Customer Reviews

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Part 1 [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

While I was a huge fan of the original FMA anime, I'm going to have to out on a limb and say that this new series has,
insofar, provided more action, more character development, and more of almost everything else, than the first thirteen
of the 2004 series. There is (almost) no filler, and the plot moves along at a more satisfying clip than before.
The reason for this is that "Brotherhood" hews a lot closer to Hiromu Arakawa's original manga, and has a lot more
material to adapt than the first series. Those who were weary of the initial series' slow start need have no worries
with this new version.

The English voice acting is as amazing as ever, with the talented Vic Mignogna giving his all as tormented young
alchemist Edward Elric, the role which made him famous in the anime community. There are a few changes in casting,
the most noticeable being Maxey Whitehead taking on the role of Alphonse, Edward's bodiless younger brother, a
role original occupied by Aaron Dismuke (for those curious about that change: Dismuke's voice had matured too much
for him to be able to reprise the role; he does, however, play the part of Young Hohenhiem in "Brotherhood.")
Whitehead does a good job with the part, though, and diehard fans will get used to her voice after the first
episode or two.

The animation is top-notch, and looks especially good on the Blu-Ray release. The music is also phenomenal,
especially the excellent opening and ending themes by Yui and SiD, respectively. But really, would you expect
any less than great animation and music from the sequel to one of the most skillfully-animated and musically-interesting
anime of the past decade?

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" is one of the best anime of the year, for both fans of the old series and complete
newbies to the franchise. This set is a no-brainer purchase.

Animation: A+ (In a word: Gorgeous.)

Music: A+ (Some of the best BGM I've heard in ages, sandwiched between a catchy opening and ending theme.)

Sound (Dub): A+ (Just as good as the original, especially the outstanding Mr Mignogna.)

Sound (Sub): N/A (didn't watch; I didn't like the Japanese V.A.s in the first series, so I suspect I won't like them here.)

OVERALL: A+ (One of the finest anime I've seen in years, and a great addition to anyone's collection.)

The original series is over, done, ended. No more will we see anything from along that arc. That was how it was planned by both anime creator and manga creator. The manga author asked the anime people not to end the Fullmetal series the same as the manga, at least the first time around. However, in an act of appeasement to the Fullmetal Alchemist fans, the anime was recreated this time following the manga arc more closely.

In order to impress upon the audience that this isn't going to be a continuation of the first series, the first episode is completely original and occurs right before Ed and Al head off to Liore. After that it follows the manga with a few exceptions. Because certain parts of the manga were already done in the first series they decided to skip it if it weren't part of the main plot. The confrontation on the train and in the mining town is left out this time, though, hinted at later.

The episodes which are a rehash of what was reliably done in the first series, everything up to the Greed episode, comes across as rushed, getting only an episode per act instead of stretching it out. However, once we encounter Greed things slow down a bit, since this is all new material. People say this series is more lighthearted than the original but when you read the manga you find it's similarly lighthearted. As the plot rolls along, however, it does grow darker.

This series has nothing to do with the first one that arrived to the States in early 2004 and we can all expend one collective sigh of relief for that.
Though the first series was decent in its delivery, this remake has surpassed it in every single way. It stays pleasingly faithful to the manga and its original, intricate storyline, leaving behind the major plot deflections seen in the first series.
The characters themselves are authentic, agreeable and just all around engaging. You find yourself bonding with them on a really intimate level, to the point where you are feeling their pain, sharing their joy and smothering in their hatred. I am personally not an English dub fan myself, but on this series, I had to call an exception. Most of the original voice actors from the 2004 series have strapped their Fullmetal shoes back on and returned to deliver impeccable and emotionally charged performances native to their characters.

As for animation, it ranks as one of the best with very well-executed battle scenes as you would expect from such an action-packed series, but it also has that gripping drama and slapstick comedy to balance out the very shonen constitution. It blends these three prominent traits together flawlessly, and you are left with a grand experience worth every single penny. If you are an anime fan, there is no reason why this should not be on your shelf.

To start... I LOVED the first series. I thought it was great and the animation and story were fantastic. That was before I knew the truth.

That being said, after watching pretty much up to the current Japanese release of the subbed series I have to be honest. The first FMA series was as if you asked someone to read the first chapter of a book and 'guess' what the rest of the story was. The only thing FMA has going for it was to most of the audience it was first. If Brotherhood was first, FMA as people know it would never have existed.

