Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric… Who can’t love them? They are both alchemists, they can use the science of alchemy, in which you can use raw materials to modify or create a totally new object. It is based on the principal of “equivalent exchange”, where in order to gain something; you need to lose something of equal value.
Van Hohenheim, their father leaves them when they were very young. Their story starts off with their mother dying for terminal illness. But their undying love for their mother gets them determined to bring her back through alchemy, especially Edward. They commit the taboo of Human Transmutation trying to bring her back. Unfortunately they fail, and in exchange, Alphonse’s body is lost along with Edwards left leg. Edward immediately sacrifices his right arm in attempt to save his younger brother from his demise. But he only manages to affix his soul into a suit of armor. Edward replaces his right arm and left leg with automail, advanced prosthetic limbs, by the brothers’ close family friends, Winry Rockbell and her grandmother Pinako. The brothers now embark on a journey in search for the legendary Philosopher’s Stone, which can defy the principal of equivalent exchange and help them restore their bodies without anymore sacrifice. But little did they know the secret behind Philosopher’s Stone.
This Japanese manga was written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The manga has 108 issues, where one issue would come out each month. It was going on for about 9 years, and only recently it ended, in June 2010. It was tough waiting all those days! Before the manga was complete, an animated series of 51 episodes came out, Fullmetal Alchemist. The beginning was the same, but the story later changes a lot from the original. That series is still good in its own respect. A movie came out relating to that and a new one has been announced! And finally we got what we were all waiting for in 2009! An animated series of 64 episodes based on the actual manga, Fullmetal Alchemist : Brotherhood.
The story is excellent; it will touch your heart. It portrays all aspects of life so wonderfully and yet this is all fiction! It shows love, affection, hate, anger, sacrifice, patience, mercy, the ability to forgive, tears, joy, most importantly the brotherhood and so much more! Especially the way they actually show the love that the two brothers have for each other is so emotive. As you follow the series, you will feel your love grow for the characters. The voice casting has been done so well in both series, in Japanese and in English, it is so good. I mean one of the episodes even made me cry!
If you did not watch this anime, then you missed it! Watch it, trust me, you will love it! For those of you who do not watch anime, well I never took them seriously until I watched this one. Give it a chance, it will totally change your view on anime.
