Written by: Kevin Berge
A lot of the character make fun of Ed's height, but it's not really that unusual for a 15 year old kid to be 5'5". Maybe the real point is that there's some serious height shaming going on here that we should all find appalling. (Image Courtesy of: comicbook.com)
When I was first introduced to the idea of anime years back, there were many anime I wanted to explore but wasn't ready to see immediately. Fullmetal Alchemist was a name that I heard repeatedly and knew I couldn't hold off on watching forever.
The main thing holding me back similar to Death Note was that the series looked exciting but was also drenched in brutality. This is a series that begins with its main protagonist missing an arm and a leg. Certainly, there was humor in the proceedings as well, but it was not an anime made for children.
That is perhaps what made finally getting to watch Fullmetal Alchemist such a delightful experience. Only anime really shows the depth and variety that can come from animation as most animation from other places around the world are all focused at children.
Fullmetal Alchemist though is a show about government corruption, military brutality, the value of life, and the effects of death with all the blood, guts, and tears that come with exploring such themes.
The main thing holding me back similar to Death Note was that the series looked exciting but was also drenched in brutality. This is a series that begins with its main protagonist missing an arm and a leg. Certainly, there was humor in the proceedings as well, but it was not an anime made for children.
That is perhaps what made finally getting to watch Fullmetal Alchemist such a delightful experience. Only anime really shows the depth and variety that can come from animation as most animation from other places around the world are all focused at children.
Fullmetal Alchemist though is a show about government corruption, military brutality, the value of life, and the effects of death with all the blood, guts, and tears that come with exploring such themes.
Synopsis
Edward and Alphonse Elric are two brothers who are raised alone by their mother. At the age of eleven, Ed finds his mother dead, and the two brothers attempt to bring their mother back from the dead through alchemy. They fail, and, in the process, Ed loses a leg while Al loses his whole body.
Ed manages to save his brother Al by binding Al's soul to a suit of armor, costing Ed his arm. Ed's arm and leg are then replaced by automail. Haunted by their actions and the effects, the two burn down their home and begin a long journey in search of a way to regain their lost bodies.
Along the path of their search, the two use their experience with alchemy to help them survive and join up with the military to find any link possible to the mythical Philosopher's stone's location, an artifact that may just have the power they are seeking.
Ed manages to save his brother Al by binding Al's soul to a suit of armor, costing Ed his arm. Ed's arm and leg are then replaced by automail. Haunted by their actions and the effects, the two burn down their home and begin a long journey in search of a way to regain their lost bodies.
Along the path of their search, the two use their experience with alchemy to help them survive and join up with the military to find any link possible to the mythical Philosopher's stone's location, an artifact that may just have the power they are seeking.
Mustang could have been the main character of the series if his weakness wasn't rain. (Image Courtesy of: wallpaperhi.com)
Story Arc Analysis
***This is the only section of the review that contains spoiler, but this section extensively goes into spoilers for the series. For those looking for a recommendation who have not seen the series yet, skip to Impact and Art Style.***
While Fullmetal Alchemist is a mere 51 episodes long and follows a largely linear path in its run time, there are several points in the story of single episode filler where the main arc is somewhat forgotten. Overall though, the series has a rather consistent story arc.
The Legend of the Fullmetal Alchemist (Episodes 1-13): Fullmetal Alchemist sets up its world in brutal fashion, showing its main characters' lives ripped apart with the death of their mother and their failed attempts to bring her back. However, it turns to a more light hearted tone quickly in the adventures of Ed and Al to find the Philosopher's Stone.
Ed's initiation into the military and subsequent victories that make him a legend are fairly unsubstantial but entertaining. Unfortunately, they don't do much to actually show the characters developing. Much of the stories told are just about showing the character's base traits.
Ed is an honest hero with a kind heart who's a great alchemist. Other than the quirk that he hates people pointing out his below average height, he's a fairly straightforward overly gifted teenager. Al is similarly a young kid with an even more naive view of the world whose main quirk is his juxtaposed appearance (a disembodied soul attached to a suit of armor) to his age.
Scar and the Truth of the Philosopher's Stone (Episodes 14-15, 18-24): Scar's full reveal sends the story spiraling out of control as Ed and Al begin to see the truth and the lies of their surroundings, turning a light hearted tone quickly dark. Though there had been some jarringly brutal episodes in the early parts of the anime, this was a true shift in the story that never changed back. The tone was set at this point.
