Normally, when remakes are demanded, it’s because something went terribly wrong with the original, whether that meant the animation wasn’t sufficient for the adaptation or the writing tanked right at the pivotal moment. And while one of those things is certainly true withFullmetal Alchemist, there’s a lot in the first version that is actually done better than inBrotherhood.
Fullmetal Alchemistis a classic shōnen animefrom the early 2000s, adapted from the manga by Hiromu Arakawa. In an attempt to bring back their mother, two young boys suffer the consequences of equivalent exchange, losing both limb and body during an alchemical ritual. Edward and Alphonse Elric set off on a journey to fix their mistake and restore themselves.
Don’t Skip Out on the Original Version of Fullmetal Alchemist
Despite its Later Adaptation Issues, 2003 Portrayed the Elric Brothers' Story Incredibly Well
Fullmetal Alchemist(2003) is infamous for its endingsince it strays from the original source material and ultimately falls on its own sword. Since the manga was still ongoing at the time, studio Bones and the creatives were left with wrapping up the story based on the trajectory of the story they had built thus far.
Due to its diverging path, the first adaptation is often considered to be one that fans should skip altogether when new fans are introduced toFullmetal Alchemist.However, there’s quite a lot to be gained when watching both iterations, not only for its heartfelt storytelling of the Elric brothers, but the enjoyment of experiencing and comparing the two different visions.
What setsFullmetal Alchemistapart from its successor is how it deconstructed the Elric brothers' story, exploring their trials and tribulations throughout the series alongside the plot. It serves as more of acharacter study on Edward and Alphonse, more so than inBrotherhood,since it was paced more slowly to prevent the anime from catching up to the manga.
In the 2009 version, the Elrics are the focus within the threat of competing factions, serving as intermissions in their grand goal to find the Philosopher Stone.The brothers never wanted to be heroes; their wish was small, humble, and a quiet promise to each other that the mistake they made one night would be corrected through their combined efforts.
The Elrics experience terrible experiments through their journey for the Philosopher Stone, and yet for each wayward soul they meet, they are always having their own mistake spat back in their face.
Each interaction is a mirror into an alternative path the brothers could have taken; through Scar, the Fake Elrics, and countless other faces. They are a constant reminder of where Edward and Alphonse went wrong.Fullmetal Alchemistcreated a wonderful, brutal adaptation that carved out a place to make room for the viewer’s sympathy.
Throughout the series, the audience is reminded that these two were only children and experienced the height of hubris that would have destroyed an adult’s perception of morality. The Elrics experience terrible experiments throughout their journey for the Philosopher Stone, andyet for each wayward soul they meet, they are always having their own mistake spat backin their face.
Alphonse and Edward waver, trip, and fall many times, but always pick themselves back up for the sake of one another.Fullmetal Alchemistmay not have nailed the finale fans were anticipating, but it did a better job at exploring just how terrible the world was for these two young boys.
Fullmetal Alchemist and Brotherhood Are Two Halves of One Exceptional Story
While Different, These Two Anime Serve the Same Goal
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis almost the perfect entry for someone who has already watched the 2003 version, but wanted thecanonical ending as portrayed in the manga. The anime, while still following the same two protagonists, breezes through the Elric storyline and their original ritual.
Brotherhoodgave audiences the PowerPoint version, and the2003 series made its audience sit and watch every blunder and poor decision leading up to that fateful night.Fullmetal Alchemistwas a testament to its time as one of the manydark and grim anime in the early 2000s, versusBrotherhood, which took more of a hopeful approach with its storyline.
WhereasBrotherhoodwas meant to tell a story of hope and perseverance,Fullmetal Alchemistconveyed a grim, realistic tale of how to get through tough times even when everything fell apart.
If the 2003 version as a character study of Alphonse and Edward,Brotherhoodwas an expansion on the world and the ongoing conflicts between religion and science, morality, the weight of human sacrifice and the wrongdoings of politics and war. The narrative is explored better through multiple perspectives instead of just the brothers.
Though to be quite honest,Fullmetal Alchemistnever made light of its supporting cast in either iteration. Each side character mattered just as much as the main cast and the supporting members alongside them. There were no one-time occurrences, faces returned throughout the series or were mentioned in other scenes, connecting all the stray threads to complete one whole masterpiece.
SkippingFullmetal Alchemistshould be seen as a debunked myth in the anime sphere since the series still has so much to offer to fans wanting to invest in the franchise.While not perfect, it tells the story of Alphonse and Edward to an almost painful, fulfilling degree. It’s heartbreaking just as much as it is hopeful.
WhereasBrotherhoodwas meant to tell a story of hope and perseverance,Fullmetal Alchemistconveyed a grim, realistic tale of how to get through tough times, even when everything fell apart. Its themes of family, coping with loss, and trauma still resonate so strongly to this day, creating an experience that should not be overlooked.
Fullmetal Alchemist
Cast
Fullmetal Alchemist follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric who, after a failed alchemical experiment, embark on a journey to find the Philosopher’s Stone in an effort to restore their bodies. Set in a world where alchemy is a widely practiced science, the series explores themes of sacrifice, brotherhood, and the consequences of seeking power.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric who use alchemy in a quest to restore their bodies after a failed transmutation. The series explores themes of sacrifice, the consequences of ambition, and the quest for truth in a richly developed world.
