Fullmetal Alchemist
, commonly abbreviated as
FMA or
Hagaren by fans, is a
manga series created by
Hiromu Arakawa and serialized in
Monthly Shonen Gangan. It has also been adapted into an
anime TV series and
a movie sequel, as well as also having several spin-off novels and videogames.
The manga is still running in Japan, and 14 volumes have been released so far. The anime, on the other hand, is finished, and consists of 51 episodes and a full-length movie sequel. Both incarnations (the manga and the anime) have seen massive popularity in both Japan and the United States; the anime was recently voted #1 best anime of all time in a September 2005
TV Asahi web poll.
[ 日本全国徹底調査！好きなアニメランキング100. Retrieved August 5, 2006.]Fullmetal Alchemist is set in the early 20th century, in a country called
Amestris in an alternate-historical Earth with technology dating from early 20th century Europe. In this alternate world, the pseudoscience of
alchemy is heavily used, but takes on a further fantastical element than real-life alchemy. Real-world alchemists tried to transmute gold from lesser metals in the real world. In the fictional world of the series, alchemy becomes the science of transmuting matter into different matter through the use of transmutation circles -- based on real-world science, yet also magical, with seemingly infinite uses. Talented alchemists can apply to become the Amestris military's
State Alchemists, if they so choose. There are many benefits (and also consequences) to becoming a state alchemist. Against this backdrop, the series portrays the quest of the young Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, and his younger brother Alphonse for the legendary
Philosopher's Stone. Their adventures lead them to discover the truth about their past and the world they live in.
Edward and Alphonse Elric were children living in the rural village of Resembool in the country of
Amestris. Their father, a talented alchemist, had left home when Edward was very young and Alphonse was a baby. Years later, their mother, Trisha Elric, died of an illness.
After their mother's death, the two boys decided to attempt to revive their deceased mother. They studied alchemy with a teacher and then used their father's books and notes that he had left behind to recreate a human transmutation circle. However, this attempt failed, costing Edward his left leg and Alphonse his entire body. In a desperate effort to save his brother, Edward sacrificed his right arm to affix his brother's soul to a suit of armor. After that, Edward's left leg and right arm are fitted with two sets of
Automail, a type of advanced
prosthetic limb.
A
State Alchemist by the name of
Roy Mustang arrives during the failed human transmutation in response to letters the boys had sent out seeking information about their father (in the hopes that they could get their father to come home and help them with the reviving of their mom). After seeing their skill at alchemy, Mustang suggests that the way for the two boys to achieve their goals is to become State Alchemists and work for him. Spurred on by the man's proposal, Edward sets out to become a State Alchemist, enabling him to use the resources available to State Alchemists to discover a way to restore what he and Alphonse have lost. The brothers eventually learn of the Philosopher's Stone and set off in search of it as a means to restore their bodies. Along the way they discover secrets about the Philosopher's Stone and find other people who seek it as well.
|
The Elric brothers, Alphonse (left) and Edward (right) |
|
The Elric brothers learning alchemy before the incident |
|
The Elric brothers in the manga chapter "The Two Alchemists" |
*
Edward Elric –
Fullmetal Alchemist's main
protagonist: Edward Elric is the Fullmetal Alchemist. He is nicknamed
Ed. He has a prosthetic automail arm and leg, is short (a very touchy subject for him), and is known for being the youngest State Alchemist.
*
Alphonse Elric – Alphonse, often nicknamed
Al, is
Fullmetal Alchemist's secondary protagonist; he is Edward's younger brother. For most of the series his
soul is trapped in a large suit of
armor, causing other characters throughout the series to confuse Al for the "Fullmetal" Alchemist. Alphonse is the calmer of the two, and can be seen as a
foil to Edward's character.
*
Winry Rockbell – Winry, also translated as
Winly, is a
mechanical expert who is a childhood friend of the Elrics. She, along with her
grandmother Pinako, built Edward's automail, and she also helps maintain the automail when it gets broken. Her parents were killed during the war with Ishbal.
