Fullmetal Alchemist: Imperfect Classic In All Forms - Anime Alphabet
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Anime Alphabet series playlist: • Anime Alphabet
Fullmetal Alchemist has been one of the most acclaimed anime and manga series worldwide thrice-over in the last 20 years. I think every version of FMA deserves to be considered a classic.
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All music from FMA 2003 and FMA: Brotherhood
#animealphabet
Finally everyone who likes the 2003 version more is gathering in one place. They'll never be able to stop all 40 of us
May we protect it with our lives
I watched it back in July, so all 41 of us now!
We are 42 my brother!
43! I feel both are amazing it’s just that I love the concepts in the original more
Lmao-!
When I first saw the original Barry the Chopper episode as a 12-year-old, I was shaking out of fear. I had never been seen a cartoon with such a realistic, horrifying scene.
scar went against wrath because wrath was the one responsible for slaying his ppl. It is the answer to the conversation wrath had with the leader of the ishvalan ppl. He used his own 2 hands in order to strike wrath down. This is why wrath himself refers to devine intervation right before he dies.
Probably the most memorable fight in the show imo
@@beatrix1120 every battle with wrath is memorable. He is extremely relatable. He is the perfect embodiment of unstoppable rage through his motivation to get over anything. He demonstrates the positive quality of wrath, but he has a terrible goal, with. However he cannot see it since he lacks the sins that could make it clear to him. There is a reason greed was the only one who betrayed father. He was the embodiment of his father want to live a fulfilling life.
fmab is so masterfully written.
I think if I had to describe why Brotherhood and the Manga feel like they retain their appeal and resonance to me, I would say that it’s incredibly synergistic. Basically, even the ‘less essential’ parts or characters are made better, more nuanced, and more layered by what surrounds and encompasses them, making for a totality that feels basically endless. When you compare and contrast any character or idea in the story with another part of it, it says something wholly unique about its world and those who inhabit it. I think another thing too is that I just value the downtime more than you do. The sort of middle section that can be seen is plate spinning just makes the payoff feel that much more earned and satisfying, seeing as the vast majority of the time is spent with the best characters sprawling across the more interesting parts of the world. I don’t really mind that the actual plot from A to B is minimal because of the aforementioned synergy, as I think FMA is a hugely wholistic property that finds its best moments when it takes its time to elaborate upon and contrast these very well set up people and ideas, contextualizing everything within it so maximally that once the payoff hits, it hits with the impact that almost nothing else quite has because of how dramatically satisfying all the stories endings end up being. I think the ‘perfect’ version of it does kinda lie in between 2003 and Brotherhood, as the beginning of ‘03 feels more methodical, even if the streamlined approach of Brotherhood cuts a lot of the fat. I think the best version is probably the manga, but Brotherhood itself can’t quite be matched for me because the act of seeing it all in motion with a full audiovisual component just enhances the things that make Arakawa’s work so special. In that regard, I think that’s why myself and many others probably attach themselves to this universe so much. Even if I think ‘03 has a second half that’s largely so incoherent I get little out of it, FMA is a series that benefits by seeing and experiencing all three versions of it, because there’s so many distinct strengths and things to love about each. By the time you consume one of these, you’ll be itching to consume another, and in such, you understand the characters and story in new contexts and iterations that further endear you to basically every facet of it. It rewards you for watching and experiencing each by having some of the best moments in each, so in the center, the ‘perfect’ version of the story doesn’t quite exist, but instead exists almost externally in a nexus between all three. There’s a core to the story and themes that every version contains that feels like the ‘spirit’ or ‘soul’ of the story that I think is really what we all connect over, at least for me anyway.
Stellar work analyzing this. I’ve followed you for years and it’s awesome to see that you’re as incisive and thoughtful as you’ve ever been. Stay gold, Trixie
This is exactly how I feel about Hunter x Hunter's Manga, 1999 and 2011 adaptations, thanks for putting it to words for me.
I really appreciated the little mini-interview sections, I feel like it adds a lot to this series. Since you're often trying to tackle the cultural impact of these shows at least as much as their actual content, it makes perfect sense to ask people and the impact of the show on them. I'm sure it won't be easy to replicate this for every show you cover in this series, but it would be cool to include it whenever possible.
resume of every video about fullmetal filler and brotherhood: "brotherhood is good but 2003 is kinda better"
All my favorite parts of FMA are exclusive to the 2003 anime. Guess I'm just an edgelord
Nah u ain't alone 03 is goated 🔥🤝🔥
40:28 through out 03 Ed continually presents and clutches to the idea that equivalent exchange is an absolute truth of the world. Something that kind of seems to be more or less the case in mangahood with it largely being there exemplified through events time and again to reflect Arakawa’s family mantra “you don’t work you don’t eat” which she used as the base of the concept for equivalent exchange and much of the theming in the manga. 2003 criticizes this by likening it to the just word fallacy, in 2003’s theme that there is no singular all encompassing truth or at least not one we can understand but that in spite of that it is better to try and move forwards than submit to nihilism. Where even if what you get isn’t fair or what you expected your efforts will get you something even if it’s not what you initially wanted.
It also ties into the overarching theme of both stories of never turning away from the truth as this version focuses on an Ed who runs away from and struggles to accept the truth (most notably the truth of equivalent exchange) where the truth inevitably catches up leaving Ed worse off for not facing it, while mangahood shows an Ed who faces his ignorance (albeit not about equivalent exchange in that version) and is rewarded in doing so.
