Izumi wanted her child back, so she lost the ability to have one. Mustang had a vision of a better world, so he lost the ability to see it. Alphonse wanted to feel his mothers warmth, so he lost the ability to feel anything. Edward wanted to stand on his own two feet and protect his family with his own two hands, so he loses an arm and a leg. Hohenheim wants his freedom, and becomes a prison for thousands of others. or something. The point is, each character that sees the gate/performs human transmutation loses something related to their desire.
Too bad you couldn't have dropped this yesterday. Father's day would have been a hilarious day to drop an FMA video. The entire spectrum of fathers exist in this show.
To me, FullMetal Alchemist is the closest any show has ever gotten to a perfect narrative. Great pacing, great characters, great story, great mystery, great action, great payoffs. Of course, everything is subjective and it isn’t quite my favorite show ever for reasons, but the stumbles it makes are so small and the story resonated with me in such a special way that I will never forget it.
The themes involved are handled so perfect and they just get stacked so heavily on top of each other. If you just watch it without really delving on that side of things then it is just a well told, action packed, manga/anime. But if you start analysing it even a little bit then you detect so much depth and nuance and the more you do the more you'll see. And some people will say, 'yeah but all fiction is like that.' Which is fair, but in FMA's case it is all so intentional and well thought out.
@@samninjago8216 FMA:B definitely has fast pacing in the earlier seasons but bad pacing??? What do you mean by bad pacing? If anything it's a miracle that it's as well paced as it is at all, despite being a relatively short shonen with only 64 episodes to juggle and conclude all of its relevant plot points.
@samninjago8216 Not really. It had bad pacing compared to 03 because you notice what was skipped. Watching it fresh or years after 03, the pacing isn't that bad. With only 2 exceptions - the train heist and mine scandal. The pacing is, for the most part, quite good.
Pride dies asking for help and being ignored by his Father, Wrath stalemates a man just as vengeful as he is, but he does get to die happy. Envy kills itself out of shame, and 1st Greed gets melted down to his most vital component and GreedLing makes a selfless sacrifice in an ironic twist.
Fun fact: As far as i can tell, the word "fullmetal" is used in exactly one other context: "fullmetal jacket" ammunition. Basically, this is a bullet design that allows faster muzzle velocity, minimal barrel transfer, and effective armor piercing. This is relevant here, because Ed constantly barrels forward, punching through whatever resistance he meets, leaving as little of himself behind as possible.
This is a misconception actually. The Japanese name for the series is "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi", which just means "Alchemist of Steel", and Ed's title more accurately translates to "steel alchemist" (or possibly "solid steel alchemist"), because Bradley notes during his examination that Ed has "nerves of steel" so he's making a sort of joke based on that as well as Ed's automail, an intentional double meaning. They just chose "Fullmetal" in the translations because I guess somebody decided it sounds cooler than "solid steel". Also "fullmetal" isn't a word, it's "full metal jacket" not "fullmetal jacket". It literally just means the bullet's core is encased in metal.
No, they chose it bc is the name of the trilogy: Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Jacket and Fullmetal Panic! I like each part but I kinda don't get where they were going.
That was kinda my thoughts when I was younger I mean not as fancy but when I hear full metal I think bullet and Edward is compact and mighty like a bullet
Fullmetal Alchemist is a perfect story. Not genre-redefining like Star Wars or Dragon Ball, but the way it is executed is so utterly perfect from start to finish. It has gripping and relatable characters the audience truly feels connected to, it's plot is rich with mystery and the twists and turns keep the audience engaged and eager throughout, and (most importantly) it pays off everything it sets up so satisfyingly. Most of all the happy ending feels earned without becoming too saccharin. The characters that die stay dead, and Ed can't use alchemy anymore as the cost of stopping Father. It is very happy and uplifting, but the cost of the adventure is still there. People say that Avatar TLA is the peak of modern fiction, that it is the standard-bearer for a perfectly told story. I think FMA deserves to be in that conversation too as an equal. FMA doesn't "deserve more love" (the actions its fans have taken on myanimelist show it has enough), but I think the manga deserves to be re-evaluated for just how good it actually is. Arakawa created a piece of art that did what so few other pieces of art fail to do (definitively at least): tell a story perfectly.
I said it on the original review, but I'll say it again: I prefer Brotherhood's slow-burn that is Hoenheim. They basically introduced everything around him without providing any actual answers about him directly. His mysterious travels, his hints about a long life, the wild confusion Father brought along... It wasn't until the Dwarf in the Flask backstory in Xerxes that we got any answers and it. Was. Incredible. The build up that eventually culminated in the answers to everything was perfect storytelling; even the pacing of the backstory itself was impressive because even while it was unfolding it still held things back until the very end. Who is this homunculus? Who is the slave? What story is it even telling? OH ONLY THE ENTIRE STORY OF FMA
It's preciously because of the execution of the mystery and structure of the narrative why Hohenheim is my favorite character in the manga and Brotherhood. We are introduced to him as this absent father that left his family when the boys were still young and because we primarily follow Ed and Al's perspective, we are getting a glimpse into two unreliable sources as to who their father is as a character. Edward, in particular, is far more resentful of even the mere mention of Hohenheim's existence because as far as he knew, his father abandoned them. It's easier for him to justify his anger and hurt towards Hohenheim if he was the flaky person Ed thought he was (which he unfortunately kind of is in the 2003 anime), but when the two reunite in chapter 85 (episode 47 of FMA Brotherhood) and Ed finally learns about Hohenheim's past with Father and tells him Trisha's final message, he's off-put by Hohenheim's reaction and backstory because it's clear to him that Hohenheim genuinely loved his wife and children, wanting to spend his life with them and to be able to live as a true mortal instead of outliving his wife and sons. With all of this new information about Hohenheim, I can only imagine the confusingly mixed emotions Ed has after finding out that the parent that left him and his family behind is a decent person who did it to end his curse and then later on try to stop Father and keep his family safe from harm.
