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879
"Humankind cannot gain anything...
Pros
Unique use of the idea of alchemy.
Cons
Mmm...Japanese voices for Al and Ed.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
This series is going to be an interesting one.
You all remember FUNimation, don't you? Of course you do! Well it seems they've decided to bring the masses Fullmetal Alchemist. Some of you might have spotted this show on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. That was where I first saw it. At first I thought, "What? Fullmetal Alchemist? Is this lame?" For some reason, despite all my anime watching, I was skeptical about how good this was or was supposed to be. I hadn't heard anything about it. The name didn't appeal to me. Out of the total 51 episodes that make up this series, I'd seen a mere handful, all on TV and (obviously) all in English. Well, the strange things that happened in the show made me curious – not strongly curious mind you, and some things even sort of deterred me. It looked like there was that typical "government conspiracy" type of junk going on and I'm soooo sick of that plot device. But then I saw a really awesome AMV (anime music video) and that in itself spurred me on. I wanted to know how Al and Ed's adventures would end. I wanted to see the whole series and then make my final judgment. Besides, I told you I like to finish things I start. And since I'm still waiting for the rest of the Inuyasha volumes to be added…
Like I said, there are 51 episodes, and with about 4 episodes per volume that brings us to roughly 12 (probably 13) volumes in total. Because of the low episode number per volume, lucky, lucky you, I am forced (ok, not forced, but I feel the need to) give you short summaries (no spoilers! Or at least what I can finagle) for each one instead of a massive overview.
Episode 1: A transmutation circle is drawn out on the floor of a basement. Two brothers, Alphonse and Edward Elric nod at one another. They place their hands on the circle and begin the reaction. But something goes horribly wrong. Fast forward a few years, where Edward is 15 and Alphonse is 14. They're walking through a desert (what prompted them to do that is beyond me) and end up in a town where a man named Cornello supposedly performs miracles. Ed and Al know better – it's alchemy, and Cornello is simply not obeying the laws. But that means he has something that they want…
Episode 2: The High Priest Corenllo poses a real problem – he's got the backing of everyone in the village, and he has the ultimate key to avoiding all the laws of alchemy. Can Ed and Al find ways to turn the tide of the people's faith and get what they need from Cornello?
Episode 3: What did happen to Al and Ed when they were children? What where they doing with that transmutation circle that went wrong? It's time to rewind and go back to where it all started…
Episode 4: We're still following Ed and Al through their past, and Ed has made the decision to become a State Alchemist. Oh their way to Central City, they hear of an alchemist named Majhal and the problem a village faces concerning the dead coming back to life. Looks like something they should check out…
Survey Says…
This series starts off without leaving much room at all for you to figure out what the deal is. I remember when I first saw this episode I didn't know it was the very first one. I thought I was still in the middle somewhere – I had no idea where the starting point was. Now I know. It's one of those, dive-right-in-and-watch-as-the-whole-story-unfolds-before-your-eyes things. You do get a mini crash course in alchemy; a bit of narration by Ed and Al (and also when they're explaining things to a girl named Rose in the first episode) about the laws of alchemy that one must follow and how alchemy generally works. Basically, you're rearranging the elements in something into what they were (say, the broken clock) or into something new (lead into gold) as long as you follow the laws. Sound a bit familiar? If you've ever heard of alchemy in the older English periods it should. Did you know the Queen actually commissioned a man to change lead into gold?
I really do like the idea of alchemy being incorporated into the main idea of this series. It's something I've always found a bit interesting, but personally have never found the means of using it well in a story. This series, however, has locked on to the idea and is going to use it to its full potential (or so I hope). Already we get a glimpse at transmutation circles, Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter anyone? ^_~), and chimeras. Sounds like a party to me.
But enough about that. How does the animation look? Fine, actually. I get a slight 2D feeling from it, for some reason. I think it's because of the coloring and shading and the lack of a truckload (ok, well maybe not a truckload) of detail. That's not to say there isn't any good color, shading, or detail, because there's a nice amount – enough to please this little princess. I suppose what I should say is that it's just a little different from what I'm used to, and in a good way. A shot I particularly love is when we find out just why Ed is called the Fullmetal Alchemist – he reveals all when he pulls off his jacket and throws it out in a nice slow motion. Very fond of that piece indeed. Wish I had a screencap of it actually.