So this muddling of grounds between world philosophy and alchemy mechanics was always present and characters do so in both versions long before Dante uses life examples to break apart the notion that it can be used as a philosophical truth of the world.
U ARE SPITTING MY GUY STRAIGHT FACTS TELL EM
@@mr.l3938 oh hey, I keep seeing you on so many videos discussing FMA, have you checked out Latemlluf’s channel, specifically her video breaking down Ed’s journey in 2003? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it, I think you’d really enjoy it.
@@haosmagnaingram6992 yeah I already did ages ago I loved every second of it but in her new vid I disagree on here when she said" the gate was rushed" but we talked and we good now I still disagree but it's okay
It was super interesting to hear your perspective on FMA 2003 change so much since you gave it a 5 a few years back.
One of my favorite things about 03 FMA is how it takes its established origin of the homunculi and explores it in all manner of different ways. Lust coming from the grief over a dead lover, Sloth from a dead parent, Wrath from a dead child, and Envy from a dead brother (kinda). It not only establishes these kinds of relationships to its central characters, but it explores all of them in interesting ways. Scar's feelings towards his former crush/sister-in-law, Izumi's towards her child, the Elrics' towards their mother, and Envy's towards his father and brothers. That last one is such a good reveal to save for basically the end of the series, as it's a retroactive twist that reframes all of the interactions he's had with the Elrics throughout the entire show in a really interesting way that becomes more apparent on a rewatch.
I think the 03 series is underrated. I don’t think making changes in an adaptation is bad and can enhance a story. The idea of homunculus’ being failed transmutations rather than parts of father is a way more interesting concept. In fact I think most anime’s being one to one adaptations of their sources is kinda boring (not that it doesn’t work in all cases but it shows a fear of taking risks)
Edit: also both FMA’s have phenomenal dubs and Is something you should show dub haters
Also another reason I like the show is Because I can relate to both Ed and Al as the middle child of 3 I know what it’s like to be an older and a younger brother. Although my brothers were also close in age but we never called each other bro or brother which is why it’s so weird to me that Al calls Ed brother all the time even though their only a year apart, like if there was a big age gap I’d get it but there’s not.
Totally agree 100%
I'm glad this video exists. I was getting tired of explaining to people why the 2003 FMA has a stronger start. I love that episode with the train. And teenage me loved that episode with Mirage.
Can't wait for your complete thoughts on Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It is one of my favorites.
now this is a video I would never have expected. i have been waiting so many years
2003 is the best version for me imo. Great video
Same🔥🤝🔥
ill always be glad my bestfriend basically forced me into watching fmab, it took some months of incessant bullying before i went down the rabbit hole and never came out
To be quite honest, I enjoyed (and from time to time still revisit) the original anime far more than any other version, and was quite fond of its bittersweet ending (particularly without the movie). In my eyes its mature tone and deeply personal drama always felt more powerful than the bombastic spectacle of brotherhood, and I wouldn't change the version of the homonculus we got to known in it for the world. Also, like many other shows at the time, I consumed FMA through the fantastic and much more professional latinamerican spanish dub, which helped hone the tone of the original even further away from your regular shonen.
I usually don't watch reviews of a series I'm also in the process of reviewing, but since I just recently finished watching Brotherhood after 2003, I've been incredibly curious as to how other people see the series and have experienced it - with my respect and enjoyment of you and your work, I feel like I have to watch this sooner than later.
Have you checked out lowart and Goat Jesus’ video’s on the topic (especially lowart’s Edward comparison video)
I also recommend checking out Aleczandxr videos on Brotherhood, Latemlluf’s video on 2003 Ed, and kevin nyaa’s video about the ending.
Both FMA's are goated imo so much thematic depth in it and beautiful life massages
Preaching as always 😤🔥🤝🔥
@@mr.l3938 🤝
I guess it's also good that I've only got 8 episodes left of LotGH to go until January :)
Auspicious timing!
>Lust's plan backfires.
You could say that, yes.
hey not-digi, been following you for like... idk it feels like a decade. this vid was sick. thanks
Great video! Loved seeing the differences between the original and Brotherhood. I feel like my enjoyment of Brotherhood is due to loving the characters from the original.
maybe this will finally help me decide which version I should experience first like that video Shaybs made about the slam dunk anime.
I think in my opinion you should watch the 2003 version First it has a way more stronger beginning it develops the main cast more and it has more darker and mature themes and messages that poses to the viewer sure the story isn't from the manga but the story we got is a deep character study on a flawed main protagonist trying to accept that the world is unfair but beautiful and then you can watch Brotherhood which is extremely different way more action-packed it develops the world and the side characters way more and poses its own interesting questions to say both of them are different but both of them are great and both endings are great watch Fullmetal in its entirety and have the full experience or you can just start with the manga and then this but it's ok
I agree with this
@@Trixiethegoldenwitch with my comment or this guy's comment? both comments are great tho ngl
@@mr.l3938 Maybe both.
