Hagane no renkinjutsushi
Tags: psychedelic, comedy, violence, sci-fi

Plot synopsis:
=== Setting ===
Fullmetal Alchemist takes place in an alternate history, in the fictional country of Amestris (アメストリス, Amesutorisu). In the world, alchemy is one of the most-practiced sciences; Alchemists who work for the government are known as State Alchemists (国家錬金術師, Kokka Renkinjutsushi) and are automatically given the rank of Major in the military. Alchemists have the ability, with the help of patterns called Transmutation Circles, to create almost anything they desire. However, when they do so, they must provide something of equal value in accordance with the Law of Equivalent Exchange. The only things Alchemists are forbidden from transmuting are humans and gold. There has never been a successful human transmutation; those who attempt it lose a part of their body and the result is a horrific inhuman mass. Attemptees are confronted by Truth (真理, Shinri), a pantheistic and semi-cerebral God-like being who tauntingly regulates all alchemy use and whose nigh-featureless appearance is relative to whom Truth is conversing with; the series' antagonist, Father, and some other characters, claim and believe that Truth is a personal God who punishes the arrogant, a belief that Edward denies, citing a flaw in Father's interpretation of Truth's works.
Attemptees of Human Transmutation are also thrown into the Gate of Truth (真理の扉, Shinri no Tobira), where they receive an overwhelming dose of information, but also allowing them to transmute without a circle. All living things possess their own Gate of Truth, and per the Gaea hypothesis heavenly bodies like planets also have their own Gates of Truth. It is possible to bypass the Law of Equivalent Exchange (to an extent) using a Philosopher's Stone, a red, enigmatic substance. Philosopher's Stones can be used to create Homunculi, artificial humans of proud nature. Homunculi have numerous superhuman abilities unique amongst each other and look down upon all humanity. With the exception of one, they do not age and can only be killed via the destruction of their Philosopher's Stones.
There are several cities throughout Amestris. The main setting is the capital of Central City (セントラルシティ, Sentoraru Shiti), along with other military cities such as the northern city of Briggs (ブリッグズ, Burigguzu). Towns featured include Resembool (リゼンブール, Rizenbūru), the rural hometown of the Elrics; Liore (リオール, Riōru), a city tricked to follow a religion; Rush Valley (ラッシュバレー, Rasshu Barē), a town that specializes in automail manufacturing; and Ishbal, a conservative-religion region that rejects alchemy and was destroyed in the Ishbalan Civil War instigated after a soldier (actually the homunculus Envy) shot an Ishbalan child. Outside of Amestris, there are few named countries, and none are seen in the main story. The main foreign country is Xing. Heavily reminiscent of China, Xing has a complex system of clans and emperors, as opposed to Amestris's government-controlled election of a Führer. It also has its own system of alchemy, called Alkahestry (錬丹術, Rentanjutsu), which is more medical and can be bi-located using kunai; in turn, it is implied that all countries have different forms of alchemy.
=== Plot ===
Edward and Alphonse Elric live in the rural town of Resembool with their mother Trisha and their father Van Hohenheim, the latter having left home for an unknown reason. When Trisha dies of the plague, the brothers perform the forbidden alchemic technique of human transmutation in an attempt to resurrect her. Consequently, the transmutation backfires and in law with equivalent exchange, Edward's left leg and Alphonse's entire body are destroyed. Edward sacrifices his right arm to rescue Alphonse's soul, binding it to a suit of armor with a blood seal. Edward is invited by Roy Mustang to become a State Alchemist to research a way to restore Alphonse's body. Edward succeeds, becoming the Fullmetal Alchemist, the title based on his prosthetic automail limbs and use of alchemy involving metal materials.
Three years on, the Elrics search for the mythical Philosopher's Stone to achieve their goals. They free the citizens of the city Liore by exposing the corrupt motives of the local cult's prophetic founder. They are targeted by Scar, an Ishbalan serial killer who murders State Alchemists per his anti-alchemic religious beliefs, and their encounter with him forces them to return to Resembool to have their bodies repaired by their childhood friend and mechanic, Winry Rockbell. The Elrics meet Dr. Marcoh, a reclusive former State Alchemist who created Philosopher's Stones during the Ishbalan civil war. Marcoh sends them to find his notes, but they learn the key ingredient to make the Stone is human sacrifices. Reaching a dead end thanks to the Homunculi, the Elrics go to meet their alchemy teacher Izumi Curtis. Maes Hughes, Mustang's friend, carries on their research, but is shot dead by a disguised Envy for discovering the Homunculi's plans.
