100% Blind Fullmetal Alchemist Review: SHOCKING Beginnings (Part 1)
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- Опубліковано 13 кві 2023
- This is my 100% blind read through of Fullmetal Alchemist. I've never watched the anime or read the manga before so I figured now is the time to check out one of the most critically successful stories to come out of Japan in the last 20 years! Will Edward, Alphonse, Winry and the gang be able to unearth the mystery behind the philosopher's stone and restore their bodies? Only time will tell!
MUSIC USED:
Rush B - iKz
Kantou (FMA)
Again (Cover by Raon Lee)
Fate (FMA)
Lurking (FMAB)
Lapis Philosophorum (FMAB)
Pint-Sized Alchemist (FMA)
Brothers - Two Years After (FMA COS)
Fortify (FMA)
Harmony (FMA)
Main Theme / Interlude (FMAB)
Clash of Gods (DBS)
The First Crew (OP PW3)
Knives and Shadows (FMAB)
Protège Moi (Cover by Sandra Brook)
Amestris (FMA)
Requiem For The Brigadier General (FMAB)
Battle Scherzo (FMAB)
Blue Radiance (Radiant Historia)
The Great Secret Trial (GAA)
Logic & Trick (GAA)
Philosophum Omega (FMAB)
Mechanical Kingdom (Radiant Historia)
Melissa (Cover by Studio aLf)
(Audio at the end it's a tribute to Tyler_yj's AMV, "罪人の火傷")
Video edited by: Black Hayate
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PATREON: / totallynotmark
TWITTER: / totallynotmark - Розваги
If you wanna see more vids like this PLEASE I BEG YOU... gimme a kiss. Or alternatively Like and Sub. That would be cool too I guess.
😘😂
😘
Mark, there's something weird with the audio around the 7:40 mark
Okay 😘
Mark I am watching with earphones and your mic aduio is a bit to the left for some reason
The thing about Nina is... Edward and Alphonse never forget her. Up, until and including, the very last chapter, that little girl they failed to save still haunts them. It really speaks volumes to the kind of writing this story has.
03 makes her story so much more harsh. I mean shou tucker doesn't die, Nina's soul is forcefully brought back her own father destroyed her soul and body for greed it's so powerful
Its such a common thing in fiction to just have characters (sometimes even clearly) introduced just to die to motivate other characters and get the story going, but are immediately forgotten after the fact either because they “served” their purpose or to not bog down a story with downer vibes for too long
Its not a diss on this treatment, but I feel even general audiences are genre savy enough to spot the hands of the author when they’re so clearly at play.
So I feel it’s a shame how stories are constantly at an arms race for our attention and throw caution to the winbin and often begin with and explosion without knowing how to follow it up.
I get WHY it’s done, depending on things like budget, medium, time etc
But i feel using the trope of death in this way can sometimes make even non-genre savy audiences mentally check out from a story at times due to how clear it is that we’re not actually supposed to care about these characters
Namely; uncle Owen and alderann’s deaths in Star Wars a New hope.
Both Nina And maes Hughes death are more expertly woven to not only move the plot forward but remind us that life ironically continues after death and isn’t the end for anyone.
And generally how that grief can motivate and drive us mad and constantly be at the back of our minds, even on the good days, it’s subtle but it makes the death feel more real and feel like an actual thing that’s woven into the world and that the characters are going through.
Not just a thing that happened and was then discarded.
It ties BACK into themes of how life has value due to deaths culpability AND how people process grief and loss and how it can motivate us as well as lead us to destroy ourselves and others.
I actually talked about a similar topic about Steven universe the other day
But it’s still pretty rare how a mainstream story explores death like this
And similar to SU, the longer it went on, the more you really come to understand that EVERY action a character takes is motivated in some way as a response to the concept of death despite the show thematically being about life.
The difference is just that SU revolves around primarily one specific character death and what processing that can bring out of people
Why fma is more about the concept of death itself and what it can bring out of people and all their😊 forms.
So many characters in Full Metal Alchemist do this and I love it. Ed and Al are haunted by their failure regarding Nina, Roy is haunted by failing his best friend, many other military characters are haunted by their involvement in the Ishval Genocide...
@@theradionicrevival8068 this is why i am not a fan of the 2003 anime these days, because with its darker direction its so much more cavaliaer towards death. For example, while hughes death is a big deal...the 2003 anime jsut does nothing with it. The thing he died for is asuperfluous factoid rather than a key to the conspiracy and most notably of all Mustang NEVER faces Hughes' killer in the 2003 anime.
hell Dante murdered a woman and stole ehr body and the story really glances over that fact.
I still believe that this manga has the greatest "Indomitable Human Spirit" moment in all of manga. Ed really is and unstoppable force that gets to fight against an Immovable Object, and it's incredible.
Do you know how many chapters mark covers in the video
@@mohammedsuliman8072
Mark Usually does a Single Arc Per Video, Sometimes Splits them in Two Parts if the Content is Long or Heavy.
Or, if like One Piece Maybe Even Three.