@@Zen-sx5io yup same
not enough talk about how strong of a character ling and greed were
I feel like this series goes super under appreciated these days since a lot of people seem to write it off as “nothing special”, and calling it a “basic shonen”. I have no idea how anyone could think that considering how well structured, narratively dense, and consistent the story is. I always felt that this series stood out among other shonens as more mature, ambitious, and beautifully written. Even though I do disagree with a few of your points, thank you for highlighting the good stuff in all versions of the series because it reassures me that I’m not just losing my mind here. lol
Eh despite that he still gave it a 7 so he doesn't consider it to be all that great either just like most people nowadays. I don't know what caused it's reputation to change so much over the years. I remember even just like 5 years ago people were saying things like "i wouldn't even consider FMA a shounen, it feels like seinen" while nowadays i always hear things like "meh it's just good but not great, basic shounen executed well but nothing special". My guess would be that for it's time FMA was really really ahead of it's time for a shounen but now that shounen are catching up and things like AoT and chainsaw man came out which were even darker than FMA, people think it's not that different anymore. A shame really since i still think it's the best action/battle shounen of all time. No, AoT didn't surpass it for me neither chainsaw man or any other new shounen. Darker doesn't mean better written. Fma (both versions) had much better execution than those two, especially AoT which was a mess imo.
@@ab-hx2ii yeah I actually wrote that as I was watching and also just before he started roasting the show and gave it a 7 lol. And yeah, it's probably still the most well rounded and complete story I've seen from a shonen. The concept just doesn't look as unique as something like AoT or Chainsaw. AoT is pretty cool but nowhere near FMA for me either. But I freaking love Chainsaw Man lol. I probably like it a smidge more than FMAB for aesthetic reasons. But talking about the stories alone, Chainsaw Man is still really good (best shonen from the last 5-10 years imo, unless there's some other great one I haven't seen), but I don't have to think real hard to come to the conclusion that I think FMA has the better story. Especially since CSM isn't really even close to finishing yet.
@@ab-hx2ii FMA is darker than chainsaw man and aot atleast the 2003 adaptation
@@sprawlz6466 csm is awesome man i like the trio
@@justtheguywiththewavecheck6244 Yeah definitely can be argued. 2003 had a lot of fucked up moments. Episode 34 and 35 are still some that make me go like damn that's quite brutal for a shounen standard.
I feel like I’m going crazy in a world that seems to always prefer brotherhood. I liked it a lot! Certainly preferred the ending to 03 but 03 did so many things better that I feel gaslit by the rest of the fanbase that nobody really gives it any credit!!!
Nah u are not alone the ending of 03 series is goated in every since of the word you ate not alone there are many people who prefer 03 too dw I got u goat 🔥🤝🔥
Great video Trixie. You touched on just about everything I’d have to say about each version from an aesthetic and story telling perspective: loved it.
I will add the conversation one aspect of the series that made it so important to me personally. That idea or theme is the relation Ed has to alchemy under the lens of alchemy’s obvious parallel to science in the real world. Edward is portrayed as a prodigy in alchemy (something achieved best in the 2003 version). He’s able to get so far in life and become so powerful solely through his understanding and mastery of alchemy; however, fma consistently reminds us that mastery in alchemy is not all powerful nor can it fully explain all of conscious existence. In the end, Ed has to give up his use of alchemy in order to obtain the thing he cares about the most: getting his brothers body back. Each version achieves this in some way, though I like the straight forward approach to literally giving up alchemy that the manga and brotherhood employs.
This is the same tough lesson that must be learned in by a lot of kids like me who loved and where good at math and science. I grew up obsessed with science and the power it gave me to understand the world. And trust me, our society is not shy at praising you when display prowess in these fields. This show planted the seeds in me that I must remember and be humbled by the limits science possesses to fix problems or explain our world. This is a lesson I have always appreciated even know as I pursue a PhD in physics. Many people in this field still have a god like view of science. More pieces of media need to remind these people of sciences limits, though many of them fail to recognize that science does have tremendous value and is a great tool. FMA is the best piece of media that I have seen be able to portray that nuanced take on science.
I looove this back and forth! I love '03 even more now, i think!
This has criminally low views, great vid
I've bee waiting for this for a while now
FINALLY lets go Galactic Heroes great video
Most overrated shiii out....Gundam or gurren Lagan
I never watched the early episodes of Brotherhood. I didn't start watching it until it was already complete, so I just picked it up where it diverged from the original anime. If I ever rewatch it, it sounds like I should just watch the early episodes of the original again.
Trixie will never finish Gintama 😔
Wait for Anime Alphabet (Shounen)
@@Trixiethegoldenwitch And wait I shall.
Even so I prefer Brotherhood more, I still like the 2003 Version and respect the makers of it who did their own take on Fullmetal Alchemist's Ending because the manga wasn't finished at that time.
They didn't shit the bed with lazy and terrible writing like D&D with Game of Thrones TV-Show.
FACT 🔥🤝🔥
I’m pretty religious, and honestly a first episode where they make the protagonist agnostic, and the villain a religious charlatan wasn’t the best way to introduce the series to me. But this story really is the best, and I think all 3 adaptations enrich it.
Still not enough love for Sig Curtis...
What a shame...
I've probably rewatched Brotherhood 3 or so times and my memory of the original has faded up until the point where I completely forgot most of the differences from the original of which I had watched even earlier. Yet the original no longer feels like the original anymore only this fever dream that (I fear) is too unfamiliar to work on a potential revisit since I had already gained all the emotional meaning and depth I ever wanted from Brotherhood for the original to feel like anything but an imposter. So I'm glad this retrospective neatly summarizes the emotional, narrative, and technical differences in a way that's much easier to digest as an adult with little spare time on my hands than rewatching a 50-something episode old friend - the kind you haven't spoken to in over 10 years and can't muster up the courage to see if the magic is still there.