*
Colonel Roy Mustang – Roy Mustang is known as the Flame Alchemist. His gloves are made of a special material, called ignition cloth, which allows him to create a spark by snapping his fingers. He then uses alchemy to change the oxygen density in the air with the help of transmutation circles on his gloves, causing a controlled explosion. He is Edward's direct superior officer in the military, but has his own goals and intentions in mind. His main goal is to become the Fuhrer, the leader of the military.
*
Lt. Colonel Mäes Hughes – Member of the Investigations Division, and a good friend of Colonel Mustang and the Elric brothers. He wishes to push Mustang up to Fuhrer by working closely under him. Hughes loves his wife, Gracia, and is overly enthusiastic regarding his love for his daughter Elicia.
*
Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye – A hard-working member of the state military, and a loyal, capable aide to her superior officer, Mustang. She is especially proficient in the use of firearms.
*
Scar – One of the few surviving Ishbalans. His real name is never known, but he is referred to as "Scar" because of the X-shaped scar on his forehead. Scar's right arm, which is covered in an elaborate alchemical tattoo, was given to him by his brother shortly before he died. He believes himself to be an instrument of God, and kills State Alchemists by using alchemy to destroy their bodies from the inside, and can also use this power on inanimate objects as well.
*
King Bradley – Known as the Führer, he is the military dictator of Amestris, holding the official political title of president (King is his first name). Although he seems to be quite easy-going and perhaps a little eccentric, he has the mind of a steel trap, and maintaining Amestris is his chief priority at all times. He is also renowned as an exceptional swordsman.
*
Lust – Sultry and cool-headed, she is the first of the
Homunculi encountered in the series. She has the power to extend her fingers into lances to use as a weapon.
*
Gluttony – An overweight figure who eats anything he can get his hands on, alive or dead. He latches to Lust like a child to his parent.
*
Envy – Sarcastic, sadistic, and cold-hearted, Envy has the ability to
change appearance. He hates mankind, viewing them as pitiful and weak.
*
Alchemy - Alchemy within the Fullmetal Alchemist anime, put simply, refers to a three-step process. The first step is understanding the structure of a certain matter, followed by
decomposition, and finally reconstruction and manipulation. In the manga, the source of alchemical power is still unknown to both the main characters and the readers. However, in the anime, the energy for alchemical reactions comes from the other side of the Gate, supposedly from the deaths that occur in the world on the other side of the Gate.
*
Automail - A kind of
prosthetics, made from metal and linked directly to the nerves of the body. Well-made automail can allow a range of movement and strength as good as or better than the original limb it replaces. Some forms of automail include ballistic devices or other enhancements.
*
Equivalent Exchange (also referred to as "Equivalent Trade" and "
The Law of Conservation" among some
fansubbers) - The rule that alchemists in the series consider to be the foundation of Alchemy, or even the fundamental law of the world: to gain, something of equal value must be lost. One of the themes of the series is examining the implications of Equivalent Exchange as a philosophy. It also investigates into whether Equivalent Exchange is a natural law, or rather, a false ideology. As an example, the two brothers frequently quote the
chemicals present in the human body, in thinking that this simple chemical exchange would be all that was needed to bring back someone from the dead. Needless to say, this law is of vital importance to the storyline.
*
One is All, All is One - A theory, or outline, of the world devised by
Izumi Curtis that explains, in effect, what alchemy basically is. As discovered by the Elric brothers, it states that,
objectively, if a person were to die, the world continue to move on as if nothing had happened, because that person is only a small part of it. When a person dies, the body, made up of a combination of simple elements, remains. That body is destined to be decomposed by bacteria and become nourishment for plants. Those plants then become nourishment for herbivores, which become nourishment for carnivores, even other humans. Even though the one who died loses awareness, their lives keep moving through the system. Edward states that each person is just a small part of the great flow that maintains the universe (the "Cycle of Life," or "Course of Nature")--One in the All, but without each of the individual Ones, the All can't exist. As an extension of that, the world flows by following grander laws than humans can even imagine. "To recognize that flow, and work within it, to decompose, and recreate...that is Alchemy."
