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Fullmetal Alchemist (TV series)

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Fullmetal Alchemist (2003 anime)
Company typeAnime television series
IndustryAnimation
PredecessorFullmetal Alchemist manga by Hiromu Arakawa
FoundedOctober 4, 2003; 23 years ago (2003-10-04) in Japan
FounderBones (studio), Mainichi Broadcasting System, Aniplex
DefunctOctober 2, 2004 (2004-10-02)
FateFollowed by sequel film and second anime adaptation
SuccessorFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009 anime)
Headquarters
Tokyo
,
Japan
Area served
Japan, North America, United Kingdom, Canada, Asia-Pacific
Key people
Seiji Mizushima (director), Masahiko Minami (Bones president), Hiromu Arakawa (creator)
ProductsAnimated television series, DVDs, soundtracks, film
OwnerBones, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Aniplex
is a Japanese anime television production that draws loose inspiration from the original manga titled Fullmetal Alchemist, created by Hiromu Arakawa. This 51-episode series was developed by the animation studio Bones for Mainichi Broadcasting System and Aniplex. Under the direction of Seiji Mizushima, it aired on MBS in Japan from October 2003 through October 2004.

The story centers on brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who embark on a quest to find the Philosopher's Stone in hopes of restoring their bodies following a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life. At Arakawa’s suggestion, the anime diverges from the ongoing manga by introducing an original conclusion, resulting in a distinct narrative path halfway through the series. Despite this departure, the show received widespread praise from critics and viewers alike. The initial series culminated with the 2005 sequel film, Conqueror of Shamballa. Subsequently, a second anime titled Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which adheres closely to the complete manga storyline, debuted in 2009.

Plot

The anime’s first half adapts approximately the first six volumes of the manga, while its latter half draws from volumes seven and eight but incorporates significant alterations.[1]

Dante, once romantically involved with Hohenheim—the Elric brothers’ father—and mentor to their instructor, acts as the principal antagonist. Centuries prior, Hohenheim and Dante discovered techniques to create the Philosopher's Stone and attained immortality by transferring their souls into new vessels. Wracked with remorse over the countless lives sacrificed during the Stone’s creation, Hohenheim abandoned Dante. Although Dante retains the ability to transfer her soul using their final Stone, she refrains from producing another herself; instead, she manipulates homunculi to compel Edward, Alphonse, and other alchemists to forge a new Philosopher's Stone on her behalf.[2]

After Scar sacrifices himself along with 7,000 soldiers to create a Philosopher’s Stone, he integrates it into Alphonse’s armored body, prompting Alphonse’s abduction.[3] Edward attempts a rescue mission but is killed by Envy. Alphonse utilizes the Stone to bring Edward back to life, yet both vanish alongside Envy. Dante tries to flee but is slain by Gluttony—a homunculus whose mind she had previously destroyed. Once Edward is revived, he risks everything to retrieve Alphonse and ends up in Munich, while Alphonse regains his human form.[4]

Driven by his desire to reunite with Alphonse, Edward dedicates himself to rocketry research with hopes of returning home. The narrative reaches its conclusion in the film Conqueror of Shamballa, where Edward’s quest attracts the attention of the Thule Society, who mistake his world for Shamballa and aim to develop new weaponry for World War II. Dietlinde Eckhart of the Thule Society invades Amestris but is ultimately defeated by the Elric brothers, who decide to remain in Germany.

Production

The adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist was initiated by Bones president Masahiko Minami following recommendations from team members such as Yoshiyuki Ito, who recognized the manga's strong potential. Bones arranged a production agreement with the original creator Hiromu Arakawa and the publisher Square Enix.

Arakawa granted Bones considerable creative freedom, requesting that the anime feature an original conclusion separate from the ongoing manga storyline to prevent narrative conflicts and preserve her pacing. She actively participated in story consultations, assisting in developing content to complete the anime’s unique ending. Arakawa praised the distinctive depiction of the homunculi antagonists in the series.

Broadcast and release

This 51-episode anime series was directed by Seiji Mizushima with scripts penned by Shō Aikawa, produced collaboratively by Bones, Mainichi Broadcasting System, and Aniplex. Character design was handled by Yoshiyuki Itō. The show aired on MBS, TBS, and Animax networks across Japan from October 4, 2003, through October 2, 2004, securing an average viewership rating of 6.8%.

While Arakawa contributed to world-building elements, she did not serve as a scriptwriter for the series. In Japan, Aniplex released thirteen individual DVDs between December 2003 and January 2005, later issuing a comprehensive DVD box set in January 2009 that included the entire series, accompanying film, soundtrack albums, and guidebooks.

The English-language dub produced by Funimation debuted on Adult Swim in the United States on November 6, 2004. Canadian audiences could watch it on YTV starting March 2006. In the United Kingdom, broadcasts were carried by Rapture TV and AnimeCentral. Animax Asia handled distribution across regions including the Philippines, India, and South Asia.

Funimation distributed the series on DVD in North America from February 2005 until September 2006 and subsequently reissued it in two-volume sets in 2009 and 2010. Distribution rights in the UK transitioned from MVM Films to Revelation Films, with current rights held by Anime Limited, which has released collector’s edition Blu-ray sets; however, planned UK DVD releases have been on hold since June 2017. In Australia and New Zealand, Madman Entertainment initially launched thirteen individual volumes before releasing two-volume collections and a Blu-ray box compilation.

A set of five original video animations (OVAs), primarily side stories, were compiled as Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection in Japan during 2006. Funimation later acquired these OVAs and released their English dub version in August 2009.