@@Wesley-of-224 I'm pretty sure FMA doesn't have arcs and follows a pretty cohesive story
I'm asking to know on what chapter does Mark end the video
@@mohammedsuliman8072 roughly 28
@@mohammedsuliman8072 says it in the intro, ch 1-32
FMA is one of those manga whose story significantly benefited from being published monthly rather than weekly. It was painful at the time waiting month to month for each chapter, but the finished story was absolutely worth it.
@realauthority202 not really
most months are about 4 weeks
45 divided by 4 is 11.25
you have to write and draw less over a longer time frame
33:56 I am consistently impressed by how Mark can get _so close_ to the correct answer with his predictions and it's usually by accident.
Well he wasn't wrong about him being a father...
Its probably cause we don't ask those questions when watching but him as a youtubes he has to keep his audience interested and theorys is one of the methods
It's pretty obvious that the professional UA-camr and anime reviewer has watched the anime/saw major spoilers of the top rated anime of all time. He just makes this for entertainment
@@rizzouh Yeah probably, but let us roleplay.
@@rizzouh saying random characters is a main characters fathers as a joke isn't exactly out of left field, it's a pretty common troupe, though the let's be fair his editors have seen the shows and know what to keep in even if he doesn't
As a kid this was how I actually got introduced to amputees and prosthetics. I love that this world is filled with real and diverse characters all with diffent problems and solutions.
Same. I also like that it's not like some other Sci fi/fantasy stories where prosthetics are just flat out better than real limbs, to the point you wonder why everyone doesn't get them. We see his automail fail, and break, and it reminds you that this is something he needs to live even close to a normal life, and we know that it's painful for him in more ways than one
@@christiancasaverdepertica1802 I watched the show in middle school, but the show was so intricate in how auto mail works that I genuinely was convinced that it was a real thing that we already had in the world
@@christiancasaverdepertica1802 also yeah, those scenes where Ed’s digging in the rain and his metal is rusting his body makes me cringe from how brutal that sounds
To me that what makes damn near every character one’s favorite character. Everyone seems to have their own problems and struggles to overcome. Not only that but as mark is likely to talk about next video of not down the road everyone has their own beliefs and viewpoints, but they all get challenged at one point or another. Hell seeing the reactions to people confronting their problems or having their beliefs challenged is probably the best part about this ip, with one “example” being my favorite (hint: a lot of people would call him a sociopath). Ranting aside it all comes down to a simple fact, these most of these characters are made to be less of characters and more of people if that makes sense.
@@shootout-shinobi6672 Does the person's name start with a k or a p ;)?
The part where you talked about Ed and Al not having any clear way of reaching their goal and the hopelessness that feels very real whenever a lead is lost, that hit hard bro
for example:them realising they CAN"T use the philosopher's stone due to how its created and its very creation being immoral and WRONG.
This story was actually so good. I still can't get over how impressed i've been to this day.
Also, the English dub for brotherhood was hands down one of the best dubs i've ever watched.
I can't not associate the characters with the english voice actors
It still is to this day, for me.
@@raife9700 I can't associate the characters with the Japanese voice actors
I recommend reading into hermeticism and alchemy in real life. Mr mythos is a good UA-cam channel!
Brotherhood was absolute garbage compared to the first series, I don't care how accurate it was to the manga, the first one was better in every possible way
Oh my god I love that "At least you have two strong legs" quote. Because not only does it speak to Edward's character and the costs he's had to pay, it's an amazing piece of foreshadowing.
SPOILER ALERT
Much later in the series we learn that each person who conducts human transmutation and learns "The Truth" has to pay a price that is a poetic punishment for them.
Edward lost one of the legs he needs to stand on and his only family in Alphonse, Alphonse loses his body so he can never feel a warm embrace again, Izumi's body was damaged to the point of never being able to have children ever again, and Mustang having a clear vision on how to lead his country loses his sight so he can never see what his ambition results in
. AHHHH I love how well written this series is that these crumbs are being laid in the first few chapters. This is some Oda level set up!
I never made that connection with Mustang! I was just talking about my wife about how I didn't understand why it was his eye over another body part.
@Solarhooh1 Well technically his eyes are never taken. Just their sight and in the epilogue he is able to use a stone to get the sight back.
This is likely because unlike the others, Mustang didn't commit human transmutation willingly.
Also, Ed loses his arm binding Al's soul to the armor. I always saw that as the payment for "reaching in" and "Pulling him out". (Admittedly, I've never read the Manga just both the shows so I'm assuming it's the same in the Manga.)
Yeah, but in a strange way Truth ended up giving each person something they either wanted or needed.
Spolier Warning:
In reverse: Mustang got to see the dangers of human transmutation, something he would likely oppose alchemists from doing once he became Furher, and harden his determination to fullfil his goal; Izumi came across the orphaned Elric brothers who she would teach in the art of alchemy and grow to love as her own sons (essentially growing into the motherly role she would have taken had she not lost her child); Alphonse, and by extention his brother Edward. would form strong loving bonds with the friends they would make along the way, filling in the hole that was lost when Trisha died, and maturing into a responsible and capable young man; and Edward is humbled enough by his experiences to realize that he doesn't have to do everything on his own and can rely on his loved ones to help him, as well as realize that alchemy isn't everything (a fact proven in how he happily gives away his ability to perform alchemy to get his brother back, knowing he'll be fine due to the bonds he formed along the way).