This was really cool.
You might be right about the closure thing at least when it comes to me I appreciate an end to a story even if it's good or bad
The notion that FMA is a 7/10 is refreshing :D
I do sort of agree. FMT really spoke to the younger me, but a full Zodiac's cycle worth of years later i struggle to really take all the philosophy and politics seriously (contrast with something like HxH, which seems to hit home every time). All in all, FMA was (and remains) very juvenile at heart.
There are so many cool videos on FMA on youtube:
"What is Truth? - Philosophy in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood"
"Eyes Convey Truth in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood"
"Fullmetal Alchemist Retrospective | A Series Made Fullmetal"
"Fullmetal Alchemist VS Brotherhood - The Complete Comparison"
How though? I would like to hear why you think it's juvenile and hard to take it's philosophy and politics seriously? This feels like usual pretentious HxH fanboy comment where they think their show is the peak of maturity while rest of shounen is just for babies, the kind who would unironically call it "soft seinen". FMA (either version) has more philosophy and politics than HxH. I am guessing you will say it is juvenile because at the end it ends with ed punching the bad guy while HxH is a "deconstruction" of shounen and it doesn't end like gon punching meruem which makes it more mature. While i can see someone thinking that specifically for chimera ant arc, rest of HxH isn't all that mature either and mostly plays it pretty straightforward, it's just that it ends in an anticlimactic maner every time so people think it is somehow a "subversion". Yorknew arc's ending didn't subvert anything it just didn't resolve the conflict because togashi had things in mind to do with the phantom troupe and hisoka. And let's not pretend like alluka wasn't complete bs and an asspull. That doesn't sound like a subversion very much to me. If it really was it would have killed gon and change the main characters or something in GoT fashion. Instead it played the tropes straight. Don't get me wrong HxH is good but it is very much a shounen it just executes those tropes really well or occasionally does something unique with them, not subverting them. Why is that myth even a thing i never understood. In fact while you may say that HxH is more "mature" and "realistic" than FMAB/manga i would argue FMA 03 is more mature than HxH. That is a show that doesn't actually feel much like a shounen to me unlike HxH which is still very much a shounen.
Eh, I feel like HxH was even more juvenile in its own sense tbh. FMAB definitely has a shoneny presentation style, which is to be expected since it’s a shonen. But all the themes are very mature and it they’re explored with good pacing and appropriate tone.
HxH is excessively edgy whenever it tries to “subvert” shonen tropes. It plays along with tropes for a while, then something unexpected will happen. And that unexpectedness is usually exaggerated by making the moment of subversion as dark and gritty as possible. Take Kurapika killing Uvo for instance. We spend like 10 episodes with the phantom troupe during the “tropey” stage, and nothing special happens in order to lure you into a false sense of security and make you think the phantom troupe are just following traditional shonen villain patterns. Then Kurapika gets his 1v1 with Uvo and here’s where Togashi detours from the typical shonen: instead of a long close fight,Kurapika completely destroys Uvo and it’s not even close. He’s even depicted in a way that makes him seem somewhat villainous because of the gore and unsettling images. So we just spent 10 whole episodes of cliches building to this one moment so that the moment could be somewhat surprising. What exactly is the point of this subversion? How would the narrative have been any worse had we simply started off the arc non-traditionally? How does a subversion add anything special here? The only thing I can think of is shock value. The reader or watcher didn’t expect it and Togashi exaggerated it with edginess to make the one moment more memorable. That would be fine, had he not sacrificed 10 episodes of story that could’ve been used for more purpose. After this moment, you can basically forget about everything leading up to it because it doesn’t matter. Togashi basically just did this because he wanted to prove that he wasn’t like the other girls. That’s the opposite of what I would call mature.
The funny part is that the 1999 anime realized how pointless many of the plot developments were leading up to the one scene and they changed it slightly. They started that arc with a super dark and uneasy tone to already hint to the watcher that it wasn’t generic. They also added a handful of their own filler scenes that added a lot of depth and nuance to the characters, as well as the story in general. So I’m clearly not the only one who thinks Togashi overdid it. lol
@@sprawlz6466 That scene you are talking about isn't even a subverison though. Am i the only one who thinks aside from a few moments in chimera ant arc there is nothing subversive about HxH? I feel like this "subversion" or "deconstruction" myth was made up for hyping HxH up and make it sound like it is not like your average shounen by the fans. Just because it is not the most cliche shounen ever like fariy tail or something doesn't mean it's subversion. One of the main characters basically one shotting a villain and destroying them aren't even new to shounen. Even the anime which people would label as "generic shounen" has those kind of moments. One piece has bellamy vs luffy fight, fairy tail has... a lot of them (at least from what i remember) but for one example i would say the infamous last fight between natsu vs zeref though tbf that show was always ridicilous with it's OP main character and ofc FMAB has it's own one in the case of mustang vs envy.
@@ab-hx2ii "Evil gods are evil" is not an actual philosophy. The concept of "equivalent exchange" is massively underdeveloped and is not really seen through. The politics of the show boil down basically to manipulation of the masses and "military industrial complex bad". There isn't any real political drama to speak of (which, in turn, leaves hanging the portrayed tragedies of war and genocide). The series also doesn't really offer any actual solutions to the questions it poses. Or rather, as you correctly pointed out, the only solution it offers is "band together and punch the demiurge".
