Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa review: A journey to another world and the bond of brothers

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa": A tale of brotherly love and adventure set in the gap between another world and reality

Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa is an animated feature film based on the popular manga series Fullmetal Alchemist by Arakawa Hiromu. It was released on July 23, 2005 and distributed by Shochiku. The film is a sequel to the TV series and follows the new adventures of the Elric brothers. Directed by Mizushima Seiji and produced by Bones, the film expands on the worldview of the original work while also presenting the story from a new perspective.

story

The story of "Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa" begins with the Elric brothers' yearning to be reunited and a mysterious conspiracy at stake. The older brother, Edward Elric, is transported to Munich, Germany in 1923 in the real world, where alchemy is not possible. Meanwhile, the younger brother, Alfons Elric, continues to search for his brother in the alchemy world. Together with Alfons Heiderich, a young man who resembles his brother, Ed seeks a way to return home with the help of rocket engineering. However, new challenges stand before Ed due to the secret maneuverings of those seeking the utopia of "Shambhala."

The story unfolds against the backdrop of post-World War I Germany's chaos and inflation, and Ed's path to return intertwines with the Thule Society's conspiracy. Ed searches for the key to open the path to Shambhala at the intersection of science and the occult. In the process, Ed meets Noa, a woman with special abilities, and together they head to the heart of the incident.

character

Edward Elric is depicted as an 18-year-old boy in the real world where alchemy is not possible. He searches for a way to return to his original world with Alfons Heiderich, who resembles his younger brother. Alfons Elric is a 13-year-old boy searching for his older brother in the alchemy world. Although he has regained his physical body, he has lost four years of memory. He is training in alchemy again in order to be reunited with his brother.

Winry Rockbell is a childhood friend of the Elric brothers, and continues to train as a mechanical armor engineer. Roy Mustang is a state alchemist who was once known as the "Flame Alchemist" and is now serving as a private in the military in the North. Alex Louis Armstrong is known as the "Strong Armed Alchemist" and has turned from a major in the national army into a businessman. Riza Hawkeye is active as a lieutenant in the Central Command, and although she misses Colonel Mustang's absence, she maintains a resolute attitude. Pinako Rockbell is Winry's grandmother and her master in mechanical armor engineering, and she watches over Ed and Al as if they were her own grandchildren.

As for the real-world characters, Karl Haushofer is the leader of the Thule Society and a scholar well versed in the occult. He is searching for the "Great Serpent," the key to the utopia "Shambhala." Alfons Heiderich is a male student who looks very similar to Al, and is studying rocket engineering while conducting research with Ed. Noah is a woman with special abilities who is pursued by the Thule Society and leads Ed to the heart of the incident. Datelinde Eckart, the head of the Thule Society, is plotting to use the power of the utopia "Shambhala" to strengthen her influence over the Nazis.

Production and staff

Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa was produced by Bones. It was directed by Mizushima Seiji, written by Aikawa Noboru, and featured character design by Ito Yoshiyuki. Production design was by Aramaki Shinji, creature design by Ishigaki Junya, and mechanical design by Fukuchi Jin. Storyboards were by Masui Soichi, Kaneko Shingo, Ando Masahiro, Nakamura Yutaka, Aramaki Shinji, and Mizushima Seiji, and direction was by Kaneko Shingo, Iwasaki Taro, Hashimoto Masakazu, and Nakamura Yutaka. Assistant director was Kakuta Kazuki, technical director was Miyahara Yohei, and chief animation director was Ito Yoshiyuki. Animation directors were Osaka Koji, Kanno Hiroki, Sekiguchi Kanami, Tomioka Takashi, Inadome Kazumi, Oguri Hiroko, Saito Eiko, Kaneko Shuichi, and Nakamura Yutaka. The art director was Kazuo Ogura, the art setting was Iho Narita, the color design was Shihoko Nakayama, the cinematographer was Susumu Fukushi, the editor was Hiroaki Itabe, the music was Michiru Oshima, the sound director was Masafumi Mima, the sound effects were Shizuo Kurahashi, and the sound production was by Techno Sound. The producers were Masahiko Minami, Hiroo Maruyama, Ryo Oyama, Nobuyuki Kurashige, Tsuyoshi Yoshida, Arimasa Okada, Yukio Yoshimura, Masashi Komatsu, and Haruto Yamazaki.

cast

The cast includes Paku Romi as Edward Elric, Kugimiya Rie as Alphonse Elric, Toyoguchi Megumi as Winry Rockbell, Okawa Toru as Roy Mustang, Utsumi Kenji as Alex Louis Armstrong, Neya Michiko as Riza Hawkeye, Asou Miyoko as Pinako Rockbell, Tsukayama Masatane as Karl Haushofer, Oguri Shun as Alfons Heiderich, Sawai Miyu as Noah, and Katou Kazuko as Datelinde Eckart.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme "Link" is sung by L'Arc~en~Ciel with lyrics by hyde, music by tetsuya, and arrangement by L'Arc~en~Ciel and Hajime Okano. The ending theme "LOST HEAVEN" is also sung by L'Arc~en~Ciel with lyrics by hyde, music by ken, and arrangement by L'Arc~en~Ciel and Hajime Okano.

Related Titles

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa" was produced as a sequel to the TV series "Fullmetal Alchemist." It is based on the manga "Fullmetal Alchemist" by Hiromu Arakawa, which was serialized in Monthly Shonen Gangan (Square Enix).

Evaluation and Impressions

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa" is highly acclaimed not only by fans of the original work, but also as a work that allows viewers to enjoy the story from a new perspective. In particular, the setting of Edward Elric being transported to the real world further expands the worldview of the original work, giving viewers new surprises and excitement. In addition, the story, set against the backdrop of the chaos in Germany after World War I, gives a sense of historical realism and adds depth to the story.

The portrayal of character growth and human relationships is also excellent, with the brotherly love between Ed and Al and the efforts of supporting characters such as Winry and Roy adding excitement to the story. In particular, Ed's relationship with Alfons Heiderich, whom he meets in the real world, is portrayed in an interesting way as a contrast to Alfons in the original work. New characters such as Noah and Karl Haushofer also add new appeal to the story.

In terms of production, the film stands out thanks to the beautiful animation by Bones and the detailed direction by Seiji Mizushima. The scenes in particular, such as the attempt to open the way to Shambhala, and the depiction of rocketry, are visually striking and technically realistic. Michiru Oshima's music also brings out the emotional impact of the story and touches the viewer's heart.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa" is highly acclaimed not only by fans of the original work, but also as an animated work, and is a work that can be recommended to a wide range of viewers. In particular, it is recommended for those who enjoy stories of brotherly love and adventure, and those who are interested in works depicting historical backgrounds.

You can watch it by purchasing or renting the DVD or Blu-ray, or by streaming services. In particular, streaming services offer a variety of viewing options, such as subtitled and dubbed versions, so you can enjoy it according to your preferences. You can also get a deeper understanding of the background of the story and the development of the characters by watching the original manga and TV series.

Conclusion

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa" is a moving work that depicts the new adventures and brotherly love of the Elric brothers. Expanding the worldview of the original work, the story unfolds between the real world and another world, providing viewers with new surprises and emotions. The beautiful animation, meticulous direction, and deep depiction of human relationships will draw viewers into the world of the story. Be sure to watch this work and experience the adventures and growth of the Elric brothers.