Brotherhood tells the CORRECT story in a more meaningful way with a REAL conflict that makes sense. For those who do not know, the first 13 episodes of Brotherhood and the first half of the original series are following the same story and it takes a DRASTIC change after episode 13...

Some *KEY* aspects that are explained about the core foundation of the series don't get explained until after episode 13 which means that the 'first' series basically is just flat out WRONG about things. The Truth, The true reason Hughes is killed, The true origin of Homunculus, Transmutation without circles, Ed and Al's Father and Father... key facts about the series as a whole and the raw mythology in Brotherhood is *SO* right and makes the original series *SO* wrong.

Lots of people will dislike this release. Because this release is going to be season 1 which mostly duplicates events from the original series in a more condensed way. They will feel it is like a re-animated retread of the existing story than what it is... the real story told correctly. I honestly feel they did this series a disservice by not releasing the set in a 26 episode format which will get most viewers *FULLY* onboard with this series when they begin to see the drastic and meaningful differences in the story. You will see that the gravity of this series blows the previous one to shame and makes it almost so unwatchable once you know the true story.

Do yourself a favor, commit to the series. If you liked the original series, if you watch at least to the mid 20's where the major aspects of the true plot are shown, you will be hooked and will never go back. You may want to wait for the second release and watch the first two DVD releases together if you can't handle the comparisons of the first 13 episodes.

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Intro
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To put it simply, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a masterpiece. I have watched many, many anime series, but very few can compete against this show's amazing production quality and high budget. Everything about the show is extremely polished and done very well. All of the characters are multi-dimensional, interesting, and unique in their own way. The world is filled with rich history and described very well that it gives the feeling that the world really exists and has existed well before the events in the show. The soundtrack perfectly fits the anime and is definitely rememberable. The work of the passionate creators shows and really sucks you in, and before you know it, you will be craving for more and more.

One thing that really impressed me was the choreography of the fights. I have been training in martial arts for a long time in many styles including Kung Fu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kendo, Freestyle wrestling, and more. So, I enjoy watching (and sometimes scrutinizing) fight scenes. Typical Shonen Anime battles (like those of Dragonball Z, Naruto, and Bleach) show characters screaming and attacking with a colored background filled with speedlines followed by a big explosion or dust cloud. But not this show. Every fight is well choreographed and every punch, kick, strike, or explosion is shown with great form. Particularly, the swordsmanship that is shown in later episodes is remarkably well done.

Most Animes with such high budgets start out very well and slowly spiral downward in terms of production quality and refinement. However, in this series, it's just the oppisite. The show starts out with very high production quality and ends with near anime movie-like animation and sound. I don't want to give any plot details away, because it's a work of genius with many twists and turns and enough events to bring out a variety of emotions. Pardon me for my vagueness; I just don't want to spoil anything for you! So, go out and watch it!