Visiting Izumi, the Elrics learn she committed human transmutation on her stillborn child. Alphonse is captured by the rogue homunculus Greed, but is rescued by Amestris' president King Bradley, revealed to be the homunculus Wrath. Greed is consequently melted down by and reabsorbed within the Homunculi's creator Father. The Elrics and Winry return to Central City to visit Hughes but learn of his death. Lieutenant Maria Ross is framed for Hughes' murder, but is seemingly murdered by Mustang. However, Edward learns Ross' death was staged so Mustang can smuggle her out of the country to Xing, assisted by Xingese prince Lin Yao. Meanwhile, Scar forms a small band with former soldier Yoki, Xingese princess May Chang, and later Dr. Marcoh. Edward reunites with Hohenheim but hates him for his lengthy absence from home.
As the story progresses, the protagonists encounter the Homunculi repeatedly. Lust is killed by Mustang; Gluttony is captured by Mustang and Lin, but he ends up swallowing Edward, Lin, and Envy into his void-like stomach. Gluttony takes Alphonse to meet Father, but when the others escape from Gluttony's stomach, Father turns Lin into a Homunculus, namely the new incarnation of Greed. The Elrics are released to continue their quest as long as they don't oppose Father.
The Elrics go to northern Amestris where they inform the soldiers of Fort Briggs of the conspiracies in Central. Finding an underground tunnel beneath Briggs, the Elrics and General Olivier Armstrong discover that Amestris is practically nothing more than a human farm created by Father, who has been creating a nationwide transmutation circle and plans to cull its citizens by converting them into an extremely powerful Philosopher's Stone, which he shall use as a weapon to ascend to godhood. The Elrics are forced to work with Solf J. Kimblee to track down Scar with Winry as a hostage. They learn Scar's brother created a new type of alchemy to combat Father, leading them to team up and go on the run from the military, though Edward is left behind to divert Kimblee. Greed regains his past self's memories and betrays Father, teaming up with Edward, Kimblee's chimera minions, and later Hohenheim. Hohenheim reveals to his sons separately that he is immortal, turned into a living Philosopher's Stone by Father four hundred years ago.
The Promised Day arrives and Father prepares to initiate his plan using an eclipse, whose light and shadow represents a perfect being, and those who tried human transmutation as his key sacrifices. The numerous protagonists battle Father's minions, with most of the Homunculi dying. Father activates the nationwide transmutation after the Elrics, Izumi, Hohenheim, and a forced Mustang are gathered as the triggers. However, Hohenheim and Scar activate countermeasures to save the Amestrians. Father is confronted above ground where the protagonists battle him to wear down his Philosopher's Stone, but Greed is destroyed by Father.
Alphonse, whose armor is all but destroyed, sacrifices his soul to retrieve Edward's right arm, who in turn destroys Father's Philosopher's Stone, sending him back to the divine Gate of Truth from which he was created. Edward sacrifices his ability to perform alchemy to retrieve Alphonse's body and soul. Hohenheim visits Trisha's grave where he dies with a smile. Several months later, Edward and Alphonse return home where they are reunited with Winry, though they both leave home two years later to explore the world. The epilogue finishes with a family photo of Alphonse, May, Edward, Winry, and Ed and Winry's son and daughter.

Review: If you watch them all together, it begins and ends so quickly you feel like you've been hit by a truck when it finally DOES end.Full Metal Alchemist is a prime example of excellent story writing.
In short: If your an anime fan, or just dipping your toes, FullMetal Alchemist is a showcase of wonderful characters and plot, action, drama, tears and laughs..
This was an aspiring animators dream world.I ended up spending the rest of the year watching all the episodes on Adult Swim...I'd even wake up in the morning and think Full Metal Alchemist's on tonight!
I also ended up buying the Manga which if you have cash to burn and love the series you should do so.The story itself is pretty straightforward at first and seems almost like Inu Yasha where there's the same premise behind every episode but that's only for a little while until you know the characters and than it starts adding to the background situations starts to show whats really going on and whats really behind their quest.The animation in itself just adds to the story with the rich backgrounds and the amazing fights.Overall this would be a good anime to start with if your looking for one.
