, and I doubt they were evacuated. There are four noteworthy characters that die in the first thirteen episodes… I told you about Trisha, but I’m not spoiling the others… And the execution of said scenes makes it seem like we’re supposed to care a great deal about them, but they’re given almost no screen time, and we don’t have enough time with them to build a relationship. This makes it even more uncomfortable when the series corrects it’s pacing, and winds up giving several characters boatloads of extra screen time, despite some of them having minimal impact on the story at best, and with so many of them far overstaying their welcome. I’m sorry, but the fact that Yoki got to live to the end of the series is a slap in the face to one of the most beloved characters in the franchise, whom we were expected to cry over when he died ten fucking episodes in. And look, before I go any farther, yeah, I like this show. I enjoy watching it. It’s a little on the bulky side, at over sixty episodes, but I have fun with it. The action’s really cool, it has a lot of really imaginative ideas, and I find myself on the edge of my seat way more often than I’d ever like to admit. It’s a good show, so why am I shitting on it so much? Well, there are two reasons; First of all, everything good about it has been pounded in the dirt by now, with over 90 percent of it’s reviews giving it a ten out of ten score, so there’s really no need for me to suck it’s dick. The other reason is that the best things about it are the same things that are awesome about almost every other shonen action series out there… It’s fun, it has great action, and there are a lot of imaginative ideas, and it’s populated by a cast of likeable heroes, detestable villains and hopeful turncoats. Honestly, it has a lot of good qualities, but there’s really not a lot that I can say about them, which is why I’m focusing so hard on the things I don’t like about it. So on that note, let’s move onto what I consider the biggest problem with Brotherhood, it’s immaturity. It just doesn’t feel like it was written by a grown-up, or anyone who really has anything important to say other than “Hey, guys, look how cool this is!” A big part of this, and possibly the element that irked me the most, is it’s use of binary morality. In Brotherhood, the good guys are all good, the bad guys are all bad, and the only variety in sight is when a bad guy is somehow redeemable, either by the desire to turn over a new leaf or the excuse of not being directly accountable for their actions. Yeah, the original Star Wars trilogy also had this issue, but at least Vader was a complex character with nuanced motivations. Here, the villain is a literal embodiment of evil with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and six of his seven henchman(well, Homunculi) have no motivation outside of serving him and following the sins attributed to them. It’s a story so devoutly based on the struggle between good and evil that at the end, the hero(who has kept his hands insultingly clean up to this point) has to fight the villain in a literal fistfight while his friends and allies chant his name. And on top of that, there’s very little emotion in any of it, with the exception of any lingering feelings the viewer may have carried over from ‘03(and I’m sorry, but there are gonna be comparisons in this paragraph). There are a lot of ideas, but they’re just ideas, none of which carries any weight outside of spectacle. Seeing Gluttony’s Kirby world is cool, but I’m not gonna remember it in a week. The homunculi actually having a reason to be named after sins isn’t going to affect me like seeing them pursue their own individual goals. Knowing the country is named Amestris, and that there’s another form of alchemy called alkahestry is interesting, but it doesn’t make the world feel more immersive. I feel bad for Winry after being told her parents are dead, but not as bad as if I’d seen her crying over it as a kid. I can root for her to forgive the person who killed them by accident, because come on, it was an accident! But when the person who killed them is someone who was willfully following orders, and has been haunted by what he was forced to do ever since, well, things just get a lot less simple. Brotherhood is a show full of easy answers that don’t provide any sort of challenge to it’s viewer. The heroes win through virtue alone, with barely any sacrifice. Yeah, that’s right, no sacrifice, in a show whose central philosophy is that mankind must gain through sacrifice.. Minor spoilers here, but take the Philosopher’s stone for example. We find out how it;’s made, and Ed vows to find another way. He doesn’t, but a stone is still handed to him in the final act, consequence free, so he doesn’t have to make any harsh choices. There are plenty of huge moments that are immensely satisfying, like a late showdown between Colonel Mustang and the Homunculus Envy, and a pulse-pounding fight between Hawkeye and Gluttony, both of which I did highly enjoy, but it’s popcorn fare(To be fair, still better than 03’s Robo-Archer crap). The action is great on a shallow level, but the drama and comedy aren’t even that good, due mainly to what I understand to be two holdover elements from the manga. Brotherhood fails hard at achieving both drama and comedy through it’s own aesthetic choices and sense of direction. It has horrible comedic timing with it’s super-deformed and chibi based humor, which happens way too often to ever land a joke, and to make matters worse, they’re used during scenes that are supposed to be majorly dramatic. When Ed and Al are fighting over the former risking his life to save the latter, I don’t want to see a sight gag. IU want to care. I want to feel something. That’s tonally incompetent to a disgusting level. What’s even worse is when they’re actually trying to convey drama, and they do so with no subtlety, using over-the-top facial expressions, screams, and over-acted reactions that are more funny than sappy. I’ve found Tommy Wiseau’s deliveries more touching. There’s a moment after the failed human transmutation when Ed’s trying to get his brother back where he screams “Alphonse no!” And I couldn’t stop laughing over his face’s resemblance to Wakko Warner burping opera music. This kind of thing might have worked in the manga, but anime and manga are different mediums, which is something I don’t think the people behind this show really understood. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood was available from Funimation Entertainment on both DVD and Bluray, but unfortunately, all versions are currently out of print. You can still watch it for free on Netflix, but if you’re looking to own the physical copy, you’re gonna have a hard time finding one at a reasonable price. The same thing goes for the 2003 series as well as it’s movie. What you CAN find in print and for a reasonable price are the Brotherhood movie, Sacred Star of Milos, and a couple of okay OVA series. There are several video games across different platforms, and while I won‘t list them all, I personally recommend PS2’s Curse of the Crimson Elixir. The original manga is available stateside from Viz media. As I said before, I really like this anime. It’s an entertaining show. It delivers hard on action, fantasy and spectacle, but that’s pretty much all it has going for it. Throughout it’s 60+ episode run, it never really shows any signs of the masterpiece everyone likes to call it, and I’m not gonna lie, those first thirteen episodes are seriously difficult to get through. It seems to follow an ideology of virtue and righteousness overcoming adversity, and while there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with that mentality… It is a positive moral, at the very least… It’s still pretty juvenile. In fact, that word pretty much sums up the series… Juvenile. It feels like it takes place in the world as Ed from the 2003 anime wished it was, where good and evil exist on opposite sides, and the whims of fate ultimately favors good people over bad. It’s not deep or complex, but neither are most of the titles in the Shonen Action genre, and those anime are successful for a reason… They’re easy to watch, they don’t ask you hard questions, and they play to your basest ideas of morality and justice. Sometimes, people need an anime like that, and this title delivers. I give Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood a 7/10.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is the anime that most people that consume this media are likely to have both watched and highly appreciated. There are varying reasons for which this series has reached critical acclaim, but rather than focus on every one of the reasons for which every single person and their dog think Brotherhood is great, I’d rather focus on what I consider to explain why I consider Brotherhood to be the best show to introduce anime as a form of media to a new audience. First let me give you the basic premise: In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, everyone is capable of transforming the matter of any object into something else as long as they follow and understand the Law of Equivalent Exchange: in order to gain something, one must sacrifice something of equal value. This means that as long as you are capable of understanding the structure and composition of an object, you can harness Alchemy as a skill and are pretty much capable of doing anything your imagination allows. Certain forms of Alchemy are more complex than others because they require more knowledge and capability from the user. One of the most complex is Human Alchemy, which brings me to the Elric Brothers, our main characters. As a group of normal kids growing up into a rural area of this world alongside their mother, they eventually lose her at an early age. The kids then vow to bring her back using alchemy, and set as their goal to gather enough knowledge to attempt to bring her back. Eventually, they gather enough knowledge to attempt to bring her back, but due to the fact that this is a complex process, they didn’t have all the information required and fail to bring her back. Even worse, one of the brothers loses some of his body parts, while the other loses his entire body, but has his soul affixed to a suit of armor in an attempt to save him. They survive the attempt and realize their efforts were futile after experiencing this colossal failure. After understanding that regardless of their intentions, there are limits to what they can do they set as a goal to regain their bodies and to continue moving forward. One of the most prevalent elements in anime is the intensity of the goal its main characters have and how hard they attempt achieving it. Be it they are happy go lucky characters that want to be acknowledged by their peers, be it they want to challenge the world to change it for what they consider it to be better, be it they want to improve their life and current circumstances, almost every well received show possesses someone that single mindedly follows their goal with a laser eyed focus. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood still has that element instilled in its core but in a more grounded manner. One of the main differences in execution is that the show doesn’t just present you the goal of the Elric brothers, but instead makes you understand what caused them to pursue it, how they plan to achieve it, who they are in the process and why they chose this path. And that was all done by showing how they failed to achieve their goal prior to starting pursuing their path. They fail at reviving their mother, because they themselves did not understand how to achieve their goal. They did not understand the fundamental value of the show, that being “in order to gain something, one must sacrifice something of equal value”. It is not only applied in a mechanical sense in the show, but also in an existential sense. In less pretentious terms, this means that the higher the value of said something, the harder it is to obtain, because you will also have to lose something that you value. Since the brothers did not understand what they are doing and what they were trying to obtain, they fail their journey. And this shows to the viewer, that in this story, the characters can fail, and that regardless of how much they intend to achieve their goal, they will have to work hard and sacrifice things they value to achieve what they intend to achieve. The goal of the Elric Brothers is not an idealistic worldly ambition that challenges reality. It is merely something personal, to once again live normal lives, unshackled by their past. So one of the highest appealing elements of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, is how well in its execution it has managed to portray the intent and journey of the characters it is presenting. Another highly prevalent element in anime is the world it tries to present and all of the fantastical elements existing in the story. Anime tries to intrigue the audience with its world in a lot of varying ways, be it by creating worlds where a lot of threats exist and adventure is lurking at every corner, be it the laws of the world allow the characters to do incredible feats and that are impressive to watch, be it the world is just different from our own in ways that are interesting. Regardless of the approach, Brotherhood creates a world where everything I have stated is indeed present, but the world hasn’t been created to just be intriguing, but rather to illustrate its theme and to create a world where the goal of the Elric Brothers can be best portrayed. It has every element that makes the world of what you are shown intriguing, and all of these elements are not forced, but instead give more depth to the story at large. Rather than overusing the concept of alchemy, it treats this power as something scientific and of high skill to pursue. While it did indeed shape the world we see, the world of Fullmetal Alchemist is believable, and not that different from our own. Rather than having every character shape their life around this power and this world, each live relatively normal lives, not that different from our own, with alchemy just being a branch of science that helps the world further advance. While it did create new threats and opportunities for adventure, while it allows incredible feats to be done by the characters in it, it also manages to be similar to reality. And this happens due to one reason. The concept of its powers is merely abstract and highly reliant on the user’s knowledge and skill. Any character is capable of doing anything in this world, through any approach and way they imagine. Their only limits are: understanding what they are doing, be skilled enough to give shape to what they imagine, and having the imagination to think of it. This means that regardless of how fantastical the powers are, they can only be as impressive as the character that manages to use them in the way they intend. This means that alchemy is a skill that requires training and its results are only as exceptional as the person delivering them. And as a concept, due to its requirements, alchemy doesn’t cause the characters to achieve feats that are impossible to achieve. Only feats that are impossible to achieve in that immediate moment. Anything that you would know how to do or is possible to happen, you can do. The alchemists have the capacity to make this process take seconds rather than weeks, months or years due to their capacity to immediately materialize it. So at the same time, it is a concept that is very open ended that at the same time, it is limited by what we are limited in reality, our understanding. The way it defines the character motivation and world building is what is exceptional about Brotherhood. From this point onwards, I’ll outline the elements that are familiar to other anime. Throughout the story, the characters will face moral dilemmas and a lot of the themes presented in the show will relate back to meaningful relationships. A lot of the times characters will have to weight how much they value their achievements against how much they value their peers. From a moral standpoint, it has the same heart most shows have. The good guys put their selfish interests aside for the benefit of everyone else. While the bad guys selfishly follow their goals without any qualms about the people surrounding them. The Law of Equivalent Exchange relates back once again in an abstract way to the execution of the show. One question that it asks its characters is, are you willing to achieve your goals right now by sacrificing the people you value? It does cover the subject really well in a manner that fits the world it presents, and executes on this well, but this is a subject that will be very familiar to you in other series moving forward. So be informed that anime will often criticize selfishness and portray it as evil while portraying groups of people that are interdependent as the morally righteous ones. Not saying this is something that is not earned in Fullmetal Alchemist, but rather that this is something frequent in anime and one of the things you should expect going forward unless you are searching keenly enough. A common way anime tries to be entertaining is action. Showing confrontations between two or multiple characters using their superpowers to injure or kill each other. Due to its world, Fullmetal Alchemist has a lot of success in being entertaining in each fight through interesting ways. A lot of the confrontations are memorable not only due to their stakes, but also due to the solution the characters in the confrontation find to resolve it. Another way it attempts to be entertaining is humor which I will say is not Brotherhood’s strong suit. Not because the jokes themselves are bad, but because they are often timed poorly, in a dramatic moment where they temporarily deflate a situation briefly, or said too often. Still, the style of humor used by Brotherhood, that of character quips and slapstick, is something that is present in anime, especially of Brotherhood’s era, and it is something that Brotherhood can help you familiarize with. While humor is subjective, the way it is used in Brotherhood is not helpful in carrying the story across and is often an obstacle you will have to get used to. Other ways anime tries to appeal to you is with its characters, by presenting you characters with interesting designs, personalities and powers. While all of these elements are covered in Brotherhood, characterization is actually something that is hurt by the story’s themes, since the characters are often presented through the lense of “do they base their decisions on how they can achieve their goals at all costs, or do they have moral principles”. You understand that each character has a goal of their own and a distinct personality, but the way they make decisions is often always predictable. Very few of the characters perform outside of the theme presented by the story, and because of that, their alignment often determines the behavior they have moving forward. There are characters that do not fit this description and certainly give the world more color, but given the sheer amount of characters presented in a 51 episodes series, they are not enough. Most people are probably going to be fine with understanding how the characters will act before they do, because each character is distinct enough, but this is yet another flaw anime has. Due to its strong focus at portraying the theme of the story and the goals of its characters, it will often end up being predictable if you understand the story enough and the characters will keep revolving around it. Another flaw that anime that are strongly orientated towards a character achieving one of their goals is the fact that the goal they seek to achieve is the very reason the show exists, and that being resolved would end the show. As a result, they cannot achieve or attempt to achieve that goal until the show ends. That is one thing that is unfortunately true about Brotherhood as well. More often than not, the show relies on presenting the characters through the journey they managed to complete in the past and its consequences rather than gaining tangible progress towards the goal they sought to achieve. The pace then becomes predictable and you are waiting for events to progress in certain scenarios if the series is too uneventful. Luckily Brotherhood is often eventful and there is often always something going on or something more to learn about the world and its characters, but the fact that the characters cannot resolve what gives their journey meaning because the story cannot reach its conclusion yet is something that had bothered me. Still, I can understand that the characters need as much information as possible to understand their journey and how to achieve their goal, since a lack of information is what caused their current situation, but in a story where the fundamental power given to the characters is to cause things to materialize fast, not having a tangible progress towards their outcome is questionable, because all they are doing is reacting to the world based on their moral principles while searching for the right answer. This is the reason why a lot of the people that never watched Brotherhood but watched a great number of shows decide to not pick it up. It is predictable and the theme it presents while executed well in a very interesting world is not something worthwhile to put up with if you understand how everything is going to play out. Its laser focus on the execution of its theme has caused it to not be able to think about anything else that might be interesting about it. To conclude, you should watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood if you plan to start exploring anime as media. It is a great starting point and a great first experience for one of the most frequent themes presented in this medium. But I do not recommend Brotherhood to anyone that understands that these flaws have bothered them in the past and at the same time have seen shows like it. It is a good execution on its themes, yes, but if you are already tired of them, the show can only at best keep you entertained with its action and world and at worst bore you because you have already been presented its theme in a bunch of different ways. However if you are not tired of its themes, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood presents you with a world that has a lot of depth and a goal that is set up really well and valued. It is consistently entertaining and its humor should not detract too much of your viewing pleasure if you are interested in the other elements.