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Differences Between Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
~~~~~~~

I will be short and to the point without giving away any plot spoilers.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an alternative version of Fullmetal Alchemist. Both the 2009 Brotherhood series and the 2003 original series are adaptations of the Fullmetal Alchemist Manga created by Studio Bones and licensed in the USA by Funimation. The first 30 episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) correspond to the first 15 episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009). FMA continues on to create its own anime-created ending after episode 30, whereas FMA: Brotherhood continues following the manga storyline to the very end. In a sense, it's two different stories that start similarly and share many of the same characters.

The 2003 series was created when the manga was about one fourth of the way done. The original series (2003) followed the Manga for the first 7 manga volumes, then when on its own path around episode 30 in the anime. The 2003 series has its own ending which is different from the manga. The 2003 series also included anime adaptations of some of the stories in the FMA novels. The movie Conqueror of Shamballa follows immediately after the 2003 series, but has no connection to the manga or the 2009 Brotherhood series.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is another anime adaptation of the manga, however it more closely follows the manga right to the very end (manga chapter 108/volume 27). Since Brotherhood has more manga to work with, it moves at a faster pace than the original 2003 series and has a larger world with more characters. The series also has 64 episodes (split into 5 parts), which is 13 more than the original 2003 series which had 51 (split into two parts). Brotherhood has no connection with Conqueror of Shamballa, but it does have its own movie in the works called "The Sacred Star of Milos" which will be a side story.

I highly liked the original, but this just blew me away. It's absolutely incredible in my opinion, and I recommend this over the original. You do not need to watch the original 2003 series to understand Brotherhood or vice-versa (actually, it may be even better for you that way.) If you did watch the original series, you have a bit of a headstart since you already are introduced to the characters - just try to push the events after episode 30 out of your head. Honestly, it's easiest to think of FMA (original) and FMA: Brotherhood as completely different shows with different stories that just have the same beginning and share many characters.


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If you have any further questions about the product itself, differences between the 2003 and 2009 series, or anything else, please ask me in a comment. I check the comments of all my reviews every few days and would be happy to answer any questions.

i like the anime,but it has a minor flaw.
the english subtitle did not sync well with the japanese dialogue.
there's always 1-2 seconds of lagging .
i do hope the company will notice and correct it.

First, a recap. Six years ago, Fullmetal Alchemist was released in Japan, one year later, in America. I never thought anything of it until I finally caught an episode on Adult Swim. It interested me enough to warrant the purchase of the DVD's, and let me tell you, I fell in love. The tragic and heart-wrenching tale of two brothers who lost it all in a futile attempt to bring back a loved one from death. It was great anime, and more importantly, a great story, weaved perfectly into a complete package of action, drama, and true emotions. It started off with a bang, and ended... well, it could've been better. See: Fullmetal Alchemist The Movie - The Conqueror of Shamballa Fast forward 4 years, and the great people of Japan want to re-release FMA, but instead of the original story of the first series, it follows the manga. In other words, this is the way FMA was intended to be. Now, I do not own this, as it has not come out yet (obviously.) I have, however, watched the Japanese subtitled episodes of Brotherhood (up to episode 54, at the time that I wrote this,) and I do have to say, it tops the first series in every single aspect. The animation is more beautiful and fluid, the story is on a much grander, and epic scale than the first. The characters are more complicated (specially if you watched the first series,) and the action is on par with anime classics like Evangelion and Akira (and yes, I compared this to Evangelion AND Akira.) I will warn, however, that there are spots during this series that are harder to get by than others, in particular, the first 13 episodes, which feel like a recap of the first series. It might even seem like more of the same. Still, after the real changes in the story come, you'll see that this is a very, very different Fullmetal Alchemist. It's more adult, and darker, more violent and gut-wrenching, all wrapped up in one series that truly lives up to the word, EPIC. In other words, this series comes highly recommended to fans of anime, of art style cinema, and to fans of a great story. Now, about the Blu-Ray. Just an FYI, this series was aired in Japan in 720p High Definition. The rips I have seen looked outstanding on a HD display via Playstation 3. I can safely assume that Funimation will do a fantastic job on this transfer, a la Evangelion 1.1 You are (Not) Alone. So, to anyone that is curious about FMA:Brotherhood, or fans of the original, get ready to get involved in one of the most amazing anime series of all time.

This is my first review but this series deserves all the acclaim it can get. Before anything I want to point out a few interesting facts about the series in general:

First of all, this is a shounen series. This genre is typically made for younger males with action-oriented storylines and a more subtle approach to relationships. This generally is a male dominated field but Fullmetal Alchemist is made by the brilliant female manga writer, Hiromu Arakawa. That's right, girl power.

This series is the manga practically adapted panel for panel into full animation. The previous animated installment was actually simply a takeoff from the unfinished manga which Arakawa approved that the studio writer's took full creative license over. The result is two VERY different entities.

A fun fact is that most of the military characters are named after a military transport vehicle or weapon. Also interesting is the use of alchemy that is directly referencing real-life alchemist philosophies and approaches.