Full metal alchemist was one of the first mangas that I ever read and it captivated me from start to finish. The characters, the story, the themes, the intrigue, it’s all very well written. I’m glad that I picked it up all those years ago when I was a high school sophomore
I like to imagine that, when Sloth finishes the country wide circle, the following exchange happens: "Hey, I'm just checking in if I can go and die now" *Cheerfully* "Nope! Get back to work slave!" "Okay..."
I may personally prefer Brotherhood, but I love the fact that you gave both series their flowers. If I didn't love 2003 I wouldn't have bothered to read the manga or watch Brotherhood
These type of full review videos are so terrific because half way through you have done such a good job convincing me this story is awesome that I turn it off to go watch the actual thing and I will come and watch this review when I’m done!
1:25:49 Hughes was in the room when Wrath does his big speech about human life being next to worthless. It's not unreasonable to assume he told Mustang about this (in fact Brotherhood directly implies that he does) and then Mustang told Hawkeye.
Ready steady, can't hold me back Ready steady, give me good luck Ready steady, never look back LET'S GET STARTED, READY STEADY GO!!! For real, this is still one of the best anime I've ever seen, not my first but one of the first that really informed me of what anime was truly capable of, and to this day Ed is one of my all-time favorite characters. Such a shame that the 2003 series has been completely deleted from the internet and Ed's English VA got himself blacklisted.
@@apple-cv2xj First: Vic Mignogna, Edward Elric's English VA (among many other roles he's done), turned out to be a predator and a bastard, so everyone he _was_ working with fired him. He then tried to sue Funimation, Monica Rial, and Jamie Marchi, for defamation and he lost that case and every appeal. Speaking of Funimation: when Sony bought them and folded them into Crunchyroll, they failed to renew a number of licenses for Funi's older catalog. And since other streaming platforms, like Netflix, did the same, FMA 2003 is now almost impossible to find online. Strangely, I'm looking at CR right now: the FMA movie "Conqueror of Shamballa" is still up for some reason.
@@apple-cv2xj In 2019, Vic Mignogna (voice of Edward Elric) was the center of numerous sexual harassment allegations against fans at cons and some co-workers, resulting in him being fired from the projects he was working on like RWBY, the Persona series, and the Dragon Ball series. As for the 2003 FMA series, it has become a show that is extremely difficult to watch through legal options since it is not available on streaming sites like Crunchyroll or Netflix or Hulu and the DVDs/blu-ray release of the show are out of print.
I like brotherhood for having a happier ending. The 2003 FMA I appreciate the darker elements, even if it did go off the rails with its original ending.
Alchemy is the hardest, most well developed magic system in all fiction. Clearly defined limits, clearly defined variations, and all while leaving plenty of room for creativity within the rules. All exceptions to the rules come at great cost, so it's not truly an exception. (Edit): OMG I just realized that fma philosopher stones work the same way soul gems do in skyrim 😮😮😮
@@chesterstevens8870 okay? I’ll give you DND but Harry Potter it’s not a hard magic system with clearly defined rules. It’s very much a soft magic system. Things are used more conveniently then consistently especially story wise.
@@averlinbc5680No, they're implying OP has consumed a very limited amount of media, to the point where FMA, HP and DnD are the only magic systems that OP knows.
I’ve only seen a few of your reviews so far, but I want you to know that your beautiful descriptions, takeaways, and general sense of wonder when reviewing the different series you’ve cover have really inspired a new love of literature in me. There were so many things I was watching at face value without a real appreciation for the depths of the story being told beneath the visuals. Thank you for making the content you make.
That thumbnail goes SO HARD that it makes me sort of sad this is a manga deep dive and not a 2003 one. But no matter what, both stories are rock solid. Fullmetal, even.
Oh I havent watched this review of yours in a while good that your editor is making these supercuts for future viewings like today send him a cookie mark he deserves it.
Just wanted to say your video made my week. I’m always glad to see another of your insightful video essays in my feed. So many feels and so many damn good points. The love you have for these series is clear and infectious. You’re doing a phenomenal job and deserve be proud of yourself 💪
I dunno if Mark reads the comments on here or not, but if he hasn't already, he needs to watch the bloopers from the Brotherhood dub. Pretty sure they're on youtube, and they're a riot.
FMA has been my absolute all time favourite anime for over a decade. I think Mark did such a good job articulating all the reasons I love it that I had trouble putting into words myself. The video even makes me think about some things with a new and exciting perspective. I stumbled upon this review by chance and could not have enjoyed it more. Very very well done! Thank you so much for your hard work!
Thanks Mark for this wonderful video. You and your team put a lot of effort into it, and I teared up at several parts as well. Remember not only to work hard like Edward did, but pace your self, like Al did.
I already watched all these when they originally came out, but I couldn't help but watch the whole thing again to hear your enthusiasm and discussion of one of the anime's I hold so dear. Its always good to revisit this anime, even if its in the form of watching others talk about it or watch it for the first time.
What sets Fullmetal Alchemist apart from most other series is just how seamlessly it can shift tone. It can ping-pong between comedy, action, drama, even romance, and every time it feels perfectly natural.
I have also viewed a TON of anime and Manga in my time. it's been an obsession for decades since watching DBZ on my big CRT TV back in the day. I've enjoyed some anime more than FMAB, for sure, but it is THE example of a perfect show. no pacing issues, concise power system, compelling villains and heroes, good humor, appalling horrifying moments, it has no flaws. and most importantly, when it ended, it ended. the story was over, we didn't get a half-baked sequel strung out for money. the story was done, so the Manga ended. perfect.
I absolutely LOVE how much time you devote to praising the animators for each adaption. Thank you for giving names to the artists who helped bring the story to motion!!