Mostly spoiler-free review! I know there's a fair amount of debate as to what the "correct" way to watch _Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood_ is. Some insist you have to watch the original series, while others say you don't. Since there was a lot of contradictory information floating around the internet regarding this, I decided to take my brother's advice and just watch _Brotherhood_ as is. That is to say, this is a review coming from someone who has only seen _Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood_. First off, I enjoyed it. But while I will concede that it may have been the cream of the crop for its time, I don't think it holds up by modern standards (in regards to both storytelling and animation quality). As is the case with other cult classics such as _Death Note_, I think _Brotherhood_ suffers from its own success. A lot of people, myself included, come in with high expectations when a series such as this receives recognition to this degree, and are subsequently let down when the series doesn't turn out to be the life-changing experience that everyone has been hyping it up to be. Now, with that little preamble out of the way, let's get into the nitty-gritty. As far as the story goes, the overarching plot and the motivation of the main characters were interesting enough to get me hooked right from the beginning. I was rooting for Ed and Al to get their bodies back the whole way through and I was genuinely interested to see how they would achieve it when it's clearly established that any kind of human transmutation should be impossible. It goes against the laws of nature. However, while a good story is fine and all, slow pacing or a plot that meanders around can seriously damage it. And I felt like that was exactly the case with _Brotherhood_. The main plot frequently takes a backseat to bore the audience with politics or history lessons from secondary characters that seem to have very little to do with the situation at hand. Exposition is also handled poorly at times, usually in the form of flashbacks that are placed in the middle of the story with no connection to the present. Meanwhile, most of the main bad guys are playing 4D chess off-screen somewhere. So if you were expecting an "action-packed shonen" with lots of spectacular fights and intense moments, temper your expectations a little. A good chunk of the show is spent dabbling in politics (I have no idea why the author thought this was a good idea) and things don't really start happening until you're 40-50 episodes in. It's a shame, but I think the ending more than makes up for it, even if some of the plot developments didn't really make a whole lot of sense. The cast was a mix of both bland characters and interesting characters, and there's quite a number of them so don't feel bad if you can't keep track of all of them. Some of them (four characters in particular) also seem to come into the story out of nowhere with not much of an introduction, but I just learned to accept it. These days most series tend to give secondary characters a little more backstory, but in _Brotherhood_ most of the focus was on the main characters so you're left with a supporting cast that doesn't feel fully fleshed out. That said, some of them can be very likable and I did find a few favorites personally. Overall, _Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood_ was an entertaining ride with slow pacing and a finale that brings closure to just about everything you were wondering about while watching. Is it worthy of the number one spot? I wouldn't say so, I have watched plenty of shows that are far more deserving of it. Top ten, however? Yeah, definitely. Which is why I'm giving it an 85.
If I had to choose a shonen among dragonball z, naruto, one piece or full metal alchemist, I would choose the last option because it is simply much better (although I admit that I also like dragon balll, especially the first part). Edward and Alphonse Elric are two brothers determined by the abandonment of their father and the death of their mother, which they tried to reverse with alchemy. In an attempt to revive their mother, the Elric brothers break the most important rule of alchemy: human transmutation. Using alchemy as a weapon is a dangerous thing, since it is a magic that charges each act with an equivalent energy level or matter. As a consequence of her daring, Alphonse sees her body fade away. Her brother Edward, who has lost his left leg, also sacrifices his right arm to save his brother's soul and seal it in iron armor. Thus begins his search for the philosophical stone, the only thing that can help him recover some of what they have lost. The series does not need more than its psychological maturity to capture and be exciting. Apply the very principle of alchemy in the script. Each plot and obstacle they face ends up being reflected and has a reason to be in its protagonists. >Cryin’ won't pave a way to forgiveness Every sin you carve is ever lasting I’m lost in this maze of emotion Who am I waiting for? Again- Full Metal Alchemist opening Fullmetal Alchemist is both a manga and an anime acclaimed by the public and I have no doubts about its round story, or the charm of its characters, but despite that it has things that frustrate me a lot. I can't hate FullMetal Alchemist but it really annoys me when they force scenes to no avail or when they lengthen and add unnecessary stresses in situations that are irelevant because of their predictability. Certain deaths are expected, but there are plot changes that are intended to make some surprising changes that lose their effect because of how basic and boring they are such as~! the alleged death of Maria Ross.!~ Beyond all the helplessness it can generate, I must admit that in addition to its soundtrack, the games between ethics and morals on which the series is based are excellent. Also sinning stereotypes and very basic plot forms in shonen, the anime poses much deeper dichotomies and reflections than we might expect regarding a series of these characteristics and with its supposed type of audience.
~~~img400(https://25.media.tumblr.com/0f0b5d6c80c22b0c366f0cf80a1e8c70/tumblr_munrfcE3Mr1qa32qko4_500.png) __WARNING: this review is not spoiler-free!__~~~ __Did I read the manga__: no __Did I watch the 2003 version__: yes __Score__: 9.5/10 - __Plot__: 10/10 - __Characters__: 9.5/10 - __Art & Music__: 9/10 __Recommended for__: lovers of shonen, action/adventure, lighthearted, great character-building, great-world building, philosophy, conspiracy __Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.__ When I first finished watching this anime, I felt a bit verklempt. It was an enjoyable ride but I did not connect with it as much as I would have wanted. Knowing about its raging popularity, I expected to finish it with stronger sentiments. It was not until a year later that I revisited parts of this story, in a new light, with new eyes. _All art is at once surface and symbol_, this definitely rings true for FMA:B. Approachable for all ages, and layered for those who seek a more sophisticated experience. I know that everyone and their mother has probably already seen this show and formed an opinion on it. I am not here to convince you otherwise, but I would like to share my thoughts on it regardless. __Plot__ The concept of alchemy, creating new material from the sum of its parts, is layered throughout the entire story. Edward and Alphonse's incentive for becoming State Alchemist is because they failed to resurrect their mother, by believing that the sum of her parts would be sufficient to bring her back. A mistake rooted in hubris, if you will. The villains: Pride, Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Wrath, Sloth, and Envy, represent the parts of the human psyche when separated. We all carry these weaknesses within us. They tempt us to do evil, and yet humanity is not, which leads me to believe that we must exist beyond the scope of these mere elements. There must be parts of us that are irreducible. The concept of alchemy overstretches the boundary of a single person or product when the idea of individual elements coming together is applied to the government of Amestris. When humans work together they can do incredible good _and_ terrible harm. When individual intent becomes a harmful ideology it can lead to genocide. This was bravely illustrated with the Ishvalan genocide, a central component of the story. Genocide is the product of hatred, ignorance, savagery; sentiments which are amplified a thousand-fold when channeled through the masses. All of this implies that when individual elements are combined, something more than just its product is formed. The lessons that you learn in life, the choices you deliberate, the paths you take and those you stray from, they are as integral to you as your physical parts. And when these individual experiences are combined, they can change the world. That's one of the lessons that FMA:B teaches us. Knowing this, Edward gives up alchemy to save Alphonse in the end. He realized that despite its great power, it could not give one more than they already possess, this is the very concept of equivalent exchange. ~~~img400(https://i.imgur.com/wNWtUUf.jpg)~~~ __Characters__ As if a strong narrative wasn't enough, FMA:B also has a broad cast of well-written characters. We see Scar who is initially portrayed as a villain, and who is increasingly humanized as the show goes on. We see Winry, who suffers at her parents' deaths. Yet she is strong, kind, good-willed despite everything. My favorite by far is Roy Mustang, a morally ambiguous character who is at once a hero and a war criminal. Being involved in the Ishvalan genocide, he took the lives of innocent people, and yet he grew to fight against the very government he was a part of. We get to see many sides of the same story through the eyes of these characters, we see the world through them and that's why we care so much about its salvation. The relationship between Riza and Roy, and Edward and Winry, is developed with much grace. I felt myself rooting heavily for them, and that's coming from someone who is rarely moved by relationships. Perfectly paced and alluded to, I understood why they cared for one another. __Art & Music__ Brotherhood's style is smooth and modern. It makes use of gorgeous vibrant colors and a fluidity that fits the action. The art is sometimes comedic, with Ed and Al turning into hilarious cartoonish versions of themselves when they're shocked. When it comes to the soundtrack, 'Let It Out' is undeniably its crown jewel. Used most effectively when it faded in toward the end of an emotional episode, it's a symbol of emotional catharsis. 「 _The whole is greater than the sum of its parts._ Watching FMA:B and reevaluating it has definitely expanded my appreciation for it. The effort we put into connecting with others, the time we take to understand each other, better each other: they make rise for a more sympathetic world. That's what Fullmetal is about: humanity, and what we can achieve when we nurture it. 」
Fullmetal Alchemist já está consolidado como uma das obras mais conceituadas dentre as provindas do Japão. E isso vem principalmente por parte de sua segunda adaptação, que seria a Brotherhood, sendo a versão verdadeiramente fiel ao mangá, já que a clássica havia terminado não canonicamente. Mas, mesmo que ele seja extremamente bem falado, ao meu ver, ele é provavelmente o anime mais superestimado que eu já vi, principalmente pelos fãs e pessoas que o assistem por recomendações. ─ Proposta ─ Inicialmente, Fullmetal se foca em explorar a jornada de 2 irmãos pela recuperação de seus corpos, perdidos ao cometerem erros no uso da alquimia. E isso também está diretamente ligado com a perda da mãe de ambos, sendo a perfeita justificativa para se adentrarem mais nessa "matéria". Mas, com o tempo, a obra vai se expandindo e tratando de vários outros assuntos, se relacionando principalmente com questionamentos sobre a vida e o seu preço, ou até mesmo, preconceito entre raças e várias outras coisas. E tudo isso, é um dos problemas da obra. ─ Enredo ─ O meu maior problema com Fullmetal, é a maneira como ele trata todos os aprendizados tragos pela alquimia. Eles existem e realmente importam e mudam certos personagens, mas isso não acontece de forma tão clara quando se está fora do ambiente da Verdade, tanto o anime como o mangá, não demonstram tanto a absorção disso tudo com grande parte do elenco (com exceção dos 2 protagonistas), e isso torna o conceito da obra num geral, extremamente inferior ao seu potencial. Inclusive, a obra perde muito tempo com alguns aprofundamentos para tentar aprofundar mais ainda a alquimia, e um exemplo disso é o próprio Scar. Ele tem seu passado contado e envolvido a um conflito entre raças, mas isso é totalmente ignorado posteriormente, já que a autora não trabalhou e desenvolveu isso. E além disso, o conflito em si foi extremamente marcante para uma época, mas teve pouco espaço no enredo, se tornando mais insignificante do que deveria e se tornando um problema. Fora isso, eu também tenho um incomodo por parte dos dramas inseridos durante o enredo, já que para eles funcionarem verdadeiramente, deveria haver uma atenção grande para com seus personagens. Só que, isso não acontece com todos, e o maior exemplo disso são os vilões, que num geral, recebem pouco aprofundamento, o que torna suas mortes pouco impactantes e memoráveis. E por parte do anime isso ainda piora, pois ele acelera desnecessariamente o seu início, tornando tudo muito superficial e rápido além do necessário. Mal temos tempo para nos apegarmos ao Hughes, pois ele é retirado do enredo em pouco tempo no Brotherhood (diferente do mangá e do clássico). Agora já entrando em outra área, eu preciso falar sobre a comédia de FMA. Como é um shounen majoritariamente "padrão", a comédia seria um dos seus elementos mais presentes. Só que, se isso fosse usado bem, seria uma qualidade, mas não é o que acontece. A comicidade inserida dentro dos acontecimentos da obra, é muito mal colocada em todas as suas versões, pois tira um pouco da seriedade que certas cenas estavam possuindo, para algo que nem graça tem, pois é apenas uma repetição da mesma fórmula desde o início. A autora parece tentar usar isso para amenizar mais a experiência, mas exagera, e falha. Inclusive, outra crítica que merece ser feita, é com a geografia da obra. Nós somos apresentados a inumeros locais diferentes do ambiente principal dos personagens, mas eles não recebem a atenção devida, mesmo que sirvam até para objetivo de alguns personagens. O conflito entre raças que eu citei sofre bastante disso também, já que temos uma apresentação, mas não uma utilização verdadeira. Tudo bem, o objetivo da obra não era esse, mas é evidente que sem mais trabalho, o motivo para existirem é inferiorizado. Outro ponto que eu quero destacar brevemente, é a conveniência existente na reta final de Fullmetal. O vilão principal, é aprofundado e construído de uma maneira, mas a obra quando mais precisa, muda levemente isso para abrir uma brecha na sua onipotência. Tudo bem, isso é um caso em um restante quase não conveniente, mas ainda é válido de se destacar, pois muda o rumo dos acontecimentos. Mas de resto, realmente, o final da obra é acima da média, tirando certos fatores que irei citar posteriormente. ─ Personagens ─ Fullmetal Alchemist desde cedo já inseriu vários personagens para o seu elenco, então é perdoável que não consiga desenvolver todos. Só que, tirando a minha reclamação sobre suas motivações relacionadas com a alquimia, eles são péssimos em personalidade e caracterização em alguns momentos. O maior exemplo disso são os vilões, que não possuem um verdadeiro carisma, e então, não se tornam atraentes para o consumidor, pois acabam não possuindo nenhuma qualidade destacável fora o conceito do homúnculo. Isso pode parecer totalmente subjetivo, mas ao meu ver, um shounen que se propõe a entreter como Fullmetal, necessita de personagens com carisma, principalmente para os usar bem na comédia. Os próprios personagens principais, num geral, mesmo que possuam alguns traços de carisma, pecam ainda na sua utilização dentro do enredo, pois atrapalha a seriedade como eu já citei. E adentrando na área de desenvolvimento, é realmente onde Fullmetal menos explora. Fora os "heróis principais", o restante é apenas usado como o lado oposto e no máximo aprofundado e construído, mas fora isso nada. O próprio Pai não recebe nada além de um aprofundamento, ele simplesmente existe para ser o confronto final, mas não é um personagem recorrente o suficiente para ser desenvolvido (que nem grande parte do resto dos vilões). Mas, o pior de tudo, é falhar em desenvolver a relação dos principais. Dando como exemplo o amor do Winry e do Edward, esse foi o meu problema com o final, ele nunca ficou claro durante a obra, pois a relação deles se resumia ao conserto dos mecanismos dos 2 irmãos. Qual profundidade isso dá pro relacionamento de ambos? Nenhuma. Ressaltando também que a utilização de seus secundários é bem ofuscada, já que geralmente, se tornam apenas ferramentas de luta ou conhecimento para os 2 protagonistas avançarem. Enfim, o meu último ponto relacionado aos personagens de Fullmetal, é o aprofundamento de sua maioria. Até mesmo os irmãos Elric pecam nisso, já que em suas adaptações, o passado dos 2 é bem pouco minucioso, então o seu impacto é prejudicado. Diferente do mangá, que tem um maior aprofundamento, mesmo que também ao meu ver, não seja algo tão grande. De resto, grande parte é vazia nisso mesmo. ─ Escrita e Arte/Produção e direção ─ O mangá de Fullmetal possui uma arte pouco destacada e detalhada, o que não é um problema, já que ele desde o início não seria algo tão sério para necessitar de algo maior. Mas, ela é pouco expressivamente única de certa forma, não tem nada que eu possa destacar nela para a dar como uma qualidade, apenas não a consigo ver como um verdadeiro defeito também. Já a escrita, eu detalhei minhas problemáticas relacionadas a comédia anteriormente, e as ressalto novamente aqui, isso atrapalha muito e não tem a mínima graça no material original, além de ser enjoativo. Mas fora isso, é incrível se tratando do conceito da Verdade e as suas mensagens, além de conseguir se sair relativamente bem nas partes dramáticas. Agora, sobre a sua produção e direção, eu terei que dividir em duas partes: 1º: Fullmetal Alchemist - Sinceramente, para a época a produção era bem acima da média, não vejo tanta inconsistência nem mesmo na sua reta final original. Não é nada tão agradável assim, mas é funcional para a proposta da obra. Só que, se tratando da direção, eu vejo falhas principalmente nos momentos cômicos e dramáticos, que como citado anteriormente, pecam no equilíbrio de seriedade e descontração. Mas no restante, é consistente. 