All that being said I'll dive into the real meat of the review. This story is one of the most emotionally provacative stories ever told. There is a richness and depth to plot as well as characters. Everything has a motivation and personality. There are so many good things to be said that have already been stated so I'll try and stick to some really important points.

For one thing, the females in this series are not just fanservice or love interests. These are powerful leading ladies that are just as in charge as the men. They don't need men to come and save them, or if they do then you can bet they return the favor. Role models of every type abound from a single mother that would do anything to support her two sons and love a husband that was also a 'monster' to a tank-riding BAMF that looks death in the face and laughs.

That's not to say that the men aren't fantastic as well. Instead of falling into the usual mold of male lead and side characters these guys make new definitions for themselves. There's no one word used to describe each guy, nor just one trope. They are complex and behave with a reality to them that breathes new life into character development.

Another thing is that the 'villains' are just as corrupt as the 'heroes'. No one is free of guilt or full of evil. There are real moral questions brought up that will have you thinking about them later. How far would you go to bring someone back to life? Is it right to murder a murderer? Are the opressed the only victims of war? These are deep and heartfelt subjects that are examined under a microscope.

Subtlety is key in the delivery. Sometimes the most innane thing will turn out to be an important key in a huge plot twist later. Everything is worth paying attention to! The most dynamic and important relationships between characters are sometimes only vaguely hinted at. It's all in the looks, the meaningful pauses, and the casual conversations just as much as it is any embrace or shouted sentiment.

One more important thing is that people die. People that you come to care about and empathize with. They stop being characters after a while and become people to you, just like you go from viewer to participant. Tears will be shed, laughs will bubble up, and hearts will be moved by what transpires.

This is storytelling at it's very greatest!

Also, both the original subtitled version AND the English dub are perfect. The performances are award-worthy and while I'm more partial to Romi Pakku's job as Edward Elric, I'm not adverse to Vic Mignogna's take. The acting is top notch, as well as the art and music. When just a song can make your eyes well up with tears you know you've found a gem.

I only have one real complaint in regards to this version versus the original Fullmetal Alchemist. One very essential character to the plot gets significantly less screen time than he did in the previous intstallment. His role was emphasized for emotional impact due to what would become of him. While his fate was handled beautifully in Brotherhood I don't feel like he got the same development as he did in the first.

For that reason I have the same opinion as other reviewers that say to watch the original Fullmetal Alchemist first. Believe it or not, the emotional link you feel with this guy carries over into Brotherhood so that when he has his big moment it feels the way it should: Profound and devastating.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a storyline to get lost in. This isn't mindless action or insipid fluff: It's a cerebral thrill ride and emotional rollercoaster not for the faint of heart of weak in mind.

(Please note that this review is for the complete series of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and not just the first part)

Are there any newcomers to FMA anymore? If so, they're in for a treat.
Although in many respects I prefer the original Bones production of the series (2003) and admire its remarkable emotional depth, wonderful score, and stellar voice-acting, I must also give credit to this revamped version, which is almost entirely loyal to Hiromu Arakawa's manga.
It isn't quite as evocative as the first anime, but the story is truly more developed and mesmerizing here - the other anime started too early and the author hadn't quite written enough for an entire series. Brotherhood, nearly a decade later, has a lot more plot to work with and continues to follow Arakawa's remarkable story adeptly throughout.
Why they chose to start the series with a filler episode is beyond me, but all the same, it does justice to the characters and the new animators.
A warning, however - the animation is a bit jarring and often feels too playful for the seriousness of the content. Give it time. The bombastic approach is somewhat lessened as the series carries on.
The dub is highly recommended; Vic Mignona is irreplaceable as Ed and gives Romi Paku, the Japanese actress who portrays him, a run for her money.
Next month, both Brotherhood and the FMA manga are officially ending. For fans of the anime genre, this is a milestone.
It's well worth the effort. Enjoy it while it's hot.

So other reviews will already give you a synopsis of what the series is about so I'll spare you the details and skip right to the blu-ray review and what I think about it.

Picture:
Nice and crisp, but with some artifacts. I was expecting more out of the video quality, but as it stands, it looks only a bit better than its dvd counterpart. Why this is cheaper than the dvd version here on Amazon I wonder?
Nevertheless, for the most part, picture quality is solid. Studio Bones work their magic in being a pioneer of production value, even if some of the backgrounds appear fuzzy at times.

Sound:
Here's where it really shines in my opinion. The sound is clean and great. Got surround sound? You're in for a treat and it pulls you in. The English voices leave something to be desired. Vic Mignogna reprises the role as the titular character, Edward Elric and delivers the lines you'll expect from the character, complete with "chibi" jokes and such. The rest of the cast is great, though I don't like Scar's new voice actor. The Japanese audio, of course, is great and features the original cast (as far as I know).

Extras:
Sadly this is where it falls short. With only commentary on the first and 10th episodes. I was hoping for some production stills and behind the scenes, but you'll find none of that here. Some extras such as trailers and such doesn't seem enough. Comes with 4 extra art postcards..and while they look neat, I was hoping for more stuff.

In General: The release gets 3 stars for the blu-ray edition, but I bumped it up to 4 for the content itself, and that is the episodes.
For those of you who have not seen Fullmetal Alchemist before, now's a good time to start. This release follows the original manga more closely, but speeds through this section as it was covered in depth in the first release. So some character development for characters like Hughes Maes remains a bit shallow.