The theme of this section of the anime is death. Ed and Al must face the truth that the Philosopher's Stone is born of sacrificed lives with Ed quickly establishing his "all lives matter" motto that makes him the good guy. The threats are actual serial killers, and the government is made out to even worse than them.
There are some powerful emotional moments in these episodes, dealing in the power of authority and the value of life which seem a bit out of place at first. They fit very well though with the continued tone of the rest of the anime.
Origin of the Homunculi (Episodes 25-34): The homunculi are a group of soulless threats out for the Philosopher's Stone, but they are made more interesting in this set of episodes as the series focuses on why they seek the Stone. Their want for humanity and their origin through human error (including Ed and Al's multiple mistakes) make them somewhat sympathetic.
What makes the set up so effective is that the anime does not truly pass judgment. Ed and Al work against them, but there's a greater nobility in some of the homunculi wanting humanity than there is Ed and Al just wanting to fix their mistake and get their bodies back.
In some ways, this section makes Ed and Al feel a bit petty. Their goals become a bit clouded, and the series turns more to an action driven finish where Ed and Al must act in the wake of revelations rather than choosing to act as they had before.
The New Ishval, Lior (Episodes 39-42): The tragedy of the Ishvalans and the way they are politically blacklisted as terrorists is poignant but also noticably and pointedly relevant. While other anime also deal in typecasting and government corruptions, Fullmetal Alchemist may be the one that makes it feel the most frightening.
Much of this series is about balance and order and the corruption of those ideas, and the representation of Ishval is the most blatant unbalanced act in the series. These few episodes not only fully explore this but also set up a second political unbalancing in another town, leading to more death and destruction.
The fight and destruction in Lior is one of the most action packed chapters of the anime with several of the characters facing life or death situations, and there is tragedy in the conclusion that is felt far past the end of the anime as Lior is witness to many deaths for the sake of one more Philosopher's Stone being created, inside Al's body.
The True Face of the Homunculi Threat (Episodes 43-51): There are some powerful episodes in this home stretch for Fullmetal Alchemist, but the series as a whole doesn't quite reach the expected climax in its closing chapter. In fact, these last episodes feel like they are hastily throwing together a conclusion rather than executing the story set out over the previous episodes.
This is likely because the series at this point diverges from the source material to have its grand finish with Ed dying and being brought back to life by Al only for Ed to bring back Al and regain the bodies of both boys at the cost of Ed going to the other side of the gate. It's all a bit too neat with Al back to his old self and hoping one day to reconnect with Ed who has disappeared to the other side of the gate.
The ultimate threat being headed by Dante as a villain should probably also worked better than it did. Inserting Ed and Al's father only to sort of shuffle him off at the end didn't help proceedings. There are a lot of story ties thrust together with an ultimate somewhat overly sentimental finish.
Still, these final episodes are memorable with some great action scenes and moments of closure for the characters. The biggest complaint I can truly level is that the ending never truly shows that the boys have changed. In the course of such ridiculously brutal events, the two seem to have come out the other side with exact same as they came in, just separated.
Conqueror of Shamballa (Movie): In order to wrap up the anime, the series has a movie to bring the boys back together after their separation. It is solid with the same general strong tone though weaker writing than the anime had episode to episode. The movie also gives the anime a more proper ending even if it could have been done more smoothly in the course of the anime.
While Fullmetal Alchemist is a mere 51 episodes long and follows a largely linear path in its run time, there are several points in the story of single episode filler where the main arc is somewhat forgotten. Overall though, the series has a rather consistent story arc.
The Legend of the Fullmetal Alchemist (Episodes 1-13): Fullmetal Alchemist sets up its world in brutal fashion, showing its main characters' lives ripped apart with the death of their mother and their failed attempts to bring her back. However, it turns to a more light hearted tone quickly in the adventures of Ed and Al to find the Philosopher's Stone.
Ed's initiation into the military and subsequent victories that make him a legend are fairly unsubstantial but entertaining. Unfortunately, they don't do much to actually show the characters developing. Much of the stories told are just about showing the character's base traits.
Ed is an honest hero with a kind heart who's a great alchemist. Other than the quirk that he hates people pointing out his below average height, he's a fairly straightforward overly gifted teenager. Al is similarly a young kid with an even more naive view of the world whose main quirk is his juxtaposed appearance (a disembodied soul attached to a suit of armor) to his age.
