The appeal and reviews of "Fullmetal Alchemist": A must-see anime

Fullmetal Alchemist - The ultimate dark fantasy and brotherly bond

"Fullmetal Alchemist" is an OVA based on the original manga by Hiromu Arakawa, with four episodes released between 2009 and 2010. This work is an epic story about the bond and growth of brothers, and a national conspiracy, with the theme of the science of alchemy. Here, we will take a deeper look at its appeal and details.

■ Story

Alchemy is the science of understanding, breaking down, and reconstructing matter based on the principle of "equivalent exchange." However, the greatest taboo of all is "human transmutation." Two young brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, longing for their late mother, commit a taboo. As a result, Edward loses his right arm and left leg, and Alphonse loses his entire body.

Edward wears a suit of mechanical armour (automail) and takes on the name of the "Fullmetal Alchemist", while Alphonse lives with his soul bound to a giant suit of armour. The two set out on a journey to find the Philosopher's Stone to recover what they lost. However, as their journey draws closer to the truth behind the Philosopher's Stone, they find themselves caught up in a huge conspiracy.

The story depicts the existence of shadowy non-humans, the true nature of the military state of Amestris, the hatred and revenge of the oppressed people, and the tragedy brought about by alchemy. The brothers are caught between despair and hope, yet they still forge ahead, deeply moving the viewer.

■Explanation

"Fullmetal Alchemist" is a hugely popular comic that began serialization in the monthly magazine "Shonen Gangan" in 2001 and won the 49th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2004. It was made into an anime TV series in 2003, followed by a movie version, which created a worldwide sensation.

The story of "Fullmetal Alchemist" revolves around the bond between the Elric brothers, and carefully depicts the state of alchemy, the schemes of a military nation, and the actions and feelings of a wide variety of characters. The greatest highlight of the series is the complex entanglement of mysteries, the succession of tragedies, and the brothers' positive attitude as they are tossed about by the events that befall them.

This work marks a new step in the history of television anime, and can be said to be the strongest entertainment work. The depth of the dark fantasy and the drama of the characters are intertwined, and it has the power to draw the viewer in.

■Cast

Edward Elric is played by Miyuki Park, Alphonse Elric is played by Rie Kugimiya, Winry Rockbell is played by Megumi Takamoto, Roy Mustang is played by Shinichiro Miki, Riza Hawkeye is played by Fumiko Orikasa, and other gorgeous voice actors are gathered together.

Other voice actors who play unique characters such as Kenji Utsumi as Alex Louis Armstrong, Keiji Fujiwara as Maes Hughes, and Yuji Ueda as Jean Havoc also add depth to the work. The villains are also portrayed with charm, such as Kikuko Inoue as the homunculus Last, Satoshi Shiratori as Gluttony, and Minami Takayama as Envy.

■ Main staff

The director of this work is Yasuhiro Irie, and the animation is handled by Bones. The series is written by Hiroshi Ohnogi, the character design is Hiroki Kanno, the art design is Shigeru Kanehira, the alley design is toi8, and the alchemy circle design is Shinji Aramaki.

The music was composed by Akira Senjyu and the sound director was Masafumi Mima. The production team included Mari Suzuki, producer Hiroo Maruyama, Noriyuki Yoneuchi, Hiroyuki Kurashige, and Ryo Oyama, and the team worked together to complete this work.

■ Main Characters

Edward Elric is a state alchemist who goes by the nickname "Steel". He is a boy with blonde hair, golden eyes, a red coat, mechanical armor on his right arm and left leg, and a small build. In order to regain his original body, he travels with his younger brother in search of the Philosopher's Stone.

Alphonse Elric is Edward's younger brother. Like his brother, he was originally a blonde-haired, golden-eyed boy, but his entire body was taken when his mother's transmutation failed. Thanks to Ed's desperate actions, only his soul was transmuted into this world, and he lives on with his soul bound to a steel suit of armor.

Winry Rockbell is a childhood friend of Ed and Al, and the mechanic of Ed's mechanical armor. Her parents died in the Ishval Civil War. She understands the Elric brothers, and is honing her skills as a mechanical armor technician every day to support them on their journey to return to their original bodies.

Roy Mustang is a military man and a state alchemist who goes by the nickname "Flame". He holds the rank of colonel and is currently working at the Eastern Command. He creates sparks with gloves made of ignitable cloth, and manipulates the oxygen around the target to induce a fiery explosion and defeat his opponents. He has a soft-spoken demeanor, but is quite a shrewd individual.

Riza Hawkeye is a lieutenant in the military. She works at the Eastern Command and assists Mustang. Her skill with guns, her calm and collected personality, and her outspoken behavior make her feared and trusted by those around her. She has a pet dog named "Black Hayate".

Alex Louis Armstrong is a military man and a state alchemist with the nickname "Strong Arm." He holds the rank of major and works at Central Command. He has an extremely muscular build and is also unnecessarily kind-hearted and easily moved to tears. And for some reason, he takes off his clothes easily.