I don't think HxH is subversive of anything whatsoever, so i'm not sure whose strawman you are attacking here.
I see ed and i click
Even if you're retired now, just know you the GOAT. The way you articulate yourself is always welcome, and in another life I hope to hear more from ya.
Extra credit for the chat: Is there anyway for us to stitch FMA+FMAB together with internal logic still (mostly) intact?
Lastly, I would say that I feel FMAB is still an essential watch because I viewed it as a pretty blatant critique of western patriarchy and thought. Like Ed's first and final challenge to help his brother is solved not with expansive understanding of alchemy, but with the understanding that not every problem can be solved with "knowledge". He sacrifices traditional power for brotherhood. An that gotta be the realist gang shit in anime.
PS. first half of FMA is peak. (skip ep 4)
There is no real way to properly stitch together the two shows. From the onset 03 already starts doing its own thing and establishing its own hooks and plot points. Attempts to hybridize the two cause issues with characters taking large jumps in ages, plot points and hooks being dropped entirely, and other plot incongruencies, not to mention dramatically harms characterization/character journeys as well as undercuts the theming both in the show’s as standalones and in the way they thematically interact as a collective.
@@haosmagnaingram6992 well that's why I said mostly, while I think you're probably right I still wonder if there is something that could be done.
For instance I watched the first 7 eps (skipping 4) of FMA, stopping at the 20 minute mark. Then from there start FMAB at ep 5, it seems pretty coherent to me. Even considering the age difference.
When I said stitch, I didn't mean them both in whole.
My only complaint about FMA as a whole is that Ed should have stayed a short king
Great video! I loved the additional interviews with Hope and the con-goers. it really shows how special the franchise is to alot of people. 03 will always be my favourite. might be because it was my gateway. it really set a tone that was unique especially at the time i first caught it on tv. I was a young kid at the time so stuff like GitS and Deathnote seemed kinda scary to me. Because fma centered around characters who were younger but being in a very mature setting, along with the cheery yet somber mood of it, it was my first exposure to darker anime in a way that was still accessible. Also I remember randomly catching the second last episode on tv where Ed got stabbed by Envy and died and that blew my mind as a kid. Though the most memorable part of 03 for me was the brothers confronting Sloth and everything involving Wrath who was my favourite character at the time.While Brotherhood strayed away from alot of the things i liked about 03, I really appreciated the bombastic approach and expanded worldbuilding with father as well as the alcehestry stuff. One of my favourite parts of BH was when they put the alchemy and alchehestry circles together. I think grandiosity and worldliness of BH really helped make it feel like the penultimate ending to the franchise. As someone whos only watched the two anime, I like to think of 03 as an exploration of the darker aspects and BH as the hopeful alternate path
I've always loved Brotherhood and have sat through it multiple times all the way through simply to show it to other people, because a. I consider it to be the best "gateway anime" of all time, and b. because its twists were so well thought out, and tied up so neatly at the end. I never got the sense that the middle parts were just going through the motions, because the threat had been established on such a large scale, that it would take a massive amount of effort and coordination to stop it, and every step on the way was exciting. The twists were so mind blowing to me at 12 years old that it's basically influenced every comic I've ever tried to write since then, and the massive government-wide conspiracy that would eventually reach cosmic levels probably had a lot to do with why I was drawn to Neon Genesis Evangelion later (now that I think about it, was FMA influenced by NGE in that way? Seems possible)
Aleczandxr and Foxcade made a lot of cool youtube content on FMA
I disagree with some points in foxcade's video but yeah Alec's were goated
If you want some more FMA content I’d recommend Goat Jesus and Lowart’s
@@haosmagnaingram6992 I know Lowarts. Did you see the content by Kato and Under the scope?
What was the exact date this video came out?
Brotherhood hastens or downright skips the beginning part of the manga which sets up the whole world. Some scenes are downright throden to comedy relief. This shrinkage makes it so BroHo can be considered an actual infeior adaptation, especially since the compositing and pacing of 2003 made every scene more intense, as well as the soundtrack being far more memorable and tied to its major themes. Not to mention than Brotherhood is faithful to a fault, adapting even small comedy panels to the totality of the screen, which shoul show a lack of understanding between the strenghts of both mediums. The biggest problem is, though Brotherhood is by far the better action show, which makes you want to watch an episode after another, is that the themes of FMA drive themselves to more fit a seinen than a battle shonen. In Brotherhood, the tremendous weight of the Philosopher Stone gets reduced to an anime power up, the Homunculus are often generic one-of villains that are simply made to inform their namesake instead of their namesake informing something deeper (like them being the product of human transmutation, given personalites and growth as in the 2003 anime), and all of the build up in the finale gets blue balled through some of the worst creative decisions, pacing, tone-shifts, and convenient plot induced stupidity to resolve all problems at once (like Edward getting his malnurished original arm back to somehow get yet another anime power-up to further beat up Father who was already not a threat at that point, or ROy sacrificing his eyes only to get them back to what feels minutes after, or Kimbley living inside Pride because he is so fucked-up-in-the-head that he can live amidst a bunch of tortured souls, coming out of nowhere, and much more, you get the idea). Other than Hohenheim, not really worth it for an ending where the characters go happy ever after with children who look like themselves (Digimon 02, Naruto, and many others use this cliché).