*
State Alchemist - An Alchemist serving in a special branch of the state military. State Alchemists are selected by a series of examinations, and are regarded as some of the most powerful and talented alchemists. The position of State Alchemist also holds considerable authority and influence, automatically being promoted to the rank of Major. However, State Alchemists are despised by the general public, often called 'dogs of the military' - meaning that the person sold their soul to the military in exchange for special entitlements.
*
Transmutation Circle - Transmutation circles act as catalysts in alchemic reactions, and are needed for any transmutation, except in the case of alchemists like Edward Elric who can transmute without one (there is a reason for this ability of his). The circle represents the constant flow of energy, the patterns decide what effects the transmutation has. A circle may be drawn on the spot, embroidered into an article of clothing, or even tattooed onto the alchemist itself. Transmutation circles can be drawn with any substance that leaves behind a trail, ranging from chalk to blood (see
Blood Seal below).
*
Philosopher's Stone - A legendary stone said to allow the holder to completely bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange. However, the Elric brothers discover that to create the stone requires many human sacrifices, as seen in the final episodes.
*
Incomplete Philosopher's Stone (
Akai Ishi) - An unfinished or impure Philosopher's Stone, commonly referred to as a
Red Stone. Though far less powerful than a complete stone, a Red Stone can act as a powerful amplifier for an alchemist's abilities. The Red Stone will inevitably and unpredictably backfire on its owner eventually. A related material is
Red Water, which while toxic to humans can be refined into a Red Stone.
*
Blood Seal - A special type of transmutation circle that acts as a seal to bind a person's soul to an object, such as a suit of armor. It must, as the name suggests, be written in blood; the soul is tied to the blood and an element in the blood must be binded with the object itself. This typically only works on armor as the iron in the blood binds with the armor. Thus the blood acts as an intermediary between the soul and the object. If a blood seal is destroyed, the soul will no longer be tied to the object, and the person will enter the Gate. Some translations refer to it as a "Blood Array."
*
Gate of Alchemy - Also known as the "Gate of Truth" or just "Gate", it is said to be the source for all alchemical power. An alchemist who sees into the Gate can then perform alchemy without the use of a written or tattooed circle because of the knowledge gained during the experience. Behind the Gate is an alternate world, namely our own, currently embroiled in the chaos of a global war (
World War I). People's deaths from beyond the Gate fuel alchemy. The Gate swings forward each time the energy for Alchemy is summoned. There is a Gate inside everyone, they just need to know how to call upon it. A weak link between the body, mind, and spirit is what calls the Gate - Death. A baby has a weak link between the body, mind, and spirit, thus it is easy to summon the Gate with the power of a baby. The Gate resembles Rodin's sculpture
The Gates of Hell. There is also the Kabbalahistic
Tree of Life on the Gate in the manga version.
*
Truth (also referred to as the "Genuine Truth", the "Truth behind Truths", or the "Universal Truth" among some fansubbers) - The ultimate goal of every alchemist. In the anime, it was just Ed's point of view to describe what he found in the Gate. In the manga, though, it was displayed as an omnipotent god-like being that exists in the Gate, the one who controls the law of Equivalent Exchange. Cruel, but fair.
*
Rentan Jutsu (manga only) - A type of Alchemy that is used in the eastern country
Xing. While similar to Amestris alchemy (called "Renkin Jutsu" by people from Xing), the source of energy is different. Rentan Jutsu uses the power called "Lungmei" which exists everywhere on the earth. The type of alchemy that the character Mei Chan uses is Rentan Jutsu. Scar's tattoo is a mix of Renkin Jutsu and Rentan Jutsu.