2º Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood - Agora sim o meu maior problema com a obra num todo, sua versão mais aclamada. A problemática com a comédia continuou, mas agora, sendo mais presente e incomodante, mesmo que seja relativamente mais bem feita. A única desvantagem que sumiu foi na dramatização, que deu um grande salto num geral, apenas sendo prejudicada pelo timing cômico novamente. E em quesitos de produção, foi simplesmente impecável, não posso reclamar. E para concluir, preciso escrever um pouco sobre a adaptação que o mangá recebeu. No clássico, mesmo que esteja incompleto, tivemos um bom ritmo e bom destaque para o que importava, mesmo com seus defeitos. Mas no Brotherhood, tivemos uma péssima escolha de acelerar o início por já ter sido adaptado em seu antecessor, mas isso não anula nada dessa péssima escolha. Tivemos a perda de um aprofundamento maior de 2 grandes momentos marcantes da obra, sendo isso por acelerar e até mesmo optar por outros meios desnecessários. Para mim, a adaptação só se salva em sua reta final, que até melhorou o original. ─ Experiência ─ Um dos pontos em que Fullmetal mais pode ser prejudicado por todo o seu hype, é justamente na experiência. Mesmo que a maioria realmente goste do anime ou do mangá, eu desgostei mais do que deveria por todo esse alvoroço feito sobre a qualidade da obra, sendo algo que eu não entendi os motivos para acontecer ao concluir. Talvez até mesmo alguns problemas que eu tive, sejam provindos desse fator, que infelizmente nunca terminará graças a grande massa de fãs que a obra possui atualmente, que são em alguns casos, bem displicentes ao explicar do porque esse ser o suposto melhor anime já feito. Mas felizmente isso não acontece sempre, é apenas uma minoria. ─ Conclusão ─ Fullmetal Alchemist é erroneamente recomendado para aqueles que visam entrar no consumo de obras nipônicas, e eu digo isso porque a maioria acaba o superestimando naturalmente, já que ele é mais complexo de se avaliar do que aparenta. Isso é um problema por ofuscar inúmeras outras obras superiores, criando um endeusamento desnecessário para qualquer versão da obra. Não é difícil parar pra pensar que existem animes melhores, mas eles são deixados em segundo plano por esse maior destaque que Fullmetal e outros possuem. É claro que a sua experiência com a obra pode ser boa, mas dizer que não há erros verdadeiros não faz sentido, já que não existe uma obra verdadeiramente perfeita, apenas as mais próximas disso, o que Fullmetal não é. Mas mesmo que não aparente, eu o vejo como um grande shounen, já que comparando com outros, ele é bem acima da média e cumpre bem alguns pontos que propõe, mesmo que falhe em outros comuns. Eu o recomendaria para aqueles que se interessam pelos principais da demografia, mas não recomendaria para aqueles que querem uma obra esplêndida também. Talvez eu tenha esquecido de citar algo, principalmente se tratando de algumas qualidades óbvias. Mas no mais, essa é a minha opinião.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Series experience: I watched this series around 9 years ago, and earlier this year I read the manga and watched everything else Short review: Fullmetal Alchemist goes beyond your typical action-adventure shounen and weaves a tale of sacrifice, courage, and humanity. It may not be perfect, but it's pretty close. Full review: _Warning: review contains spoilers_ I haven’t seen anime or read any manga in around four years, and what got me to begin again was a post earlier this year about how Royai is canon (lol). I decided to read the Fullmetal Alchemist manga and here I am now, back in the game. I’ll do my best to be objective. Also, I want to write and post this review today, on October 3, as it is now a date I won’t forget. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a plot-driven shounen anime that has something for everyone - action, adventure, mystery, romance, comedy - I believe that people who see it would at least like it. The Brotherhood anime is the second anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga, and it follows the manga much more closely than its predecessor. There are tons of debates online about which adaptation is better, so I’m going to say now that I personally enjoy Brotherhood a lot more. This review is not just me out to defend why this is technically better (because I understand why people could like 2003 more), but I will be explaining why I personally enjoy it more. First of all, I find the manga almost flawless. My review is linked below, and I believe that the manga is the best way this story is told. Brotherhood is pretty close. A lot of people have issues with how light the tone of Brotherhood is - I agree that the comedy was pushing it a bit for the first 10-ish episodes. The plot of the beginning is crammed a bit too, maybe because Bones decided not to reanimate some things. Either way, the Youswell mine is only talked about in a flashback, which I feel was a waste as it explains a lot about Yoki, Nina is given less screentime, which is a teeny bit less emotional, but I feel like the way they mention her throughout the series reminds us of her impact. Another big complaint people have is the treatment of the character of Hughes. I’ve seen all the other media, which is why I feel like Hughes role here is fine. Still, it’s true that the impact of Hughes’ death could be much smaller for one who has only seen Brotherhood. Apart from the above-mentioned issues, I believe Brotherhood does spectacularly well in everything else. First of all, the rest of the plot is paced well. I believe the revealing of surprise twists are not taken for granted, and everything still ends up impactful. The episodes end on high notes that leave the watcher with a new fact, but also a new puzzle piece to add to everything. This is a faithful adaptation, so we don’t miss out on the scale of everything. As with the manga, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood starts with our brothers and expands in a way where you end up caring for a ton of protagonists and not just two people and some side characters. The beginning has a filler, which is mediocre, but enough to reintroduce fans to the Elric brothers and the rules of alchemy, and is a decent beginner class for newcomers. From there, we follow the basic plot points from Liore to Nina to Hughes and though everything starts with the Elric brothers, we end up with Amestris, Xing, and the Truth. All of the characters in the manga are given justice in the anime, and people usually have more than one favorite. All the parallel characters seen in Xing and Mustang’s unit, as well as Father and the homonculi are fleshed out and given time to grow and shine. I like that even the anime follows the manga and does not oversexualize the women - we end up with amazing and strong male AND female characters, and I love Brotherhood for that. The voice acting is done really well too and adds a lot of character to everyone. The characterization does not escape shounen territory too much, in that a lot of characters still talk a lot about how important _nakama_ are and how it’s wrong to kill (well at least for our two protagonists) - but Fullmetal’s honesty makes it that you believe the characters and their reasons for sticking to their principles. Ed and Al don’t want to use souls? This goes all the way to the end and they never stop circumventing the laws that try to pin them down. Roy and Riza want to atone by fixing the country? Roy loses everything and his sight but never his vision. Ling and Greed prove that your principles rule your soul but the people who help you uphold your principles are just as important. In the last few episodes, I was crying my eyes out because of all the deaths, and yet I was really proud because the deaths weren’t useless. The investment in the characters will reap immense rewards. One of the things I love about Brotherhood is well, everything in the second half. Once things gets real, everything starts to really get serious and the music and animation and tone just clicks. I know a lot of anime do this, but when Brotherhood’s endings start playing at the end while something big is being revealed, it makes all the songs so memorable and the scenes much more impactful as well. Go to SID’s Rain on Youtube and you’ll see a bunch of people crying about Brotherhood. The story ends where it begins, but still in the most satisfying way. Everyone gets endings defined enough but also open enough for fans to speculate, and the world itself doesn’t leave us with too many unanswered questions. Overall, I’d recommend Brotherhood to anyone - anime fan or not. It has an engaging story which isn’t too long to tell, likable characters who grow and learn, and is an overall satisfying experience. The story manages to touch on some heavy themes but still maintain laughter and hope. Definitely a must-watch. Plot 8/10 Animation 9/10 Characters 10/10 Overall personal enjoyment 9.5/10 Top 3 fave characters (mostly similar to the manga) Ed - a protagonist you’ll really support!! his love for his brother is heartwarming but the way he really shines is how human he is despite his status as a prodigy, also I love Romi Park forever Olivier - mom I love her :(( I think having her badassery animated is just a blessing. what a strong lady who still cares so much for her subordinates and family Ling/Greed - can I put them together ? Greeling ? I love their parallels and how strong they both are. the pull to their subordinates is cheesy but I have to admit this bitch cried when Greed died (also mamoru miyano + yuuichi nakamura? i win) Others: Scar, Envy, Roy, Izumi, Winry ~~~img220(https://giffiles.alphacoders.com/113/113223.gif)~~~ Thank you for reading! Review for the manga: [Fullmetal Alchemist Review](https://anilist.co/review/7741) Review for the 2003 anime adaptation: [Fullmetal Alchemist Review](https://anilist.co/review/7726) Review for the OVAs: [Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Specials Review](https://anilist.co/review/7941)
~~~img220(https://wallpaperaccess.com/full/1084967.jpg)~~~ >Stand up and walk. Keep moving forward. You've got two good legs. So get up and use them. You're strong enough to make your own path - Edward Elric. FMA Brotherhood tells us the story of two brothers: Edward and Alphonse. They wanted so bad to return their mother's life that they used a forbidden alchemy technique in attempt to bring her back to life. Alchemy is the scientific technique of understanding the structure of matter, decomposing it, and then reconstructing it. It's based on the principle that only one thing can be created from something else of a certain mass: The Principle of Equivalent Exchange. The cost for attempting to revive their mother was losing their bodies parcially or completely. That said, the brothers' journey for recovering their bodies using alchemy starts, having plenty of events surrounding it. So yeah, it's pretty much a shounen anime in essence. However, Hiromu Arakawa (the authoress) revealed a complex plot, with action, comedy and drama all in the measure to bring us a well balanced plot. The story takes place in Amestris, a country that in the past was the scene of a terrible civil war that almost ended the Ishibalian race. The show is full of conspiracies and terrifying hypotheses involving alchemy and politics, all well tied with extremely captivating characters. ~~~img220(https://wallpapercave.com/wp/fB42Y0H.jpg)~~~ The characters are all great. It's amazing how a show having a large cast was able to handle it with such excellence. Ed and Alphonse stand out as one of the best pairs in shounen with their great strong motives and deeply personal bond. The support cast shines as well. Mustang and Hawkeye relationship is always fun, Scar is a highly intriguing complex villain, Hohenheim with his mysterious background and personality is really captivating, the Armstrongs are great, so as teacher Izumi. I thought Winry would be the kind of boring useless character, judging by past experience with shounen, but I was pleasantly surprised. Everyone has a purpose, fitting very well into the story. The anime shows us the various weaknesses of humankind concerning how we struggle to live inside a society in contrast to our ego and selfish desires. Humans should have a minimum of empathy for things to work out, since even the things we least imagine can be connected. If we become corrupt, it may be disastrous. We are just humans. We can't live without consequences, as the alchemy's principle states. Plus, it has a meaningful message to take away about the cost of gain and the meaning of perseverance. It's like Ed says: >A lesson without pain is meaningless. That's because no one can gain without sacrificing something. But by enduring that pain and overcoming it, he shall obtain a powerful, unmatched heart. A fullmetal heart. In addition to a fluid animation and a great soundtrack, FMA Brotherhood stands out in every area. I wouldn't say it's perfect though, since the first episode is not a good introduction and the main antagonist should get more attention, but its qualities definitely obfuscates its flaws. ~~~img220(https://pa1.narvii.com/7570/50320e26831b4049e6839c48b97d6c424db8fbb4r1-500-281_hq.gif)~~~
# __Disclaimer: __This review is __not __about comparing Brotherhood to its predecessor from 2003 or the manga. I am reviewing this show as a stand-alone series. *** ___This part is just a bit of a foreword about how I got into FMA. You may skip this part since it has nothing to do with the review, and it’s more of a personal statement.___ I’ve been an anime fan for over a decade, and I’ve constantly heard people talk about Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood for years on end. However, I never watched it until recently, mostly because I was afraid of the endless hype the show has gotten over the years. After overcoming my irrational fear, I can confidently say that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood totally deserves the positive reaction it gets. It will sound a bit funny but let me tell you a short story. Before I even sat down and finished the series, FMA reminded me of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ that I completed months before watching the anime. The reason behind this comparison is the audience response; FMA has always been seen as universally good, just like the American cartoon. Apart from this, both FMA and Avatar share the incredible world-building process, memorable characters, and overall outstanding story-telling. However, comparing these two shows a story for another day (and I would like to be brief with this personal introduction to the review). *** It is no secret that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is popular. FMA: Brotherhood still gets overwhelmingly positive feedback from the anime community, although it finished airing over ten years ago. However, being a popular show does not always mean that it is _good_. That is why one of the most remarkable things to note about Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is how it is recognized and acknowledged by the community. It is either included in hundreds of ‘The best anime of all time’ lists all over the internet or ranked by thousands of people as the best show on several platforms, specifically on AniList, MyAnimeList, and Anime News Network. What makes it so special? What does Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood have that the other similar shows lack? Why do thousands of people all over the world love it? So, in an attempt to answer those questions, let’s dissect the show and figure out together why this title is so heart-warming yet bitter-sweet and overall fantastic and amusing shounen. Although this anime might not need an introduction, I’ll still start with the basics for the people who have never heard about FMA or are not familiar with the series. *** #__Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is definitely one of the top-notch shows because of how it explores and builds the world of its universe.__ Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the second anime adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist manga written by Hiromu Arakawa. The show first aired in April 2009 and continued its run until July 2010, finishing with 64 episodes in total. It was developed by the studio Bones that gave us such popular titles as Ouran High School Host Club, Soul Eater, Noragami, MHA, and many other decent series. The remake of the 2003 anime is known for following the manga as close as a show can. That is why the fans fell in love with the Brotherhood even more since [there are only two filler and four mixed cannon episodes](https://www.animefillerlist.com/shows/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood) out of 64. In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, alchemy plays a crucial role in multiple major aspects of the show, including its most basic plot. Alchemy is presented to us as this ancient scientific abstract art of manipulation and alteration of matter by using natural energy. What alchemy essentially does, it comprehends, deconstructs, and reconstructs. While this technique sounds amazing, there is one golden rule, the basis of all alchemy, "In order for something to be obtained, something of equal value must be lost". Our two protagonists, young Elric brothers, Edward being the oldest and Alphonse being the youngest, learned this Law of Equivalent Exchange the hard way after attempting human transmutation, the taboo of all alchemists. As a result of the violation, the older brother loses his left leg, while the younger one his body. Scared of his brother being completely taken away from him, Edward sacrifices his right arm to attach Alphonse’s soul to a suit of armor. Now, their main goal is to return to their normal, human selves, since Alphonse is now connected to a huge body armor suit and Edward gets mechanical replacements, automail, for his missing limbs and becomes a state alchemist carrying the name Fullmetal Alchemist. As mentioned above, this is the fundamental plot of the series. Now, what makes FMA: Brotherhood such an incredible anime is not how multidimensional the show is but how _multilayered_ it is. While on a 3-year-long dangerous adventure to return their original bodies, the Elric brothers discover the existence of a powerful artifact called the Philosopher's Stone, which allows alchemists to overcome and ‘break’ the above stated Law of Equivalent Exchange. In return for learning about the Stone (yes, I just referenced the Law), Edward and Alphonse learn the shady story of their own country by getting caught in a governmental conspiracy while uncovering the real nature of the Philosopher's Stone. As you can see, the bedrock of this show is quite diverse and includes a bunch of food for thought starting from something as basic as the significance of family relationships and ending with a dreadful question about what makes one human. However, the most crucial aspect that separates FMA from many other shounen anime, in my opinion, is the existence of the Law in the show’s universe. I noticed that a lot of shounens nowadays fail to set up any ground rules, which leads to complete absurdity, overpowered characters, and nonsensical tropes. It was nice to see Fullmetal Alchemist lay out the basic principle of its universe for the viewers and stick to it, instead of coming up with random explanations and ‘breakthroughs’ on the fly just for the sake of amusing the audience. I strongly believe that the overall plot of this anime is incredibly interesting, starting from the brothers’ desire to have human bodies again and ending on the discourse about the military conspiracy that is rooted so deep into Amestris, the country where the action happens. In my eyes, even if we put aside characters, their development, and other aspects aside, it is safe to say that FMA is definitely one of the top-notch anime because of how it explores and builds the world of its universe, how it unpacks all of the enigmas through tiny details not only in dialogs or flashbacks but the animation itself, how it makes you, the viewer, question what is good, what is evil, or do these definitions even exist. Clearly, there are so many moments where you feel so happy for the ‘good’ characters in the show but what makes Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood a part of an amazing-anime-club is how it creates the connection between the viewer and the ‘bad guys’. Speaking in a bit of a harsh and general manner for the sake of avoiding spoilers, the show plays with your feelings to a certain degree and makes you wonder if the villains deserve the punishment or not. Fullmetal Alchemist might seem to be kinda fast-paced at times but it makes up for it by staying consistent, regardless of the speed at which we are being told a story about two brothers, their family, friends, and comrades. It might seem like we are moving really fast at a certain point because the show tries to unpack a million different topics in a very short period of time, sometimes it’s reversed. However, it is essential to remember, everything that happens on the screen happens for a reason. As mentioned above, this anime has little to no fillers but even those are tied to the story smartly. Therefore, if the event seems to have no meaning behind it or it feels rushed, my advice would be: trust the process; it will all make sense in the end. FMA: Brotherhood is a shounen after all, so you get a lot of breaks from or during serious moments when staff decides to input some funny animation or dialog to kindly remind us to have fun while watching the show instead of constantly being focused on the seriousness of it. From my perspective, it is a nice touch to the anime because at the end of the day it is an entertainment medium. I see FMA get criticism for inserting banters because they ‘don’t fit the mood of the scene’, however, I personally disagree with that. FMA can get very intense at times and those funny moments are used in really clever ways to reduce our, the viewers, tension. *** #__I dare to say that FMA has slim to no one-dimensional characters.