Fullmetal Alchemist, My First Anime

I don't really know what to write about today...guess it's time for me to honor my promise to one day talk about the anime Fullmetal Alchemist.

I hesitate a little about this one because as much as I like this show, part of me resists labeling myself as an anime viewer. Which makes no sense because there's nothing wrong with watching anime. I guess the hesitation stems from the negative stereotypes (which aren't earned, most of the time) of anime watchers, and maybe some from the way my parents made fun of us when we watch Pokemon growing up.

But, anyway, Fullmetal Alchemist.

It was in grad school when I first learned about this show. I didn't watch anime at all back then (now I will if it has a good story), but one of my classmates was telling us about this one. He told us about the plot and said that it was a really well-told story, and since I trusted him, I decided to check it out.

I'm glad I did.

So, if you haven't heard of the show, the story takes place in an alternate world based somewhat on 1910s Europe, mainly Germany, in which alchemy is a real, powerful form of science and combat. It follows two young (read, teens) brothers who are alchemy prodigies. Their mother dies and they decide to use alchemy to bring her back to life.

Which is a great plan, except that human transmutation like bringing the dead back to life is a serious taboo in alchemy. This is because in alchemy, nothing can be made without sacrificing something of equal value (known in the show as the Law of Equivalent Exchange), and a human soul is worth too much.

Their transmutation fails, resulting in Edward, the older brother, losing his arm and leg and Alphonse, the younger brother, losing his whole body and having to be bonded to a suit of armor.

(Yes, I know it's more complex than that. Let me summarize.)

Through the course of the show, the boys seek out the legendary philosopher's stone (of recent Harry Potter fame), which should let them transmute without worrying about Equivalent Exchange and get their bodies back to normal. Along the way, they encounter the military and the soldiers in it (both as friends and foes) as well as monsters, immortals, and conspiracies.

There are two series: the 2003 FMA series, and the later FMA: Brotherhood. The latter is based more on the manga and is my favorite, although both are good.

Okay, so summary given, I'm going to explain why I like this show without giving away spoilers.

1. The story. This story is both dark and light, discussing heavy themes like genocide, prejudice, war, the value of human life and the dismissal of that value, but also the importance of bonds of love, and hope and optimism in the face of adversity. With Brotherhood, I leave the show with positive feelings about humanity (less so with the 2003 series. If you prefer a more cynical show, try that one).

It's also well-written, balancing humor and serious moments. You can have a scene where someone gets severely injured followed by a short joke at Ed's expense (he hates being called short) and it works, somehow.

Last, I think it's really well-plotted, Brotherhood more so than the 2003 series. The conspiracies unravel nicely and I'm very pleased about how the characters develop and how their arcs end.

Which brings me to 2. The characters. I really, really like the characters in this show. One thing that can put me off other animes is when the characterization takes a back seat to "anime character tropes," like the pervy guy and the fan-service girl. In this show, characters are fully fleshed out and interesting, even down to many of the side characters.

(The lady is a "housewife." And an alchemist. And so much more.)


I also like that in this show everyone gets to be awesome, in their own ways. The men are strong, the women are strong, and everyone has their own story to tell. They're not all strong in the same ways. Some are fighters, but some are healers. Both the men and the women. Some have personalities that are hardened, but others are soft. They seem like real people, and I find myself rooting for all the good characters and hating all the bad ones.

Characters, good and bad, are also highly capable. Which makes it fun when the good guys go up against a foe that is actually very good at fighting and strategy. It's more interesting that way.

3. Colonel Mustang

LOOK AT HIM

4. The worldbuilding. The magic system is interesting, the world looks and seems like 1914 Europe, and the alchemy is grounded in real-world alchemy, at least a little. The military system reads true, and the whole world is believable as a world. (There may be a few small holes, but nothing too glaring.)

5. All the dark humor around the show. It's about two kids who lose limbs and more. Therefore the fandom can make jokes like "Bet that armor cost an arm and leg," and it's painfully funny. At least to me.

I think that just about covers it. I really don't want to spoil anything; I had some parts spoiled for me and I'm not going to do that to you. But if you trust me, and you trust my taste, you may want to consider this one. If you choose to watch only one series, pick Brotherhood. If both, I'd recommend starting with the 2003 series because it will give you a more detailed background.

The show is suitable for teens and older, as it has some swearing and lots of bloody battles. It was my first anime, and even after having watched a few others, I still think this is the best one I've seen.