*
Human Sacrifice - In the manga, it is a term that the Homunculi use to refer to alchemist who had opened the Gate and saw the Truth. Human Sacrifices are a crucial part of the Homunculi and "Father"'s plan, but to what end is still unknown.
|
FMA Vol. 1 manga cover by VIZ |
Release
Fullmetal Alchemist has been serialized in
Square Enix's monthly anthology manga magazine
Monthly Shonen Gangan since July 2001 and is still ongoing with a new chapter in every issue. As of July 2006, there have been 61 chapters serialized and 14
graphic novel compilations released.
Viz Media began releasing the manga in North America in May 2005;
[[1]. VIZ Media. Retrieved August 5, 2006.] since then, eight English-language volumes have been released, with volume nine expected for release on September 19
[[2]. VIZ Media. Retrieved August 5, 2006.] and volume ten on November 21.
[[3]. VIZ Media. Retrieved August 5, 2006.] Due to the fairly rapid rate that Viz Media is introducing the graphic novels (a new release approximately every two months), the
English translation is quickly catching up to the
Japanese release, having already covered nearly half of the series in a single year. According to Nielsen Bookscan, Fullmetal Alchemist volume one was the top selling manga in the year of 2005,
[ICv2 2005 Manga Awards--Part 1. ICv2. Retrieved August 5, 2006.] and the following issues of the manga usually appear on the Bookscan's weekly Overall Graphic Novel top 10 list. Beginning with volume eight, Viz Media's releases of the manga will feature a new, updated version of the "Viz Action" logo at the top of the spine. In
Singapore, the manga is being released by
Chuang Yi Publishing in both English and
Simplified Chinese. In
Poland, JPFantastica is releasing the manga; as of June 2006, 2 volumes have been released.
Chapter guide
Note: Viz's official English translation titles through Chapter 33, unofficial Japanese translations thereafter.
01. The Two Alchemists
02. The Price of Life
03. The Mining Town
04. Battle on the Train
05. The Alchemist's Anguish
06. Right Hand of Destruction
07. After the Rain
08. Hopeful Road
09. House of the Waiting Family
10. The Philosopher's Stone
11. The Two Guardians
12. The Definition of Human
13. Fullmetal Body
14. An Only Child's Feelings
15. Fullmetal Heart
16. Separate Paths
17. The Boomtown of the Broken Down
18. The Value of Sincerity
19. I'll Do It for You Guys!
20. The Terror of the Teacher
21. The Brothers' Secret
22. Masked Man
23. Knock on Heaven's Door
24. Fullmetal Alchemist
25. Resolution Between Master and Apprentice
| 26. To Meet the Master
27. The Beasts of Dublith
28. A Fool's Courage
29. The Eye of the King
30. The Truth Inside the Armor
31. The Snake That Eats Its Own Tail
32. Emissary From the East
33. Showdown in Rush Valley
34. Footsteps of a Comrade
35. Scapegoat
36. Bitter Alchemist
37. The Criminal's Body
38. Counterattack, Signal, Fire
39. Intricacies of Central
40. Western Sage
41. Arrogant Palm of a Child
42. Father in Front of the Grave
43. River of Mud
44. Nameless Grave
45. Return of the Man with the Scar
46. Distant Backs
47. Girl on the Battlefield
48. Promise of the One Who Waits
49. Monster Within
50. Inside the Stomach
| 51. Doors of Darkness
52. King of the Den of Thieves
53. The Soul's Guidepost
54. The Fool's Struggle
55. Their Greed
56. Lions of the Round Table
57. Scars of Ishbal
58. Footsteps of Ruin
59. The Corrupted Alchemists
60. The Absence of God
61. The Hero of Ishbal |
Episode guide
Production broadcast history
|
A promotional poster of "Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa", a feature film set after the events of the TV series. |
The animation studio
BONES adapted the manga into a 51-episode anime series, produced by
Aniplex, which ran on Japanese television from
October 4 2003 to
October 2 2004. A one-hour
OVA,
Fullmetal Alchemist: Reflections, was released in 2005.
