By Cheyenne Ewulu
Welcome to Funimation Flashback, the series where I, Cheyenne, revisit some of my favorite anime titles from my childhood! So that means anime from the late ’90s through the early 2000s!
But before we jump into today’s topic, be sure to follow Funimation everywhere for more anime videos like this one!
I’m just going to say it—Before there was brainy Senku, there was Edward Elric. Before there was a Dr. STONE, we were looking for the Philosopher’s Stone. Before we were trying to bring back all of civilization, we were trying to bring back Ed and Al’s mom. Before there was—OK. You get the idea.
I think you already know what we’re about to talk about today. That’s right! Aniplex of America’s Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
For those of you that didn’t know, there are two Fullmetal Alchemist series. The 2003 version, Fullmetal Alchemist, and the 2009 version, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Brotherhood is more faithful to the original story told by Hiromu Arakawa, whereas the 2003 version, while also an adaptation of the manga, is more of a reimagining of the story, mostly designed to be its own unique version.
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But today, we’re focusing on Brotherhood. Memory a little hazy? Or maybe you’re new to this. Here’s a rundown of what the show’s about: Disregard for alchemy’s laws ripped half of Edward Elric’s limbs from his body and left his younger brother Al’s soul clinging to a suit of armor. The brothers seek out the all-powerful Philosopher’s Stone in order to restore what they lost. Sounds pretty intense, right?
Most likely, this was your gateway into the wonderful world of Fullmetal Alchemist. And if you were as nerdy as I was when you were a kid, you definitely drew your share of transmutation circles after every episode that aired. No? Just me? Awkward.
Over a decade later, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood still stands as one of my most favorite anime of all time. For starters, it stars two lovable characters that you just can’t help but root for in every episode. Their relationship is the perfect example of “love conquers all.”
I mean, these are two brothers that would literally do ANYTHING for each other. And I mean anything. Even give up an arm and a leg. That’s love right there. And let’s talk about all of the inspirational realness Edward kept serving throughout the show.
One of my favorite quotes from the series is definitely the iconic “Stand up and walk!” line. The show also does a really good job (and I mean REALLY good job) of making you hate the characters that you’re supposed to hate. Shou Tucker for father of the year, am I right? Dastardly villains with redemption arcs? Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood doesn’t know “her.” Sorry. But there are also a lot of really likable and relatable side characters that you sometimes find yourself loving more than the main characters themselves.
But it’s not just the good guys I enjoyed watching. The main baddies in the series deserve a shout-out as well. The Homunculi are well-thought-out villains with super-unique backstories. I mean, FMA fans, tell me you weren’t absolutely SHOOK once you found out how everyone and everything was connected.
And can we talk about Scar for a second? This man—this KING, was literally THE definition of the phrase “on sight.” Anytime he laid eyes on a State Alchemist, there were no words, only hands. I mean, you HAVE to respect that.
The action and animation in this anime are also top-tier. I mean, the final battle alone gave me chills the first, second, third and 1,000th time I saw it. I won’t give away any spoilers though. I forget that there are actually people on this internet who haven’t seen this masterpiece of an anime yet.
This season’s anime lineup is amazing. Trust me, I know. I cannot wait to start all of the shows on my backlog. But it’s always good to wind down every once in a while and take a trip down ole anime memory lane with your favorite brothers Ed and Al. And by memory lane, I mean the good ole Funimation app. We’re in quarantine. You have nothing else to do.
If you’re a fan of Aniplex of America’s Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, let us know what you loved so much about the anime. If you haven’t already, be sure to follow Funimation on all of their social media for more anime goodness, and I’ll see you, fellow Alchemists, on the next video.
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