Finished BH a couple weeks back and all I have to say is I'm gay for Envy. Absolutely obssesed. The pale skin, purple eyes, psychotic smile, palm tree hair, crop topb, fingerless gloves, the man skirt, ITS PERFECT. I don't see enough people talking about how pretty they are. Oh yeah the show is pretty good too ig
I mean technically he covers the manga but uses footage from both. I don't remember if he talks about the 03 version but he talks about the live action films.
@@bearerofbadnews1375 yeah there were a few Homunculi I liked more in 2003 than brotherhood. Sloth, Gluttony and Lust I liked more in 2003. But I liked pride and wrath a lot more in brotherhood. Greed and Envy I liked in both equally
I almost enjoy watching videos like these more than the og content. Almost. But it’s just so much fun in a different way to see and b, even tangentially, along for the ride of someone else’s discovery of something I love. It’s just a pleasure to essentially sit and listen to someone 3h info dump and just nod along agreeing and getting excited about the epic moments all over again. I hope u never lose that fun💜💜
His theory for hohenheim would actually be pretty sick. Forcing Ed and Al to choose to save the world, or stop their father and thereby also ending the possibility of seeing their mother again.
You made my day Sir, even if i watched Full Metal Alchemist, and FMA: Brotherhood long time ago, still it was so good to watch ur point of view at this subcject. Good Job, as always. Greetings from Poland :)
To me personally, Full Metal Alchemist is one of the best stories out there. I doubt I'll ever find an anime I love as much as FMA Brotherhood. So, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CREATING AND POSTING THIS! ❤
hard work really is not such a bad thing after all - after all, i truly loved your review. i think this might be my favourite piece of analysis on full metal alchemist, and i am so thankful that you've written it. thank you!
I have Al's bloodseal tattooed on the top of my left hand, and the servant cross tattooed on my face in front of my ear. This manga/anime is the most perfect piece of entertainment that has ever existed, directly next to starwars and Dragon ball and marvel comics
Love the video! Too bad you didn't include the train station scene at the end, when Ed proposes to Winry. It is, to me, the true ending of the whole saga, as Winry easily throws the "equivalent exchange" principle out the window. Considering how the cold and calculating principle of "equivalent exchange" has revealed to us nothing but all kinds of dark corners in our own humanity, the way WInry brushes the idea off reminds us of a heart-warming yet simple fact, one we probably know all along: there's something in this world that doesn't require equivalent exchange, and that is what life is truly worth living for.
Love FMA soooooo much! It was my true gateway into anime back in 7th grade. I had watched DBZ, but never realized it was anime. FMA holds a VERY special place in my heart. I've always identified very closely with Ed and it was actually my first profile picture for facebook way back in 2009. Without giving it a chance, i never would've gotten addicted to Bleach, One Piece, My Hero, and SOOOOOO many others! A huge shoutout to Arikawa, who really changed my life!!!
“I think a large part of the story’s appeal comes from a tormented world being seen through the innocent and well meaning eyes and actions of two children” If “bravery from innocence” or the “a child’s courage that surpasses even the adults’” was a trope, it would be my favorite.
Just finished the 3rd watch at this masterpiece. Amazing work from you Mark and your team. FMA is my favourite anime all of time, and your analysis did justice to every single page/episode. Thanks a lot, and cheers! Regards from Mexico.
One if my favorite FMA takes ever is something I read on Tumblr. Goes something like this: "The reasons why Edward Isn’t a typical always cheery, bubbly, helpful, kind, shonen protagonist is because this story's that guy spends all of it trapped in a suit of armor".
The original anime adaptation is certainly worth a watch if you loved the manga; after around episode twenty it takes an entirely different - and well-written - route, with much darker and ambiguous tone. To name a contrast with out trying to spoil, the way that homunculi are created and destroyed in this adaptation varies drastically from the original manga, all the while being perfectly tied in to what the manga had from the point that it diverged from. In this adaptation, they also show how Edward became a state alchemist and the exam process, which is a really nice detail. And Nina gets more development.
Thank you for this. You reminded me what a beautiful story this really was and inspired me to take the story I'm writing in a new direction with your analysis.
I had your video on in the background and hearing you mention Shaman King totally caught me off guard! I love your videos and the way you dig into these series. I would love to see you cover Shaman King someday, it's a truly underrated series! Especially since you focus on the manga, which is by far where it shines
Bless you for appreciating the music of the '03 production. I really don't get the 'argument' of which series is better (they are both so so good) but since folks put down the first production I feel like it's nice to recognize the elements that made it great and worthy of praise :) yes I love all the FMA
I own the manga and have watched both the anime series multiple times. Fullmetal Alchemist and Evangelion (rebuild included after I saw the fourth entry) are by far my two most beloved series.
1:17:26 is my absolute favorite scene from any anime/manga - ever. The look in Edward's eyes is unforgettable and the meaning of the scene as it relates to the goal he and Al set from the start - so, so powerful. He knew it was attainable; it stopped being impossible. I'm legitimately getting emotional just writing this. I'm really considering getting this as a tattoo.
Gonna have to go check out your other videos, thanks for doing justice to this one! Also, the ending of brotherhood is why I loved it more, Arikawas vision for the story is so much more fulfilling that the original animes ending.
I started watching this video and remembered I only watched about 10 episodes of FMAB. So I stopped the video to start watching it again. I finally finished it today. I'm changed and just damn. It's my new favorite story.
Man one thing that I think is so sweet about Al is how selfless he is despite how much he’s lost. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like not being able to eat, sleep, breathe, blink(i think), feel pain. I think that would be pure torture for many of us yet he just seems to accept it and move forward. In a way making him one of the most mature characters in FMA.
Damn it, now I'm crying! This was really well done and I'm glad I watched it, even if it is almost 3 hours lol. Well done Mark and editors(sorry I don't know your names I'm new to the channel)! Greedling is my favourite character too.
