I found much of the storyline difficult to follow. The series is long and some scenes make you think "huh?, wtf are they talking about?" I wouldn't recomend watching this show if you are slow and take time to catch on. As I said, the plot is complicated and you might forget things. This is one of those shows that you might have to watch more than once to understand. I had to watch FMA twice to get the storyline later in the show, and I'm sure that's the case for others too. Anyway, it's a great anime and not like the average ones. It's more down-to-earth and shows variety of all emotions and the character development is spaced out nicely. I agree with your rating. It's not worthy of a 10, no show is. I do like the English dub version better because the voice acting is superb (Edward was voiced by a woman in the japan version).
Fullmetal Alchemist tv Review
"You can't gain something without sacrificing something else of the equal value. This is the principle of the equivalent trade."
The story takes place in Amestris, in the early 1900's. Two brothers, Edward and his younger brother Alphonse Elric, live with their mother, Trisha, in the small village of Resembool. Although their father left home when they were still very young, his sons inherited his passion for alchemy and practiced it on their own. In 1909, Trisha dies of an unknown illness, the boys' father still nowhere in sight. When Ed finds out about human transmutation from one of his father's books, he and Al engage in intense training in order to be able to perform the ritual that will bring their mother back.
In 1910, the Elric brothers cross the forbidden line; unfortunately, the resurrection attempt is a complete failure, as Ed loses his left leg and Al — his entire body. In a last desperate attempt to undo the damage, Ed binds his brother's spirit to a nearby suit of armor, at the further cost of his right arm. After recovering, the two embark on a journey to find the legendary Philosopher's Stone, rumored to facilitate alchemic tasks without the requirement of equivalent exchange, in hopes of getting their original bodies back.
Story & Characters
Unlike many animes out, Fullmetal Alchemist isn't the typical anime you would expect. It's located around
Germany, rather Japan, and Edward Elric isn't your typical high schooler. He probably already had his life planned
out by some form of a deity.
Having failed the Human Transmutation, that is forbidden and yet he believed that he would be able to pull it off for
some reason, he and his little brother, Alphonse Elric, set out in search for the Philosopher Stone. With the Stone,
Edward will attempt to undo all his mistakes that he's done.
Within this anime, it's filled with many dramas, twists, action and even comedy in it. It also has very few
flashbacks and filler, that mainly everyone hates. However, if there is a flashback, it rather succinct and goes along
with the storyline.
Rather than a pure fantasy, Fullmetal Alchemist links to our actual world seeming more realistic. It has many Earthly
things such as betrayal, courage or fear. Instead of the famous "Knightly act," There are reactions that many
people can relate to.
Even as relative to us as our world, there are many things within Fullmetal Alchemist that is left, unexplained.
Rating:
Art
Rather than the big-eyed, long-haired school girls, Fullmetal Alchemist actually has a diversity in the shape of the
characters eyes. Also, in action scenes, the artists don't just get lazy and draw it all blurry with action lines.
They actually go into detail with the fighting; whether it's blocking a punch or taking a hit, it's all shown.
Aside to all the detail, Fullmetal Alchemist has very few recycled scenes and are mainly recreated for a variety of
footage. Also, in many fighting scenes, the artist gets lazy and has an effortless character with poor animation,
Fullmetal Alchemist doesn't have any significant ones that stand out. If there was any, the storyline was so
intense you'd never notice it.
The emotions found within Fullmetal Alchemist seemed to be priceless. Their emotions aren't very common but they
match that moment in time.
The artwork here was also matched the story. It wasn't a brightly colored anime with shining lights. Instead it was
a bit dull-but not to dull, you'd notice it but it wouldn't really matter because it seemed to fit perfectly
into it.
Rating:
Sound
The beginning and ending theme songs really happen to fit the anime as a whole but aside from that, there were 4 opening
songs along with 4 ending songs. Each song seemed to match that certain section of the anime. In my point-of-view, the
openings and endings that stuck out the most to me were- Ready, Steady, Go!, Rewrite, Kesenai Tsumi and I Will. Rewrite
moreover all the others because the whole story is basically about trying to rewrite his life.
Other than openings and endings, the sound that was in the actual anime seemed almost flawless. The voices for the
characters matched them and their personality entirely.
Rating:
Presentation
Overall, Fullmetal Alchemist had a steady pace but did happen to drag along at time-piling the suspense. Near the end,
it did seem to be rushed quite a bit but it could also be that the producers planned it that way. They wanted it to be
so much at one time to increase the drama and intensity.
What made Fullmetal Alchemist such a prized anime, was that it had just a bit of everything-not to much or not to
little. Filled with lots of humor, intense action and even the horrors of reality.
Fullmetal Alchemist is overall not the average predictable anime that you'd expect. For one, not everything turns
out perfectly.
Rating:
Final Verdict
9.5000 (excellent)
Reviewed by dizburazngurl, Oct 03, 2008
Comments
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D3RP Jun 26, 2010
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SchRita Aug 28, 2010
My sister likes it as well. And it's cool there are people who like the English dub better. :)
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edwarddesu Dec 01, 2010
its a perfect story in every aspect.
i like edward elric character very much.....
can't wait for arakawa sensei next work
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