__ I’ve briefly mentioned some characters’ aspects above, so I’m going to dive deeper into characters and their ‘quality’ in this section, which is a quite difficult topic to dissect. It is difficult mainly because this show creates a narrative where it plays with your head, emotions, and rationale, making you believe that nearly every character is the main character of the show. I know, it sounds a bit strange and overwhelming but FMA does it in such a shrewd manner where you don’t really notice that you care so much about this specific side character and actually treat it as the main one for a second. The show usually achieves this effect by, for example, giving you their backstory, analyzing (in a way) someone’s dialog, manners, values through other characters. Obviously, the majority of the screen and storytime goes to the Elric brothers but it would be inexcusable to not mention how well this show treats its side characters, how much love goes into them (both good and bad guys). Each character has a personality, there are no clones in the interest of adding some extra faces to the cast. Although there is a somewhat clear separation between what the good and the bad guys want and need, it can be said with confidence, there are little to no characters that lack some sort of identity. Some of the cast wants to return to their original bodies, others want to rule the country, others want to restore their family’s honor. Therefore, I dare to say that FMA has slim to no one-dimensional characters. Much like the plot, now and then it might seem as if there are a lot of characters in the show but _they are all there for a reason_. From my standpoint, Fullmetal Alchemist is the anime where the side characters build up the main ones, the Elric brothers, and intensify the plot. I think that this is something you rarely see in the shounens nowadays because the main character(s) is/are expected to carry the weight of the show, while FMA in some sense splits the story baggage and puts it on everyone included in the show. By doing so, the series can explore multiple characters without really overwhelming the viewers because (almost) every single one of them has some significance to the show that they carry, subtle or not. Therefore, Fullmetal Alchemist gives us so many characters to choose from that we might be able to relate to and connect with on a deeper level. Not only that but, in some cases, it makes our empathy for not-so-good-but-also-not-really-evil characters to get through and questions our own humanity through the Elric brothers’ eyes. While we are talking about subtleties, this show has a huge number of small, tiny details that bear immeasurable value that is hidden not only in physical objects in that universe (actually drawing/animation wise) but in the _personalities_, specifically in regards to villains. Those little elements don’t _really_ affect the plot that much since it is not a big deal if you don’t notice them. However, this is why FMA: Brotherhood has such massive rewatchable potential. Trust me, after rewatching the show at least once, you will notice something that you never observed. Although this show doesn’t disappoint you, has a well-written ending and everything falls into place, there still will be a moment in your head when everything just falls into place even more after you rewatch at least the second half of the show. It feels incredibly empowering (in a way) when you realize and detect certain tiny things in the show. It makes us, the viewers, feel like we have truly emerged into that universe and are a part of it. It allows us to continue creating and building that universe in our heads. __That__ is what makes this show an incredible piece of work. *** #__Some words about animation and soundtrack (I suck at this part).__ I am personally not a very artistic person and I prefer to focus on other things about the show, so it’s somewhat difficult to talk about animation or music. However, one of the things I would love to say is that FMA’s animation aged very well. While I was watching it, it was really hard to believe that this anime was done in 2009. There were multiple scenes throughout the series that I am pretty sure were money-shots. The color palettes follow the ‘mood’ of the series, the timeline is set in as well as the atmosphere of different scenes. I really enjoyed watching the fighting scenes since they were not as obnoxious to the eye as other shounens scenes nowadays (I’m blind as a bat and sensitive to light because of chronic headaches). Soundtracks, openings, and endings were incredible, although some of the openings were inconsistent in their structure (when they introduced characters) and animation (coloring wise) but the animation itself saved those ones. The music fits perfectly (to my tastes) and doesn’t feel disconnected from the show. My most favorite part about this show is when they insert the ending song when something really important starts to happen, and then it is slowly transitioned into the regular ending animation sequence. *** #__TL;DR__ The bedrock of this show is quite diverse and includes a bunch of food for thought starting from something as basic as the significance of family relationships and ending with a dreadful question about what makes one human. In my eyes, even if we put aside characters, their development, and other aspects aside, it is safe to say that FMA is definitely one of the top-notch anime because of how it explores and builds the world of that universe, how it unpacks all of the enigmas through tiny details not only in dialogs or flashbacks but the _animation_ itself, how it makes _you_, the viewer, question what is good, what is evil, or do these definitions even exist. Each character has a personality, there are no clones in the interest of adding some extra faces to the cast. Although there is a somewhat clear separation between what the good and the bad guys want and need, it can be said with confidence, there are little to no characters that lack some sort of identity. Therefore, Fullmetal Alchemist gives us so many characters to choose from that we might be able to relate to and connect with on a deeper level. Not only that but, in some cases, it makes our empathy for not-so-good-but-also-not-really-evil characters to get through and questions our own humanity through the Elric brothers’ eyes. FMA’s animation aged very well. The music fits perfectly and doesn’t feel disconnected from the show.
As always constructive feedback is appreciated. If you want to talk with me about something, even if not about this review, feel free to hit me up on DMs or discord. The first half of the review is spoiler free, except for two marked spoilers but the second half is not (I have a warning at the beginning of the second half so don't worry). ___ #tl;dr Even if flawed and at times showing some faults I personally see with shounen in general, FMAB's negatives are far outshined by its positives. It's a work that successfully builds a narrative of epic proportions and with wide appeal, delivering a story that exalts the human being for what it is, and leaving the viewer perhaps more grateful for the way they are then at the beginning of their watch. ___ #Introduction Being a series that introduces many people to anime, I went into Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood hoping that it would represent the medium in the best way possible. It's a big responsibility, I know, but at the time I'm writing this I can say, with a big smile on my face and with no doubts on my mind, that I'm glad such a complex, tender and humanistic story occupies the number one anime spot. If like me you are a fan of mature works, don't let the shounen demographic demotivate you. Yes, it shows at times its shounen side, but I can guarantee you that, for the most part, it tackles pertinent themes with utmost care and respect. #How to build an ambitious work ~~~img300(https://i.imgur.com/HvIR05U.jpg)~~~ I've always appreciated epic works with ensemble casts of well characterized characters with their own little stories and perspectives, that end up coming together to promote one main theme. This type of narrative allows for the viewer to experience all kinds of manifestations of human nature, making it so the battle against the non human faction has more meaning and feels more fulfilling. It was impressive how every sub-plot made sense stand alone yet also fit perfectly with the main plot. ~!Through the course of the series we get to meet a big variety of characters with different backgrounds, ways of thinking and experiences and the series reunites most of them by the end, promoting this idea of connection that the antagonists' side doesn't have.!~ The structure of the series itself contributes to further aid the message, which shows quality writing. Despite this, I can't help but feel like some of the characters were not focused enough due to how spread out the narrative of the series is. Scar's development for example felt very sudden and shallow, even if I loved the idea behind his character. #Its efficient setting I adore complex settings in which every element adds something of substancial theme wise, and in that aspect FMAB did not disappoint either. The world of the series feels realistic, diverse and alive, with all groups of characters and plot lines intertwining and interacting with one another, giving birth to one of the most enthralling narratives I've come across in the medium. I'll be analysing the setting on the second half of the review. #A wide variety of genuine characters It's a story that comes off to me as both an analysis and love letter about humanity's traits, as the characters are diverse in terms of psyche and feel authentic, presenting to the viewer multilayered individuals with their own dreams, values and flaws. A good example of this would be Mustang, with his dream to ascend in hierarchy in order to make his values change the country. And even as noble as he may look at first glance he has his own faults, letting wrath take over him at some points. Even if I appreciate role model characters who represent certain noble morals without ever acting wrong, flawed characters are obviously very important to add a layer of realism and a more human touch to a work. #A work's atmosphere can be key ~~~img300(https://i.imgur.com/WCocpf0.gif)~~~ Something I believe the series achieves that a lot fail to is how its atmosphere aids its message. Sure the series has its more melancholic moments, because some ideas can only be analysed truly with more tragic depictions, but it manages to create a good balance with more heartwarming moments, so binge watching it never felt emotionally draining. ~!It's a series that knows how to handle its tone so, for example, by the end of the series, when it wanted to portray a positive message, its mood was more wholesome, which really helped to deliver a hopeful and warm lasting impression.!~ Despite this, I do have to point out that the comedy, a lot of times, was annoying and unnecessary. I'm okay with giving the series a more light hearted tone but it could've been better achieved. I feel like the huge amount of jokes about Ed's stature show some sloth in the writing. #Intelectual and emotional impact FMAB is filled with pertinent themes, most of which are timeless, even if not unique. The series dissects most of its setting and characters in a relevant manner and most of the elements of the plot are there for a good reason. I think the only theme that didn't click with me was that of the existence of a soul, as my knowledge on that topic is scarse. I don't really believe in the existence of a soul, I think our existence results on a state of consciousness, whereas the existence of a soul would result in our state of being, which doesn't make much sense from a scientific stance. However, I'm okay with the idea the series builds around this theme because even if I don't agree with it, it's still a plausible theory, and a setting is always allowed to have its own set of rules so long as it is consistent with them (which it was). On the other hand, on an emotional level, I feel like the series shows to be able to create a good connection with the viewer most of the time, even if there were also not-so-excelent parts. For example, there were some battles in which I felt invested in, because they provided me more than just a physical clash, but also a clash of ideals, such as Scar vs King Bradley and the humans vs Homunculus. I felt a deep connection with these action scenes because something on a spiritual level was at stake, while other battles, such as those against the immortal dolls and Pride didn't really entertain me. You could argue that they have a deeper meaning to them since they are clashes between humans and non humans/those that don't value humanity, but Pride personally didn't really resonate with me as a character, and the immortal dolls are, well... not really characters. I would say that, despite these moments in between climaxes in which the series went full battle shounen and spent way too much time with meaningless action scenes, it knew most of the time how to manage its pacing. Besides this, I think a part of why certain plot lines didn't impact me as much as they could, such as Scar's development, is also due to the series' habit of presenting its themes through dialogues, something that occurred too many times for my liking. Because of this, at times i couldn't help but feel like the vast runtime of the series could've been better used. However, "nitpicks" aside, FMAB mostly shows to be capable of characterizing its characters, creating both emotionally and intelectually competent conflicts and establishing a somewhat consistent connection with its viewer. #Analysing its setting and characters (SPOILERS AHEAD UNTIL "END OF SPOILERS") ~~~img300(https://i.imgur.com/jpgweAp.jpg)~~~ The main setting is the country of Amestris. Focusing on a authoritarian militaristic superpower allows for lots of realities to be tackled such as questioning of authority, the power of scientific progress and the cycle of hatred. __Humans vs Homunculi__ ~!Working in the shadows of the government, we have the homunculi, constituted by "Father" and his creations, each one of them possessing one of his seven emotions, which he detached from, deeming them unnecessary, as he seeked to become something above normal humans. These individuals, specially Father, Envy and Wrath, seemed to see humans as lowly creatures, and to me served as the perfect antagonists in a story that, in my headspace, highlights both humanity's weaknesses and strengths. I love series that oppose characters that value the human being as it is with characters that want to be something greater. Father's desire to get detached of all seven emotions that represent the deadly sins will probably resonate with the practical side of yourself. Who hasn't once wished to be perfect and not be subjected to "bad" emotions? What I mainly materialized from this series was how I can be so much more fulfilled experiencing life as a sensitive human being, helping me accept myself as I am. I like how the series promotes what makes us human and why we should value our many sides, as the nihilistic part of me can take over a lot of times due to my issues with depression. I think the scene with everyone cheering Ed on in episode 62 really comes to show how we have the ability to empathise and create connections, something only humans with all kinds of emotions are capable of. !~ __The cycle of hatred__ ~!Still within Amestris, the Ishvalans are an ethno-religious group identified by their ethnicity but unified by common religious beliefs. They are key thematically, as they bring cultural diversity and allow for the series to approach its implications, such as the cycle of hatred. Hatred is a part of being human because we care and create connections, but we can't let it consume us, nor let the vicious cycle continue. The series made a really important statement when having Winry not shoot Scar when she could've, because humans are at their best when they create, not when they destroy. Winry's job as an automail mecanic in on itself is a noble work, because she helps others rebuild themselves and get back up. Scar's redemption and Mustang's commitment to not go down the wrong path on the last few episodes are further proof of this. Promoting endurance and acting like an example in order to bring about change in the mentality of those around us, besides education and government intervention, is one of the most effective ways of combating both prejudice and hatred, Miles being the embodiment of this belief. I'm personally a very hot headed person so watching series such as this one that promote peace and tranquility is always good for me as an individual.!