They are one and Bradley knew it. Fullmetal and the alchemist. Individually, they're tropes. Put together, and they are closer to a full real human experience.
For someone joining your channel this year. I happy to see this masterpiece in its full lenght. It's so many years age I watched brotherhood and to this day one of my most favourite Anime.
I just finished Brotherhood and I’ve never watched anything like it. I’m giving it a solid 10/10 😁 the pacing was good and I didn’t feel the urge to skip to the next chapter. The 2 main characters very well thought out. I’d definitely recommend this 64-episode-journey
I’ve rewatched Brotherhood 4 times. Listening to this amazing review was akin to rewatching it all over again in my head. That was amazing man. Great job.
The only drawback from experiencing FMA is knowing that you'll never experience the best story told in anime. AoT came close but yeah nothing else has come close to this masterpiece
I've firmly believed I was the defacto Fullmetal scholar out there. It's been my favorite story of all time since 2003 first came into my life. It's the only manga I own completely. My dog's name was Alphonse, my cat's name was Colonel Mustang. I didn't think I could be taught anything new. But your section on the animators of both series is spectacular. I'm a huge fan of diving into the individual animators of stuff I watch these days, but it never occurred to me to go back and look up who did what on both series. I remember finding out recently that Yutaka did all those scenes in Bebop I loved, and when I found out about the Greed fight it all just made so much sense. But your ability to go through the rest of the animators and showcase their talents as well as you did is fucking humbling compared to what I do on my channel sometimes. I've been watching this video on and off over the course of the last week during a really shitty time and it's been absolutely magnificent getting to relive my favorite thing ever with someone who appreciates on the same level I do. I have 20 minutes left and I just wanted to write this as I finish the animators section before I forget. Thanks for such an amazing video, brother.
Izumi wanted her child back, so she lost the ability to have one.
Mustang had a vision of a better world, so he lost the ability to see it.
Alphonse wanted to feel his mothers warmth, so he lost the ability to feel anything.
Edward wanted to stand on his own two feet and protect his family with his own two hands, so he loses an arm and a leg.
Hohenheim wants his freedom, and becomes a prison for thousands of others.
or something. The point is, each character that sees the gate/performs human transmutation loses something related to their desire.
The Ed and Al ones are abit of a reach
@@AlmightyChastor Ed's maybe, but not by much. Hohenheim's is working backwards to make it's point.
@@AlmightyChastor it does sound like it but they're Pride's own words (at least on fmab. i don't remember fma '03 and i haven't read it yet)
Too bad you couldn't have dropped this yesterday. Father's day would have been a hilarious day to drop an FMA video. The entire spectrum of fathers exist in this show.
has plenty of daddys too
Roy Mustang 😩😩😩@@croweycroweycroweycr
Hearing Roy be called Ron Mustang sends me every time
Is it a meme or joke I'm unaware of? I hate it so much, why wouldn't he fix it for the reupload 😂
Literally triggering. 😂
@@DIYisntDead during the first part it was a mistake, then it was for fun and memes
It almost sounds like a porn star name 😂😂
Riiiight it's nails on a chalkboard. He has to know
To me, FullMetal Alchemist is the closest any show has ever gotten to a perfect narrative. Great pacing, great characters, great story, great mystery, great action, great payoffs. Of course, everything is subjective and it isn’t quite my favorite show ever for reasons, but the stumbles it makes are so small and the story resonated with me in such a special way that I will never forget it.
The themes involved are handled so perfect and they just get stacked so heavily on top of each other. If you just watch it without really delving on that side of things then it is just a well told, action packed, manga/anime. But if you start analysing it even a little bit then you detect so much depth and nuance and the more you do the more you'll see. And some people will say, 'yeah but all fiction is like that.' Which is fair, but in FMA's case it is all so intentional and well thought out.
And both versions are amazing and it's even better view them back to back
fmab has really bad pacing not sure if u mean fma or fmab but just saying
@@samninjago8216 FMA:B definitely has fast pacing in the earlier seasons but bad pacing??? What do you mean by bad pacing?
If anything it's a miracle that it's as well paced as it is at all, despite being a relatively short shonen with only 64 episodes to juggle and conclude all of its relevant plot points.
@samninjago8216 Not really.
It had bad pacing compared to 03 because you notice what was skipped. Watching it fresh or years after 03, the pacing isn't that bad. With only 2 exceptions - the train heist and mine scandal.
The pacing is, for the most part, quite good.
I always liked that every single homunculus dies from the deadly sin he represents.
Gluttony gets eaten, Sloth dies from exposition etc. Very clever.
And Lust dies cause Mustang is sexy?
@@Ash_Wen-li seems right
@@Ash_Wen-li Lust dies because she got too hot. Literally.
@@Ash_Wen-li Why do you think we call people "hot"? Lust if often associated with fire. "fiery passion", "flames of passion" etc.
Pride dies asking for help and being ignored by his Father, Wrath stalemates a man just as vengeful as he is, but he does get to die happy.
Envy kills itself out of shame, and 1st Greed gets melted down to his most vital component and GreedLing makes a selfless sacrifice in an ironic twist.
Bro casually dropped a movie
He shouldn't
YESSIR he did 🥤😁🍿
He dropped a god damn snider cut
Damn, what movies do you watch? Mine dont last longer than 90 minutes 😂
Casually? Nah
Fun fact: As far as i can tell, the word "fullmetal" is used in exactly one other context: "fullmetal jacket" ammunition. Basically, this is a bullet design that allows faster muzzle velocity, minimal barrel transfer, and effective armor piercing. This is relevant here, because Ed constantly barrels forward, punching through whatever resistance he meets, leaving as little of himself behind as possible.
Apparently, Arakawa specifically chose this as the English translation rather than the more direct "Alchemist of Steel" for this connotation
This is a misconception actually. The Japanese name for the series is "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi", which just means "Alchemist of Steel", and Ed's title more accurately translates to "steel alchemist" (or possibly "solid steel alchemist"), because Bradley notes during his examination that Ed has "nerves of steel" so he's making a sort of joke based on that as well as Ed's automail, an intentional double meaning.