@@Solarhooh1 As someone else mentioned, he didn’t lose his eyes, just his sight. Which is fitting because truth could have taken them. Fitting because he gained the ability to get them back. A lesser punishment. Which makes sense because mustang didn’t willingly commit human transmutation.
We are aware audio bug at 7:41, I've removed it in the YT editor but that takes hours to take effect. In the meantime thanks for bringing it to my attention and if you have no idea what I'm talking about, then don't worry your pretty little head about it!
How many chapters did you cover in this video Mark?
I want to know because I'm currently reading the series and I don't want to be spoiled
THIS STORY IS SCREWED UP
@@mohammedsuliman8072 1:21 in the bottom right it shows chapters 1-32
@@michaelhumm5369 thank you so much
I thought at first that I had opened the video in two separated tabs. Then I thought Mark just REALLY wanted to make sure people understood how he felt about the story, haha
We’ve all been waiting for this one. Fullmetal alchemist is legendary and I’m very excited to see how he feels about it
I won’t be surprised if Mark falls in love with this series. It’s EASILY one of the greatest ever
@@saiyan_og9678it ain't u just watched it when u were a kid so it's carried by nostalgia
@@avaneesh3118 Nope I not at all. I didn’t watch it til later down the line
It's so incredibly rare for a story to be told with such focus, such almost perfect pacing, such a incredible mix of drama, suspense, action and comedy. I adore everything about this story, it's world, and it's characters.
This has the best Dub I have ever heard. I grew up with it in my teens. Tried watching it subbed and it was good but then I had a friend who wanted to binge watch it over a weekend. Dubbed. And man, it is just so good. easily one of the best dubbed, if not the best. Heart breaking but beautiful story.
Still to this day it's the best anime dub I've heard. And I can't imagine Ed's voice as any other than Vic Mignogna. It was just perfect and the emotion behind every line just did it for me
I think AoT is my favorite dub. It has a few rough moments in S1 but overall it’s absolutely amazing.
Cowboy Bebop is one of the best dubs and probably what I consider the absolute best, but FMA is certainly top tier.
it's good but Erens voice annoys me
Seriously! The voices just fit so well into the characters
Your last statement of we can't create full appreciation for something until we lose it in exchange just hit me hard. This story of these kids always makes me tear up and how much i can relate to the want to have your parent back but nothing you can do will change that.
♥
the 2003 version of FMA's anime is soooooo underrated, yes brotherhood and the "canon" story is close to perfection, but 03 got a very nice charm to it and very cool exclusive characters
loved the video i can't wait for the next one
I'm currently rewatching 2003, somewhere around 1/3rd of it right now. I remembered many things about it but damn, some things really surprised me in a very positive way. The music always stood out in the 2003 while 2009 is great but... I still have the music from 2003 version in my head since first watch, while 2009 is less memorable.
I love how many of the key stories are longer, more in-depth in the 2003 version, the whole Nina thing was so much better in that version. Animation is also pretty good most of the time. And overall, I like the brothers' interactions more in 2003 version, I remember lots of things from the non-canon parts too, I think I'll love them. 2003 version was pretty damn dark sometimes. And I will never forget that ending. Oh well...
Watched the first version of the anime with my brother when we were kids. As an adult, holding a C-level position in a multi-million dollar company...I still think of Equivalent Exchange and what it means for my employees every time I make a choice, what it means for my customers both current and future, and what it means for my family. Every decision is contextualized within the FMA framework, and it's kinda nuts.
FMA is so goddamn special to me. I got into it during middle school and by the time I started high school I got caught up with the manga and started it monthly (sorry, said weekly by habbit). The day I graduated high school, FMA's final chapter dropped. I got up early, read the fan translation in my graudation robes and wept a little bit. It truly felt like my life was entering a new chapter in itself.... -snif-, sorry...
-snif-
This story affected me so much that even reading about how others feel about it makes me tear up a little
No matter how many years passes and how many anime they make nothing will stop this from being a classic
And one of the few anime with a really satisfying ending
You're in for a ride
I love both of em but I love the 03 ending over brotherhoods. It's just the note of it not ending on a happy ending showing life isn't fair no matter how hard you try, what you do and what your willing to give up u can't always win sometimes u won't get what u want and u wony get to be happy in the conventional sense you just have to find happiness where you can
@@snakeking211 I prefer the ending Where the character that has been struggling all their lives get their happy ending but not without losing anything in return , reenforcing the main theme of the story and showing to people old and young that the bad times never last if you endure and carry on , it's ok to have happy endings not everything need to be so dark and bitter to be deep and realistic q
yeah the ending is everything, learn from it GoT !
The ending is G.O.A.Ted.