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa was made by the same studio, and theatrically released in Japan on
July 23 2005. The film serves as a sequel to the TV series. In March 2006 a DVD featuring 3 brand new OVAs as well as the "State Alchemists vs the seven Homunculi" feature that was previously shown only at Universal Studios Japan (in Tokyo) was released on DVD in Japan.
The series has also been broadcast across several regions:
*Japan, MBS-
TBS and
Animax, from October 4, 2003 to October 2, 2004 (original first run)
*United States,
Cartoon Network (
Adult Swim) on
November 6 2004 to
March 18 2006 (first run)
*Hong Kong,
TVB Jade on
February 26 2005*Singapore, StarHub's SCV, Channel 56, on
March 9 2005*
Latin America,
Animax from
July 31 2005 *
South Asia,
Animax, from
July 24,
2006*The Philippines,
Animax, from
May,
2006*United Kingdom,
Rapture TV from
November 17 2005*Italy,
MTV, from
April 11 2006*Canada,
YTV's
Bionix block on
March 3 2006.
*Australia, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, January 2006
*New Zealand, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, January 2006
*Philippines,
GMA Network, around 2nd-3rd quarter 2005
*France,
Canal +, from 2006
*Spain, Canal Buzz, 2006
*Malaysia, Astro Wah Loi Toi, around third quarter 2005
As there was a limited amount of manga material available to adapt at the time of production, the storyline of the anime diverges from that of the manga around the middle of the series (End of Book 6/Start of Book 7). The anime's later story and conclusion by BONES is different from the manga, which is still ongoing. This divergence in story from the manga source material, however, was planned from the beginning of production, and was not done "just because" the anime caught up with the manga source material.
DVD releases
|
Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 1 DVD cover by FUNimation |
The DVDs of the anime have been licensed by various companies for different languages and regions (refer to infobox on right). Some known firms releasing the DVDs are:
*
Aniplex, the original producers of the anime series, across Japan (Region 2) and Taiwan (Region 3)
*Asia Animation, across Hong Kong (Region 3)
*TIGA, across Thailand (Region 3) - 17 volumes with 3 episodes each
*
FUNimation, across North America (Region 1), R4(MX, SA)
*Madman Entertainment, across Australia (Region 4)
*MVM, across the United Kingdom (Region 2)
*
Odex, across Singapore (Region 3)
*Panini Video, across Italy (Region 2)
The 51 episodes in the series are divided into 13 DVD volumes (both for the Japanese and US releases, at least, and presumably for releases in other regions as well). On the original Japanese DVDs, volume 1 consisted of the first two episodes, volume 13 contained the last five, and all of the volumes in between had four episodes each. FUNimation's English DVDs all have four episodes each, except for the last, which has three.
*Volume 01: The Curse (Ep. 1-4)
*Volume 02: Scarred Man of the East (Ep. 5-8)
*Volume 03: Equivalent Exchange (Ep. 9-12)
*Volume 04: The Fall of Ishbal (Ep. 13-16)
*Volume 05: The Cost of Living (Ep. 17-20)
*Volume 06: Captured Souls (Ep. 21-24)
*Volume 07: Reunion on Yock Island (Ep. 25-28)
*Volume 08: The Altar of Stone (Ep. 29-32)
*Volume 09: Pain and Lust (Ep. 33-36)
*Volume 10: Journey To Ishbal (Ep. 37-40)
*Volume 11: Becoming The Stone (Ep. 41-44)
*Volume 12: Truth Behind Truths (Ep. 45-48)
*Volume 13: Brotherhood (Ep. 49-51)
Only the first eleven volumes have been released in the United States. Volume twelve,
Truth Behind Truths, is due for release on September 5. The final volume, as well as the director's cut of the movie,
The Conqueror Of Shamballa, are currently set for release on September 12, 2006.
