FullMetal Alchemist Review
So, let’s start out by saying that I’m not a giant anime lover. It’s not that I don’t like it, there are some that I definitely do like, but for the most part… meh. Unless there is that unexplicable *something* that makes me latch on, I don’t watch a lot of it.
FMA has been on my list for quite a while, simply because i had seen the mangas while I was in Japan, and it looked interesting. Having been on the road a lot lately, and with the full series up on Hulu, I’ve finally finished it and I have to say that I was both impressed by the ride, but also very surprised at where the series ended up compared to where I thought it was going.
The story centers around two young boys, Ed and Al. They live in a picturebook rural town with their mother in a beautiful house. Their father was a famous and powerful state alchemist. Alchemy in this world is akin to science but with the implementation of magic-like speed. All you need is a transmutation circle, the ingredients, and voila; one thing can be changed into another. The boys’ father went away on state business and never came back. The boys showed a natural aptitude for alchemy as well, and their mother encouraged them by allowing them to study their father’s books. After a time, however, the mother became ill and died. The boys were left alone. They made a pact together to learn all they could about alchemy, so that they could be the first to complete the forbidden arts: to bring their mother back from the dead. It didn’t work. And in the universal law of equivalent exchange, Ed lost his arm, while Al lost his body.
But Ed somehow instinctively sacrificed his leg in exchange to anchor Al’s soul to a suit of armor on the wall. A seven foot tall, empty suit of armor. Family friends rescue Ed and equip him with metal prosthetic limbs, and the boys have a new goal: to find the philosopher’s stone; a legendary gem that will allow them to bypass the laws of equivalent exchange in order to restore both their bodies back to normal.
There are 51 episodes and one 110-minute movie showcasing their quest over four years to find the secret behind the philosopher’s stone, try and change the face of the military and the country they live in, as well as the quest for information beyond the gate of knowledge.
The show is well-written (there are a couple snafus between the show and the movie, but forgivable plot holes at that) (Did you know you only need to go faster than 11kph to outrun death? Just saying).
I watched the dubbed versions accidentally (I prefer subtitles) but didn’t realize until episode 49 that both subtitled and dubbed versions are available on Hulu.
And you can’t beat the free price tag. The characters are endearing and genuine, and I was moved at several points throughout the story. It never tended to drag like a lot of serials, and the ending of the movie (which wraps the show up; you can’t just watch the 51st episode and be done. REALLY.) was definitely a huge departure from where I thought they were going. I am very intrigued now to watch the FMA:Brotherhood series and movie as well.
The voice acting was not bad for the dubbed version, and even sounded similar to the Japanese actors. The music was good, and the art style is interesting.
8/10 Automail tune-ups by Winry.
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Balth’s Yelping