It doesn't make sense to watch Brotherhood without watching 2003, because a lot of the most important scenes that make the FMA world impactfull and memorable go by too fast, too simply or not at all. But it does make sense watching FMA 2003 without Brotherhood because it sets up the world perfectly, and even if you dislike the ending, it doesn't derrail into something so tonaly and thematically innapropriate.
Based
Based ngl I prefer more the 2003 version wayyyy more I believe that both versions are great different sure but that's what makes them intriguing but I do agree somewhat with ur take 🤝🤝
A lot of personal opinion disguised as fact.
Great video! There's something I would like to ask. You gave numerical ratings to 03 and Brotherhood, but you did not do so for the manga. Do you consider the manga to be a 7/10 like Brotherhood? I personally prefer the manga due to its art, pacing and portrayal of the Ishvalan civil war in volume 15.
Giving FM Brotherhood a 7/10 is simply wrong. It's a lot better than most anime, and easily revivials HxH.
You should check out Shaman King.
Hype
All three versions are great. Personally, I found the reaction of 03 Alphonse to meeting Barry again very weird. And it was so strange to turn one of the darkest villains of the series into a comedic character. I also never cared for Nina in any version (well, she was great in Fullmetal Alchemist abridged by arrogant dubs, but that's not canon. So expanding on Nina's time in the story wasn't good for me.
YES! Legend of the Galatic Heroes is next!
What’s the song called in 7:35
Thanks
Hey so question. I’ve recently finished FMA:B and I have the desire to start watching the 2003 version, is that a bad idea or should I? I know the pacing in FMA will be slower than what I’m attuned to but I don’t mind filler that much (I’ve watched several episodes of Sailor Moon filler). Should I or is it too late?
Go for it
@@Trixiethegoldenwitchokay! Thanks :)
YEET YEET WITCH thank youuuuuu
Beatrice had me till she started bsing about the Xing n Lust
Never watched legend of the galactic heroes but I'm sure it's popular with women who like yaoi ships
*WOO LotGH HYPE TRAIN*
But seriously, I really enjoyed this anime Alphabet and only haven't watched the other ones (aside from Digimon) because I haven't watched/finished the shows in question.
I think it's very interesting to note how, as our literacy in a medium increases, shows that once felt monumental and played a key part in shaping our understanding of things will eventually be boiled down to a few key aspects that "got to us". I have a pretty similar relationship as the one you described except that FMA's second half feels extra annoying to be just because of how cynical I feel the "it's connected to the real world" twist is to me -- and hold Brotherhood a bit higher because I do love a strong ensemble cast of supporting characters which is something the story has in spades, in both designs and writing.
??? FMA 03 SECOND HALF IS GOOD and it's not all depressing there are some funny comedy episodes in there and on top of that the plot twist at the end makes complete sense it is literally an embodiment of the core messages of the series and Edward growth
awesome video, you keep surpasing the last video everytime, i really liked more the dramatic moments in the first series, i think in the case of nina and other moments the first show lingers a little more and let you feel the sadness and anger of ed and al a little bit better than the second series.
At the 15 minute mark i disagree. Brotherhood you could say told the best part of the first while FMA 2003 told a better story in the latter half.
i agree with your analysis but i disagree with the score. yes, a lot of things in the show are there just for the sake of being badass and dont add to the drama or themes, but the sheer quantity of badassery makes it a 10 for me
Hello I do not if you going to read this comment be I like to know if you like to be on my podcast NerdTalk talking about anything nerd based.
Legend of Galactic Heroes is next, i am hyped
How can FMAB be considered a classic if it's only a 7/10 in your opinion?
A classic is an extremely influential work, not necessarily a perfect one.
I don’t decide what is a classic
@@mnnm522 Yet the video doesn't explain how it was influential on the medium itself. I get that it had great reach for the anime fan base at the time, but how does that make it essential today
@@Trixiethegoldenwitch I think he meant it in the way of how do you personally believe it's worthy of the title of "classic"
@@muhammadbaig361 she said that it's sucsses paved the way for other second anime adaptations that are more faithful to the source material like David Pro's JoJo and Madhouse's HxH and was one of the first shows to get massively popular in the west upon release
After watching both FMA Brotherhood and a few months later FMA 2003. I still consider the first 1/3 of the story more solid in FMA B, because of the much better pacing, a lot better dialogue, more memorable sountrack, a lot better animation, more powerful and concise scenes and a lot more capable Ed, Al and Scar. I feel like FMA 2003 is way to slow and a bit boring, it feels like its 80% filler vs almost 0% filler on FMA B, even the first episode with the Freezing Alchemist is epic and fun to watch, it's like a wink to the end of story if you think about it. And the second part of original FMA is pure trash, story and character wise. I can't argue that FMA 2003 paved the way for the remake and without it it would be no Brotherhood. But now, in 2021 the first anime is not worth watching. Just watch FMA Brotherhood, which is a masterpiece 10/10, one of the best anime ever, with great characters, godlike story, awesome soundtrack and great animation (even for 2021) and one of the most wholesome and epic endings ever. You feel the 2 boys growing thought the series.