Story line is good, a mix of brotherhood, friendship, love, humanity and (like any other anime) the effect of war on people, not to forget the hilarious moments this anime is mined with.
I myself am not a particularly big fan of anime - I enjoy one every so often, but this absolutely blew me away.The tragic story is of the two Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse ("Al" for short).
The voice acting brings the characters to life in a way that no other anime ever has before.Overall, it's an incredible series.
Whilst there are obviously anime elements (the look, fighting segments) the story and, above all, the willingness to shock the audience by hurting and killing characters we have come to know and admire, make Fullmetal Alchemist well worth your time.
Out the half dozen other people I know who've seen the entire series, not one of us was able to even come close to guessing the ending.
FMA reminds me a bit of Harry Potter just in that, in both series, you have 1) child prodigies, 2) engrossing character growth and plot development, and 3) a story that individuals of all ages can appreciate and enjoy.
Probably the single best anime that I've ever seen, and certainly in my Top 10 favorite stories of all time.
Full Metal Alchemist, about 2 loving brothers who get thrown into a world a war and war craft just to receive a certain something, which therefore leads them into a completely different world, and opinion of their objective.I have been a fan of anime for a while now, ever since I was very small watching Sailor Moon and Pokémon.
But ever since then I was blinded from the world of anime and wasn't into it anymore.Well, until I contacted my long lost ex-girlfriend after about 6 months on MSN, I can seriously say I was hooked, for the first time in my life.So I downloaded all of the episodes and watched about 10 a day, my eyes couldn't move off the screen as they were fixed on only one thing, the show.
From Ed and Al longing for the philosopher's stone to revive their dear mother, to despising it on learning how to create it, then to learning on what the Homculus group is really doing to Ed and Al.I would definitely prefer watching this amazing Anime, then read the manga, believe me, it's worth the time..
My rating per episode fluctuated to crazy degrees and the average is a very underwhelming just above average overallFull Metal Alchemist is one of the premier anime series, hugely popular and I've heard no real criticism of.
Sadly, I have plenty.It tells the story of the Elric brothers, two young boys who tragically lose their mother and attempt to use the art of alchemy to bring her back but with unfortunate consequences.It's scored well, the animation is great, the voice acting is flawless and it's full of genuinely interesting engaging characters who over the course of the 51 episode single series I came to care for.So why such a low rating?For start I hate the overexaggerated reactions, I don't mean how anime characters insist on shouting all the time I mean when they constantly break from serious animation to show a silly overdrawn facial expressions complete with symbols around their head.
I really hate that nonsense!Next the plot as it develops begins to get a bit far fetched, yes I know we're talking about a world of alchemy but I mean the character additions, character behaviour and generally how an interesting plot gets convoluted to an extent it simply didn't need to.I like Full Metal Alchemist, I'm certainly glad I watched it.
And after that onto Brotherhood which I'm told is superior.The Good:Incredible voice actingSome very good ideasSeveral powerful momentsThe Bad:Silly expressionsLack of consistencyDumb finaleThings I Learnt From This Show:Edward might possibly be self concious about his heightAt no point did Edward during their long walks think it a good idea to get into Al (Then again when you put it like that...)I spent the entire show trying to work out if Envy was male or femaleAnyone who wants you to call them "Führer" is probably up to no good.
Fullmetal Alchemist...The Best Anime Series Ever!!!...NO QUESTIONS ASKED (This Comment is noted towards the Japanese version not the English version.).
I have just finished watching this amazing anime, Fullmetal Alchemist(Japanese version)is a series that anyone should watch, the series demonstrates the full and best potential a anime series has ever demonstrated, this show is a series that i just can't even explain in words...its amazing...the story is really touching and powerful...It tells you so much about the truth of reality.
The series is not long and it really can expand your view of everything around you and about everything you do.I recommend this series to everyone, either you like anime or not...this series is a must see.p.s if you decide to watch Fullmetal alchemist, watch the Japanese version with subtitles because the English version on cartoon network pretty much stinksp.s If your an anime watcher and you haven't watched this...you haven't seen nothing yet.
