FMA

Full Metal Alchemist

“Humankind can not get anything without first giving something in return.
To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.
That is Alchemy's first law of equlivant exchange.
In those days, we really believed that to be the world’s one and only truth.”

            These are the opening words to what is considered the greatest anime of the 21^st century, Full Metal Alchemist. (FMA)

Full Metal Alchemist is considered the most successful anime in the United States. What captures people’s attention to this show is the main plot. As young boys  Alphonse (Al) and Edward (Ed) Elfric live out in the country helping their mother around the house, and playing with their next door neighbor Winry Rockbell. The boys have never known their father. When they were just babies, their father abandoned them, with no word where he went to. The boys later discover in their father’s old study room books about alchemy. Alchemy in reality is the science of creating things from other objects. The greatest thing an alchemist can do is turn rocks into gold. But in FMA alchemy is put on steroids. Basically you can turn dirt into swords, forts, etc….. Their mother was shocked to find out that the boys were studying the art of alchemy. She didn’t want to discourage them from it. But didn’t want them knowing that their father was an alchemist. Three years after the boys discover alchemy, their mother gets very ill and is bedridden. The boys want to find her a cure using alchemy, but there attempts fail. Weeks into the sickness their mother passes away. The boys are taken in by Winry’s grandmother who tries to comfort them during their mourning process. Saddened by their loss, the boys decide to do the only thing alchemists are forbidden to do. Use alchemy to bring back the dead. The boys attempt this but fail, and they pay a price. Al loses his entire self going into a whole different world, to bring him back, Ed sacrifices one arm, and one leg. In doing this Ed is given back Al’s soul, which he fuses with a body of armor. After fusing Al, Ed collapses from blood loss. Al rushes him to Winry’s grandmother’s house, who bandages him up, saving his life. Al can no longer feel, eat, or sleep, and Ed is forced to get prosthetic "automail" limbs, which are attached to his nervous system so that he can fully function his automail the way he does his actual limbs. Ed makes the decision to become a State Alchemist. A State Alchemist is someone who is hired by the country to research the different uses for alchemy while being funded. Ed wants to find a way to get Al’s body back and try and rewrite his wrongs. So the boys head for the State Capitol…..

Full Metal Alchemist was the first actual anime series that caught my interest. If it wasn’t for my brother and I watching this, I don’t think I would have become an otaku. This show has many great themes, commitment, compassion, love, fear, and hatred. These themes all combine to make this 51 episode show, a true classic to the genre. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for something new or different to watch. Fair warning though, after about episode four you will be addicted!