@@snakeking211 I completely agree with you. The overall finale of 03 feels much more grounded and personal than the "Avengers level threat" that Brotherhood portrays. I really like that it's only Edward's fight. He has to do it all by himself. What makes it more realistic is the fact that he actually loses. I just love the way it's all portrayed.
For those who are interested in the origin story of the song Bratja/Brothers/Kyodai from FMA 2003
The music for FMA was recorded at the Mosfilm tone studio. Composer Michiru Oshima has worked with the Russian Orchestra. Tatiana Naumova, a russian researcher of Japanese culture and organizer of this joint venture, composed the Russian lyrics for the song "Brothers", which can be heard in the finale of the 3rd episode. It was performed by the choir "Vera"(Faith)
I want to make a clarification. The original author of the lyrics in Japanese was FMA 03 Director Seiji Mizushima. Naumova was the author equirhythmic translation into Russian. However, thanks to her contribution, this song sounds the way it sounds and we love it that way, so I think Tatiana Naumova can be considered a co-author.
From here you can ask a question-WHY if the original song which was written in Japanese, there was a need to translate the lyrics into Russian?
First, all the work on the symphonic part took place in Russia, so to record the song in Japanese, they would have to rent another Studio and hire other performers who speak Japanese after returning to Japan, which would take additional time and money, and this is not very desirable in media production. Secondly, there was a person who was fluent in two languages, who could help translate a song for Russian-speaking performers.
So this is one of those cases when the technical costs of production affected the creative part of the story, just as the fog in the original Blade Runner was primarily used to hide a limited set design, but created an iconic image of the movie
Thank you for this explanation!
Brotherhood is my go to anime when my depression hits its lowest. Always reminds me that despite everything being hard, seeming impossible, multiple things going on, or unsure of the future. Just keep moving forward and don't give up.
I always felt like Ed was just a natural big brother. When you're the oldest brother you have to take the active role and be this leader even though you're maybe not cut out for it or even up for the challenge. Ed's natural short stature is played for laughs, but I also think that he's really putting on this brave front for most of the early episodes and the secret is that he's just as scared and as small as he looks. Al is the natural younger brother, supporting his big bro with empathy and emotional intelligence.
That's how I always read them as the oldest of four brothers, so maybe it's a little biased. Ha ha.
No definitly, the good relationships that al knows ed need him because he put upa front for him and really does hi best to support him, not only in fights. And is there because thats not eds regret, they really both support each other. . And both are scarred as hell.
*guess i'll put a spoiler alert here in case*
I loved how, in the manga, that Ed sleeps and eats for Al's share as well. Effectively keeping his real body at the gate alive
Literally obsessed over this series for almost its entire manga run. While the Brotherhood anime adaptation is wonderful, I really feel that this story is best enjoyed as a manga. Something about Arakawa’s pen is just unmistakable and irreplaceable, and captures the emotions of her characters in a way the anime just couldn’t for me.
2003’s anime adapted the early part of the story really well, and it’s kind of nice to see Square Enix take the then incomplete story in it’s own direction.
Looking forward to watching your review in full, Mark.
ר2
I dunno some moments in the anime were so epic animated like Ed promising to als soul, mustard burning lust, holenheims counter measure, just the entire fight with wrath
@@tenkenroo mustard burning Lust lol
100% agree, and I say this as someone who usually advocates for anime as being the superior medium when done well. But FMA is just so impeccably paced and so perfectly designed to WORK as a written story that all of the things that usually elevate a story (animation, voice acting, score) just serve to partially make up for what's lost in translation.
The FMA anime (both 2003 and Brotherhood) are VERY good (if overhyped; I've never agreed with the "Brotherhood is the best anime of all time opinion), but the manga is a genuine masterpiece.
The manga is still my favorite manga ever. The emotions, the stakes, the reveals, the underlying philosophy, all of it works for me and it even sticks the landing with a really good ending.
It's been a while since I finished FMA:B, but just thinking about Nina makes me shiver, and thinking about Hughes still makes me cry. That is some really good story there.
This franchise is so layered with philosophies of war, pain, love and sacrifice. It really engrosses you in an epic yet heartfelt and down-to-earth tale that shows you everything you wanted to see and everything you needed to see (even if you turned away from it). A beautiful piece of art that can take you on what I find to be the best of journeys.
I'm actually surprised Mark hasn't seen this series before.
That's completely mental
I haven't either actually. I've always been meaning to, but I just never got around to watching it.
@Sigz please do yourself the honour and watch it before finishing Marks final 2 videos on it. Trust me it's something you want to go into blind, and it's 100% worth the time.
@@michellamoureuxm I'll admit it's good.
But I do think people over hype it way too much.
@@arbetor12 the movie were mid at best. Stick to manga and brotherhood anime.
@@haroldnecmann7040 Deadass. The _Brotherhood_ movie was so boring.
I envy you. Wish I could encounter FMA for the first time again. Downloading the raw final episode of FMA 2003 at work within minutes of it released and watching it secretly. To this day, a glimpse of certain scenes or panels can still break my heart. Such a deep and dark yet positive story.