~ __Neither religion nor Science are absolute__ ~!img300(https://i.imgur.com/O0pfP61.png) img180(https://i.imgur.com/FjUq2WR.jpg) FMAB also made me consider about religion's implications as even before Scar appears it seems to portray with episode 3 how relying too much on it can stagnate an individual. Through Rosé the series shows how we should find power within ourselves to move forward and evolve after losing something/someone. On the other hand, Scar is an intriguing character, as I'm not sure if he truly believes it when he says he is killing for Ishvala. Maybe he just tries his best to believe it in order to give his revenge filled actions a deeper meaning, something we as humans are used to do. I don't believe the series antagonises religion, it simply points to alarming realities tied to it, such as relying on it too much or covering murderous intents with some sort of nobility to it. Because just like religion can be misused, science can also give birth to inhuman acts. I'm not religious but I obviously still respect those who are, and I believe we can believe in God and still be amazing individuals. If religion is often criticised or looked down on for not going according to rationality, if one relies too much on laws (such as the equivalent change) we may forget what makes us human: our morals and emotions (like when creating philosopher stones and Shou Tucker's case) or come to think we can solve everything with said laws (like Ed and Al did). In the wrong hands, science can also be weaponized, and Amestris is a great example of that. The country developed greatly due to the appearance of "The Philosopher of the East", who introduced alchemy to the region. With scientific progress comes power, and that power, in the hands of a militaristic state, might be used to subdue poorer countries and create conflicts. The series portrays alchemists in the Ishvalan war as pretty much weapons of mass destruction.!~ __Questioning authority__ ~!img300(https://i.imgur.com/YhTk239.jpg) On the border between Amestris and Drachma lies the Fort Briggs, an installation made to protect the former. I'm highlighting this specific point in the map of the series because of the independent mentality of its soldiers, which was key to execute the coup d'état. I really liked Major Armstrong's individualistic way of thinking. I feel like it's fundamental in a human being to think and act for yourself, and she definitely had no fear of going through with her own ideals. Other examples of questioning authority come to mind such as Mustang's dream to overturn the government and Hawkeye's internal turmoil over the inhuman acts that came with the Ishvalan Civil War. In a nationalist dictatorship it's harder to go against the flow and think differently, so these cases of rebelion had a significant impact on me.!~ __Immortality__ ~!To the east of Amestris is located the country of Xing, from where Lin and Mei are from, both looking for the secret to immortality. They add another layer of humanity to the series as the desire to delay or even cancel death is common in humans since ancient times. The series only seemed to scratch the surface on this topic, and I wish it had delved deeper into it. The questions that I would raise would be "should immortality be desired?" and "would our perspective change because of it?". I'm simply theorising, but since life wouldn't have an end, maybe we wouldn't bother to evolve as individuals. Perhaps since death is inevitable, we try our best to live each day to the fullest and end up evolving because of that, and maybe that's another flaw our antagonists were faced with when going against our heroes. I don't believe, however, that life has meaning _because_ of death. If we end up finding a way to be immortal, I don't think we would get tired of life. I feel like most of the consequent issues would be more related to socioeconomical aspects. !~ __Ed, just an (extra)ordinary human__ ~!img300(https://i.imgur.com/DEDEL4x.gif) Ed as a character is overall quite inspiring. Since the antagonists looked down on human nature he had to be _the_ representative of humanity. He lost his mother, tried to get her back only to end up failing and losing two limbs and his brother's body. It's only human to want to revert the world's cruelty, but he got punished for trying to alter how the world works. It was a harsh penalty, but we as humans can't alter the cold laws of the universe that surrounds us. Our role is to give meaning to where is none, it's not to alter reality to our advantage, and he learned it the hard way. I can only imagine what kind of hell he must've went through. Life put him down on his knees but he got back up, because that's what humans do. I like to think that our time spent in the dark is not a waste, so long as we develop as individuals. Ed's automails, to me, are like a symbol of human resilience. Even when everything seems hopeless, we don't give up, because we have the opportunity to feel fulfilled, because we give meaning to the meaningless, and we evolve, another sign of humanity's strength represented by a lot of our heroes, as they ended the series as different individuals than from the beginning, as opposed to Homunculus, who stagnated as an individual due to how desensitized he became, showing again how the narrative helps to further portray the values of this work. At this point Ed is already favorite character material, but he is further characterised with exemplary morals. I'll forever appreciate his willingness to not kill anyone so long as his life is not in danger. I really like how he treats all human lives as precious, and how it lines up perfectly with the message of the series. Giving up alchemy was a nice last little touch, and it shows his development, from a kid that had to rely on science to alter what didn't go in his favor, to a strong individual that doesn't feel the need for it anymore. I also feel like the fact he fell in love with someone and had children further consolidates how human and relatable he is meant to feel. An obvious choice but Ed is probably my favorite character for how genuine and kind he feels. !~ __King Bradley is not just a pawn__ ~!Wrath is probably my favorite homunculus not for how much of a badass he is, but for what he represents. He seems to portray deep hatred for humans for most of the series, specially for how pathetic they are in his eyes. As someone who always relied on himself, when confronted with religion in the Ishvalan war he couldn't help but look down on these pety individuals that depended on external factors to live their lives instead of grasping what they want with their own power. This is a strong basis for an antagonist already, but what made me like him even more was how, through many battles with strong willed and resilient individuals, he ended up appreciating humans for what they are and for how strong they can be. His final battle with Scar was a perfect ending to his character, as he fought head to head with someone he once looked down on, and ultimately died in piece because of humanity's fascinating nature. !~ __The duality between two immortals__ ~!img200(https://i.imgur.com/dF6hzeQ.jpg) img275(https://i.imgur.com/0sA44M8.jpg) Hohenheim's death has to be one of the most emotional moments ever. His final moments meant so much because he was the ultimate opposite of Homunculus. They both shared the same blood and thirst to live life in the most meaningful way, but while one of them seeked to discard his humanity in order to become "perfect", the other took his time to spend his life among humans, have children, save those dear to him and ultimately feel fulfilled. Even if I like the idea the series emanates that the human experience is the best experience, it's also only human to want to play god so I think Father should've had some kind of redemption or a happier ending.!~ __Thematic conclusion__ We are weak, and that's what makes us so strong. Yes we will make mistakes, we will get into conflicts with one another, we will go to war, we will feel pain, we will feel powerless, but as long as we are not numb, we will find happiness. #(END OF SPOILERS) #Solid audiovisuals FMAB's character designs are simple yet recognisable. The art doesn't oversaturate the screen nor does it feel too simplistic. The arquitecture is practical and makes the cut. The animation is consistent and even somewhat memorable in key fights. The soundtrack doesn't stand out much and at times is a bit repetitive, but it fits the series and, for the most part, gets the job done. While the ost itself is nothing special, the openings are all quite memorable. I think I've had all of them stuck in my head at some point in time. Besides, the visuals of the openings all seem to fit the work and symbolise certain key emotions and ideas from the series, so they aren't just pointless scribbles. Even if the endings aren't as catchy or as visually impressive (which is to be expected) some of them are pertinent. #Final word Reading more reviews has made me realize just how much I still have to grow as a reviewer, which is not a bad thing. Having lots of room for development is kind of an exciting idea in a way. I've also noticed how I lack the experience in analysing audio and visuals. Really frustrating to not know what to write on that area since anime is an audiovisual medium. I do think this second review is better than my first at least in terms of how complete it feels, since i had almost only analysed themes on my last one. I hope this review is not "just another one" and actually adds something meaningful to the already existing reviews. One thing I can take from this at least is how FMAB grew on me even more as I wrote this. thanks for reading, even if not everything. ~~~img300(https://i.imgur.com/L01qAQ2.jpg)~~~
__Above average, but not a "9" __ This show, despite its insane popularity is about as good as any other shounen of its time. The characters are fun enough to see interact, and the greater story threads turn an adventure anime into a grand supernatural conspiracy, which was very impressive. There's just lots of individual little inconsistencies that stop the show from being great. A lot of characters are introduced, have an explicit motive for being in the show, then do one thing and vanish, or do one thing and are put in the background, not really accomplishing much while the story figures out how to involve them again. There are entire swathes of the show barren of character development, and an ending arc that rushes several characters through to the end of a character development arc that never began. For a battle anime, there are a lot of individual powers both heroes and villains have that they will use literally once and never again, probably because the writer forgets they are capable of doing them. Villains will just give up and stop fighting to allow themselves to be killed, rather than show any of the cunning that allowed them to become a threat initially. On top of that, The show uses the backdrop of a fascist nation committing a genocide as a means of setting plot elements in motion, but it never really addresses the ramifications of that conflict beyond refugees existing and a few members of the invading army having ptsd. Rather, it uses the imagery of the genocide repeatedly and in such a way that neither is intended to traumatize the viewer the same way the "heroes" are, or to really talk about how they'll make things right beyond "not forgetting" and deposing the fuhrer. For a show about war and bloodshed, it absolutely backs away from talking about anything remotely close to the geo-political/societal ramifications of the genocide. It's somehow both a footnote and a plot device. Barring all that, and the "haha, youre short" gags and wacky screaming that feels tonally dissonant in a show with this much gore, murder, and dark themeing, its actually an alright show. The fights, especially the ones near the middle and end of the show are genuinely pretty entertaining. Plot armor aside, there are plenty of moments you cna feel characters really fighting tooth and nail to kill or suvive. The music is solid, the world is interesting, the locations are refreshing, and most of the characters are fun to see interact with. With a bit better writing, it coulda been a 9/10, but the author seems to want cheaper catharsis rather than actual challenging story telling, so a lot of the interactions that could've been thought provoking conversations between two characters with conflicting ideals just turn out to be one person being angry and the other apologizing. A pity. Ending was pretty solid though.
I'm still of the opinion that this is one of my favourite anime shows out of both nostalgia and out of pure unadulterated enjoyment. Despite my perfect rating, upon my rewatch I did notice a lot about Brotherhood that stuck out much more than it did originally when I was younger, for better and (a little) for worse. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is top-tier, but it goes without saying the comedy is downright intrusive even though it gets noticeably better later on. As someone who also grew up with the original 2003 show before jumping onto Brotherhood when it was released, preferring the manga-faithful adaption still to this day, it's easy to see that some comedic tones overshadow some of the dramatic tension. I'll probably end up watching 2003 again, but I know that it tended to handle dramatic moments a bit better because of the music, pacing or the direction that leaned more into seinen territory. I just have this hollow feeling for the first half of Brotherhood because it really feels extremely rushed to me even though it follows the manga very closely in terms of adaption rate. As a young pre-teen seeing all these events again I was happy that it was skipped over so I could get to "the good bits" that I had never seen before. At the time, I still wasn't sure what to make of how much "funnier" and "in your face" it tried to be. As an adult now I can see how much the first 13 episodes stick out like a sore thumb especially when it comes to the development of certain characters, or just my overall sentiment of how they went about it. The 2003 show had a lot more subtlety in its direction, and musical tracks that made it a much more depressing show, but it's mainly a difference of opinion than a divide. 2003 goes for the somber while Brotherhood goes for the bombastic. This is especially true for its comedic timing and musical score. Again it's mainly relegated to the first half of Brotherhood that misses some of that hard hitting punches that lack melancholy. That isn't to say Brotherhood isn't absent of any kind of heartbreaking and sentimental moments because there are plenty of those that pull at the heartstrings and got me teary-eyed. I just thought it was important to point out that the earlier preparation before certain events fail to have a any immediate lasting impact. That said, Nina and Hughes' subplot have a much greater effect on the overall story and character motivations, especially the Elric brothers, rather than being strictly to one-off character studies like in 03'. Keep in mind, 2003 remembers its dramatic moments, whereas Brotherhood reflects on them. There are also small little events and events that are omitted; I'm rather indifferent only because they didn't interrupt the story too much (Masked Man on the Island, Train Fight just to name a few). The first episode is filler which I did enjoy, but we could've gotten the same point across had we focused on canon-moments to the same effect without some of the needless foreshadowing too early. We also get an interlude recap episode, and it just had me asking why bother when we skipped smaller important moments like Yoki's introduction in Youswell. Yoki was a character that should have been introduced formally rather than through a meaningless flashback explanation and its a shame because a lot of people won't know the extent to which he redeems himself. I could go on and on about the changes and direction although it would mainly just sound like I'm complaining and nitpicking. I still stand that Brotherhood still has a much superior latter half compared to the 2003 show which has a super unsatisfying conclusion that was rather bittersweet instead of wholesome. Both series have their pros and cons though 2003 tended to its character moments with more grace. I'm still of the opinion that this is still the definitive version and one of my favourite anime shows out there. Around 14-15 episode mark is when I noticed that Brotherhood picks up and learns to roll with its pacing and leaving just enough plot to reel me back with each passing episode. It's at this point we drop the story so far attitude, and get to the to be continued mentality that managed to keep me hooked. I noticed a huge leap in quality where FMA:B began to really spread it's wings and fly. I learned to re-love the series as it began slowly unraveling its mystery and learning to (more or less) time comedic moments better. FMA:B has such an expansive story and cast of characters that it's hard for me to dislike it really at all because all of it's parts are so strong, offbeat comedy and comparisons to 03' aside. Either way FMA:B and FMA are a huge part of my childhood and it's still one of those shows from then that stands up exceedingly well against every single anime I've seen since. It's a story that really speaks across all generations, has realistic characters that have depth, and is just an overall master craft at doing a fantasy adventure story in the most epic way possibly. Literally every major emotional beat hit even harder than it did before, and many of the lessons resonated to an even greater degree. What's seven more surprising was how introspective the series was about of philosophical concepts and exploring these underlying themes that had me scouring for online discussions about its symbolism. Realizing the poetic irony of the homunculus's deaths was beautiful. Watching it again only made me realized how well it builds its setting, but also its character chemistry and even the concept of alchemy. The series never has a dull moment, and it's something I can feel with how well structured the overall story is for hitting every beat. It's a dramatic fire that continued to burn after the show prepares to wrap up. Not even the finale, but the numerous episodes preceding that are filled with so many high-stakes moments and awe that it was truly a spectacle to behold. Of course, the ending was done perfectly too, and is a payoff that is so well deserved. Most of all, everything just falls into place and has conclusive arcs for everyone involved. Everything just holds up well, story and especially the beautifully colourful animation that's background-worthy material. Brotherhood is a series that means so much to me, and it feels like yesterday (over a decade ago) that I was unpackaging the first season DVD eager to watch in the hotel at an anime convention not knowing what was in store for the rest of the show. I'm glad about this re-watch, and I still can't believe it's been 12 years since it's debut (even longer since I viewed the original series). Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a damn masterpiece, and such a well crafted anime that explores so much within the span of its 64 episodes. Even to this day, nothing has ever topped this show for me, and its a testament to the quality of its story and cast that still speaks to me in my older age. What a journey. I can't wait to revisit it again in a few years.