[Kincaid, Erin. Funimation Full Panel Report. Anime on DVD. Retrieved August 5, 2006.] A limited special edition of the movie is set for release on September 26, 2006. MVM has released the first seven volumes in the UK; volume eight is set for release in
September with nine following in
November and the movie
The Conqueror of Shamballa in 2007.
Opening Quotes
*Episode 2-36, 38-42:
Alphonse Elric: "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's First Law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth."
*Episode 37: Lieutenant
Riza Hawkeye: "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. Here at Central Headquarters there was a band of brave soldiers all willing to make that sacrifice in the name of peace. This is a tale of love and courage, a tale of the Flame Alchemist Colonel Mustang and his loyal team."
*Episode 43-50:
Edward Elric: "The Philosophers' Stone: those who possess it, no longer bound by the laws of Equivalent Exchange in Alchemy, may gain without sacrifice, create without equal exchange. We searched for it, and we found it.":Note: The opening monologue for episodes 43-50 was originally given by Alphonse in the Japanese version. In the dubbed version, the monologue is inexplicably switched over to being given by Ed.:Note: FUNimation's 11th DVD volume incorrectly uses the first monologue (Al's) at the beginning of episode 43. Both the Japanese and American TV airings use the correct monologue.
Opening and end themes
;Openings:#
"Melissa" by
Porno Graffitti (Episodes 2-13, also used as ending for episode 1)#
"Ready Steady Go" by
L'Arc~en~Ciel (Episodes 14-25)#
"Undo" by
Cool Joke (Episodes 26-41)#
"Rewrite" by
Asian Kung-Fu Generation (Episodes 42-51)
*"Ready Steady Go" and "Rewrite" are the only openings playing on
Cartoon Network's
Adult Swim because of a deal with L'Arc~en~Ciel and Asian Kung-Fu Generation to promote their songs. The
DVD releases from
FUNimation include all openings in their original places and format.
;Endings:#
"Kesenai Tsumi" (Indelible Sin) by
Nana Kitade (Episodes 2-13)
The alternate title used by some fansubbers is "Unerasable Sin", which is also the title given to it on the American release of the first soundtrack but not on the American DVD releases.#
"Tobira no Mukou e" ("To the Other Side of the Door") by
YeLLOW Generation (Episodes 14-25)
The alternate title used by some fansubbers is "Beyond the Door"#
"Motherland" by
Crystal Kay (Episodes 26-41)#
"I Will" by
Sowelu (Episodes 42-50)
All the ending theme songs and animation on
Adult Swim are edited down for time. The DVD releases from
FUNimation include the unedited full endings.
In Japan, some time after the series' end, all four opening and all four ending songs were released together in a single CD titled "Fullmetal Alchemist Complete Best", including a special DVD containing the series' creditless openings and endings. An American music-only version of "Complete Best" was released recently.
The ending of episode 25 consists of a piece of very short music from the series followed by "Tobira no Mukou e" ("To the Other Side of the Door"). The end credits for the episode are presented while Ed and Al are on the train to Rush Valley.
The bombing of
London by
zeppelins in episodes 49 & 50 is accompanied by a music track titled "Unmei," also known as the first movement of
Beethoven's
Symphony No. 5.
Episode 51 includes two performances of a piano piece called "Wakare no Kyoku", also known as
Frédéric Chopin's Etude in E major op.10 no.3. The first performance, a piano solo, begins when Lt. Hawkeye begins to cry over the body of Gen. Mustang (whom she believes to be dead) and continues through Envy's disappearance into the gate. The second performance, piano accompanied by clarinet, begins when Winry sees Alphonse and Izumi off on their train through Edward's packing for his journey to where he can study rocketry with
Hermann Oberth.
The composer of Fullmetal Alchemist is
Michiru Oshima.