I mean, can you really feel a movie if people keep making faces at each other and getting annoyed by insignificant things while wars and death and magic surrounds them?OK, I understand that movies about responsibility are mostly directed towards children, but this could have been a more intense and with a wider success if the makers would have heightened the audience level a little.Overall, though, it is a great show.
this is the best series i have seen in my life,but how they continuously kill people is beyond me.the show is nothing like the manga,because in the manga,Scar is made out to be a evil dude,but in the anime,he kind of helps them instead of being this random dude who blows people up.to me,this series is also kind of sad because some of the nicest people die or get mortally wounded.it's also sentimental because of the relationship between Ed and Al,and i think it's awfully sweet.one of the best characters in the series would probably be Mustang or Bradley.
Cause it doesn't suck like other animes that people always make fun of.The story is about 2 brothers who lived in a normal life till they learned how to use Alchemy.
And they will encounter danger, mystery, rivals, and new friends.FullMetal Alchemist is highly recommend to those who want to see a great anime series that's not edited nor censored.
It has a griping story, great characters, beautiful art direction and it's just excellent altogether.Full Metal Alchemist is short compared to most animes, only 51 episodes.
I caught the anime late but from what i read he along with his brother were trying to used a form of alchemy to bring their mother back from the dead and they suffered a horrible fate ed lost his arm and leg and Al lost his entire body.
Full Metal Alchemist is one of my all time favourite shows (not just animes); the story lines, drawing, voice acting and soundtrack are all fantastic.
The supporting characters, both major (such as the arrogant, driven Roy Mustang, my personal favourite, and Winry, the brothers' machinery-obsessed childhood friend) and minor (like Rose, Marco and Barry the Chopper), are perfectly realised, and the host of evil beings they face are scary indeed.As well as watching the entire Japanese series, I have also seen some of the English versions of episodes.
Some of the voices are even improved, such as (in my opinion) Roy. I prefer the anime over the manga, but I don't think it really matters which version of the anime you watch, as little has been changed.I would recommend FMA to anyone over the age of 12, mainly because they would get more out of it, and because the themes are sometimes a bit dark (there are significant character deaths as well).
Full metal alchemist (FMA) is definitely the best anime I have ever seen.
Its not quite classic anime but close enough to where it would be perfect for drawing and can be beautiful AND cool, even at the same time.If you watch this, though I recommend the books too, which are just as good even though somewhat different.If you like this series I also recommend:Kino's Journey (its a beautiful world)-for a good deep oneEscaflowne-if you like the adventure styleKiddy Grade-One of those ones that tends to be a lot about what you believe in and the relationships between characters + some cool action :).
I wasn't a big anime fan but after watching this it totally changed my mind this is the best anime ever, excellent story writing although most of my friends told me to start brotherhood instead but am so happy I took the right decision.
I enjoyed how much the protagonists - those two alchemist brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric - had more screen time which allowed their relationship and love for each other to blossom.
Unlike in the original manga series of the same name and its 2009 anime rebooted version, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, no character was a side character or a filler character.
However, I'll say this is probably not only my favourite anime but probably one of my favourite shows and one of the most consistently good across all 51.The plot (if you don't know already) is that it takes place in a parallel world in which science takes a different direction and is instead focused on alchemy and seemingly by an almost-magic they can transform something into something else provided it's equal.
Two brothers at a young age have to deal with their father running away and their mother dying of an illness she kept secret, they decide to try and use alchemy to bring their mother back from the dead but instead leaves Edward Elric without a right arm and left leg and Alphonse trapped in a suit of armour unable to eat, sleep or feel anything.
kind-of-people that want exactly what Edward and Alphonse are after in order to make themselves human no matter what the cost and the victim of an infamous military war leaving his people persecuted is cursed with a right arm that makes things explode despite his people not believing in Alchemy.Okay, what's good here?
I'll avoid spoilers but it almost feels like despite the fans saying it's bad that I should watch the movie to get full closure, my point is that they REALLY shouldn't have done what they did to Alphonse, it made his entire character growth seem pointless.
Having seen the entire series (3 times) and got it all on DVD (which is kind of difficult when you're living in England), i can now do a review on the series.Fullmetal Alchemist is a slow-to-star, but highly gripping anime.