Funimation’s licenses for home video and streaming of the Conqueror of Shamballa film expired on March 31, 2016, while rights for the anime series itself concluded on July 31, 2016. Following these expirations, the series was removed from authorized streaming services.

Film

Produced by Bones as a continuation of the 2003 series, Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa debuted in Japan on July 23, 2005. The storyline centers on Edward Elric’s attempts to return to his original world after spending two years trapped in a parallel dimension, while Alphonse strives to reunite with him. Funimation made the English-language DVD available on September 12, 2006.

Music and soundtracks

The score for Fullmetal Alchemist was composed by Michiru Ōshima and performed by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra at Mosfilm. This Japanese-Russian musical collaboration was coordinated by Tatiana Naumova, a Russian Japanologist turned entrepreneur. Released on March 24, 2004, in Japan, TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 1 features thirty-three tracks, including the series’ theme songs.

The Russian theme song "Brothers" (Russian: Братья, Bratja) became widely recognized as the main anthem of the 2003 anime; its lyrics were authored by Mizushima and translated by Naumova. Although an English rendition sung by Vic Mignogna, the voice actor for Edward Elric’s English dub, exists, it has not been officially released. Additional soundtracks followed: Original Soundtrack 2 (December 15, 2004) with thirty tracks and Original Soundtrack 3 (May 18, 2005) containing twenty-seven tracks.

Collections such as Fullmetal Alchemist: Complete Best and Fullmetal Alchemist Hagaren Song File (Best Compilation) were issued in Japan in 2004 and 2005 respectively. The American edition included a bonus DVD featuring a music video for Nana Kitade’s "Indelible Sin." The soundtrack accompanying Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa, comprising forty-six pieces, was released on July 20, 2005. In December 2004, a concert event named "Tales of Another Festival," showcasing performances by the series’ musicians and voice actors, took place; its DVD followed in April 2005.

Other

Three artbooks titled were published in Japan; however, only the first volume was distributed by Viz Media. An additional artbook related to the second anime adaptation, titled Fullmetal Alchemist Official Drawing Collection, was launched in November 2010.

A set of five fanbooks known as , offering extensive information about the anime along with interviews with production staff, was also released. Furthermore, between August 2009 and August 2010, four guidebooks focusing on the second anime series became available. An anime character guide called , was published both domestically in Japan and internationally in the United States.

The initial airing of the first Fullmetal Alchemist anime achieved a television viewership rating of 6.8 percent in Japan. In a 2005 "Top 100" poll conducted online and through nationwide surveys by Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi, Fullmetal Alchemist secured first place online and ranked twentieth overall in the survey. The following year, TV Asahi’s online poll again placed the series at number one.

Initial

The distinctive design of characters attracted positive remarks. Samuel Arbogast from THEM Anime Reviews found some of the flashback scenes to be distracting from the narrative flow. Lori Lancaster of Mania Entertainment praised the storyline as an exceptional tragic coming-of-age tale that skillfully blends action, drama, and humor, forecasting its status as a classic.

Some reviewers pointed out moments of excessive emotionality; Maria Lin from Animefringe observed limited character growth due to repetitive errors that weakened thematic impact. Jeremy Crocker of Anime News Network lauded the soundtrack’s diversity and nuance. DVDvisionjapan singled out both the opening and ending theme songs as particularly memorable.

IGN placed the series ninety-fifth among top animated shows, commending its combination of energetic action with profound explorations of human nature. They characterized it as "more than just an anime" — a compelling weekly drama — and included it in their list of "10 Cartoon Adaptations We'd Like to See," highlighting its strong character development.

Subsequent Reception

The second series, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, is generally considered to surpass the 2003 adaptation in quality. In 2019, comparisons were drawn between both anime and the concluding season of Game of Thrones, as each offered an original conclusion after diverging from their source manga.

Rose Bridges from Anime News Network commended the 2003 version in 2015 for its nuanced character arcs, interpersonal dynamics, ethical depth, humor, and socio-political insights. She highlighted that despite its intricate narrative, the series maintains a heartfelt and relatable essence, solidifying its status as an enduring classic.

In 2022, Juan Barquin of Paste magazine posited that the original anime adapts the manga more effectively than Brotherhood, focusing on its richer portrayal of characters’ emotional development and philosophical inquiries. Daniel Schindel of Polygon remarked in 2023 that while the 2003 series is narratively less polished and more chaotic, it delivers a rawer, more sincere impact with a daring artistic approach.

Honors and Recognition

The initial Fullmetal Alchemist anime achieved several accolades at the American Anime Awards, including titles such as "Long Series," "Best Cast," "Best DVD Package Design," "Best Anime Theme Song" for "Rewrite" by Asian Kung-Fu Generation, and "Best Actor" awarded to Vic Mignogna for voicing Edward Elric in English. Additionally, Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa received a nomination for "Best Anime Feature." The series also led the twenty-sixth Annual Animage Readers' Polls by winning categories like "Favorite Anime Series," "Favorite Episode" (episode seven), "Favorite Male Character" (Edward Elric), "Favorite Female Character" (Riza Hawkeye), "Favorite Theme Song" ("Melissa" by Porno Graffitti), and "Favorite Voice Actor" (Romi Park, Japanese Edward). At the fifth Tokyo Anime Awards, it earned distinctions for "Animation Of The Year" (Conqueror of Shambala), "Best Original Story" (credited to Hiromu Arakawa), and "Best Music" (by Michiru Ōshima). Furthermore, in the 2006 About.com American Awards, Fullmetal Alchemist was honored with "Best New Anime Series" and "Best Animation."

External links

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