They just chose "Fullmetal" in the translations because I guess somebody decided it sounds cooler than "solid steel". Also "fullmetal" isn't a word, it's "full metal jacket" not "fullmetal jacket". It literally just means the bullet's core is encased in metal.
No, they chose it bc is the name of the trilogy: Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Jacket and Fullmetal Panic!
I like each part but I kinda don't get where they were going.
I just finished fmab last week, easily the best piece of media I’ve ever seen in my entire life
That was kinda my thoughts when I was younger I mean not as fancy but when I hear full metal I think bullet and Edward is compact and mighty like a bullet
I've already seen this, I don't need to watch it again. (Watches it again anyway)
Same here 🎉
@@santiagocosta7408 same^^
Jajajajajajaja saaaaame 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Literally here again because I've watched all of his other videos. At least twice...
Fullmetal Alchemist.
...
Fullmetal Alchemist.
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
@@Rhyainnfullmetal alchemist
@@Ozpawn fullmetal alchemist
@@zaidalvi-r2lFullmetal Alchemist
*fullmetalalchemist*
.
.
.
_F U L L M E T A L A L C H E M I S T_
The og FMA anime was what turned me from someone who happened to watch a few anime into someone who loves anime
I still think it did some things better than Brotherhood
@@Boooozle I acctually think 2003 is the better anime. Its my favourite anime of all time
@@joelschittenhelm5571I feel the same way, like I wouldn’t argue it’s “objectively” better but I personally like 2003 way more
@@Boooozle Nice opinion bro.
@@joelschittenhelm5571 Nice opinion bro.
Fullmetal Alchemist is a perfect story. Not genre-redefining like Star Wars or Dragon Ball, but the way it is executed is so utterly perfect from start to finish. It has gripping and relatable characters the audience truly feels connected to, it's plot is rich with mystery and the twists and turns keep the audience engaged and eager throughout, and (most importantly) it pays off everything it sets up so satisfyingly. Most of all the happy ending feels earned without becoming too saccharin. The characters that die stay dead, and Ed can't use alchemy anymore as the cost of stopping Father. It is very happy and uplifting, but the cost of the adventure is still there.
People say that Avatar TLA is the peak of modern fiction, that it is the standard-bearer for a perfectly told story. I think FMA deserves to be in that conversation too as an equal. FMA doesn't "deserve more love" (the actions its fans have taken on myanimelist show it has enough), but I think the manga deserves to be re-evaluated for just how good it actually is. Arakawa created a piece of art that did what so few other pieces of art fail to do (definitively at least): tell a story perfectly.
"Greed...for lack of a better word, is good"
That asshole Reagan strikes again
Damn right he was.
I said it on the original review, but I'll say it again: I prefer Brotherhood's slow-burn that is Hoenheim. They basically introduced everything around him without providing any actual answers about him directly. His mysterious travels, his hints about a long life, the wild confusion Father brought along... It wasn't until the Dwarf in the Flask backstory in Xerxes that we got any answers and it. Was. Incredible. The build up that eventually culminated in the answers to everything was perfect storytelling; even the pacing of the backstory itself was impressive because even while it was unfolding it still held things back until the very end. Who is this homunculus? Who is the slave? What story is it even telling? OH ONLY THE ENTIRE STORY OF FMA
It's preciously because of the execution of the mystery and structure of the narrative why Hohenheim is my favorite character in the manga and Brotherhood. We are introduced to him as this absent father that left his family when the boys were still young and because we primarily follow Ed and Al's perspective, we are getting a glimpse into two unreliable sources as to who their father is as a character. Edward, in particular, is far more resentful of even the mere mention of Hohenheim's existence because as far as he knew, his father abandoned them. It's easier for him to justify his anger and hurt towards Hohenheim if he was the flaky person Ed thought he was (which he unfortunately kind of is in the 2003 anime), but when the two reunite in chapter 85 (episode 47 of FMA Brotherhood) and Ed finally learns about Hohenheim's past with Father and tells him Trisha's final message, he's off-put by Hohenheim's reaction and backstory because it's clear to him that Hohenheim genuinely loved his wife and children, wanting to spend his life with them and to be able to live as a true mortal instead of outliving his wife and sons. With all of this new information about Hohenheim, I can only imagine the confusingly mixed emotions Ed has after finding out that the parent that left him and his family behind is a decent person who did it to end his curse and then later on try to stop Father and keep his family safe from harm.
Full metal alchemist was one of the first mangas that I ever read and it captivated me from start to finish. The characters, the story, the themes, the intrigue, it’s all very well written. I’m glad that I picked it up all those years ago when I was a high school sophomore
I like to imagine that, when Sloth finishes the country wide circle, the following exchange happens:
"Hey, I'm just checking in if I can go and die now"
*Cheerfully* "Nope! Get back to work slave!"
"Okay..."
If by dead you mean start digging 2 countries over
Such a pain
Thanks a lot Mark.....Now I have to watch FMA again for the 101th time
You can't just remember it ? It's imprinted to my memory
I may personally prefer Brotherhood, but I love the fact that you gave both series their flowers. If I didn't love 2003 I wouldn't have bothered to read the manga or watch Brotherhood
These type of full review videos are so terrific because half way through you have done such a good job convincing me this story is awesome that I turn it off to go watch the actual thing and I will come and watch this review when I’m done!
Hope you are enjoying it!
Commenting to remind you to update us!!
Just finished rewatching the Og FMA and Brotherhood and now this. I’m beyond excited😊
Where did you watch it/them? Been looking to rewatch FMAb but don't know where to buy or stream it.
