Full Metal Alchemist
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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 Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa|a movie sequel, as well as several spin-off novels and video games.
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 North America; last year the anime was voted #1 best liked anime of all time in Japan in a September 2005 TV Asahi web poll. It was put down for #1 again for 2006 in a recent poll.
Contents |
Plot
Fullmetal Alchemist is set in the early 20th century in a country called Amestris (Fullmetal Alchemist)|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 fantastic element not seen in real-life alchemy. Real-world alchemists attempted to transmute gold from lesser metals. 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 may apply to take a State Alchemist test to join the Amestris military's State Alchemists.
Edward and Alphonse Elric were children living in the rural village of Resembool in the country of Amestris (Fullmetal Alchemist). Their father, a talented alchemist, had left home when Edward was very young and Alphonse was still an infant. Years later, their mother, Trisha Elric, died of a terminal illness. After their mother's death, the two boys decided to attempt to revive their deceased mother using alchemy. 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. In the original Japanese, the term "Fullmetal" is used to describe a person who is stubborn. In the series it is often mistakenly attributed by minor characters to Ed's automail arm and leg, or Al's armor body.
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 the attention of their father so that he would come home. After seeing their skill at alchemy, Mustang suggested that the way for the two boys to achieve their goals would be to become State Alchemists and work for him. Spurred on by the man's proposal, Edward set 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 had 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.
Major characters
Characters of Fullmetal Alchemist
- Edward Elric—Fullmetal Alchemist's main protagonist: Edward "Ed" Elric is the titular Fullmetal Alchemist, though Al is occasionally mistaken for him because of his armored body. He has a prosthetic automail arm and leg, is of short stature, and typically reacts in an exaggerated manner to any remarks about his height. He 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 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 served as impartial doctors during the Ishbal rebellion, but were killed. In the anime, they were killed by Colonel Roy Mustang, however in the manga they were killed by Scar. It is left to speculation whether the military would have murdered them due to a dialogue between Kimbley and one of his men.
- State Military characters of Fullmetal Alchemist
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 Führer, the leader of the military.
Lt. Colonel Mäes Hughes—A member of the Investigations Division and a good friend of Colonel Mustang and the Elric brothers. He wishes to push Mustang up to Führer 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, Roy Mustang. She is especially proficient in the use of firearms.
- Main characters of Fullmetal Alchemist
Scar—One of the few surviving Ishbalans (In the manga, Ishvarlans). His real name is never revealed, 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 alchemic 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 using his alchemical skills.
- Homunculi of Fullmetal Alchemist
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-hearted, she is the first of the Homunculi encountered in the series. She has the power to extend her fingers into lances in the blink of an eye to use as a weapon, and is thus known in some translations as the 'Ultimate Lance'.
- Gluttony—A large figure who eats anything he can get his hands on, including humans and inanimate objects. He latches on 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. In the anime, Envy is clearly referred to as a male, but in the manga, Envy is known as an "it".
Terminology
- Alchemy—Alchemy within the Fullmetal Alchemist anime, put simply, refers to a three-step process. The steps are analysis (to understand the structure and properties of the substance that is about to be transmuted), destruction/decomposition (to break the substance down to its rudimentary properties), and reconstruction/recomposition (to rebuild the substance into another form or with different properties). 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. In both versions, rather than being a method of manipulating forms via their accidents (the basis of historical alchemy, derived from Greek philosophy), it is essentially modern chemistry without a reaction medium.
- 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. It appears to be a type of cybernetic technology, well ahead of real world cybernetics research. Edward typically has been seen altering his automail arm with Alchemy, refashioning it into a bladed weapon in the manga and anime.
- Equivalent Exchange—The rule that alchemists in the series consider to be the foundation of Alchemy, or even the fundamental law of the world: to obtain, 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 cryptic way of explaining the essence of alchemy, this phrase is used by Izumi Curtis to test whether the Elric brothers are worth teaching alchemy to. According to this, if a person were to die, as such there would be no material effect on the world. Since a human body is made up of certain basic elements, when a person dies, his or her body is decomposed and these elements are returned back to nature. These elements, in turn, provide nutrients to plants which, in their turn, become food for herbivores, which are then food to carnivores. This is the cycle of life, and the death of one person is insignificant while considering the whole cycle. However, without these individual deaths, the cycle cannot be maintained and hence the individuals as a whole are significant to the continuation of the cycle. Thus, the cycle of life can never be reversed. Understanding this and working with the cycle of life in order to create new things is what alchemy is about. In other words, as the Elrics put it, "the world is the all, and I am the one."
- State Alchemist—An alchemist serving in a special branch of the state military under the direct command of the Führer. 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; however, some alchemists, like Edward Elric, can transmute without one. 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.