Just finished the manga for the first time, I also envy him
Nice review Mark, I'm glad you're enjoying FMA so far.
Did you know? King Brandley's real name is: Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke.
True story.
Mark, you are IN FOR IT, DUDE! I'm so hyped you get to experience this story! I cried at the beauty of it's ending, I know you will too 😁
Ron Mustang is one of my favorite anime characters ever. So much so, I think I started fantasizing that he had an equally cool brother named Roy. Silly me 🤪
God, I haven’t watched or read this story for a while. FMA and One Piece are my favorite manga of all time. I truly believe FMA is a story that can be enjoyed by everyone. I hope you’ll love it.
Also, I love how Arakawa shows the intelligence and observance of her characters through, at first, tiny scenes. Like the conversation between Mustang and Armstrong, but also how Hughes immediately realizes that his to be murderer isn’t Maria Ross purely because Envy forgot about her birthmark.
Likewise, FMA and One Piece’s stories are perfection to me. I’ve got FMA on my number 1 but One Piece will one day surpass it once Luffy finds Roger’s treasure.
From *Page 1* of this manga, I was hooked! The story of Edward and Alphonse Elric is equal parts tragic and hopeful. For years, this has been my favorite manga series. Many have come close, but Fullmetal Alchemist is one story that will forever remain my top pick. I’m looking forward to seeing how Mark’s reactions are to the rest of the series, because what is essentially in the first 33 or so chapters is only scratching the surface!
I love the manga and both anime adaptations. Glad you paid attention to both. 2003 adaptation doesn't always get the respect it deserves.
im glad you picked up on just how good the 2003 anime ost is. I think its one of the best scores for an anime ever, and to me there was much more "soul"/sorrow to it. The song "transient life" specifically stands out to me on that front. It just had this eerie, somber and dark vibe to it that i really loved. Which makes sense seeing as the 2003 anime is quite a bit darker thematically than brotherhood.
You should definitely teach a class on story analysis, and theory. The way you break down these stories is simply incredible and I feel like I’m learning so much with every video
Maybe one day!
@@TotallyNotMark why not now? Maybe don't make any promise like this again
You don’t know how cool it is that you’re starting with the manga. The grand majority of people start with Brotherhood, and a smaller percentage with 2003, but very few people start with the manga. You’re in a for a real treat and chose the best starting place. Enjoy!
I love both FMA and FMAB and I think you need to watch both in order to get the most out of the story. While it is technically “filler,” the extra content in the 2003 adaptation helps get you even more invested in the characters than both the manga and FMAB. That’s why whenever I rewatch the show, I always watch the first 25 episodes of FMA then watch FMAB from episode 11 onwards.
Huge, HUGE props to whoever had the idea of using Radiant Historia music in the vid!! Excellent tracks that fit in with and even mesh with the source material!!
Indeed! - Malos
This is one of my all time favorite animangas. I still struggle to this day as to what I like more, the anime or the manga 😂 It’s a classic in every right. Super excited to see Mark review it 🔥
While the anime's great i think a lot of the series doesn't translate as well to screen, the comedy actually made me laugh in the manga rather than feeling abrasive in the anime
@@kinoireI think Armstrong's comedic moments transitioned amazingly into the anime, but I agree with you on a lot of its other comedic moments
@@kinoire while I think that’s probably true, Brotherhood just did an abysmal job of adapting the humor parts anyway, especially in the first 15-ish episodes. I think the first section in general is much better in the manga, but the last 50 or so episodes are better in brotherhood. Overall I might prefer brotherhood by a smidge. Idk it’s tough
Not a single show, movie, book or cartoon as touched my soul as much as FMA, and I truly believe it will stay that way for a very very long time (oh, and Alphonse is my favorite anime character overall as well)
I highly suggest the english version. The voice acting is insanely good in it.
Recently finished Full Metal Alchemist and Brotherhood myself after hearing Gigguk say he hadn’t seen it yet. I don’t think it was readily available in the uk so I never heard anything about it til I was older. After finishing it all, I can firmly believe that it is truly worth anyone’s time!
It surprised me when Gigguk said that, but I think you're right in that it isn't as readily available in the UK as it once was. I haven't seen the manga around for a very long time. Streaming sites and places that used to have both anime series in the UK have all since pulled them. Physical media of the 2003 series is rare and pricey, but Brotherhood can still be found around. No matter how its consumed, FMA is definitely worth the time!
I'm surprised as well, I'm from the UK and bought every volume in a Waterstones lol. Though that was like 10 years ago or more. Had no idea it had become so hard to get hold of, is a shame it is a story I feel anyone can read and enjoy.
Aw man this is such a great one. I'm just sad Mark isn't gonna be able to listen to the English VA's amazing performance of Roy Mustang
Wendy Powell’s Envy alone is worth watching the series.