With a storyline that is half-based on the original comic, and the other half invented for the anime, we basically have a story following two characters, Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric, as they travel across Amestris to regain their bodies.How can this storyline work?
The bond between Edward and Alphonse is a bond any person with a sibling or very close friend knows about, and in the anime, it's communicated so well, that it makes you want to watch the series.Of course, that isn't the only reason why i love this series, but it's something that stands out for me..
As a person who prefers watching the English dub of an anime I was incredibly happy with it, Vic Mignogna does a great job as Edward and I don't think anyone could have done it better.
They fail to revive their mother, instead creating an abomination which supposedly dies.(It all sounds macabre and ridiculous, but the actual events are heart-wrenching.) The boys' failed transmutation (that word shows up a lot in the series so you should look it up if you don't know what it means.) brings them to the attention of Roy Mustang, an alchemist who works for the military.
Their subsequent journey into the world of Alchemy and the life of a "military dog" is where the real meat of the story takes place, including a quest for the mythical Philosopher's Stone that makes the series intriguing and addictive to follow.
But not everything is perfect, maybe the worst of this show, is the annoying drama, the characters are crying almost all the time, and those scenes can be sometimes very predictable.Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the best anime series of all the time, but as I told before, is not perfect.
From what little I could understand from the subtitles I still thought the Full Metal Alchemist is amazing and I look forward to watching it again with proper English dubbing.It is very important to watch this series in a row.This is not an anime for kids.BTW: The 52nd episode in the series is the movie.
So it starts off like any other story with the great never ending search but with Full Metal Alchemist they do find what they are looking for early on in the series.
I was a real anime geek and would watch whatever would come on Adult swim, but there are certain shows, books, or movies that can change a person's life because of the characters.
I know most fans tend to compare this series unfavorably to "Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood", but personally I think this version of the story did many things right (and in some aspects, I think it handled a couple of parts of the story in a better way than the original) doing a pretty good balance of drama, suspense and comedy, with plenty of beautiful moments, even if the plot wasn't a 100 % faithful adaptation of the original manga.
Full Metal Alchemist follows the two brothers Edward and Alphonsoe Elric during their search for the philosopher's stone in order to get their bodies back to normal, after an alchemy experiment went horribly wrong.
While it may be nothing like the Manga in many respects, Full Metal Alchemist is, without a doubt, one of the best anime series out there (at least in the top ten).
Don't believe them and get over the fact that it's animated (it's better that way, anyway!), and you'll see a show of gold.It shows many vital things; character development, some hints of romance (especially in the manga), sibling love, family issues, determination, tear-jerking moments (MANY), laugh-out-loud moments, those warm moments, and how one boy who dared to try the impossible and almost lost his brother matured and starts to understand slowly that he's only a human, and that although he is an alchemist, things can still happen that no amount of alchemy can repair.
But he'll mature, and understand that the world moves in only one direction.Fullmetal Alchemist, in the end, is THE best anime out there, in my opinion..
They go searching for the Philosopher's Stone, turning up nothing, but helping people along the way.After losing their mother, Edward his right arm and left leg, Alphonse his whole body, his soul which is in a suit of armor, now, set off to become State Alchemists.
If anyone is looking into getting into anime, the original "Fullmetal Alchemist" is a great place to start..
The first episode was not that great and i stopped watching it for some days, and then when i started watching then continually and got the know the back story of the Elric brothers, I was hooked to the series.
The story follows Edward and Alphonse Eleric brothers on their search for the Philosopher stone to restore their bodies they had lost when they tried to bring their mother back to life.
As the story progresses onto the second half of the series you'll be introduced to even more great characters.Third is the Animation: The animation was excellent.
They go on many sad but memorial journeys that have a lot of action and use of alchemy.Everywhere the Full Metal go, he and Alphonse changed everyone's life.I watched all the episodes and watched again because it was still cool.This anime is one of the best that was created and whoever didn't see this anime, they are missing something good.I cried when Hughes died and you might too if you feel a connection to the one of the anime characters.
this has to be one of the best anime shows ever made (along with inuyasha, which is also amazing.) it has hilarious comedy, action, drama, and a good story.
ed becomes the youngest state alchemist ever, and the two brothers set off on a quest to find the philosopher's stone, and to get their bodies back.this anime is one of my favorite shows EVER and i think it always will be.