Original soundtracks
|
Cover of Fullmetal Alchemist OST 1 |
# TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 1 (Released 24 March, 2004)# Fullmetal Alchemist Complete Best (CD+DVD) (Released 14 October, 2004)# TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 2 (Released 15 December, 2004)# TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 3 (Released 18 May, 2005)
Other releases in music
#
Romi Paku (
Edward Elric's
Seiyū)##
明日への場所 / Asu e no Basho ("The Place Toward Tomorrow")##
RETURNABLE MEMORIES#
Tōru Ōkawa (
Roy Mustang's Seiyū)##
月の裏側 / Tsuki no Uragawa ("Far Side of the Moon")#
Rie Kugimiya (
Alphonse Elric's Seiyū)##
あの夢の向"うへ / Ano Yume no Mukou e ("To Beyond That Dream")##
ボクハココニイル / Boku wa Koko ni Iru ("I Am Here")#
Megumi Toyoguchi (
Winry Rockbell's Seiyū)##
BOY FRIENDS!##
銀時計 / Gindokei ("Silver Watch")#
Keiji Fujiwara (
Maes Hughes' Seiyū)##
そして今日も世界は / Soshite Kyou mo Sekai wa (Literally, "And Today World")##
ANGEL HEART#
Multiple##
鋼の""ろ / Hagane no Kokoro ("Heart of Steel" or "Fullmetal Heart"), by Romi Paku, Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Toyoguchi##
雨の日はノー･サンキュー / Ame no Hi wa No Thank You ("A Rainy Day is a No Thank You"), by Tōru Ōkawa,
Michiko Neya (
Riza Hawkeye's Seiyū)##
少年よ、信じるなかまよ / Shounen yo, Shinjiru Nakama yo ("Oh Boy, Oh Trustworthy Companions"), by Tōru Ōkawa,
Mitsuki Saiga (
Maria Ross' Seiyū), Keiji Fujiwara, Tomoyuki Shimura (
Heymans Breda's Seiyū),
Yasunori Matsumoto (
Jean Havoc's Seiyū),
Tetsu Shiratori (
Kain Fuery's Seiyū),
Takehiro Murozono (
Vato Falman's Seiyū),
Hidekatsu Shibata (
Fuhrer King Bradley's Seiyū)##
TRANCE to Homunculus, by
Mayumi Yamaguchi (
Envy), Yuuko Sato (
Lust),
Junichi Suwabe (
Greed).
Yoshino Takamori (
Sloth), Hidekatsu Shibata (
Pride),
Yasuhiro Takato (
Gluttony), and
Nana Mizuki (
Wrath)##
恋愛参考書～Love reference book～ / Renai Sankoushou ~ Love Reference Book ~, by Megumi Toyoguchi, Naomi Wakabayashi (
Sheska's Seiyū)##
パパと遊ぼう / Papa to Asobou ("Play with Papa"), by Keiji Fujiwara and Mayumi Yoshida (
Elysia Hughes' Seiyū)##
LAST MEETINGS, by Romi Paku, Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Toyoguchi, Tōru Ōkawa, and Keiji Fujiwara##
Good!, by Romi Paku, Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Toyoguchi, Tōru Ōkawa, Keiji Fujiwara
Video games
|
Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir (PS2) |
Video games based on the Fullmetal Alchemist world have also been released. Sony-Square Enix have released a few titles in the Japanese RPG (3 titles), and Fighting (1 title) genres for the
PlayStation 2. Bandai has released other titles in the Japanese RPG vein for the
Game Boy Advance (2 titles) and the
Nintendo DS[Fullmetal Alchemist DS-bound. Gamespot UK. Retrieved August 5, 2006.] (1 title).
The storylines of the games often diverge from both that of the anime and that of the manga.
A fan-based video game for the PC called
Fullmetal Alchemist: Bluebird's Illusion was also created, and was only sold in Hong Kong. It is said that there were only around 100 copies of the game made, and that they were auctioned off on Yahoo! Auctions Hong Kong. Bluebird's Illusion is based off of the manga.