- Philosopher's Stone—A legendary stone said to allow the holder to completely bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange. As with all things, however, to create a philosoper's stone requires the expenditure of raw materials: in this case human lives.
- Red Stone—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. A related material (that appears only in the anime) 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 bound 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."
- Chimera—A Chimera is the fusion of two or more different species into a single being created using alchemy.
- Gate of Alchemy—Also known as the "Gate of Truth" or just "Gate", it is said to be the source for all alchemical power. In the manga, 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. In the anime it is said that the Gate swings forward each time the energy for Alchemy is summoned, that there is a Gate inside everyone, and that all that is necessary to access the gate is knowledge of how to do so. It is also said that a weak link between the body, mind, and spirit is what calls the Gate - in other words, death. A baby, the anime posits, has a weak link between the body, mind, and spirit, and thus it is easy to summon the Gate using a baby. In the anime the Gate resembles Rodin's sculpture The Gates of Hell, but in the manga it is more akin to an obelisk, featuring the Kabbalahistic Tree of Life.
- Truth—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, enforcing the law of Equivalent Exchange.
- Rentan Jutsu—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 alchemists who have opened the Gate and seen the Truth. Human Sacrifices are a crucial part of the Homunculi and "Father"'s plan, but to what end is still unknown.
- Human Transmutation- a forbidden art. Attempts to create a human who had died. However, it takes something from the person who performs it (example: arm, leg or organ) but instead of creating a human, it takes the alchemist to the Gate, where he or she gains knowledge proportional to what was given up in the transmutation. In the Anime, each human transmutation attempt also creates a Homunculus
Manga
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 October 2006, there have been 64 chapters serialized and 14 Tankōbon released. Viz Media began releasing the manga in North America in May 2005;
Due to the fairly rapid rate that Viz Media is introducing the graphic novels (a new release approximately every two months), the English language translation is quickly catching up to the Japanese language 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, 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. However, recent controversy among fans began when the news broke that volume eight contains an edit in two panels.
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 September 2006, 3 volumes have been released.
Chapter guide
Note: Viz's official English translation titles through Chapter 37, unofficial Japanese translations thereafter.
1. The Two Alchemists
5. The Alchemist's Anguish
9. House of the Waiting Family
13. Fullmetal Body
17. The Boomtown of the Broken Down
22. Masked Man |
26. To Meet the Master
30. The Truth Inside the Armor
34. The Footsteps of a War Comrade
38. Counterattack, Signal, Fire
42. Father in Front of the Grave
46. Distant Backs |
50. Inside the Stomach
54. The Fool's Struggle
58. Footsteps of Ruin
62. Beyond the Dream
Gaiden: The Blind Alchemist
Gaiden: Tales of a Master
Gaiden: Simple People
Gaiden: His Battlefield Once More |
U.S. edits
So far the content of the manga released by Viz in the United States does not differ much from the original material. The only edit so far is one panel from volume 8 showing the Homunculus Greed tied (in crucifixion style) to a cross-shaped stone slab. In the U.S. version the stone was redesigned to become round-like, probably to avoid references to Christianity.
Anime
Production broadcast history
The animation studio BONES (studio) adapted the manga into a 51-episode anime series, produced by Sony's anime production unit Aniplex, which ran on Japanese television from October 4 2003 to October 2 2004. A one-hour Original Video Animation, 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.
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 (around the 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
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)
- Focus Filmes, across Brazil (Region 4)
- 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)
All thirteen DVD volumes, as well as the movie, The Conqueror Of Shamballa, have been released in the United States. A limited special edition of the movie is set for release on November 14, 2006. MVM has released the first seven volumes in the UK; volume eight is set for release in October with volume 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 group 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: FUNimation's 11th DVD volume incorrectly uses the first monologue (episodes 2-36) 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|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)
- Episode 51 - This is the only Full Metal Alchemist episode that doesn't end with music. Alphonse reads: "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. But the world isn't perfect, and the law is incomplete. Equivalent Exchange does not encompass everything that goes on here, but I still chose to believe in its principle: that all things do come at a price, that there's an end and a way, that the pain we work through did have a reward, and that anyone who's determined and perseveres will get something of value in return, even if it's not what they're expecting. I don't think of Equivalent Exchange as a law of the world any more. I think of it as a promise between my brother and me. A promise that someday we'll see each other again."
- Each of the theme songs were performed by artists under Sony Music Entertainment Japan's label, whose anime distribution unit, Aniplex, handled the production and music for the series.
- 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.
- Episode 51's ending is from the english version.
- 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 on DVD are presented on a black background.
- 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 Ludwig van 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 oboe, 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.