Scar and the Truth of the Philosopher's Stone (Episodes 14-15, 18-24): Scar's full reveal sends the story spiraling out of control as Ed and Al begin to see the truth and the lies of their surroundings, turning a light hearted tone quickly dark. Though there had been some jarringly brutal episodes in the early parts of the anime, this was a true shift in the story that never changed back. The tone was set at this point.
The theme of this section of the anime is death. Ed and Al must face the truth that the Philosopher's Stone is born of sacrificed lives with Ed quickly establishing his "all lives matter" motto that makes him the good guy. The threats are actual serial killers, and the government is made out to even worse than them.
There are some powerful emotional moments in these episodes, dealing in the power of authority and the value of life which seem a bit out of place at first. They fit very well though with the continued tone of the rest of the anime.
Origin of the Homunculi (Episodes 25-34): The homunculi are a group of soulless threats out for the Philosopher's Stone, but they are made more interesting in this set of episodes as the series focuses on why they seek the Stone. Their want for humanity and their origin through human error (including Ed and Al's multiple mistakes) make them somewhat sympathetic.
What makes the set up so effective is that the anime does not truly pass judgment. Ed and Al work against them, but there's a greater nobility in some of the homunculi wanting humanity than there is Ed and Al just wanting to fix their mistake and get their bodies back.
In some ways, this section makes Ed and Al feel a bit petty. Their goals become a bit clouded, and the series turns more to an action driven finish where Ed and Al must act in the wake of revelations rather than choosing to act as they had before.
The New Ishval, Lior (Episodes 39-42): The tragedy of the Ishvalans and the way they are politically blacklisted as terrorists is poignant but also noticably and pointedly relevant. While other anime also deal in typecasting and government corruptions, Fullmetal Alchemist may be the one that makes it feel the most frightening.
Much of this series is about balance and order and the corruption of those ideas, and the representation of Ishval is the most blatant unbalanced act in the series. These few episodes not only fully explore this but also set up a second political unbalancing in another town, leading to more death and destruction.
The fight and destruction in Lior is one of the most action packed chapters of the anime with several of the characters facing life or death situations, and there is tragedy in the conclusion that is felt far past the end of the anime as Lior is witness to many deaths for the sake of one more Philosopher's Stone being created, inside Al's body.
The True Face of the Homunculi Threat (Episodes 43-51): There are some powerful episodes in this home stretch for Fullmetal Alchemist, but the series as a whole doesn't quite reach the expected climax in its closing chapter. In fact, these last episodes feel like they are hastily throwing together a conclusion rather than executing the story set out over the previous episodes.
This is likely because the series at this point diverges from the source material to have its grand finish with Ed dying and being brought back to life by Al only for Ed to bring back Al and regain the bodies of both boys at the cost of Ed going to the other side of the gate. It's all a bit too neat with Al back to his old self and hoping one day to reconnect with Ed who has disappeared to the other side of the gate.
The ultimate threat being headed by Dante as a villain should probably also worked better than it did. Inserting Ed and Al's father only to sort of shuffle him off at the end didn't help proceedings. There are a lot of story ties thrust together with an ultimate somewhat overly sentimental finish.
Still, these final episodes are memorable with some great action scenes and moments of closure for the characters. The biggest complaint I can truly level is that the ending never truly shows that the boys have changed. In the course of such ridiculously brutal events, the two seem to have come out the other side with exact same as they came in, just separated.
Conqueror of Shamballa (Movie): In order to wrap up the anime, the series has a movie to bring the boys back together after their separation. It is solid with the same general strong tone though weaker writing than the anime had episode to episode. The movie also gives the anime a more proper ending even if it could have been done more smoothly in the course of the anime.
Yes, generally there's not much fan service in this series, but the creator clearly has a thing for really muscular men. (Image Courtesy of: pinterest.com)
Impact and Art Style
All of Fullmetal Alchemist is drenched in military themes. The term "military dog" comes up almost as much as "alchemy". This is due to the main themes of the series delving so heavily into military effect on civilian life. The series makes many statements that are extremely timely.
This can make the series powerful but also a bit hard to swallow as the parallels are less than cloaked at times. Watching the series at times can feel like watching an army film, particularly one not shy about showing men being blown and ripped apart in the violence.
