Fullmetal Alchemist VS Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Head to Head Debate

Fullmetal Alchemist. This manga (comic) and two sister anime TV series took fans of Japanese animation by storm during the 2000s. This is the story of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, and their journey to retake their old bodies and save their country while fighting the living embodiments of the seven deadly sins. FMA is unique in that it has a diverging timeline, with the endings of the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist (FMA) series being very different from the ending of the 2009-2010 Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (FMAB), the latter of which more closely resembles the original manga. The question for fans is not whether or not either of these series is bad, but rather which is the best. So without further ado, let’s dive into a double review. We’ll be discussing the opening themes, the characters, and overall entertainment of both series. By the way, I will be talking about some major plot points in both shows. So be warned, there are spoilers ahead.

Before we get into the fine details of the review, let’s talk about the origins of FMA, FMAB and the manga and why there are two anime series. The manga was first released in 2001 by writer and illustrator Hiromu Arakawa, and in 2003 an anime was released based on the manga. This is why for a while the plot of the 2003 FMA was almost identical to that of the manga. However, the anime series soon caught up with the source material. Since the manga was nowhere near completion, the creators of the anime had to make a decision. They could either write “filler” content until more chapters of the manga were written, or they could branch off from the source material and create their own story. In the end, they decided on the latter. They finished this series on October 2nd 2004, with an ending drastically different from that of the manga. In 2009 when the manga was nearing its completion, FMAB was released. Both the manga and FMAB were concluded in 2010 with plots and conclusions that mirrored each other. This is why there are two anime series for FMA and why their plots become so drastically different by the end of the story.

Now that we have some background information, we can get into the actual review. First things first, let’s talk about the opening themes of both anime. While some might think this is a minor point, the opening is supposed to be what sets the tone for a series and what might be the initial attraction for the audience. The original FMA had a few good openings, but in my opinion the most memorable opening was “Ready, Steady, Go!” It got the audience pumped up for the series with its fast tempo and j rock beat, while also giving them time to breath and reflect on previous episodes during its calmer sections. However, while FMA had solid openings, FMAB had practically flawless openings. They were often fast paced and pumped up the audience as “Ready, Steady, Go!” did, but accompanied the music with intense battle scenes, thoughtful imagery, and occasionally a hint of foreshadowing. Even the slower paced 5th and final opening “Rain” got the audience excited for the intense battles that were taking place near the end of the series, while imagery of past characters allowed the audience to reflect on how great the series had been so far. So while FMA had solid openings, the openings of FMAB were perfect.

Talking about differences in characters between the series seems kind of ridiculous since they share most of the same characters. While this may be true, there is a noticeable difference in how the “Homunculi” characters were handled in both series. For those who haven’t watched the series, the Homunculi are artificially created humans who are personifications of Christianities Seven Deadly Sins. They are practically immortal, have unique abilities and have a distinctive ouroborus tattoo that signifies that they are Homunculi. The main differences between the Homunculi in FMA and FMAB are their origins and their deaths. I think the origins of the Homunculi in both series are very creative and interesting, so both series get full points for that. However, the deaths of the Homunculi in FMAB are better thought out and are related to the sin that they represent. Lust is killed by a womanizer, while Envy essentially dies because of his jealousy of humans. Pride isn’t killed, but he is reduced to the humble state of a child, humility being the opposite of pride. Wrath dies a relatively peaceful death, and Gluttony is eaten. Sloth dies in battle, fighting to the full extent of his abilities (not being lazy). Greed sacrifices his own life to save others. While the deaths of the Homunculi in FMA are certainly important to the story, their deaths felt less impactful than in FMAB. So while both series had interesting villains who were well handled for the most part, FMAB takes the edge for the creative demise of the Homunculi.

Finally, we get to the overall enjoyment each anime provided. Each series is enjoyable in its own unique way. FMA draws the viewer in with its captivating storyline and intense dramatic moments. On the other hand, FMAB is very action packed like a more typical shounen anime, but also has very sad moments that don’t leave a dry eye in the house. Both series contained comedic moments that left the tone light either immediately before a tragedy or following shortly after one. Neither series is more entertaining than the other; they are simply aimed at separate audiences. If you want to watch a drama heavy anime sprinkled with its fair share of fast paced action, then FMA is for you. If you want an action heavy emotional roller coaster ride, then FMAB is my recommendation.

So the question still remains, which is the better anime? Is it FMA with its dramatic moments and memorable original storyline? Or is it FMAB with its heavy focus on action and creative symbolism? In the end, it really is simply a matter of preference. Both series have so much to offer that I wasn’t able to mention. I stand behind my preference to the FMAB openings being superior and that the Homunculi villains are more expertly handled in that series. But another reviewer could just as easily argue that FMA had better openings and gave the Homunculi a better back story. So do yourself a favour and make the time to watch both series. If you like anime half as much as you think you do, you’ll fall in love with this adventure.

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