Hello Anime Lovers 👋🏻 ❤️
Today, I will review a journey of brotherhood and the soul. The official name of this anime is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. It was the second anime I watched. This masterpiece has never been reviewed, so I thought I should share it with you. Let’s begin the review.
Anime Details
| Name | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood |
| Episodes | 64 (Finished) |
| Released | 2009 |
| Studio | Bones |
| Genre | Shounen, Action, Adventure, Fantasy |
| Type | War, Military, Family, Friendship |
| MAL Rating | 9.09 |
| IMDb Rating | 9.1 |
| Personal Rating | 9.5 (Masterpiece) |
Plot Summary
Alchemy, a method of transforming one substance or element into another, functions much like magic in this series. Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse, attempt to resurrect their deceased mother using Alchemy, but instead, Edward loses an arm and a leg, and Alphonse loses his entire body. In hopes of recovering their lost body parts, they embark on a journey to find the mythical Philosopher’s Stone. This journey leads them to uncover a hidden, dark truth about Alchemy, Alchemists, and their homeland.
Highlights of the Story
Brotherhood: The core theme of the series is the strong bond between Edward and Alphonse. The love and trust between the two brothers remain unshaken despite numerous adversities. At times, misunderstandings and arguments arise, but by the end of the day, the brothers set aside all differences to unite in pursuit of their goal.
Side Characters: Every side character in FMAB is given sufficient attention. Through their motivations, ideals, and resolute attitudes, the writer highlights deep trust and love for friends, as well as a sense of responsibility toward one’s country. Additionally, themes like blind patriotism, greed for power, and racism are portrayed through various characters.
Antagonists: The series introduces several antagonists, including the Homunculi, who symbolize the seven negative traits of the human mind, power-hungry Alchemists who forget their humanity, and a unique individual who seeks to challenge God. Each antagonist is powerful and engages in intense battles with the protagonists.
Patriotism: Many are willing to sacrifice their lives for their country. But for the sake of that patriotism, can you take the life of someone from another country? Would your hands not tremble? Another key theme in FMAB is the horror of war. Those who fall victim to attacks in a war suffer, but the inner conflict faced by an ordinary soldier following a commander’s orders is vividly portrayed in this series.
Abuse of Power: In World War 2 and many other instances, we see how a single government figure’s desire can spread propaganda, manipulate the masses, and carry out genocide to gain personal benefits and strengthen their power. This series draws inspiration from such events of World War 2 in various ways.
Technical Aspects
Animation: As a 2009 animation, it is exceptionally well done. The color grading of the animation evokes the vibe of the 1900s.
Music: The series predominantly uses Classical European Orchestral music and Latin-language music, which perfectly complements the series’ atmosphere.
Intro/Ending: Every Intro and Outro of the series is beautiful. My personal favorite is the first Intro.
Final Words
With deep themes like war, racism, and genocide, no filler episodes, a compact story, a beautiful ending, enjoyable OST, and a complex and emotional narrative, FMAB is a worthy contender for the title of the best Shounen anime. So, even if you’re short on time, make time to watch this 64 episode masterpiece.
Anime Trailer
https://youtu.be/-GoNo0DGroU?si=Qv58F1jbsw8sdG0R
All Image Source