Still, the series also is more generally about dedication and the importance of ambitions. The main characters are driven by their own brotherly love and insistence on helping one another. While they face horrors, they stand tall which is where the series is easiest to watch. Fullmetal Alchemist doesn't just use the brothers for comic relief and plot development but a symbol of honest hope.
The art style of Fullmetal Alchemist has some interesting steam punk influences through the heavy old school influences and various machinery that often looks much less science fiction than you'd expect from a show with so much driven by fantasy machinery.
The characters all stand out without much delving into fan service and do not blend easily into the background. Even with rather forgettable names, their characters are memorable through their looks and actions which means that it is easy to remember who they are.
This can make the series powerful but also a bit hard to swallow as the parallels are less than cloaked at times. Watching the series at times can feel like watching an army film, particularly one not shy about showing men being blown and ripped apart in the violence.
Still, the series also is more generally about dedication and the importance of ambitions. The main characters are driven by their own brotherly love and insistence on helping one another. While they face horrors, they stand tall which is where the series is easiest to watch. Fullmetal Alchemist doesn't just use the brothers for comic relief and plot development but a symbol of honest hope.
The art style of Fullmetal Alchemist has some interesting steam punk influences through the heavy old school influences and various machinery that often looks much less science fiction than you'd expect from a show with so much driven by fantasy machinery.
The characters all stand out without much delving into fan service and do not blend easily into the background. Even with rather forgettable names, their characters are memorable through their looks and actions which means that it is easy to remember who they are.
Sub vs. Dub
There are rare times when the original Japanese particularly the voice acting does not cut it for a series. Fullmetal Alchemist is one of those rare exceptions. FA is a series driven by heavy grief and brutality, and the English translation just works more in the world than the Japanese counterpart.
Vic Mignogna (Ouran High School Host Club) is pitch perfect at Ed, selling the character's emotional moment and funnier moments in equal measure. Aaron Dismuke (Fruits Basket) is solid as Al, a rare moment where an actual young kid was cast to voice a kid part.
The rest of the cast is loaded with talent including Caitlin Glass (One Piece) as Winry Rockbell, Travis Willingham (Avengers Assemble) as Col. Mustang, Laura Bailey (Soul Eater) as Lust, and Colleen Clinkenbeard (One Piece) as Lt. Hawkeye. They all are strong in their roles though the dub is really set apart by Mignogna's excellent work as Ed.
Recommendation: Dub
Vic Mignogna (Ouran High School Host Club) is pitch perfect at Ed, selling the character's emotional moment and funnier moments in equal measure. Aaron Dismuke (Fruits Basket) is solid as Al, a rare moment where an actual young kid was cast to voice a kid part.
The rest of the cast is loaded with talent including Caitlin Glass (One Piece) as Winry Rockbell, Travis Willingham (Avengers Assemble) as Col. Mustang, Laura Bailey (Soul Eater) as Lust, and Colleen Clinkenbeard (One Piece) as Lt. Hawkeye. They all are strong in their roles though the dub is really set apart by Mignogna's excellent work as Ed.
Recommendation: Dub
Some guys just want to eat the world. (Image Courtesy of: villains.wikia.com)
Conclusion
Fullmetal Alchemist is a strong concept coupled with solid execution, but it is far from perfect. At its core, the series comes off as too afraid of its source material, spending too much time drenched in lore. The anime doesn't quite let go and allow the story to shine through despite many powerful moments.
The characters and world are intensely engrossing with strong writing and impeccable dubbing. The main issue is that the themes in place somewhat clash to make a more uneven series as a whole than would be expected from the episode to episode quality.
With the impressive art style and great scores used in the series, the anime is certainly far above average for the genre, but there is also sense of wasted potential perhaps due to the series' diverging narrative from the manga upon which it was originally based.
It is an easy to recommend anime as long as the viewer is ready to face the hardships and brutality the characters go through in the course of the series and are willing to stick with them in the face of a story arc that never entirely delivers.
The characters and world are intensely engrossing with strong writing and impeccable dubbing. The main issue is that the themes in place somewhat clash to make a more uneven series as a whole than would be expected from the episode to episode quality.
With the impressive art style and great scores used in the series, the anime is certainly far above average for the genre, but there is also sense of wasted potential perhaps due to the series' diverging narrative from the manga upon which it was originally based.
It is an easy to recommend anime as long as the viewer is ready to face the hardships and brutality the characters go through in the course of the series and are willing to stick with them in the face of a story arc that never entirely delivers.