Voices – always last, always important. Already I prefer (are you ready for this?) the English version (did you see that coming?!). Why? I suppose a part of it is simply because that's what I started off with and that's how I'm used to it. However, there are other reasons. But I'll get into that in a second. When it comes to the English voice actors (VAs), it took me a while to get used to them, actually. At least for Ed and Al. Ed seemed a little awkward, like his voice didn't quite fit his body, and Al just sounded so much younger than Ed and that seemed a bit weird too. Also, when we first see them they're 11 and 10 but their voices aren't much different from when they're 15 and 14 – at all. And we all know that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. However, by now I'm used to them – I like Ed these days and I'm still kind of "Meh…" on Al, but content enough so that it doesn't bother me. Everyone else's voices have worked out just fine.
And the Japanese version. Mmm. I'm going to ruin it for you, if that's okay. Ed and Al – they're both done by women. Yeah. Normally that wouldn't bother me – but normally that's because I wouldn't be able to tell. Naruto and Goku/Gohan/Goten are done by women too, but I never noticed until someone told me or I read about it somewhere. Even now I don't pay attention to it because it's so hard to tell. However, it really bothers me when I notice a male having a female voice right off the bat. Because then it's always there. Other (English) examples include Naruto and Ranma. Ranma annoys me worse though. The point is that it's annoying listening to a male with a female voice. Ed I'm able to let go of easier because Romi Paku's voice is deep enough to slip by just barely into my "Forget about it" senses, but Al, no way. Hence my lean toward the English version.
Though like every other anime series, there's the opening and closing songs, but so far nothing too memorable. I like the closing song better than the opening one. I do, however, really love the instrumental music during the episodes – it's really beautiful. I'm a sucker for lovely piano and string compositions.
Episodes in this Volume:
Episode 1: Those Who Challenge the Sun
Episode 2: Body of the Sanctioned
Episode 3: Mother
Episode 4: A Forger's Love
NT
P.S. For this series, I've decided that all English name versions will be used just for convenience. =P
Future Volumes:
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 2: Scarred Man of the East
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 3: Equivalent Exchange
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 4: The Fall of Ishbal
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 5: The Cost of Living
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 6: Captured Souls
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 7: Reunion on Yock Island
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 8: The Altar of Stone
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 9: Pain and Lust
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 10: Journey to Ishbal
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 11: Becoming the Stone
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 12: The Truth Behind Truths
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 13: Brotherhood
Like I said, there are 51 episodes, and with about 4 episodes per volume that brings us to roughly 12 (probably 13) volumes in total. Because of the low episode number per volume, lucky, lucky you, I am forced (ok, not forced, but I feel the need to) give you short summaries (no spoilers! Or at least what I can finagle) for each one instead of a massive overview.
Episode 1: A transmutation circle is drawn out on the floor of a basement. Two brothers, Alphonse and Edward Elric nod at one another. They place their hands on the circle and begin the reaction. But something goes horribly wrong. Fast forward a few years, where Edward is 15 and Alphonse is 14. They're walking through a desert (what prompted them to do that is beyond me) and end up in a town where a man named Cornello supposedly performs miracles. Ed and Al know better – it's alchemy, and Cornello is simply not obeying the laws. But that means he has something that they want…
Episode 2: The High Priest Corenllo poses a real problem – he's got the backing of everyone in the village, and he has the ultimate key to avoiding all the laws of alchemy. Can Ed and Al find ways to turn the tide of the people's faith and get what they need from Cornello?
