Review Statistics

Times Read

2,376

Comments

16

Reviews

Tv

Plot Synopsis

"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 an alternate world from ours in the early 1900's. Two young brothers, older Edward Elric and younger Alphonse Elric, live with their mother Trisha in the small village of Resembool. Their father left home when they were still very young, but Ed and Al inherited his passion for alchemy.

1909. On a fine day, Trisha dies of an unknown illness, leaving her two sons orphans. Ed blames his father for Trisha's death and wants to find a way to bring her back to life. At this time, Ed was 10, Al 9. When Edward finds out about flesh forging in an alchemy book that belonged to his father, he engages in an intense training with Al in order to be able to perform a human transmutation.

On February 1910, the Elric brothers cross the forbidden line trying to resurrect their mom. The attempt ends in a complete failure. In the process, Ed loses his left leg and Al his whole body. In a last try full of despair, Ed uses alchemy to restore his brother's spirit putting it in a suit of mail, at the further cost of his right arm. When Al wakes up in the armour, he suddenly realizes what happened and takes his unconscious injured brother to the neighbours, the Rockbells.

After that day, the two decide to embark on a journey to find the legendary Philosopher's Stone, rumoured to create anything from nothing, in hopes of getting back their original bodies.

Story & Characters

Full Metal Alchemist is about two brothers (Edward and Alphonse Elric) who have lost so much in an attempt to ressurect their late mother, who they sorely missed, and they want and need to get all that they lost back. The older brother Edward Elric lost his leg when their attempt at bringing their mother back went wrong, and the process took Ed's leg as material, and Al's whole body. Ed used his arm as material to attach Al's Spirit to an Suit of armor in the corner. while the younger brother Alphonse Elric lost his whole body and is now just a spirit attachment to a huge hunk of armor, Alphonse, Al for short, is often assumed to be the full metal, when really it is Edward, Ed for short, who holds the title... It is an action anime and people who enjoy shoujo anime, may not enjoy this. Anyway, Ed and Al are searching the world for the philosifers stone which will allow the brothers to ignore the rule of equivelent exchange so they can get their bodies back to normal. They are monitored by a Girl loving Colonel Mustang, who keeps an eye on them at all times, when he isn't working on his plans to become the Fuher so he can ban men and have all the women where skimpy miniskirts.... I think anyone can enjoy this story.

Rating

9 (very good)

Art

I really like the art of the anime because I really liked the art of the manga, and it didn't change too much. The shadows and shading is really great and you can tell that the creators care a whole bunch about the images. The setting takes place everywhere, but the set up of Central, and East city are very realistic, and probably required quiet a few hours of research. None of the characters colors are off and their hair colors, even if they weren't obvious in the manga, match what it should be. The art was fantastic

Rating

8 (good)

Sound

The sound of Full Metal Alchemist is great! I think they did a great job of finding a good voice for Ed and Al... Ed is done by Vic Mignogna (sorry if mispelled) who has done things in DNAngel and Peace Maker, Al is done by Arron Dismuke who has done things for Fruits basket. I also like who they cast as Winry (Caitlin Glass). All the voices perfectly capture the characters, and the voice actors try hard. I even listened to the Japanese version and the sound in that was great (dispite the fact I had no idea what they were saying)

Rating

10 (excellent)

Presentation

Full Metal Alchemist should be it's own catagory, it has drama, humor, action, fantasy and even traces of Romance. Almost every episode has a little bit of humor, though there are some very serious episodes that even full grown adults would be intrigued by. Though it does have a bit of foul language I believe that almost anyone above 9 could follow and enjoy. I first watched on [adult swim] but I loved everything about it and soon bought the DVD. The way this show (and most others) ends, it leaves you hanging, wanting more... Every saturday I almost broke down, because I'd have to wait 'til next week to see the following installment. It is the way shows should be, keep you coming back for more and more. The characters are so diverse and charming you want to know them more, so you keep watching. The show has characters you want to hit, and pummel, characters that you want to hug. Full Metal Alchemist, is something that you wish was real so you could get to know the setting and people and every other aspect I have forgotten to talk about... I suggest you watch it!

Rating

10 (excellent)

Final Verdict

9.33 (very good)

Reviewed by headaches4ever, 2y 51wk ago