Maes Hughes is a lieutenant colonel in the military. He currently works at the Central Court Martial. He is friends with Roy and is one of the people who supports his ambitions. Although he seems like a joker, he is also quick-witted and caring, and cannot leave people in trouble alone.

Jean Havoc is Roy's subordinate and holds the rank of second lieutenant. He calls himself "not the cleverest," but his physical strength and fighting ability make up for that. He takes the initiative, so he is well-liked by his subordinates. He is a classmate of Breda, and a heavy smoker.

Heimans Breda is a lieutenant under Roy. He and Havoc are best friends and enlisted at the same time. Despite his frivolous appearance and behavior, he has a sharp mind and graduated from the military academy at the top of his class. Within Mustang, he is responsible for secret negotiations and investigations.

Maria Ross is a lieutenant under Armstrong. When Ed and the others were in Central, she served as a guard together with Brosh. She is loyal to her military duties, but at the same time, she is a kind and thoughtful woman. She has a distinctive teardrop mole under her left eye.

King Bradley, who wears an eyepatch over his left eye, is the highest ranking officer in the Amestris military. His rank is Grand Commander. Even though he is just in his 40s, he has taken control of parliament and the government, and has risen to become the country's dictator. He is a mysterious character who has dignity and presence, yet carries himself with an easy-going demeanor.

Scar is a mysterious man who appears all over Amestris, killing only state alchemists. He has brown skin and a large cross-shaped scar on his forehead. His motives and identity are completely unknown. He uses his skilled martial arts and mysterious destructive right hand to corner and eliminate his opponents.

The last character is a mysterious woman with a Ouroboros tattoo on her chest. She has a seductive appearance and the special ability to transform her claws into spears. She is ruthless and accurately analyzes situations, eliminating anything that gets in her way without hesitation.

Gluttony is a mysterious creature with a round body and an Ouroboros tattoo on his tongue. He has an extraordinary appetite, asking "Can I eat?" all living things, including humans and synthetic beasts, and an extraordinary sense of smell. In battle, he attacks his opponents with unparalleled strength.

Envy is a member of Lust's group, a mysterious character with a Ouroboros tattoo on his right thigh. He has the special ability to transform into anything he has seen once. He has a condescending, humorous attitude, but when he loses his temper, he shows frightening cruelty.

Zolf J. Kimblee is a state alchemist who goes by the nickname "Crimson Lotus." He activates his magic by aligning the transmutation circles drawn on the palms of his hands. Although he appears to be a gentleman, he is actually a psychopath who finds strange pleasure in life-risking battles and destruction.

Olivier Mira Armstrong is Major Armstrong's sister and a female general feared as the "Northern Wall of Briggs." She holds the rank of Major General and is responsible for guarding Briggs Fortress, which is located further north than the Northern Command Headquarters and borders the neighboring country of Drachma. Despite her beautiful appearance, she has a harsh and aggressive personality.

Miles is a soldier in the Northern Army Mountain Guard and serves as Olivier's aide. He holds the rank of major, is of Ishvalan descent, has brown skin and red eyes, and is calm at all times, and is willing to accept both good and bad in order to defeat the true enemy.

Buccaneer is a soldier in the Northern Army Mountain Guard who is highly trusted by Olivier. He holds the rank of captain, and is a martial artist with a hot-blooded personality and a physique that could be mistaken for a bear. He has a strong sense of drive and a keen eye for people, so he is in charge of managing the soldiers at the fortress.

■Subtitle

This work consists of 4 episodes. Each episode is as follows.

• #1 Blind Alchemist (August 26, 2009)
• #2 Simple People (December 23, 2009)
• #3 Master's Story/Master's First Love Story (April 21, 2010)
• #4 That is also his battlefield (August 25, 2010)

■ Related works

"Fullmetal Alchemist" is deeply connected to the original manga, other anime series, movies, etc. Below are the related works.

• Fullmetal Alchemist
• Fullmetal Alchemist
• Fullmetal Alchemist PREMIUM COLLECTION
• Fullmetal Alchemist: The Seven Homunculi vs. the State Alchemist Corps
• Fullmetal Alchemist SHORT COLLECTION
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa
• Fullmetal Alchemist 4-frame Theater
• Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST" has the power to draw viewers in with its depth as a dark fantasy and the drama of its characters. In particular, the epic story of the bond and growth of the Elric brothers, as well as a national conspiracy, has captivated many fans.

This work is highly recommended not only for fans of the original manga, but also for anime fans. It is especially a must-watch for those who are interested in stories themed on the science of alchemy and the drama of unique characters. In addition, the episodes that delve deeper in the form of an OVA will help you understand the series better as a whole.

Furthermore, this work was completed by the combined efforts of a stellar cast of voice actors and staff, and has extremely high quality both visually and aurally. The music and sound effects are also important elements that enhance the story, making it a work that is well worth watching throughout.

"FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST" is the ultimate entertainment piece that depicts dark fantasy and the bond between brothers. Please experience this epic story.