@@CharenZard literally everyone in the dub kills it
By that I mean it’s fantastic
"Greed is an infectious personality" well, that's certainly an appropriate choice of words
A great aspect of this story that I really like and is a personal favorite story trope of mine is how the the two brothers-Edward specifically-has to mature so fast yet it's done in a believable way. Remember, the two of them were kids when the incident happened and then were still in their teens during the course of the story yet they act and responded in a arguably more mature way than even some adults in the series( with some exception here and there). It goes to show that will power and maturity don't necessarily comes from age but rather from one's own life experience and how they react to events happened to them.
The track Kyoudai from the first anime still makes me insta-cry. One of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard.
I know the Manga-ka grew up in the country and loves cows, but I still don't know why she draws herself as one! She's as Beautiful as she is brilliant for making Full Metal Alchemist the way it is! A fantastic series that always feels like a great adventure getting back into!!!❤
Well Togashi draws himself as a dog and Toriyama draws himself as a robot. Guess Manga authors really like making themselves cute, non human mascots
I mean, cows are cool and she grew up surrounded by them.
One of my favorite mangakas also draws herself as a cat with a pink mustache, I think they just like funny personas
Because she is udderly brilliant
I heard it’s generally preferred for Managaka to not show themselves in public too often. That’s why Oda likes to draw himself as a fish head, or Horikoshi often wears a mask, and sunglasses, for photos.
it's been like 4 years since I've watched this show and the music even being played hits me. I am a huge sucker for music and this show nailed it. The moment you played it I just felt my heart wrench and I'm all for it.
Openings, endings, themes, it's all a masterpiece. I still cry everytime I hear Rain, and I'm a big sucker for Period
Thank you for talking about the music, it's such a vital part of the fullmetal alchemist experience to me. Brothers is one of my favourite pieces of music ever, it truly conveys the human element of the story as you discussed. I love how grand the Brotherhood score can be as well.
The overlapped voice around 7:40 is cracking me up. This story is SCREWWWWWED Up
This is the only anime/manga that I fully believe can contest with any 2-hour movie/play script. Everything ties together so perfectly as though the story isn't as long as it is.
What about Gunbuster?
uhh... *any* movie script? all of them? every single one?
I'm sorry but there's no way there isn't at least one two-hour movie with the writing level of Twilight out there.
@@HOLDENPOPE I think you missed what I meant
FMA is one of those stories that has you feel so relieved for the protagonists by the end of it. They really earned their happy ending and it only gets better the more you go back and revisit it.
So glad you've gotten around to this. Fullmetal Alchemist was so formative for me, it's the first anime I ever watched, and the first manga I ever read. It's a truly special story and one of, if not my favorite pieces of media ever made. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have, Mark.
This anime/manga will hold a special place in my memories as one of the first manga I ever read/watched that made me feel like anime/cartoons could hold up against more ‘serious’/‘mature’ media. If anybody asks me for a starter manga or anime, FMA is my go to rec and I’m so excited to relive this series through your perspective!
I really hope that this also means Mark gets around to watching the original 2003 version. It’s a little more underrated, but it’s my favorite anime of all time, and even though watching Brotherhood first might mess with the pacing it really is worth a watch.
I've always advocated for a "machete order" of watching the first 12 or so episodes of 2003 then switching to Brotherhood as the second best way to experience FMA (afte rthe manga). The 2003 anime is just paced so much better in the early material.
I admit that the 2003 adaptation really loses the plot in second half, even damages a lot of character arcs but I can't help loving it. The darker art direction, the somber music, the audacity that the studio had to write their own story- there's something truly beautiful about it and it deserves a watch. I think Brotherhood has the superior final arc, world building and character development but it doesn't make 2003 any less of an absolute classic.
The way he talks about the OST and animation of both anime implies that he is watching both, but for now is only talking about the story from the manga. He might have a separate segment for the 2003 anime during one of his future videos covering the series. Or maybe an entire video devoted to it.
Don’t watch the live action movies there awful.
I always felt it was a shame that people pass up the 2003 version, yes overall Brotherhood is better, but 2003 is still fantastic and has its own direction that's worth watching. I try to get people to watch it before Brotherhood, since it can feel like a downgrade going from Brotherhood to 2003, but they see everyone else saying to go straight to Brotherhood and ignore my advice.
I hope that whenever you finish this manga and series you give some time to revisit a few times. This is my favorite series ever and I rewatch it because everytime i rewatch it i learn something new about it. A detail a missed, a new connection, how the characters are written. This is by far the best story ever told.
this story changed the way i think about the world, and i don’t say that lightly. it truly made me think so much more about life, loss, love, revenge, sacrifice, etc. it will never fail to make me feel every emotion under the sun. the pacing is beautiful with having a perfect mix of comedy so nothing feels unbearably heavy, but still acknowledging that the world these two kids are living in are *dark*
The dub of FMA:B is so good, I'm completely not used to hearing the Japanese VAs. I think every other anime I've watched has been the subbed version, but FMA:B is the one thing I watched dubbed.
Ikr? I’m also a sub watcher but FMA has the best dub ever, can’t believe mark missed out on it
@@bubbaloosh1341 It's either tied for the best or the second best. The Cowboy Bebop dub deserves all the praise it gets, too.