@@jon9828You can’t watch the original anywhere legally. Hard copies of it are crazy expensive as well
@@jon9828fmab is available on Crunchyroll if I recall , 2003 is a bit more difficult to find unfortunately, truly an underrated series
@@jon9828 FMAB is on Crunchyroll. Can't help on FMA 03 though.
@@jon9828 FMAB is on Crunchyroll. The OG FMA isn't
1:25:49 Hughes was in the room when Wrath does his big speech about human life being next to worthless. It's not unreasonable to assume he told Mustang about this (in fact Brotherhood directly implies that he does) and then Mustang told Hawkeye.
Ready steady, can't hold me back
Ready steady, give me good luck
Ready steady, never look back
LET'S GET STARTED, READY STEADY GO!!!
For real, this is still one of the best anime I've ever seen, not my first but one of the first that really informed me of what anime was truly capable of, and to this day Ed is one of my all-time favorite characters.
Such a shame that the 2003 series has been completely deleted from the internet and Ed's English VA got himself blacklisted.
I just started the video, what happened to Ed's va? And what do you mean the 2003 version was wiped, that people only talk about brotherhood?
@@apple-cv2xj First: Vic Mignogna, Edward Elric's English VA (among many other roles he's done), turned out to be a predator and a bastard, so everyone he _was_ working with fired him. He then tried to sue Funimation, Monica Rial, and Jamie Marchi, for defamation and he lost that case and every appeal.
Speaking of Funimation: when Sony bought them and folded them into Crunchyroll, they failed to renew a number of licenses for Funi's older catalog. And since other streaming platforms, like Netflix, did the same, FMA 2003 is now almost impossible to find online. Strangely, I'm looking at CR right now: the FMA movie "Conqueror of Shamballa" is still up for some reason.
The music alone in this show got me into J-Pop and eventually led me to Creepy Nuts. Google them and thank me later 😁
@@apple-cv2xj In 2019, Vic Mignogna (voice of Edward Elric) was the center of numerous sexual harassment allegations against fans at cons and some co-workers, resulting in him being fired from the projects he was working on like RWBY, the Persona series, and the Dragon Ball series.
As for the 2003 FMA series, it has become a show that is extremely difficult to watch through legal options since it is not available on streaming sites like Crunchyroll or Netflix or Hulu and the DVDs/blu-ray release of the show are out of print.
@@apple-cv2xj Google it
Full metal alchemist brotherhood is the best and most complete anime of all time
🧢
Monster would like a word with you
@lucasbayer9254 Don't start, you got the worst pfp to be coming out here with that too.
@@MiesterDX595yeah fma just doesn’t feel whole and not as well balanced as brotherhood
I like brotherhood for having a happier ending. The 2003 FMA I appreciate the darker elements, even if it did go off the rails with its original ending.
The editing at 2:26:42 is phenomenal, and I wanted to acknowledge that in writing
1:53:00-1:53:53 There is 2 Chapters you Missed!!! We DO see how Edd Heals himself and its actually really cool!!
Alchemy is the hardest, most well developed magic system in all fiction. Clearly defined limits, clearly defined variations, and all while leaving plenty of room for creativity within the rules. All exceptions to the rules come at great cost, so it's not truly an exception.
(Edit): OMG I just realized that fma philosopher stones work the same way soul gems do in skyrim 😮😮😮
Come on, *_ALL_* fiction? Educate yourself and go read a book, there's more systems of magic out there than FMA, Harry Potter and DnD.
Avatar's bending system is also a very good one in my opinion.
@@chesterstevens8870 okay? I’ll give you DND but Harry Potter it’s not a hard magic system with clearly defined rules. It’s very much a soft magic system. Things are used more conveniently then consistently especially story wise.
Powersystem from Magi the Labyrinth of magic is good too
@@averlinbc5680No, they're implying OP has consumed a very limited amount of media, to the point where FMA, HP and DnD are the only magic systems that OP knows.
I’ve only seen a few of your reviews so far, but I want you to know that your beautiful descriptions, takeaways, and general sense of wonder when reviewing the different series you’ve cover have really inspired a new love of literature in me. There were so many things I was watching at face value without a real appreciation for the depths of the story being told beneath the visuals. Thank you for making the content you make.
That thumbnail goes SO HARD that it makes me sort of sad this is a manga deep dive and not a 2003 one. But no matter what, both stories are rock solid. Fullmetal, even.
So glad you decided to finally cover FMA:Brotherhood. It’s the greatest of all time and still loving your content Mark
Didn’t he cover it already?
@MrJTH1999 yes, this is a compilation of those review videos
Oh I havent watched this review of yours in a while good that your editor is making these supercuts for future viewings like today send him a cookie mark he deserves it.
Just wanted to say your video made my week.
I’m always glad to see another of your insightful video essays in my feed. So many feels and so many damn good points. The love you have for these series is clear and infectious.
You’re doing a phenomenal job and deserve be proud of yourself 💪
Desert Punk next man. As someone who has watched Fullmetal 100 times it is fun seeing you go through the motions of reading it for the first time.
I dunno if Mark reads the comments on here or not, but if he hasn't already, he needs to watch the bloopers from the Brotherhood dub. Pretty sure they're on youtube, and they're a riot.
FMA has been my absolute all time favourite anime for over a decade. I think Mark did such a good job articulating all the reasons I love it that I had trouble putting into words myself. The video even makes me think about some things with a new and exciting perspective. I stumbled upon this review by chance and could not have enjoyed it more. Very very well done! Thank you so much for your hard work!
Thanks Mark for this wonderful video. You and your team put a lot of effort into it, and I teared up at several parts as well. Remember not only to work hard like Edward did, but pace your self, like Al did.
I already watched all these when they originally came out, but I couldn't help but watch the whole thing again to hear your enthusiasm and discussion of one of the anime's I hold so dear. Its always good to revisit this anime, even if its in the form of watching others talk about it or watch it for the first time.