Not true sure 03 has a slower tone but it helps you get more accustomed to the characters and their development and it really is Anime original but it develops the main cast more and also the main antagonist and it has a way more stronger start and on top of that it also has more emotional and cohesive scene as well I'm sorry but that's cap and on top of that that is not true the Final Act Of 2003 is not trash it develops and foreshadows the ending quite well and wraps up a bunch of Great Character arcs the great way I have to heavily disagree with you there 03 had a great soundtrack as well another L u must take
Both versions are great neither are perfect but both are great and give u a full experience
Plus fmab has filler like the first filler episode and Skips a bunch of important stuff this straight just ain't true
Massive L
After 3 weeks go by that's still cap
Wow after 3 weeks I finally see that this is still a massive L
I wonder if any of your interviewees mentioned Father eating God as a stand out scene. I know the shot of a giant Cyclops screaming at the eclipse immediately impacted me personally.
Anyway, I'd say I prefer Brotherhood's brighter tone and overall tidier story to the original series. To bring up a particular example of something I liked in Brotherhood more than the 03 series, Barry the Chopper being taken seriously as a serial killer I think missed the joke that the manga was trying to tell. A serial killer would be a terrifying and traumatic threat to face in another setting, but in a world where people can basically do magic and where the main threats are unkillable monsters who have orchestrated genocide, and where one of the main heroes is alchemy progidy with metallic limbs and can hold his own, and the other is a walking suite of armour with no fear of being stabbed, poor Barry just can't keep up. No one cares about his crimes because they just have much bigger things to be concerned about. This isn't to disparage the obvious impact the classic series' Barry had, I'm just saying I prefer one approach over the other.
The first half of FMA 2003 will always be one of the best immersions I ever had the pleasure of watching. The slower pace, grittiness, and additional content that added to the characterizations were so emotionally gripping to my 11-year old mind at that time, I thought it the greatest piece of writing ever existed. To this day, I still hold the experience close to my heart.
40:28 the ending of 2003 is great its basically an embodiment of Edwards growth and also the core messages of the story besides it was foreshadowed in the beginning of every episode The Law of Euivalent Exchange being told to us yet throughout the journey it gets questioned and broken by big or small ways the big example is wrath and the ending attacks the very core of Edward character finally bringing this question into Ed want more a series that challenges and breaks Edwards morals and beliefs attacks the very core of his character by randomly showing him the reality of the world and it's supposed to be unexpected there was only a few instances it got foreshadowed like that flashback where Ed sees inside the gate for the first time and there's flashing images of real life pictures of World War 1 but here's the thing Edward is just as confused as all of us are think about it he is a character that wants to learn about this world using rules and logic what is a greater challenge to him by seeing the truth of alchemy being something he never could have expected by the end the series tells us that even if you work hard you might not get what you want in return or you will get it but not in the way you expected but you will always have something worth having and you can't just give up just because the world is cruel the world can be also beautiful and in whatever you believe in life is still worth living I think both versions are great the ending of 2003 is amazing and is up there with the ending of Brotherhood I completely disagree with you on everything you just said there
Yes.
Also one thing wrath didn't use the Philosopher's Stone Dante just sent him back to the gate and the gate took his leg and arm back the reason ed went back is that the real world version of him died his live was traded for his
Also the original parts are very good I'd give I an 8/10 at least I don't understand why u would give it a 6/10? The more you think about it the more makes sense thematically
Nice take, but ever heard of punctuation? I’m legit unclear on a few of your points
@@Never_Know_Best yeah but nah.
@@mr.l3938 it's just like gta definitive edition they think graphics is more important
When Ed says that he'll give up his alchemy, I had the exact same reaction as the truth/god thing. Just a big smile. I figured out what he would say about 5 seconds before he did it's maybe my favorite part
But Scar fighting Wrath is important for his character journey. While I dont like his journey in brotherhood, the point is that Scar has grown from the wrathful person he was in the beginning of the series. He has found some sort of middle ground between anger and forgiveness. Destruction and creation. Which is why he fights Bradley. Not only that, he gets to face the man who helped genocide his people. Again, I dont like Scars arc in FMA Brotherhood. I think it confuses fighting against systemic oppression and violence for classic vengeance. But, come on.
A new manga by Arakawa is coming out soon!
And for anyone who's Japan based, there's going to be an FMA exhibition in Tokyo starting in mid Dec, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its publication
A very pleasant retrospective on the series. I recall reading the 20th volume my cousin had left lying around when I was eleven. It was something I wasn't able to read or watch until many years later, but it ignited a spark of curiosity in me that led me to ravenously search for other anime and manga to read and watch.
I think an understated part of the series' appeal especially about 10/15 years ago was that it's cover art and character designs didn't flaunt the overt eroticism and aesthetic appeal that many other anime and manga did.
This made it easy to pick it up and start reading the series if (like I and so many others, even in the video) one lived in a situation of more conservative upbringing where a lot of the art in the anime/manga sphere would be harshly judged and condemned. Its a perfect series that (since it incorporates more western elements) elicits far less judgement, and makes you feel that it's safe to read it, while still satisfying that fascination and craving for anime that many of us had. I can certainly say that for me (discounting the series that I had seen as a kid but not known were anime), Fullmetal Alchemist was the first really big part of my journey into manga. Anyways, thanks Trixie! This series has been a joy to watch, and this episode brought back a lot of memories. Cheers!