# ~~~__This review has spoilers hidden under tags!__~~~ `` ___Before I begin:___ _Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood_ is undeniably one of the most popular and highly praised anime among the anime community, with good reason. Although it has a few ___minor___ problems stemming from age and (in my opinion) the very same hype that allows it to be so well known, it still stands strong as a shining example of what draws so many people into media, animated or not. ~~~___Scores, for those in a rush:___ __Use of Themes and Motifs: 10/10__ __Music: 9.5/10__ ~~(minus .5 because of the OST. OPs and EDs are outstanding)~~ __Voice Acting: 9.8/10__ (_I actually prefer the dub over the sub in FMA:B! The English cast was picked wonderfully, with most reprising their roles from the 2006 adaptation. I cannot speak on the sub.)_ __Pacing: 9.8/10 Art/Animation: 10/10 Characters: 10/10 Enjoyment: 10/10 Overall Writing: 10/10__~~~ ___Theming and Motifs:___ Arguably one of the most well-known things about the show is its use of philosophical ideas and the varied exploration of each one. Whether it's the intriguing deconstruction of ideas like [_the Problem of Evil_](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/evil/), human morality, identity -- or the smoothly engrained agreements with schools of thought (for example, [_Existentialism_](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/)) -- _Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood_ does not hesitate to include ideas that may not be noticed or appreciated on the first watch. This boldness thankfully does not go to waste, as it offers a variety of things to look out for on each rewatch, both of individual episodes, parts, and the show as a whole. Although subtle, each part of the show has plot-lines that neatly intertwine with philosophical/moral ideas, such as part 1 and 5 relating to the Problem of Evil ~~(if God exists, He is not all good, or He is not all-powerful. In FMA:B, Truth is not all good)~~, or part 2s connection to human identity and the importance of the 'soul'. Motifs throughout the show contain the well-known cycle of hatred, love, and military + government corruption. One specific motif I would like to briefly touch on is love. Throughout the show, we get to watch relationships form and evolve; including familial, platonic, romantic, and even self-love. We get to see the ways that love can differ from 'couple' to 'couple', whether it's the familial love between Edward and Alphonse, the growth of ~!Edward and Winry's!~ relationship, the protective/'platonic' love between Roy and Riza, or the slow self-love ~!Scar starts to show towards himself, platonic love towards his companions (May Chang), and even 'love' for alchemy.!~ Arakawa shows 'love' between characters in soft, intricate ways that allow us to enjoy the connections without throwing off the balance between action and comedy towards romance. I personally find it adds a lot to the writing and makes the characters feel much more human and fleshed out, and it also adds to rewatches! ^^ `` ___Music:___ The OPs and EDs of _Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood_ are absolutely outstanding. Sonically, they're just great songs, and lyrically, the way they connect to the show without being corny is great as well. This honestly just speaks for itself, and this is without touching on the beautiful visuals. ~~~youtube(https://youtu.be/UqIahGU9ZtY)~~~ This praise extends to the OST as well! Each song has a feel that matches the setting of the show nicely, with a few notably beautiful pieces that stick out (in a good way). Although the OST matches most scenes very well, (my favourite being [this moment with Lan Fan and Fu](https://youtu.be/pKIv5DAg7qo?t=233)) there are a few instances where a broader soundtrack would have greatly assisted the mood and impact of each scene. My least favourite tracks grew to be [Lurking](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLXtkxU69B0&list=PLC0DB8FAE362E294C&index=17), [Anticipation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-W7xveVzUw&list=PLC0DB8FAE362E294C&index=28), and worst of all, [Spiral of Truth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=302Xbp7LRTo&list=PLC0DB8FAE362E294C&index=26). They are by no means ill-fitting to the show or poor songs, but they are CRIMINALLY overused. I am all for using music to make the viewer subliminally expect or associate things with each other, but when songs are used in almost every single episode of a show, especially when they dull the moment, it takes away from the effect! Unfortunately, this becomes even more obvious upon rewatching, as I can't help but think about how much a different song would have expanded the impact of a scene. This, to me, is a problem that stems from age, as frequently recycling themes was very common back in the late 2000s. It doesn't truly take away from the show, but it's certainly a gripe worth mentioning. Aside from this, the OST is very solid. ___Voice Acting:___ As previously mentioned, I cannot speak on the voice acting in the original Japanese version of FMA:B. However, I can speak for the dub, which is what I will be doing (obviously). This is by far one of the strongest dubs I have ever watched! The cast is great, with role reprisals being appreciated and deserved. There are no misses on the voices selected for each character, some of my favourites being Edward, Roy, Lust, and Ling. Like any show, sub or dub, there are a few moments where something in delivery feels off, and sometimes even overdramatic, but overall it's great! I would like to point out the scene in episode 19, Laura Bailey was absolutely incredible. __Spoilers for Episode 19!__ ~!youtube(https://youtu.be/AS7l7BkcHz0)!~ ___Pacing:___ The pacing is great for first-time viewers, events unfolding fast enough to keep intrigue, but not too fast to the point where concepts are hard to grasp and key topics are lost. Although there are certainly spots where things start to lag, the mid-beginning of part 3 being the worst offender, overall the show is very consistent and delivers where needed/expected. ___Art/Animation:___ It's BONES! The animation looks great and the art style is true to the manga. OPs are beautifully animated, their visuals are stunning and symbolism underrated, and also give us a taste of what a "modernized" version of the show would look like. Fight scenes are well choreographed and fluid, and comedic moments are done perfectly! One thing I'd like to point out is the literal growth of Edward throughout the series. [We can see him grow taller, gain muscle, his hair grow longer, and his face mature.](https://pm1.narvii.com/6263/86cb431b31fada70b8005709173c5942feb7a910_hq.jpg) (Link leads to screencap from part 4, [episode 46] click at risk.) This can be seen in the other characters, but it is by far most noticeable in Ed. As for pure polish?:~~~ img220(https://static.planetminecraft.com/files/resource_media/screenshot/1436/fullmetalalchemistbrotherhoodamestris38093022.jpg) img220(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/41/de/5c/41de5c0cee927502cc855c71c7d6214b.jpg) img220(https://deculture101.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/vlcsnap-2009-08-15-15h46m57s233.png) img220(https://i.makeagif.com/media/6-07-2015/bu3bOt.gif)~~~ ___Characters:___ By far some of the best-written characters in the shounen genre. Each character has their own arc, whether big or small, that wraps up neatly and suits their personal motif. I also can't talk about this show without praising the female characters; female characters who aren't reduced to love interests who rely on their male counterparts are VERY rare in the genre still, however, FMA:B has so many. Winry, Riza, Izumi, Olivier, Lan Fan, Lust, etc. They're great and deserve all the praise they receive. I don't want to delve too far into what makes each character in the show so great, so all I will do is list my favourite characters (writing and entertainment-wise). Roy is by far my favourite character, as his character theme is one of the show's most central motifs and he portrays it so dynamically -- plus, he's just a badass. Izumi Curtis first seems relatively unimportant to the story, although having a strong connection to our MCs and their past, it seems like we'll just get a few (very) touching moments and move on, but instead she persists throughout the plot. Of course Edward and Alphonse, but it's expected for MCs to be good! Olivier Armstrong is probably one of the most entertaining characters in the show, although the comedic moments she has are more understated, she's funny as hell, strong, and ALSO a badass. Finally, I want to praise Scar's character because just... Wow. Every time I rewatch the show and reread the manga, I get to see more and more depth. There are two more I'd love to bring up as well, but spoilers would ruin how great they are ^^ ___Enjoyment:___ To briefly summarize, FMA:B is bound to entertain all types of viewers in one way or another. The analytic type? Yes, for sure. Comedy enjoyers? Totally. People who watch for fight scenes? Yep. Casual viewers? Definitely. Even people who enjoy romance can find entertainment in the show and its characters! Like mentioned earlier, FMA:B features a wide variety of things, whether it's good writing, cool fight scenes, romance, comedy, social commentary... I genuinely do think that everyone can find something to love, and there's not much else I can say to prove that (unless I go on longer than I already have). ___Verdict:___ If you haven't seen _Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood_ I promise you that you won't regret watching it. It deserves every bit of praise it gets. It's easily one of the best anime out there. Although there are clichés, small nitpicks, and the issue of insanely high expectations, it won't let you down. After going into the show completely blind with average expectations, I was blown away, and as my expectations continue to heighten and my tolerance of flaws drops, I still hold a lot of love and praise for FMA:B. ~~~img220(https://64.media.tumblr.com/59617cf634fcdf2dd294105ff0a16f68/tumblr_obn16tZKZj1ulthnlo1_500.gifv)~~~
_Spoilers ahead!_ I think I'll never be able to recover from this. I've been watching anime for years, but every time I think of FMAB my heart immediately tears open, I don't even know from where to start. Two brothers find a purpose in pursuing the art of alchemy to impress and please their parents. However, this trivial passion eventually turns into a tragedy. Following their mother’s funeral, the Elric brothers try to fill in the void by trespassing the realm of what’s allowed to human beings: they cross the alchemic taboo and get punished for it. They end up completely shaken by that and choose to make up by looking for the only chance to get their bodies back: to find the philosopher’s stone. So, alchemy is the key pillar of the whole story. Which is cool and charming. However, I swear FMAB is a rare pearl under several other aspects. It tackles fundamental and extremely actual issues, which makes it a pretty immortal work of art. War crimes, colonialism, and eugenics are the hardest pills to digest. While some characters literally incarnate wickedness and are responsible for horrible deeds, they try to be true to themselves. Each character of FMAB is well-rounded and, put aside magic and alchemy, deeply human. And when the roles of religion, science, and knowledge are discussed, that’s when the magic begins: how could you decide that what you believe in, being it science, alchemy, or religion, also works for other human experiences completely detached from your own path and background? Is science the absolute answer to everything? What about the comfort religion provides to its believers? And what to do when both these disciplines are brought to the excess? So, as we’ve seen, originally started as a story about the complications created after the brothers’ experiments and their coming of age, the story expanded into a lot of more complicated issues that would deserve a whole novel of in-depth and thorough analysis. Moreover, as a good shonen, FMAB couldn’t avoid tackling issues related to redemption, family, friendship, love, and the importance of trust. Everything is topped with reflections on the mystery of life and human mortality. Even the seven deadly sins, which should have embodied the pure cruelty and wickedness of human beings, hold intrinsic humanity: that’s a wonderful and endearing metaphor to let us learn about the importance of knowing ourselves, flawed and mortal beings, to accept our nature and to simply live up to the best version of ourselves. What’s more, there are no plotholes, and that’s a delight. 64 episodes are enough, every subplot has its beginning and ending, it’s absolutely well-planned and the emptiness that follows the ending does not spur from something which is left unsaid, but from the most human of all the reactions: after identifying yourself in the characters, you eventually end up missing them. Openings, endings, and OSTs are heartbreaking. I absolutely adore them all. From an animation point of view, I think it has nothing to envy more recent anime which enjoy modern animation techniques and technologies. Even the less relevant crash/battle is portrayed in great detail and with extreme respect and dignity. I'll always remember when Ling Yao uses a kind of rope to strongly tie Gluttony: the accuracy of the movements is so pleasing to watch. Speaking about fights, they're not too short, nor too long. They take into account WHO is fighting and their abilities, thus adjusting the length and the movements according to a lot of variables. FMAB doesn't provide excessive power-ups or battles which cover from 3 to 15 episodes, but focuses more on the importance of the events and the storyline EVEN THOUGH FIGHT SCENES ARE EPIC and catch the strength of the characters, but also their anger, fear, worries, grief, and anguish. Most of the characters in shonen tend to be quite long-winded, but this is not the case. Of course, there's introspection, chatting, dialogues that are essential in fights as well, but I think they are given the just-right amount of time. I also have to give a shoutout to the mangaka: Hiromu Arakawa. As a woman, she manages to empower female characters without oversimplifying their features or falling for the most hateful of fanservice. At the same time, they are weak, as well as their male counterparts, because every human being is nothing but a little creature in a vast universe. Each character of FMAB is amazingly well-rounded, has its own aspirations and beliefs, its role to enrich the storyline. You will fall in love with secondary characters as well as the main ones since their lives are consciously intertwined. Friendships and love stories develop naturally and with no force. In conclusion: life is full of errors, sadness, loss, submission, and tragedy. But as we live in this world, we also deserve to love and to be loved, to be compassionate, to be happy. FMAB is a wonderful mix of comedy and tragedy. People can laugh even in the darkest of times, and humor is used in a superconscious and measured way. After experiencing so many powerful emotions I felt empty but reinvigorated like I wanted more, but I also know everything's been said already. I'm very well aware this endearing feeling will never leave me.
I write my reviews based off 5 elements: Story, Characters, Music, Animation/Production Quality and Impression. All of my reviews are spoiler free. This review is based on the ___subbed___ version #__Story:__ One of the all time greats when it comes to originality, pacing, planning and overall storytelling. Fullmetal Alchemist is the first (I believe) to take Alchemy as a main power and builds well upon that as well as crafts a well thought out world. The twists and turns don't feel forced and instead have been properly foreshadowed with just enough breadcrumbs to keep you guessing but are not inconceivable leaving the reader wondering what the hell is happening. #__Characters:__ The main characters in Edward and Alphonse Elric are wonderfully written with clear motivations, strengths, weakness, past, and goals. The main characters are highly likable and most will find them endearing enough to become emotionally invested in their success. The supporting cast of characters is also extremely well written. There are few characters that have little impact on the story and the majority of side characters don't feel like they were introduced for the relevancy for just one arc. #__Music:__ The soundtrack while not amazing, is still very very good. The soundtrack does well to invoke emotions such as hype and sorrow during key moments. The opening and ending tracks were very well picked and I have a lot of those same songs on my playlists as they do well in both capturing the essence of the arc they are placed in and are absurdly catchy to begin with. That said, the OST doesn't have many memorable tracks in my opinion and doesn't have a "Lost My Pieces" like Toradora does. #__Animation/Production Quality:__ Fight scenes are fluid and very well animated. I can't even seem to remember a scene where bones drops off in quality at all like some battle shounens. The biggest fight scenes always deliver and there are some fight scenes that are simply burned into memory due to how impressive the animation was. The voice actors were also an integral part in making sure all was packaged well. I never felt that there was any one character that had a voice that didn't fit them. #__Impression:__ Because it is a "first of it's kind" type of show in which Alchemy was able to play a major role, if you ask any anime fan what show comes to mind when you say "Alchemy", as long as they have watched this series, this is the first one to come to mind 95% of the time. There are several key scenes that have stuck with viewers forever and no doubt there are memes and screencaps that live on to this day because of how memorable these moments were. It just goes to show that even years after watching, plenty of people still remember how they felt during those scenes and is a testament to how great this anime is. Final Words: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is for sure one of the greatest animes of all time. I've read a couple reviews on the series myself and one line I read in another review struck as ringing true: "Do not watch this as your first anime." As this is in the top 0.1% of all anime, if you set your expectations so high, you will be sorely disappointed. That said, there are other anime that stack up, however until One Piece ends, I can say I firmly believe this to be the greatest anime of all time. That said, this is currently the closest thing to perfection that I personally can find so I am comfortable with rating it at a 9.7 (97) as I will never given something a 10 unless I believe it truly has no chance of ever being beaten.