What sets Fullmetal Alchemist apart from most other series is just how seamlessly it can shift tone. It can ping-pong between comedy, action, drama, even romance, and every time it feels perfectly natural.
I have also viewed a TON of anime and Manga in my time. it's been an obsession for decades since watching DBZ on my big CRT TV back in the day. I've enjoyed some anime more than FMAB, for sure, but it is THE example of a perfect show. no pacing issues, concise power system, compelling villains and heroes, good humor, appalling horrifying moments, it has no flaws. and most importantly, when it ended, it ended. the story was over, we didn't get a half-baked sequel strung out for money. the story was done, so the Manga ended. perfect.
I absolutely LOVE how much time you devote to praising the animators for each adaption. Thank you for giving names to the artists who helped bring the story to motion!!
funny how I just started rewatching this series for comfort and then this video drops. STOP EATING MY COOKIES!
(Not) Mark's hype over mustang vs lust makes me feel so vindicated. Hail yes
Finished BH a couple weeks back and all I have to say is
I'm gay for Envy. Absolutely obssesed. The pale skin, purple eyes, psychotic smile, palm tree hair, crop topb, fingerless gloves, the man skirt, ITS PERFECT. I don't see enough people talking about how pretty they are.
Oh yeah the show is pretty good too ig
I thought this was a review of the full original 2003 anime :(
Hopefully he covers it one day, it have a lot of interesting themes that he'd love.
Agreed lol - I love both FMA 2003 and Brotherhood and I always recommend people watch both if theyre interested in FMA
I will always love fma 2003 more than brotherhood
2003 had an interesting spin of the Homunculi. Also I liked 2003 Sloth more than Brotherhood Sloth.
I mean technically he covers the manga but uses footage from both. I don't remember if he talks about the 03 version but he talks about the live action films.
@@bearerofbadnews1375 yeah there were a few Homunculi I liked more in 2003 than brotherhood. Sloth, Gluttony and Lust I liked more in 2003. But I liked pride and wrath a lot more in brotherhood. Greed and Envy I liked in both equally
I've spent the last few days watching this on and off.
I'm so happy to watch someone watch this show for the first time.
I almost enjoy watching videos like these more than the og content. Almost. But it’s just so much fun in a different way to see and b, even tangentially, along for the ride of someone else’s discovery of something I love. It’s just a pleasure to essentially sit and listen to someone 3h info dump and just nod along agreeing and getting excited about the epic moments all over again. I hope u never lose that fun💜💜
His theory for hohenheim would actually be pretty sick. Forcing Ed and Al to choose to save the world, or stop their father and thereby also ending the possibility of seeing their mother again.
You made my day Sir, even if i watched Full Metal Alchemist, and FMA: Brotherhood long time ago, still it was so good to watch ur point of view at this subcject. Good Job, as always. Greetings from Poland :)
To me personally, Full Metal Alchemist is one of the best stories out there. I doubt I'll ever find an anime I love as much as FMA Brotherhood. So, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CREATING AND POSTING THIS! ❤
hard work really is not such a bad thing after all - after all, i truly loved your review. i think this might be my favourite piece of analysis on full metal alchemist, and i am so thankful that you've written it. thank you!
I have Al's bloodseal tattooed on the top of my left hand, and the servant cross tattooed on my face in front of my ear. This manga/anime is the most perfect piece of entertainment that has ever existed, directly next to starwars and Dragon ball and marvel comics
Love the video! Too bad you didn't include the train station scene at the end, when Ed proposes to Winry. It is, to me, the true ending of the whole saga, as Winry easily throws the "equivalent exchange" principle out the window. Considering how the cold and calculating principle of "equivalent exchange" has revealed to us nothing but all kinds of dark corners in our own humanity, the way WInry brushes the idea off reminds us of a heart-warming yet simple fact, one we probably know all along: there's something in this world that doesn't require equivalent exchange, and that is what life is truly worth living for.
14:40 I love that they give you enough that you can come to the same conclusion as Hughes.
Love FMA soooooo much! It was my true gateway into anime back in 7th grade. I had watched DBZ, but never realized it was anime. FMA holds a VERY special place in my heart. I've always identified very closely with Ed and it was actually my first profile picture for facebook way back in 2009. Without giving it a chance, i never would've gotten addicted to Bleach, One Piece, My Hero, and SOOOOOO many others! A huge shoutout to Arikawa, who really changed my life!!!
“I think a large part of the story’s appeal comes from a tormented world being seen through the innocent and well meaning eyes and actions of two children”
If “bravery from innocence” or the “a child’s courage that surpasses even the adults’” was a trope, it would be my favorite.
Just finished the 3rd watch at this masterpiece. Amazing work from you Mark and your team. FMA is my favourite anime all of time, and your analysis did justice to every single page/episode. Thanks a lot, and cheers! Regards from Mexico.
Watching the 2003 first should be a prerequisite to watching brotherhood
One if my favorite FMA takes ever is something I read on Tumblr. Goes something like this: "The reasons why Edward Isn’t a typical always cheery, bubbly, helpful, kind, shonen protagonist is because this story's that guy spends all of it trapped in a suit of armor".
i love your theories it reminds me of when i was theorizing when i was watching the anime, thanks for this literally my fav anime.
My favorite thing about the 2003 adaptation is the Brothers theme
Babe wake up!
There's a new Totally Not Mark compilation to fall asleep to!
Watched Brotherhood anime during lockdown, worth it 😊
Bahahaha that careless whisper joke was *brilliant* in my head I was already like ‘Ya’ll should make out’
The original anime adaptation is certainly worth a watch if you loved the manga; after around episode twenty it takes an entirely different - and well-written - route, with much darker and ambiguous tone. To name a contrast with out trying to spoil, the way that homunculi are created and destroyed in this adaptation varies drastically from the original manga, all the while being perfectly tied in to what the manga had from the point that it diverged from. In this adaptation, they also show how Edward became a state alchemist and the exam process, which is a really nice detail. And Nina gets more development.