One thing I adore about this story is how effectively and efficiently the first 5 chapters introduce the characters, world, plot, tone and themes. I’m super excited to see your thoughts on the rest of the series, FMA stands out by setting up a bunch of stuff and then very effectively paying off that stuff in a reasonable amount of time with very satisfying answers. Great video!
When I heard the FMA "Brothers" motif 25:52 durring the talk about the music I legit started crying.
I love both series but I will agree that there's something absolutely heart wrenching and beautifully human about the soundtrack in the first series.
The first soundtrack must never be forgotten !
The track Brothers from 03 is genuinely one of the best osts I’ve ever heard
I don't know if they have Al's identity crisis in the manga, but if they do then I think you should have covered it. It's a great analyzation of the soul. Which is what the author seems to believe in and speak of via the story. I also believe that this story has a metaphysical element to this as well. Without a doubt, this story is one of the most philosophical I've seen
It's in the manga. There I feel it serves as an incredible showcase of Arakawa's ability to convey emotions in her illustrations.
As an aside, the live-action film series puts a pretty good spin on it by folding specific elements of Barry the Chopper into Tucker. (Which also means elements of Tucker's FMA03 characterization makes it into the film.)
Why in the hell wouldn't it be in the manga? It was covered in both anime.
@A-Button Ace Oh I don't know. Perhaps I didn't read the damn manga🤨
This is my favorite manga of all time. I’m glad you’re finally getting around to reading it. 👏
Man, that last part about the brothers and their lives and life in general. Oh man, That hit hard. I've never heard it put that way. I've watched some damn near amazing and perfect video essays on this story. But this intrepreations of the the brothers, it's like. It's something else. Mark, you truly are really talented and wise and good at your craft. Thank you for this video because this is something I needed. This story always is something that reminds of to keep pushing forward for the answers. Stay blessed and I can't wait for the next part! See you all there!
This is incredible! An absolute joy to watch. I haven't seen a review/analysis so detailed and well put in a long, long time. Thank you very much for your time and effort!
I still listen to Bratja and Dante theme to this day; it's sad that a lot people will never learn about these songs.
Bratja is my favorite theme in media, period, be it movies, anime, shows, it's a masterpiece, wish it was more well known
Brajta is amazing!!
Because everyone talks about Brotherhood and easily forget the '03 series. Brotherhood does follow closer to the manga even though '03 was definitely darker and had more deaths imo
7:47 woops, audio overlap. Little wrist slap to editor san there.
Still pretty amazing you're covering one of my favorite stories in all of anime, really excited to see you react to a certain "chinese inspired" character near the end point.
I'm excited you're diving into this story and looking forward to seeing your journey with it unfold!
I love that you are recounting your theories and analysis as you read with these videos. As someone who’s already ingested everything from this franchise, it’s fascinating to see what you extract about the characters from just the beginning
I absolutely adore the level of detail in your reviews and the focus on more than just the story and characters. Taking time to focus on the animators, directors, and musicians that work on the production is always really interesting, and something that feels pretty unique to your reviews!
I’m so glad to see you covering this series. It’s always been my favorite anime/mange because of nostalgic reasons but I feel it’s themes and ideas are still relevant and it all aged really well.
So glad to see you going over this Mark, been a fan for a while, keep up the good work and love your work.
YES! I've been waiting for this for a very long time. Enjoy the ride, Mark!
The mad lad actually did it. This is my favorite manga/anime by a mile. Excited for you to read the series!
One of the greatest series ever created. You got a legend on your hands.
YESS! I'm so stocked to watch this! I love FMA! And wanted this very moment to happen ever since I found out and loved what you do! Thank you so much! And I can't wait to enjoy this masterpiece of a video and story with you!
I'm so glad to see that you're FINALLY reviewing and reading what has been my favorite anime of all time since I finished FMAB 10 years ago. Can't wait to hear your thoughts when you're done.
This is my most favourite Anime and one of the best storys I have ever read and seen. I hope you enjoy it as much as me and others do. The moment I saw you upload the video I let everything else stay and took a break to see it. I have waited years for this and its finally happening.
I would agree with you about it being one of the best stories ever. A true classic
FMA keeps, to this day, bringing me to tears multiple times during the story. There aren't many stories or fictions for me to achieve that. Definitely one of the best manga I have ever read.
Love this series, and I love your analysis of these stories in general. Looking forward to the next episode
I am super glad you are getting to experience this story and hope you enjoy it all the way to the very end. This is one of the few manga I keep in its entirety on my Kindle and is the one I have reread the most.
This is perfect, I was just planning to watch this series for the first time. Now I can do it with this series as a companion.
Original anime by Bones is more grounded and does a way better job and tonal and thematic consistency.
The manga version is way too “shonen” like. The comedic tone is off putting and I don’t care for the exaggerated animation that follows it.
They also make the homonuli more interesting and give them more to do in the 2003 version. Rather then make them cardboard cutouts of the Seven deadly sins.The character of Dante has a better motivation than a guy simply wanting to be god too.
The 2003 version felt like an actual mystery, journey and story about two brothers.