Episode 3: What did happen to Al and Ed when they were children? What where they doing with that transmutation circle that went wrong? It's time to rewind and go back to where it all started…
Episode 4: We're still following Ed and Al through their past, and Ed has made the decision to become a State Alchemist. Oh their way to Central City, they hear of an alchemist named Majhal and the problem a village faces concerning the dead coming back to life. Looks like something they should check out…
Survey Says…
This series starts off without leaving much room at all for you to figure out what the deal is. I remember when I first saw this episode I didn't know it was the very first one. I thought I was still in the middle somewhere – I had no idea where the starting point was. Now I know. It's one of those, dive-right-in-and-watch-as-the-whole-story-unfolds-before-your-eyes things. You do get a mini crash course in alchemy; a bit of narration by Ed and Al (and also when they're explaining things to a girl named Rose in the first episode) about the laws of alchemy that one must follow and how alchemy generally works. Basically, you're rearranging the elements in something into what they were (say, the broken clock) or into something new (lead into gold) as long as you follow the laws. Sound a bit familiar? If you've ever heard of alchemy in the older English periods it should. Did you know the Queen actually commissioned a man to change lead into gold?
I really do like the idea of alchemy being incorporated into the main idea of this series. It's something I've always found a bit interesting, but personally have never found the means of using it well in a story. This series, however, has locked on to the idea and is going to use it to its full potential (or so I hope). Already we get a glimpse at transmutation circles, Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter anyone? ^_~), and chimeras. Sounds like a party to me.
But enough about that. How does the animation look? Fine, actually. I get a slight 2D feeling from it, for some reason. I think it's because of the coloring and shading and the lack of a truckload (ok, well maybe not a truckload) of detail. That's not to say there isn't any good color, shading, or detail, because there's a nice amount – enough to please this little princess. I suppose what I should say is that it's just a little different from what I'm used to, and in a good way. A shot I particularly love is when we find out just why Ed is called the Fullmetal Alchemist – he reveals all when he pulls off his jacket and throws it out in a nice slow motion. Very fond of that piece indeed. Wish I had a screencap of it actually.
Voices – always last, always important. Already I prefer (are you ready for this?) the English version (did you see that coming?!). Why? I suppose a part of it is simply because that's what I started off with and that's how I'm used to it. However, there are other reasons. But I'll get into that in a second. When it comes to the English voice actors (VAs), it took me a while to get used to them, actually. At least for Ed and Al. Ed seemed a little awkward, like his voice didn't quite fit his body, and Al just sounded so much younger than Ed and that seemed a bit weird too. Also, when we first see them they're 11 and 10 but their voices aren't much different from when they're 15 and 14 – at all. And we all know that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. However, by now I'm used to them – I like Ed these days and I'm still kind of "Meh…" on Al, but content enough so that it doesn't bother me. Everyone else's voices have worked out just fine.
And the Japanese version. Mmm. I'm going to ruin it for you, if that's okay. Ed and Al – they're both done by women. Yeah. Normally that wouldn't bother me – but normally that's because I wouldn't be able to tell. Naruto and Goku/Gohan/Goten are done by women too, but I never noticed until someone told me or I read about it somewhere. Even now I don't pay attention to it because it's so hard to tell. However, it really bothers me when I notice a male having a female voice right off the bat. Because then it's always there. Other (English) examples include Naruto and Ranma. Ranma annoys me worse though. The point is that it's annoying listening to a male with a female voice. Ed I'm able to let go of easier because Romi Paku's voice is deep enough to slip by just barely into my "Forget about it" senses, but Al, no way. Hence my lean toward the English version.
Though like every other anime series, there's the opening and closing songs, but so far nothing too memorable. I like the closing song better than the opening one. I do, however, really love the instrumental music during the episodes – it's really beautiful. I'm a sucker for lovely piano and string compositions.
Episodes in this Volume:
Episode 1: Those Who Challenge the Sun
Episode 2: Body of the Sanctioned
Episode 3: Mother
Episode 4: A Forger's Love
NT
P.S. For this series, I've decided that all English name versions will be used just for convenience. =P
Future Volumes:
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 2: Scarred Man of the East
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 3: Equivalent Exchange
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 4: The Fall of Ishbal
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 5: The Cost of Living
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 6: Captured Souls
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 7: Reunion on Yock Island
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 8: The Altar of Stone
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 9: Pain and Lust
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 10: Journey to Ishbal
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 11: Becoming the Stone
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 12: The Truth Behind Truths
Fullmetal Alchemist - Vol. 13: Brotherhood