This is a very good show, but it was still disappointing because I started the show thinking it would be a masterpiece, seeing as it is ranked #1 in MAL and so highly praised by so many people. Here is all the places I thought the anime felt off: **SPOILER ALERT** - I don't understand why it started from a random point in the timeline with episode 1 and then episode 2 onwards it starts it for real. Its a bit weird. - Episode 10 : Hughes was starting to put the pieces together, so Lust was sent to assassinate him. But she failed to do so in the first try and Hughes manages to escape her. But after managing to leave the room what does he do? You would expect him to go to somewhere populated in the office or maybe call out for help. But no, he does the opposite of that actually. He wanted to make a phone call to Mustang and inform him about the recent developments. He could have done that call from the office, but for some mysterious reason he thought it was better to leave the office and go to a phone booth in the middle of nowhere. One way to explain this could be that he thought that many in the military were traitors so staying in the office will be worse. But this is not true since he said that he should inform Bradley about the recent developments before. Which means he did not know that all of the higher officials were corrupted yet. Another explanation could be that since he had planted a knife right in the head of Lust he thought he was dead and thus did not call out help. But that is still not good enough explanation of why he had to leave the office as there were telephones in there as well. Not like there were no telephones nearby and he HAD to leave the office. So this was a big weakness of the plot in my opinion - Episode 17, there was no reason for Barry to free Ling, just because he was a foreigner. - Throughout the series Ling and also May Chang seek immortality. It says that somehow that will help their clan, help them become rulers etc etc. But there was no clarification on this matter till the end. It makes no sense to me why both of them were strangely searching for immortality. - We know that Bradley became the king and manipulated all the higher officials of the military. But how did Bradley infiltrate the military in the first place. How did he manage to become the king? There is no explanation to that in the show - Why did Van Hoenhan have to leave his kids and go away. I find no good explanation for this throughout the series. It is evident that he cared for his family and kids plenty. Yet for some reason he left. It said in the anime that he conversed with all the souls inside him and sorted them. But that has nothing to do with leaving home. - Episode 46: Winry asks why Elric doesn't go see Al at the station, and the reason given was that he was a fugitive so he does not want to go. I don't think there is any connection between being a fugitive and not going to meet his brother after such a long time. - Episode 51: Al came up with a brilliant plan of trapping Pride in darkness to remove him until the end of the fight. It happened successfully too. After getting trapped Pride kept hitting Al's head for the whole night. He was signaling his location, but Al was unaware of it. Now I can understand that he did not know that Pride was signaling his location, but still, creating that annoying noise throughout the night, at least he could have not let him make that annoying sound. In the morning when he was asked why he allowed him to make that sound continuously, his reply was that Selim was a little kid so he was just playing. When he knew full well that Selim was no kid. - The show always kept saying "Human transmutation is a taboo, for what could be the value of a human being". And finally guess what was used as equivalent exchange to bring Al back to life. It was that Elric could never use alchemy again. Seriously, that's all it takes to do human transmutation. Something that lost Elric 2 of his limbs and Al his whole body and still was not equivalent to bring their mother back to life, it took only the sacrifice of never to use alchemy again to do the same thing at the end of the show. This really made me hate the ending. You could say that unlike their mother Al was not dead, but trapped inside that weird dimension of truth. The price was only to take him back to the human realm. Yea, that's an explanation, but I still don't think that it is satisfying enough.
I have a love-hate relationship with Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. First of all, I’d like to say that my main mistake was going in expecting it to blow me away and be the best anime of all time, which it wasn’t. If I found it of my own accord and watched it without knowing that fact I would have enjoyed it more, but it led to me watching it with a more cynical perspective and enjoying it less. However, I have gotten over this now and can now formulate a proper opinion. It’s good! It’s not a 10/10 or even a 9/10 for me, but it’s a solid 8/10 and I can’t see myself putting it any lower than that. The episodes where significant things happened were very good and I felt that some episodes, mainly in the second part and towards the end, lived up to all the hype and were some great anime. Episode 4 and 60 were my favourites mainly since they were shocking and dark and episode 60 reminded me of a slightly worse version of End of Evangelion, but I had my jaw dropped for the last few minutes. Now comes the problems. First, I think that while the episodes with a lot going on or episodes that have strong emotional moments were great, lots of the other episodes fell into the “yeah it’s ok” category of 7/10, without that much interesting stuff happening, just moving the plot forwards. The main time I felt like this was during the 10 episodes that take place at Briggs. I didn’t like Sloth as a villain, I didn’t like the new characters that much, and I didn’t feel like anything big was really happening. My next big problem was the characters. Don’t worry, I’m not going to start saying why Ed, Al, Mustang or Hawkeye aren’t good characters, in fact I think they’re very well-written and I liked them a lot. I mean the insignificant side characters that didn’t have enough time to become interesting or developed, like the two sets of chimeras they pick up along the way who I couldn’t tell apart from each other, some of the Briggs soldiers, and even Kimblee. It wasn’t that I didn’t like them, it’s just the anime didn’t make me want to like them because they were mainly insignificant and just added to the pile of names I needed to remember, so by the later stages I felt like groaning every time another new character appeared. I also didn’t find The Father that great as a villain after episode 60. He just became a dude that they had to kill who was pure evil rather than being interesting, and I found the final battle a bit underwhelming My other problem with it that I can think of is that some fights were drawn out over several episodes and they just got tiring and I didn’t find them all that great. Examples include Armstrongs vs Sloth and the main group vs Pride. I’d like to end on a good note though, the main emotional moments were executed very well, like episode 4, 10, the moment with the 3rd of October, and the ending. This anime was more positive than negative, even if there were parts I didn’t like (and I didn’t go into the comedy aspects because I didn’t find it that bad and everyone talks about this already). I’ve decided to try out the original FMA 2003 to see what direction they went in after they overtook the manga and just to chill with the characters again, even if Greed (my favourite) won’t be there this time around since he was introduced later on.
Minha nota para esse anime: __9,5 ★__ O que é levado em consideração: ◈ História: (3/3 pontos) ▫ Ritmo apresentado ✔✔ ▫ Consistência / sem furos de roteiro ✔✔ ▫ Lore bem apresentado ✔✔ ▫ Boa Lore ✔✔ ▫ Complexidade ✔✔ ▫ Enrolação (recapitulações desnecessárias...) ✔✔ ▫ Plost twist ✔✔ ▫ Bom final ✔✔ ◈ Animação/produção: (2,5/2,5 pontos) ▫ Estilo de Arte (traçado dos personagens, ambientação) ✔ ▫ 3D/CGI ✔✔ ▫ Fluidez ✔✔ ▫ Trilha sonora (músicas boas nos momentos perfeitos) ✔✔ ▫ Direção (consistência na animação e transmitir suas emoções) ✔✔ ▫ Primeiras impressões ✔✔ ▫ "assistível" (sem picos de partes boas e partes chatas são pontos negativos) ✔✔ ◈ Material: (1,5/1,5 ponto) ▫ Quantidades de Ecchis ✔✔ ▫ Boa openning ✔✔ ▫ Quantidade de temporadas e eps ✔✔ ▫ Quantidade de material ✔✔ ▫ Adaptação do mangá ✔✔ ◈ Características: (2,5/3 pontos) ▫ Comédias (quantidade e qualidade das piadas) ✔ ▫ Ação (qualidade das lutas etc) ✔ ▫ Drama (complexidade e mistério da história) ✔✔ ▫ Romance (construção e evolução dos personagens) ❌ ~~▫ Slice of Life (bastante peculiar apresenta a vida dos personagens)~~ Conclusão: Gostei do anime todo, desde o começo até o fim, me entreteu e não me arrependo a dizer que Fullmetal Alchemist é uma OBRA PRIMA, precisam assistir, eu senti muita falta do romance discarado na open. Fullmetal é um bom anime para assistir, se você busca um bom drama e história. O ritmo que a história toma é bastante sólido, e todas as dúvidas que o mistério toma, é solucionado no final para ser sincero não vejo nenhum problema na obra, tirando o fato que não houve o desenvolvimento do romance. Entretanto na internet tem vários fãs que recomendam esta obra como se fosse Shakespeare e acaba odiando os outros que não gostam desse anime, entretanto, temos que lembrar que ele é "apenas um anime" e que podem ter gente que não goste e caso não goste ou não tem interesse neste gênero/estilo eu respeito totalmente. Observações: Como ele não é uma obra muito nova, a arte dele não é muito bonito, é bastante "seco", porém isso pode não ser um ponto negativo considero como seu estilo de arte. Resumo da obra: [pode apresentar spoiler] Depois de perderem sua mãe, Alphonse e Edward Elric tentam trazê-la de volta usando uma técnica de alquimia proíbida. Contudo, o princípio básico da alquimia é a ‘troca equivalente’, e tentar ressuscitar alguém custa muito alto. Ed perde sua perna, e Al perde seu corpo. Edward consegue selar a alma de Al dentro de uma grande armadura metálica, dando em troca seu braço. Anos depois, Ed (com dois membros de metal) e Alphonse (ainda preso na armadura) deixam a sua cidade Natal. Edward, que possui um talento nato para a alquimia, se torna um alquimista com certificado nacional, e logo passa a ser chamado de ‘fullmetal alchemist’. Mas o verdadeiro objetivo dos irmãos é encontrar a pedra filosofal, na esperança de recuperarem os seus corpos originais. Logo eles descobrem que essa mística pedra, que pode nem existir, é visada não só por eles, mas como muitas outras pessoas também.
An expanse which stretches as far as the eye can see which is filled with meaningless, repugnant, stinky garbage of every kind, a grim atmosphere. And in the midst of all the senseless trash is a single small patch of beautiful flowers, whose area is utterly insignificant to that of the expanse and among those flowers, one of them, the one which puts a smile even on the most hopeless person's face have a name, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. This is the best description I could think of for this benison of an entertainment. This anime is widely regarded as one of the greatest anime of all time and this will make sense once you experience it. __STORY__ The story is one the main pillars of this show. It commences with Edward and Alphonse chasing the wanted Isaac McDougal aka The Freezing Alchemist. Isaac learns about the secrets of Amestris' government and endeavours to solve everything solely by himself. While he dies in the process the statements made by him leaves the viewers in a state if intense curiousness which is the perfect initiation for any show. The story is facile to follow but at the same time too complex that once you begin to dwelve deeper into it you will realise that you've only touched the tip of the iceberg. While Brotherhood skips past the early manga chapters assuming people have already watched the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series, the adaptation was so good that we do not feel it's fast pacing at all. The plot unravels it's mysteries slowly at the right time and the last 15 episodes (The promised day arc) have the best buildup in any anime. __CHARACTERS__ The great cast of characters is probably the strongest aspect of this anime. FMAB did something in a short amount time that many shounen anime could not do even with hundreds of episodes. Edward and Alphonse are not your typical "I have a dream" main characters. Like many in the show, both of them are products of tragedy and you will easily sympathise with them. Edward Elric's character starts off as a selfish, irate character full of pride, like when we see him getting enraged whenever someone calls him short. As the story moves forward he learns to rely on others rather than shouldering everything on himself and begins to trust and form strong bonds with others. By the end of the show Ed have become a self-accepting, trusting and a placid character. Alphonse Elric starts off as a kind, peaceful and very much dependant on Ed. Even after everything they've gone through, he trusts Ed and deeply cares for him. The literal name of this anime "Brotherhood", the profound relation between Elric brothers is explored during a plethora of instances like the entire aftermath of the events at laboratory 5, when Scar attacks them the first time, when Al gets “posessed” by Pride, when Greed abducts Al in Dublith and much more that it does not leave the viewer questioning about the deep connection between the Elric brothers. Another aspect I love about FMAB is no matter how insignificant or lame you are, you have a significance to the story. It shows that every person plays a role and has a consequentiality. It makes us feel Ed and Al to be a part of the world rather than stars of the show. Arakawa(the writer of FMA) is not the type of writer to make a character who has lived for hundreds of years a flat one. The lack of discussion about Van Hohenheim on social media deeply pertubs me. You could even say that FMAB is Hohenheim's story said through the eyes of his sons. He's incredibly nuanced for a character to be properly introduced so far into the story. He loves his family and devotes himself to them, while also being full of culpability about Xerxes. He talks to everyone and gets to know them. He also brought his knowledge to Xing, implying he travelled, helped people and taught them. He has troubles showing his emotions, and he's self aware enough to know he's no genius. He isn't incredibly brilliant or talented but rather everything he is is the fruit of years of work and study. He's a flawed, nuanced character with a lot of growth and without a doubt a great character. When he wanted to die, he lived and when he wanted to live, he died, the irony of it. Scar is a great antihero who was initially an antagonist who uses religion to justify his sins. He’s discriminated against for what race he is, where he came from and that’s something a lot of people can relate too. His chemistry with Winry, a person who would have been completely justified seeking revenge for the deaths of her parents but, instead, chooses to forgive is done very well. The Military is a major driving force of this anime and has many major players from it. The death of Hughes establishes that no one is safe and takes a deep emotional turn from then. Mustang's character arc is also very well done. FMAB excels in creating many well-developed and interesting female characters. Rather than fanservicing the hell out of them, Arakawa gave them depth in terms of writing. Winry, Riza, Olivier, Izumi, Maria, Mei, all are individuals (not just a "woman" archetype) with their own interesting personalities, goals, and skills. Arakawa did a great job in representing the Homunculus as The Seven Deadly Sins while also perfectly connecting them to Father's desire to become God and hence to the story, giving meaning to their names. The names used also gives a psychological advantage as the viewer automatically assumes the existence of other Homunculus when Lust and Gluttony are introduced early in the show. Lust and Sloth had greater characterisation in 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime but they clearly manages to leave a mark of their presence in the Brotherhood too. Lust and Gluttony make a great duo and made a wonderful job as antagonists in the early episodes. Pride was the first Homunculus to be created by Father. Introduced as the adopted son of King Bradley, his real appearance is based on Father's original form, the Dwarf in the Flask during the time of Xerxes. Sloth is the most uninteresting of all the Homunculi but his importance in digging a gigantic transmutation circle beneath Amestris to be used in turning the country into a Philosopher's Stone is immense. Greed is an extremely well executed anti-hero. As his name literally suggests, he is introduced as a greedy character who will do anything to accomplish his selfish needs. By taking over Ling Yao, Ling helps him to make him understand that what he truly craves for is not money, women or power but simply friendship. His turning of antagonist into an anti hero is truly marvellous and he is a character that everyone can easily root for despite being evil in nature. Envy is probably the most hated antagonist along with Pride in FMAB. He is a selfish and sadistic character who does not have any high ideals. He manipulates those weaker than himself and is constantly trying to play power games with those around him. Envy will constantly use dirty tactics to deceive and gloat all in the attempt to reach his goal that goal being self-affirmation. The feeling of unfairness and foul play, it is a feeling that is what makes this villain so hateable. Envy is jealous of the camaraderie and unity of people when it's temptation to get the others to turn against each other's fails, he is confused and unable to understand why these people would work together despite their backgrounds and history with each other. Envy needs attention, Envy means affirmation but there's no one to give that to envy. When Envy one last time tries to manipulate others as it always does, there's no response no change in emotion no rebuttals no anger in anyone, it is this the enemy seems to fear most, the fear being ignored, a sign of being unworthy, something that is worthless, this realization of jealousy is humiliating to the point where is better to die than to live on. In the end, Envy ends up being a tragic and a great antagonist. King Bradley is not a great personification of the deadly sin that he was named after. He is much less of the classic temperamental anger that may have been expected and much more of a man depicting a cold unrelenting fury dictated by his hatred of humanity and his idea of how people should live their lives. Despite going through life following a path that had been laid out for him from the start, Bradley's Philosophy is one predicated on self-Reliance. He has a true respect for those that rely only on themselves to strive forward towards their ambitions because he can relate and knows how difficult and admirable this is. He has a huge amount of disdain for the concept of a God and he is very anti religious chastising the Ishvalans for over alliance on deism and scorning Scar for his beliefs. He hates that these ideas tend to regress mankind and make them meek and unwilling to act for themselves if God exists. Bradley believes that living for others should not be a concern for a true King. He finds the idea of altruistic sacrifice to be abhorrent and an insult to life itself this is likely why he displays such a respect for exceptional fighters like Mustang, Lan Fan, Fu, and Scar. He has lived a life completely lacking in freedom except for one thing his wife and so he'd used her as a representation of his freedom to choose even if he was just limited to one choice. Humanity gave him a chance to fight with his all against Fierce opponents humanity gave him some fun and entertainment, and most of all humanity gave him choice this is why Bradley considers his life to have been one worth living he died satisfied. Another interesting aspect of FMAB is that every Homunculus dies in an ironic way. ☆ Lust, the embodiment of the sin that makes men kneel, dies kneeling to a man. ☆ Gluttony, the embodiment of greed in food dies getting eaten by Pride. ☆ Pride gets defeated by a lifeform he considered to be inferior to him. ☆ Sloth, the symbol of laziness dies due to over exerting himself. ☆ Greed dies satisfied. ☆ Envy commits suicide after discovering that he has been envious of the humans. ☆ Wrath is killed by Scar who has overcome his own wrath. It is not surprising that a mere human cannot understand Father or to be more accurate, to feel Father as a rather bland character. He strips himself off his seven sins or his human side because of his aspiration to become a literal GOD. This and his appearance being similar to Hohenheim somewhat makes Father an uninteresting/boring character. While at the surface this may seem to be underwhelming considering the big bad of a great show who orders around other more interesting antagonists is boring, there is a lot more to it than seems. One of the philosophical message this story delivers is that one gains stature not by directly removing the sins but by overcoming it, Father took the former, the easier way and becomes bland in the process. The Homunculi Father created is a part of him and Father is a part of them. So while considering the character of Father or more accurately The Dwarf in the Flask, he is all of the homonculi combined. His relationship with the Homunculi is being overshadowed by the blandness of Father which makes people to assume him as a bad antagonist while when you look from a greater perspective, he is not. __ART AND SOUND__ The source material and it's adaptation are hardly related to each other than being a plot source. A great source material does not necessarily mean it's adaptation will be as phenomenal, Berserk 2016 for example and vice versa. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood will go down in history as one of the best adaptations in anime history, thanks to great work of Studio Bones. The artstyle is nothing phenomenal but perfectly fine. The art becomes simpler in random comedic moments which does not feel off at all. The top notch voice acting makes us feel rather than view the show and the music by Akira Senju beautifully fits the anime. Trisha's Lullaby, Lapis Philosophorum, Xing Symphony, Homage to the Alchemist, you name it there were are a lot of memorable soundtracks from this anime that I was listening to even after completing it. All of the 5 openings and endings were nothing short of great. __CONCLUSION__ While there does not exist a literally "perfect" anime, FMAB is one of the closest ones with very few issues. Like I mentioned earlier Brotherhood skips a few of the early chapters, while this may not affect a person whose first Fullmetal Alchemist experience is FMAB, there is a slight chance this may affect the manga readers or FMA 2003 viewer's experience. There is also a problem of tonal shifts, random comedic moments with lesser animation quality pops up in the midst of a serious situation and there is a slight chance that this may affect the viewer's experience. But the quantity of this shift gets reduced as the show progresses forward mainly due to Edward growing both physically and mentally. Personally though, these two issues did not affect my experience. There are a lot of themes that this anime explores and develops overtime. Tragedy, Loss, hatred, pointlessness of revenge, value of a human soul, embracement of one's humanity, equivalent exchange and much more. I do not believe Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood was about it's beautiful story, it's phenomenal characters or astounding music but instead about it's philosophical messages and it's application into real life. The difference in Isaac McDougal and Edward Elric is that the former did not trust anyone, was reckless and tried to solve everything by himself and failed but the latter made good relationship with people, formulated a plan and succeeded in achieving the common goal. The conclusion of Father teaches us an important lesson that one must not aspire to become someone else but stay true to themselves. Science and religion are two clashing subjects of utmost importance to humanity. While the preference depends on individuals, FMAB manages to excellently display the light and dark aspects of both sides, signifying that none is superior to the other. For example in the case of Rose, the pathetic side of religion is shown, she is blinded by faith and believes that Father Cornello can successfully bring back her loved one. While in the case of Shou Tucker, the cruel side of science and importance of morality is demonstrated. Equivalent exchange, the very core of this anime have a lot of analogies in real world. In order to gain something we have to sacrifice something of equal value first, this can be money, time, health anything. The value that we place on these things differs, but each is extremely important and can have adverse effects on our lives. If you try to achieve something you may make mistakes. Rather than failures you should view them as lessons, or painful lessons. If you manage to do that and not be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them, than you will reach your goal eventually. "A lesson without pain is meaningless. For you cannot gain anything without sacrificing something else in return, but once you have overcome it and made it your own...you will gain an irreplaceable Fullmetal Heart" ~ Edward Elric/Hiromu Arakawa
Sections: #1: Cold Flame #2: How Humanity Triumphs #3: Favorites #4: ending statements I watched Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in April of 2021, I have watched it thoroughly a total of three times, first by myself, once with my dad and again with my mom. Then I watched snippets of it here and there, I can say that it had and will withstand the test of time. With all of its themes, characters, philosophy, and worldbuilding, I can confidently say that this is one of the most well written stories (in general) I have ever consumed. This review is going to be filled with bias and spoilers so leave now if you're not into that. ~~~__Cold Flame__~~~ But before we can get to me rambling and throwing praises at FMAB, let’s get to the things that could have been handled better out of the way. 1. As many fans would say that the manga and FMA 03 had a better established beginning, I also agree with this sentiment, as in the Manga it tells us about the war in more detail and how messed up the military can get, with the as Fessler recklessly through his soldiers onto the battlefield to be killed and the imprisonment of many Ishvalans who were working in Amestris while the war decimated their people. I do also like the focus of the Soldiers’ trauma from the war in FMA 03 1. This is already nitpicky since I’m really trying to find things that FMAB ‘fails’ to do, so another thing is that it omits certain moments from the manga (I know it’s for time constraints but still) that could have made FMAB more fleshed out. For example the part (in the manga) where it shows that Kimblee was ordered to kill the Rockbells since they’re healing Ishvalans and the part was he (Kimblee) killed (Ishvalans) for Alex Armstrong since Alex was too taken aback, disgusted by the horrors of war and was sent back to central. I know this isn’t wasn’t in pity of Alex since Kimblee enjoys killing but it was sort of a unintentional kind gesture AND when Alex made a whole in the wall for an Ishvalan to run pass the gun fires, sure Kimblee killed that person right after they got past the wall and Alex saw it with his own eyes, but Kimblee still didn’t tell anyone that Alex was trying to save some Ishvalans (he could definitely told someone and gotten Alex into even more trouble but no…) 1. Lastly, I didn’t think that restoring Mustang’s vision was necessary, now don’t get me wrong I’m glad that he was able to see again (like anyone would) but I didn’t think that using the philosopher stone was the ‘right’ move, Sure he’s going to do good when he gets his vision back and help to restore Ishval but using the lives collected by the people he killed (willingly or not) just doesn’t sit right with me (personal thing, if you’re fine with it, then good), but I do like that he offered to heal Havoc first. Speaking of Havoc, I was fine with him using the stone since…I don’t think he was involved in the war? (someone correct me if I’m wrong) but I do like the way the Manga showed him going through physical therapy, I don’t know if you still have to go through therapy if you use the stone or if you just can suddenly walk or see again but it was a nice touch in the manga. Now onto the positives, Grab and snack or drink this is going to be long. ~~~__How humanity Triumphs__~~~ __~~~Ouroboros~~~__ [a circular symbol that depicts a snake or dragon devouring its own tail and that is used especially to represent the eternal cycle of deconstruction and rebirth] ~~~__Deconstruction__~~~ The first thing we see is a circle, a transmutation circle…Isaac’s transmutation circle to be exact. Isaac McDougal, who knew that a minor brotherhood exclusive villain would have a major effect on this grand story. Or rather a was a great tool to foreshadow the story and bring it full circle in a span of 34-35 episodes. Making our protagonist rethink their initial dismissiveness to Isaac’s statement of _“...but do you really know the ones you serve? Or what their true plans are?_” An eternal cycle of life and death, shown by the Homunculi, as Father kills and rebriths them at any time he pleases. As they make mistakes, Father will rebirth them and purge their memories, as I think that memories play a key in breaking the cycle, as Greed(ling) remembers his old memories and starts to diverge even more from Father, severing the cycle and creating a positive change. Speaking of making the same mistakes time and time again, links to their (the Homunculi + Father) sentiment on humans, as Lust says _“Human foolishness never ceases to amaze me…Bloodshed gives way to more bloodshed, hatred breeds more hatred until all of the violence soaks into the land, carving rivers of blood, and no matter how many times it happens, they never learn…”_ Hohenheim’s interlude party…when he battles against his own humanity. _“It’s just one after another…we’re always at war.”_ _“and no matter how many times it happens, they never learn…the human race is made up of violent, miserable fools”_ “Hey! Dance with me!” “Well…Aren’t you the ladies man, Hohenheim?” _“I don’t dance, I’ll just sit here and watch you.”_ “But that’s no fun! Come dance with me!” … _“Because it would’ve been pointless to do so, nothing can change the reality of what they’ve done…they’d still be damned “_ “That’s a little harsh.” _“Their sin is still a sin.”_ … _“It’s remarkable how weak they are. They’ve an innate fear of the dark and how do they handle this fear? They simply pretend that it doesn’t exist, they run away from it. How could anyone say humans aren’t weak?”_ … _“I’ve watched humanity for a long time now…and all I’ve seen them do is endlessly repeat the same mistakes. It’s like they choose to be helpless. They either run away or they roll over…they’re so fragile, How can they not break?”_ ~~~__Reconstruction__~~~ _“So what could they do? They can’t defend themselves, not against the likes of the homunculi”_ “But that won’t make us give up. We will never give up!” _“That is true…it is a human characteristic.”_ “They can put us through hell. But it doesn’t matter! Nothing they can do will make us give up. And someday we will win.” _“You’re just wearing yourselves out.”_ “Well the only way we're gonna find out is if we try! It’s better than lying down and accepting it!” (Damn long ass monologues) _“You’re really getting worked up over this aren’t you? Don’t kid yourself into thinking you can help any of them…the smart thing to do? the only thing? Take whatever is important to you and run away as far as you possibly can…you act like you have a conscience but you’re just being sentimental…isn’t that right, Hohenheim? You think you can change things? You honestly believe one act of caring will make you human?...Humans are nothing but a resource, and if we don’t use them they’d spread like weeds. You can’t change reality, only your perception…tell me what you can actually change? The nature of their species? They will __always__ be weak and frightened creatures.”_ “We will change. Because we can change. I know it…we may be weak, but we just have to be (weak)...if not…then we wouldn’t have any reason to grow…to get strong…I know that it may be futile to you. But it’s not, because we are getting stronger with every step we take.” … “...and in turn they’ll protect the ones they love, it seems like the least we tiny humans can do for each other.” “I’m sick of watching people die! And it can’t just sit back and take it anymore! I won’t let anyone else get killed! Not when I can protect them!” … “You see? I’m sure we can change, because we’re weak…and because we die. We have to fight in order to live and __that’s__ what will make us strong.” I know this may be melodramatic to some but to me this ‘recap’ episode really cemented this idea to me, is that humans capable of coming stronger not just because it fact that we sin but it’s that we walk away from it, tattered and scarred, but with the right mindset we will see a better and brighter future ahead of us. Many of the characters represent this overarching theme like Scar and Mustang, two men filled with justified rage, almost losing themselves in the flames of hatred, managed to pull themselves off the path rage and pain to look to a brighter future at the end of the series. This theme is incredibly heartwarming without feeling forced (unlike the power of friendship for example). The whole story is built on this message/theme, this show puts humanity in the deepest pits of hell with all of the atrocities it created and somehow can still make you root for it in the end. One is All, All is One One = me All = the world A very abstract and vague thing to comprehend, like Truth…What is God and how we perceive the existence of God. Science vs Religion. Everything is connected, everyone has their role and their importance. The ironic deaths of the Homunculi, Scar's duel with the literal embodiment of Wrath, I can go on and on about this but this is already long enough. ~~~__Favorites__~~~ Did you make it? Thanks for making it this far into my review. Let's see my personal favorite characters, shall we? Scar [There is no forgiveness for wanton murder] Kimblee [The one thing worse than death is to avert your eyes from it] Alphonse [You know, I didn’t ask to be this big] Greed [You humans think Greed is only for money and power but everyone wants something they don't have] Openings (in order of best to least best) 1. Period (Op 4) 2. Rain (Op 5) 3. Golden Time Lover (Op 3) 4. Again (Op 1) 5. Hologram (Op 2) Endings 1. Ray of Light (Ed 5) 1. Uso (Ed 1) 1. Shunkan Sentimental (Ed 4) 1. Let it Out (Ed 2) 1. Tsunaida Te (Ed 3) 15 Favorite Scenes (In no particular order) 1. Scar and Kimblee fight on the train 1. Pride getting owned by Kimblee at the end 1. Ed and Miles conversation at Briggs 1. Dr. Marcoh destroying Envy 1. Yoki's silent film Flashback 1. Greed killing Bido and Ling's lecture 1. Olivier killing Raven 1. Wrath vs Tank 1. Ed, Ling and Envy in Gluttony's belly 1. Pride's reveal 1. Kimblee lectures Mustang and Hawkeye in Ishvalan War 1. Hohenheim’s backstory 1. Greed roasting his siblings before he was melted by lava 1. When Father opens the Gate of Earth and consumes God 1. Greedling vs Wrath My last words are that, I love FMAB with all of my being. Check it out if you haven't, you don't have to love it, just give it a try. Thank you for reading this far, I hope you have a great rest of your day.
This review is mainly meant for anyone who watched Fullmetal Alchemist and is either considering Brotherhood, has watched a few episodes and not liked it, or has read one of the negative reviews and was put off. When I first heard about Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, I was skeptical. Seeing as the original Fullmetal Alchemist is the first anime I have ever completely watched and is the spark that ignited my obsessive love of anime that I have today, a redo seemed unnecessary to say the least. What could possibly be improved upon a show as fantastic as Fullmetal Alchemist? With hesitation and doubt in my heart I started watching the series... and instantly hated it. I won't lie, my first impressions were not only that the show didn't live up to the original, but that it was also an abomination that was dancing on the grave of a greater show. I cried, I screamed, I broke things, I didn't do any of the above because I'm exaggerating and not actually crazy, but I was still quite upset. The criticisms bubbled up inside me until I was frustratingly glaring at the TV appalled at such changes as Alphonse's voice actor, or a lack of the opening starting with the classic "in those days, we really believed..." lines from Al. With each passing episode the insults to Fullmetal Alchemist seemed to grow, episodes that were lovingly crafted in the original series were apparently being lightly brushed on. Moments in the original that got me hooked fell flat in Brotherhood, and I was fed up and ready to write the letter of complaint to end all letters of complaint. But then, my eyes began to open. Right around episode 13 where the plot of the two animes separates I started to think that this story might actually be good. As the episodes began to fly I realized that it wasn't good, it was great. After finishing the series I knew without a doubt in my mind that what I had witnessed was my favorite anime of all time. The story of Brotherhood is better than that of the original on so many levels that the two shows truly don't compare. After having my eyes opened I was forced to drop the rating that I gave to the original to an 8 simply because now I knew how much lost potential it had. If you enjoyed the story of Fullmetal Alchemist, stick with Brotherhood and I guarantee you that you will not regret it. Not only is the plot and storyline vastly improved upon and more satisfying, the animation, music (in my opinion at least, some disagree), characters, and overall feel is far better. Therefore, if you are a true fan of the original series don't give up on Brotherhood after only a few episodes like I was so tempted to do, it is a show that grows into something that will go down in history as one of the greats of animation history and you shouldn't miss out.