Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is widely regarded as one of the best anime of all time, and it's easy to see why. The show was released in 2009 and is based on the manga by Hiromu Arakawa, who is also known for the coming-of-age story Silver Spoon. Fullmetal Alchemist follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric as they deal with the loss of their mother, Trisha, turning to alchemy.
The show has only grown in popularity in recent years. It's currently the second top anime of all time on the popular anime ranking site MyAnimeList.com, just recently being dethroned by none other than Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. While may have ended in 2010, it still holds up today, and audiences continue to find the show. There are several reasons why Brotherhood has stood the test of time and will likely continue to in the future.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Is Unlike Any Other Anime
Edward And Alphonse's Story Is Unique Yet Entirely Relatable
There aren't many series quite like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. A lot of anime series tackle the same themes from different angles, but Brotherhood takes a new approach entirely. The series sets itself apart through its sheer ambition. It features deep characters, even deeper themes, and places everything in a world crawling with mystery and intrigue. Nothing is as it seems in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and that's part of the reason why the show is so great.
At only 64 episodes, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has been able to tell one of the best stories in anime in less time than a lot of other series. It doesn't need hundreds of episodes to tell a complicated winding story. It instead focuses on a single premise, bringing the tale of Edward and Alphonse Elric to life through stunning animation, great set pieces, and some of the most entertaining characters around.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Incorporates Philosophical Themes Masterfully
Death, Fate, And More Are Explored With Grace And Temperance
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the best series that might just leave an anime viewer with more questions than answers. It's one of the deepest, most philosophical anime ever made, rivaling titans like Neon Genesis: Evangelion and Steins;Gate. Brotherhood is nothing without philosophy. The very premise of the show is rooted in the concept of reality.
The Truth is the name of a metaphysical character in the show, sometimes referred to as God. The Truth represents all things and acts as a medium whenever someone attempts Human Transmutation, like when Ed and Al try to bring their mother back from the dead. "God" is there to remind them that exchanges like that are inherently unfair, and punishes them for attempting it.
Fullmetal Alchemist: How Each of the Sins Dies in the Series Explained
The ironic deaths of each of the 7 sins. They are killed in ways that are poetic in relation to the sin which they were named after
The only way to beat The Truth is to sacrifice everything to it, as Ed learns towards the end of the series. In order to get his brother's body back, Ed sacrifices his ability to use Alchemy, stating that he already has everything he ever wanted by having his loved ones. It's a point that resonates throughout the show, as many characters lose what they truly consider to be the most important thing they have when pursuing something they thought was more important.
Father, one of anime's evilest villains, learns the harsh truth about human nature from The Truth itself. Father looked to transcend humanity by shedding his sins, creating the Homunculi as a physical representation of each of the seven original sins. When The Truth banishes Father from the human realm, it chastises him, revealing that humanity's sins were the only way for people to truly get better, as they needed something to overcome.
At its core, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a story about sacrifice, fate, redemption, and so much more. It tackles some of the heaviest, most mature themes in anime masterfully.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Blends Multiple Amazing Characteristics
The Anime Features Amazing Fights, Deep Questions, Great Characters, And So Much More
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the best anime series of all time for a number of reasons. It's an incredibly diverse series in that it tackles so many different story elements wonderfully, and the fights stand out as well. The battles in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood are made better by the characters in them. Each fight feels consequential and a little bit scary, as Al and Ed know better than most just how permanent death is.
Whether the story takes a look at the main characters Al and Ed, State Alchemist Colonel Mustang, or even the boys' father, Van Hohenheim, each character in the series brings something interesting to the table. A truly great series is only made better through great side characters, and that's an area where Brotherhood shines. Colonel Mustang is one of the most thrilling characters in anime, and his fight against Lust might be the series' best.
Van Hohenheim's backstory sets the scene for the rest of the series. It was his failure as both a father and an Alchemist that led Ed and Al on their road to redemption, sacrificing themselves in order to try and get their mom back. Van has made a lot of mistakes in his life, and that's part of the reason why the story is so good. Nobody is perfect, and Van is a shining example of a man whose mistakes have made waves beyond himself.
Anime's Greatest Romance Belongs to a Show No One Ever Expected
Surprisingly, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has one of the most memorable and beloved romances of all time.
One of the best, most surprising elements of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is Edward's relationship with Winry Rockbell, which makes the show fit right in among the best romance series of all time. Winry starts the series as Ed's childhood friend and engineer before developing feelings for the protagonist. While he isn't as quick to it that he reciprocates her feelings, he can't help but fall for his Automail expert.
It's a great, touching aspect of the show that lightens some of the darker elements appropriately. With so many amazing things going for it, it's not hard to see why Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood might just be the greatest anime series ever released.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Release Date
- 2009 - 2010
Cast
Maxey WhiteheadAlphonse Elric
Vic MignognaEdward Elric
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