So glad to hear someone else who also appreciated the early parts and tone of FMA03, most of the time people just tell me it blows, or that they skipped it, when I really think that anyone who likes the concept and world of FMA would probably really enjoy (most of) 03.
Also, there's some clinking/bonking or something at some points (like 35:42). It's kinda cute and reminds me of the old days of youtube, but with the actual video being really high quality.
Love you Trix
I agree with your points re Brotherhood, the only one I know. For me it has further meaning, as the show my daughter and I first truly bonded with. This made her an anime fan and a fan of Japanese pop and rock acts.
Alongside Evangelion, FMA (both versions) is the best anime I ever watched. Masterpiece.
I've always felt that the right way to watch this series is FMA (2003), Conquer of Shambhalla, and then Brotherhood.
Especially since the first OP of Brotherhood is named "Again" by Yui clearly as a nod to how its coming back again.
I remember a Pinterest post pointing out that those words may have been from Truth, saying that after the dissatisfactory ending of the First Anime and Trying "Again".
For me, the most memorable part of Brotherhood was episode 2. FMAB has a lot of memorable pieces but the failed transmutation from episode 2 was the one hook for me that got me engaged into FMA as a whole. I had already tried to get into the story by watching the first 4 dubbed episodes of the 2003 anime back when funimation had it listed on their channel but I just wasn't interested. FMAB ep 2 made feel like a catastrophic event. The music, the introduction of Truth, the insane nature that existed with alchemy and Edward scrambling as fast he could topped off by Vic Mignogna's top tier acting, I was hooked. I became an FMA fan. To this day, it is THE most influential anime for me as it completely reshaped me in some way, it was the anime that got me into wanting to work out for crying out loud.
The best way I can describe both anime adaptations is that FMAB is the perfect shonen, staying true to the themes and tone of the original manga while the 2003 is the more realistic, especially if you find yourself having it in pretty rough.
These anime alphabet videos are truly excellent writing, thinking and criticism
It was so wonderful hearing you talk for so long about one of the best anime of all time. Keep doing you Digi
Great vid. As thorough as always, interview cut scenes was a welcomed surprise. I'll be here all the way to Z :))
Thanks for talking about the Barry the Chopper FMA 03 filler because that was and remains on the the most impactful scenes for me in all of FMA.
GOD Fullmetal Alchemist is such a special series, probably one of my favorite pieces of media ever, if i’m being honest. Brotherhood, the manga, and 03 all bring their own things to the table, and even if i have a personal preference for the former two, i can’t deny the beauty and impact of the original animated series. Peak fiction, literal zenith of the medium 😫
Boosting this video with a comment because it actually gives '03 the respect it deserves instead of baselessly claiming that its worse for not being a faithful adaptation. Any time I bring up that I like '03 better than Brotherhood people on the internet act like I'm insane, and this greatly helps in allowing me to remember why I liked '03 better than Brotherhood without requiring a complete rewatch of both series like i did two years ago. Great essay.
Dw my guy I prefer 03 way more to and you're not alone I also do agree that it's as good as a I disagree with this guy in the end of 2003 but with everything I agree
Anotha banger
The original has a much more satisfying conclusion to the logic of the physics of the world of full metal alchemist. It was much more interesting to figure out how alchemy actually works in the original adaptation. IMO original will always be better regardless of the fact that it’s unfaithful to the books.
GOAT 🔥🤝🔥
HHHHHOOOOOOPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!
So good to see yah.
My only real problem with the FMA manga in my opinion is that Hiromu Arakawa doesn't seem to be very coherent with depicting a seamless flow of combat. When characters are fighting eachother Arakawa doesn't put in the panels to show how characters went from one position to another, they just sorta do one thing one panel and then something else in the next panel without showing how the characters got there. I think dragon ball perfected how fights can be telegraphed. You don't have to draw every inch of what a character does, but not doing enough makes it hard for me to fill in the blanks of how the fights are portrayed in-universe.
I mean, I don't disagree, but DB is has some of the best panels/framing in manga history. Toriyama is a master when it comes to that, and I can't think of single manga that comes even close.
@@pimentx3253 one punch man its pretty close imo
To me the worst part about fma 2003 is how it progressively loses coherency and it's thematic threads. The idea that homunculi can retain memories and even priorities of their original selves, even just partially, is like a slap in the face. The idea that there's a parallel universe where you can hang out with all your dead friends is too. Also I really wanted to see more of wrath. It feels a like they gave up on a satisfying arc for him at some point.
It blows my to this day how well written FMA is, like everytime I think about it or watch it I see something new or recognize connections in the story I hadn't noticed before, it's really masterful how well Arakawa managed to tie the core themes of the show into every single character and story beat.
Amazing video, love it so much.
Nice
47:20 jesus christ, you have no idea
is that a bit of a cop out using Japanese name to G for legends of the galactic heroes
I was only using Japanese names until accidentally forgetting to for F
@@Trixiethegoldenwitch nah all good your show your rules just found it hilarious when i picked up on it. But boi can't wait to see how this one turns out.
secondly are you also going to include all the tie in such as all the ova's and movies that happened before the mainline story of legend's of the galactic heroes started.
for me, 2003 is the way to go
i can't wait for hazel to do an fma video.
Arakawa actually gave her blessing to do so
Fuck yea
You're saying Ed does not use god's statue in Brotherhood while showing footage of him doing exactly that