I watched Brotherhood when I was a kid, a long time ago; I recently finished the 2003 version and am now reading the manga.
That said, what a damn masterpiece. I won't say it's the greatest thing ever, but I love stories with more Western narrative structures. Fujimoto is my favorite author, and FMA has a perfect conclusion; honestly, it's hard to find something like that in Japanese manga, since those kinds of stories don't usually become that popular.
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the manga; it's perfect. Of the three versions, it's my favorite.
Brotherhood was already pretty perfect, but watching the 2003 version changed my mind about the first half. It can be enjoyed as a standalone work (I watched it without even knowing the manga existed), but the 2003 version has a better introduction—not to mention I loved the soundtrack and the ending. I know it's controversial, but the idea of connecting the story to the real world—specifically World War II—fascinated me; I wish they had delved deeper into that.
Still, for a series dealing with somewhat dark themes, that bittersweet ending is brilliant. It’s like having the best of both worlds depending on your mood, since the manga's ending is beautiful too.
Roy is on the same level as Hajime Saito as one of the most imposing and awesome supporting characters; I love that they made him incredible without turning him into an asshole with the emotional depth of a rock—which is how these characters usually end up.
I always loved Ling; Al is such a noble, well-balanced character that it's impossible not to like him; I adore Izumi, Hawkeye... honestly, I love all the characters.
Ed is the best of the bunch and my favorite character. I have a soft spot for arrogant, badass characters, but only if they can back up that attitude with actions (Gilgamesh is my other all-time favorite), and wow... this 12-year-old kid had more guts than most adults. And that is saying a lot, considering he is constantly surrounded by military personnel twice his age. Even when he gets beaten up, he never backs down from anything.
I have only two criticisms: The anime's comedy can get really grating; I understand it’s typical of its era, so I won't dwell on it, but reading the manga makes it clear that they exaggerated it heavily.
The romance is handled very well, considering it isn't the central focus; I loved how the situation with May and Al evolved from a mere crush into something genuine, but it lacked official confirmation... Arakawa, what happened there?
As for Ed and Winry... I have mixed feelings about them.
I loved them in the manga; in fact, Ed is much more of a jerk and far more abrasive there, so I really back Winry up when he crosses the line and she puts him in his place.
Winry is much more likable in the manga—she’s even endearing—though she certainly has a temper (because otherwise, you couldn't survive dealing with Ed, who is basically a male version of Izumi). The manga manages to sell her as a strong woman without falling into that loathsome trope of the "annoying, violent woman with the emotional regulation of an amoeba whom all the men in the show fear for no reason."
Unfortunately, that’s the dynamic they chose for the anime adaptations, and those are precisely the versions that either put me off (the 2003 series) or leave me indifferent (Brotherhood); in fact, I absolutely hated the Rush Valley arc in both animated versions, even though I loved it in the manga.
Still, their ending is beautiful. Did I read somewhere that they had six children in total? Ed was always precocious and highly competitive, but I find it touching that they wanted a large family—with plenty of siblings for their firstborn—especially considering everything they both went through.
Roy and Hawkeye are wonderful; I like that their relationship is implied rather than made official. That fits the "forbidden love" dynamic and the deep bond they share—a connection that goes far beyond mere marriage. Plus, it’s obvious they get curious when no one is looking, hahaha
I loved the themes; the Dwarf in the Flask is fantastic and ties everything together perfectly with Hohenheim and Ed (I adored Hohenheim—a true martyr).
The whole concept of Pride... honestly, it all fits together so well. The themes are deep enough to make you think, yet not so complex that they come across as pretentious. I appreciate it when a mangaka opts for simple but well-executed ideas rather than trying to pass off elementary-level philosophy as a profound work.
The only thing I felt was missing was a deeper dive into the themes of race and war; however, I understand why exploring them thoroughly could be controversial. Given the nature of politics, those discussions always tend to veer toward extremes and upset a lot of people.
It fell a little short in that regard, but I’m satisfied with the result; plus, the military plotline is one of the most coherent I’ve ever read.
Anyway, FMA is clearly a timeless masterpiece—it has stayed at the top for nearly three decades. It’s a shame I joined the fandom so late, but oh well—that’s just how it goes.
P.S. What do fans call themselves here? "Fullmetalers"? I’d love to hear a German dub of this series; Ed is clearly a metalhead, so why aren't there any videos of Ed set to Rammstein music🔥?