The other one is a action packed shonen fighting show.
Highly recommend watching both. They are both really good.
Definitely watch both. They're both incredible and they complement each other so well. Brotherhood, while it does stand on it's own and you could watch it first, it seems to expect that you've seen the 2003 series. Some characters backstories aren't covered in Brotherhood, or they don't get enough screen time to make certain events as impactful as they could have been had they savored certain moments and interactions. Brotherhood abbreviates about 27 episodes of 2003 into about 12 episodes, so the start of Brotherhood moves really quickly and feels a bit rushed without the context of 2003. Also, if you watch 2003 first, make sure you watch the movie Conqueror of Shambala once you have finished the show. It's an epilogue to the 2003 series.
I suggest you watch both. But I hope you enjoy it.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE ITS MY FAVORITE SHOW. Thank you very much Mark :)
FMAB is my absolute favorite series of all time and has been for over a decade. It makes my heart so incredibly happy to hear someone’s take on it who has never experienced it before. Can’t wait for the next part. Thank you so much ❤
YES! FINALLY! Fullmetal is probably my favorite series ever. I’m so happy you’re reviewing it!
I am so, SO happy that you've decided to check out this series! And hilariously enough? I was actually in the middle of re-reading the series for the millionth time! I swear to god! This video came as a shock and I knew I had to see it as soon as I could! I honestly think this is my number 1 favorite manga in the world and I rarely think such things, or if I DO, then I struggle to say what is my "all time favorite" like my all time favorite video game or something.
I do hope you enjoy this one Mark. I think the praise this series has is more than deserving.
YES I'm so glad you're finally making it around to my favorite anime *aside from* Dragon Ball. Cheers, Mark - your videos always make my day a great one!
Damn. This video made me tear up, it revived some sweet memories and emotions I've felt when I've watched FMA:B. Keep it up, you'll love the story even more as you get into it.
So glad you’re hopping into this ride- for me, FMA was that childhood first anime that’s remained my favorite two decades after I finished reading the final chapter. I experienced FMA through its manga first as well, so there’s this cool sense of deja vu seeing these panels I’ve memorized being talked as the priority. Especially the first page of Vol 1- that’s been burned in my head as the ‘start’ of FMA and it’s cool seeing it discusses! Thank you for this chance to look back on my favorite manga- excited for the rest!
I love 03’s version of Nina. It went more in depth and I felt attached to the character
Not gonna lie, I was hoping you'd cover the voice performances; both original and English dubs as I don't think voice actors/directors don't get enough credit for their hard work.
Thank you for doing this blind review. It is gratifying to see you enjoy the same aspect that’s I enjoy about the series.
So happy that you're covering FMA. It was what got me into manga and anime as a whole, seeing as it was the first manga I ever read. I have a lot of love and nostalgia for it, and when I first realized just how well it was regarded in general I couldn't have been happier, even if some are tired of that appreciation because of how much it's pushed. To me, it's well and truly deserved (but I agree things can get tiring when people keep bringing up rankings), and it will forever hold a special place in my heart.
I’m so happy you finally started covering my favorite manga of all time, can’t wait to see what you think! I hope you will consider reviewing the 2003 anime as well since it is a completely original story that is just as good and worth discussing in its own right!
Agreed. In particular I think the themes of genocide are explored in a much stronger way in 2003 compared to the Manga/brotherhood. The latter still treats them with respect for sure, but I think it also pulls its punches in some respects, in a way the 2003 show actually doesn't.
Agreed, especially because to me both are masterpieces and I dare say 2003 does some stuff better because it focuses on different things, they are complementary and can coexist.
@@diogoarez9574 yeah I personally views the show as basically equal in quality. Where one show is a bit lacking or chooses not to expand as much is an area the other will excel in. Both are just fantastic and neither invalidates or outshines the other.
Oh boy, if this is how Mark handled this part, can't wait to see him tackle Made in Abyss some day
I love your breakdowns. You and your team are fantastic and I love knowing the "math" that goes into making all of the media you review! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the next chapters!
Amazing video as expected I started collecting manga because of your collection video it’s so fun
You never say this yet? Pretty cool man this one is one of the best. Coming from a never ending story like dragonball, this is definitely a palate cleanser. IM almost jealous that you haven't seen this yet because you get to experience this story for the first time. If you make it past chapter 5 without your soul dying, it only gets better. Nina is a part of the story i skip on repeat watch throughs. I like what this manga makes you think about. Looking forward to your journey into this world and all the subtleties.
I know this isn't your thing, but i hope you cover the 2003 adaptation. I feel like it's one of the very few anime original adaptations that still respects the source material while doing it's own thing. Heck, I'd argue it's actually *better* than its source material. But that's a story for another time
Agree, it's so so good, probably the best original anime content in the last 20 years
YES FINALLY!!! Freaking love FMA and you Blind reviews! Can't wait for next week's
Editor, love all the added texture and effects on the manga illustrations and the liquify effect on the Mark pngs plus the small bouncing between frames, that extra level of detail adds a lot to the quality of the video.