The Square-Enix Fullmetal Alchemist games have been released in Japan and the U.S. Territories (somewhat); of Square-Enix's 3 Japanese RPG FMA video games, all three have been released in Japan, and the first 2 have been released in the U.S.
*
Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel*
Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir*
Fullmetal Alchemist 3: The Girl Who Succeeded God*
Fullmetal Alchemist: Dream Carnival*
Bluebird's Illusion (
Dōjin soft)Recently, FUNimation licensed the franchise to create a new series of Fullmetal Alchemist related video games to be published by
Destineer Publishing Corp in the United States. No further details about the games or its developers have been revealed yet.
[Fullmetal Alchemist Video Games coming from Destineer. Anime News Network. Retrieved August 5, 2006.]Novels
Several novels have also been written as sidestories or spinoffs to the original manga. In October 2005, Viz Media released an English translation of the first of these novels,
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Land of Sand.
[[4]. VIZ Media. Retrieved August 5, 2006.] The second novel,
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist, has also been released by Viz in the US.
[[5]. VIZ Media. Retrieved August 5, 2006.] The third novel,
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Valley of White Petals was released on May 16, 2006.
[[6]. VIZ Media. Retrieved August 5, 2006.] All three novels are written by Makoto Inoue and translated into English by
Alexander O. Smith.
Trading card game
A
Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game was published in 2005. There are currently four releases, namely Premier Edition, Blood & Water Expansion, Artificial Human, and A Hero's Passing.
Alchemist's Gate and Seven Deadly Sins are the upcoming releases as stated on the official website.
[Fullmetal Alchemist TCG - Release Schedule. Joyride Entertainment. Retrieved August 5, 2006.]Concert Performances
During the month of December 2004, "Tales of Another Festival" was staged in Tokyo and Osaka, featuring performances by several of the musical artists from the television series as well as narrations by the voice actors/actresses. Excerpts of the events have appeared on several fansites, but a DVD release of the concert is rumored to occur in 2006.
*In the last episode, when Hohenheim buys a piece of fruit and remarks on the inflation, the year is listed as 1921. The inflation in Germany didn't begin until later.
* The unofficial American "first season" created by
FUNimation includes episode 26 and the unofficial American "second season" begins with episode 27. But because Episode 26 is the start of a new phase of the story and because of the change in opening/closing music/animation, it should properly be considered the start of the second season.
* In the anime's first run in Japan, it occupies the same Saturday 6 p.m. timeslot on MBS and TBS as
Gundam SEED (which it replaces); interestingly, many
seiyuu also voiced characters in both series, as well as the sequel to SEED,
Gundam SEED Destiny (which aired after FMA in the same timeslot).
* The word "fullmetal" derives from the practice of covering the tips of
bullets with hard metals so they will do less damage when penetrating the human body. A bullet coated this way is called a
full metal jacket bullet. The name was probably inspired by
Full Metal Panic which in turn originated from
Full Metal Jacket, a 1987 film by
Stanley Kubrick.
*
Adult Swim airs a special disclaimer before the episode Laws and Promises warning viewers of the violence in the episode, specifically saying that
Adult Swim would rather remove the episode completely than censor the blood and 'gore'. Fans applauded. Fullmetal Alchemist and
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex are the only two series on [Adult Swim] to have such disclaimers at first. Other shows have also gained similar disclaimers.
* Ed and Al are referenced in
Van Von Hunter.
*In the manga
Genshiken, the character Ogiue is a fan of Haregan, which is a parody of Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagaren is the Japanese name for the series, so the 're' and 'ga' were switched to make 'Haregan').
Official
*
FUNimation's Fullmetal Alchemist English version site*
Adult Swims official FMA show page*
Animax Latin America's website for Fullmetal AlchemistNon-Exclusive Sites
*
Fullmetal Alchemist at AnimeNfo*
Fullmetal Alchemist at TV.com*
Fullmetal Alchemist review at The Shadow Sun