Thank you for this. You reminded me what a beautiful story this really was and inspired me to take the story I'm writing in a new direction with your analysis.
Now watch the entire Gundam franshise.
I had your video on in the background and hearing you mention Shaman King totally caught me off guard! I love your videos and the way you dig into these series. I would love to see you cover Shaman King someday, it's a truly underrated series! Especially since you focus on the manga, which is by far where it shines
Fma: brotherhood is the first anime I ever watched and has become the bar by which I measure all others. Boy what a difficult bar to clear
Bless you for appreciating the music of the '03 production. I really don't get the 'argument' of which series is better (they are both so so good) but since folks put down the first production I feel like it's nice to recognize the elements that made it great and worthy of praise :) yes I love all the FMA
I love you Mark for articulating so well why this is my favorite anime
Kimblee superceding Pride is such a peak moment, too.
only garnt left to go
I own the manga and have watched both the anime series multiple times.
Fullmetal Alchemist and Evangelion (rebuild included after I saw the fourth entry) are by far my two most beloved series.
I really wish he re-dubbed all the times he called Roy "Ron"
Already cringing at "Rosay"
You do realize the first time was a mistake, then it was a running gag.
@@Ender41948 and it only irked me.
@@SorcererVtuberWell, I find it amusing. Sucks to be you, I guess.
@@SorcererVtuber Cry about it, I guess.
In the "Nina" episode the ending slightly changes and Edward is crying in the last scene
As you enjoyed every chapter you read, I enjoyed every minute I listened and watched. Thank you and a ‘monumental’ well done.
Bro please make more of these kinds of reviews you’re onto somthing here!
1:17:26 is my absolute favorite scene from any anime/manga - ever. The look in Edward's eyes is unforgettable and the meaning of the scene as it relates to the goal he and Al set from the start - so, so powerful. He knew it was attainable; it stopped being impossible. I'm legitimately getting emotional just writing this. I'm really considering getting this as a tattoo.
Amazing review, man. Cheers!
Amazing review! You missed the movies though! The follow-up movie to the first anime is amazing!
He covered the manga, not animes
@@alphakowaclips I thought he covered both the first anime run and brotherhood too. The first anime run's final movie is the ending to that story
Mark every time he reads a new manga "this has the single best (blank) I have ever (blank)!" Lol love ya, brother.
What I was waiting for to consume such a large series ❤ Long live FMAB.
I love these huge full reviews.
Gonna have to go check out your other videos, thanks for doing justice to this one! Also, the ending of brotherhood is why I loved it more, Arikawas vision for the story is so much more fulfilling that the original animes ending.
whenever I hear "FULL METAL ALCHEMIST" I think of that dog meme xD
I started watching this video and remembered I only watched about 10 episodes of FMAB. So I stopped the video to start watching it again. I finally finished it today. I'm changed and just damn. It's my new favorite story.
Man one thing that I think is so sweet about Al is how selfless he is despite how much he’s lost. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like not being able to eat, sleep, breathe, blink(i think), feel pain. I think that would be pure torture for many of us yet he just seems to accept it and move forward. In a way making him one of the most mature characters in FMA.
i've never watch a YT video this long. it was fun! FMA is one of my favorites!
Very comprehensive. Can’t wait for the next review!
Loved watching FMAB one of my favourite anime period. Hope to check out the manga soon and collect it aswell.
Damn it, now I'm crying! This was really well done and I'm glad I watched it, even if it is almost 3 hours lol. Well done Mark and editors(sorry I don't know your names I'm new to the channel)! Greedling is my favourite character too.
They are one and Bradley knew it. Fullmetal and the alchemist.
Individually, they're tropes. Put together, and they are closer to a full real human experience.
For someone joining your channel this year. I happy to see this masterpiece in its full lenght. It's so many years age I watched brotherhood and to this day one of my most favourite Anime.
I just finished Brotherhood and I’ve never watched anything like it. I’m giving it a solid 10/10 😁 the pacing was good and I didn’t feel the urge to skip to the next chapter. The 2 main characters very well thought out. I’d definitely recommend this 64-episode-journey
I'd love for you to do a separate video covering the 2003 anime and the movie that concluded the series
Ed confessing to Winry was a hell of a scene too
I’ve rewatched Brotherhood 4 times. Listening to this amazing review was akin to rewatching it all over again in my head. That was amazing man. Great job.
The only drawback from experiencing FMA is knowing that you'll never experience the best story told in anime. AoT came close but yeah nothing else has come close to this masterpiece
I've firmly believed I was the defacto Fullmetal scholar out there. It's been my favorite story of all time since 2003 first came into my life. It's the only manga I own completely. My dog's name was Alphonse, my cat's name was Colonel Mustang. I didn't think I could be taught anything new.
But your section on the animators of both series is spectacular. I'm a huge fan of diving into the individual animators of stuff I watch these days, but it never occurred to me to go back and look up who did what on both series. I remember finding out recently that Yutaka did all those scenes in Bebop I loved, and when I found out about the Greed fight it all just made so much sense.
But your ability to go through the rest of the animators and showcase their talents as well as you did is fucking humbling compared to what I do on my channel sometimes.
I've been watching this video on and off over the course of the last week during a really shitty time and it's been absolutely magnificent getting to relive my favorite thing ever with someone who appreciates on the same level I do.
I have 20 minutes left and I just wanted to write this as I finish the animators section before I forget. Thanks for such an amazing video, brother.
My most recommended intro anime is FMA:BH.
Pride is so GOATED
Him and Al are easily my favorites
I just love the use of DBZA jokes through the video!!! Also amazing analysis, you managed to convince my wife to watch FMA with me :D domo arigato
I KNEW that clip of Vegeta was gonna make an appearance in this video, but I didn't realize it was gonna get a whole workout lmao.