Why is this adaptation so underappreciated?

Dec 12, 2021 12:58 PM

Offline

Apr 2021

61

SooBasicc said:
I did some research about FMA 2003 and it once had one of the highest scores on MAL, now it's an 8.13. While I do prefer FMA:B, it feels like this adaptation doesn't get the same respect even though it's nearly as good.

it is good but the ending man, it ruins it all. It even had a sequel movie and i thought that would solve the ending but nah i think it made it more f-ed up, thats why this adaptation is underappreciated.

Dec 12, 2021 1:00 PM

#3

SooBasicc

Offline

Sep 2021

171

Flexylol said:

SooBasicc said:
I did some research about FMA 2003 and it once had one of the highest scores on MAL, now it's an 8.13. While I do prefer FMA:B, it feels like this adaptation doesn't get the same respect even though it's nearly as good.

it is good but the ending man, it ruins it all. It even had a sequel movie and i thought that would solve the ending but nah i think it made it more f-ed up, thats why this adaptation is underappreciated.

The ending wasn't as good as Brotherhood's but for an original work, it's pretty good.

Dec 12, 2021 1:02 PM

#4

Flexylol

Offline

Apr 2021

61

SooBasicc said:

Flexylol said:

it is good but the ending man, it ruins it all. It even had a sequel movie and i thought that would solve the ending but nah i think it made it more f-ed up, thats why this adaptation is underappreciated.

The ending wasn't as good as Brotherhood's but for an original work, it's pretty good.

yeah the work is good and thats fax, ngl.

Dec 12, 2021 1:04 PM

#5

Azuchi

Isekai Trucker

Offline

Oct 2015

2216

I enjoyed brotherhood more due to it went further ahead compared to the original. Can't remember sh*t from those though. But I know I enjoyed the original very much too.
Guess since it's more new and people somehow start to rate anime because of animation, which is stupid, so they skip the original and go straight for the newer one.

"You only realize the real value of something you discarded when you get the chance to pick it up again." - Rudeus Greyrat

Dec 12, 2021 1:08 PM

#6

NicoGv

Offline

Jun 2015

4

I personally think that there’s a negative view towards anime original plots, partially due to some less than stellar ones that have plagued other series. I also see a lot of FMA:B fans who recommend the series by saying something along the lines of “watch Brotherhood, NOT the original FMA, it’s bad!” which just turns more people to blindly hate the 2003 adaptation without even giving it a fair chance. Many people hated the ending of 2003, but I personally found it to be a great way to wrap up all the dark themes that are present in the anime-only episodes. I also found that the 2003 adaptation had a very unique approach to the hommunculi which made them easier to empathize with. The underappreciation comes from blind hate. Sure, Brotherhood might be the more solid and well written show, but one being better than the other does not mean the other is bad.

Dec 12, 2021 1:13 PM

#7

MasterShifu_

Offline

Sep 2020

112

I really liked this version of FMA but the ending was TERRIBLE, and the sequel movie was even worse

Dec 12, 2021 1:21 PM

#8

BloodyTaer

Offline

Oct 2017

1320

I disagree, i think it deserves an even lower score for being such an uneventful, boring, cringy show, same goes for FMAB

Dec 12, 2021 3:13 PM

#9

samthestan

Offline

Mar 2021

694

I have a list: the messed with the magic system, philosopher stones are hard candy homonculus eat, Al is a philosophers stone, cyborg, Scar becomes unsympathetic, parallel universe, killing a homonculus is an arduous process. Those are off the top of my head.

Dec 12, 2021 3:42 PM

#10

Sq33k33z

Offline

Oct 2021

551

samthestan said:
I have a list: the messed with the magic system, philosopher stones are hard candy homonculus eat, Al is a philosophers stone, cyborg, Scar becomes unsympathetic, parallel universe, killing a homonculus is an arduous process. Those are off the top of my head.

Bro you seriously just called alchemy magic shut up man. And some of these don't even sound like criticisms. Like "killing a homunculus is an arduous process." Yeah so what? How is that a criticism? These are some serious nitpickings so I doubt these are off the top of your head.

Sq33k33zDec 12, 2021 3:58 PM

Dec 12, 2021 3:49 PM

#11

Sq33k33z

Offline

Oct 2021

551

I agree, it is under appreciated. I love FMA:B, but I prefer FMA 2003 more. And I don't care what others say but I thought the ending was great. I have yet to see Conqueror of Shambala but I haven't heard great things about it but I might watch it someday. But if it is bad it won't change my opinion of FMA 2003 and I'll just consider the show's ending the real one and forget about the movie. I guess it's like NGE, which I have yet to see, but I've heard that the show ends one way and the movie ends another way, so I guess that would make it up to you to decide which is the real ending. But I could be wrong I haven't seen it yet.

Dec 12, 2021 4:35 PM

#12

samthestan

Offline

Mar 2021

694

G1vemeaname said:

samthestan said:
I have a list: the messed with the magic system, philosopher stones are hard candy homonculus eat, Al is a philosophers stone, cyborg, Scar becomes unsympathetic, parallel universe, killing a homonculus is an arduous process. Those are off the top of my head.

Bro you seriously just called alchemy magic shut up man.

Fiction 101: When writing fiction, authors will grant their characters powers and abilities. However, they are limited by a certain system of rules and laws. That's what a magic system is. It's not always called magic though.
For example: Naruto's magic system is Chakra. Ninjas draw Chakra from themselves to perform a variety of jutsus. A ninjas is limited by the amount of Chakra they have.
FMA's magic system is alchemy. Alchemists can gain something if something of equal value is sacrificed. An alchemist's is limited by the amount of materials they can work with.
That's what I mean by magic system. So through the lens of writing fiction, yes alchemy is magic.

Dec 12, 2021 6:51 PM

#13

Sq33k33z

Offline

Oct 2021

551

samthestan said:

G1vemeaname said:

Bro you seriously just called alchemy magic shut up man.

Fiction 101: When writing fiction, authors will grant their characters powers and abilities. However, they are limited by a certain system of rules and laws. That's what a magic system is. It's not always called magic though.
For example: Naruto's magic system is Chakra. Ninjas draw Chakra from themselves to perform a variety of jutsus. A ninjas is limited by the amount of Chakra they have.
FMA's magic system is alchemy. Alchemists can gain something if something of equal value is sacrificed. An alchemist's is limited by the amount of materials they can work with.
That's what I mean by magic system. So through the lens of writing fiction, yes alchemy is magic.

I'll admit, you got me on that one (though you still called a power system based on science a magic system, which is kinda ironic right?) But your other points are still shit

Dec 12, 2021 6:53 PM

#14

samthestan

Offline

Mar 2021

694

G1vemeaname said:

samthestan said:

Fiction 101: When writing fiction, authors will grant their characters powers and abilities. However, they are limited by a certain system of rules and laws. That's what a magic system is. It's not always called magic though.
For example: Naruto's magic system is Chakra. Ninjas draw Chakra from themselves to perform a variety of jutsus. A ninjas is limited by the amount of Chakra they have.
FMA's magic system is alchemy. Alchemists can gain something if something of equal value is sacrificed. An alchemist's is limited by the amount of materials they can work with.
That's what I mean by magic system. So through the lens of writing fiction, yes alchemy is magic.

I'll admit, you got me on that one (though you still called a power system based on science a magic system, which is kinda ironic right?) But your other points are still shit

Yeah, name wise, power system, magic system etc... They're pretty interchangeable, it depends on which college professor you ask. As for my other points being shit, agree to disagree. Those are my reason for disliking 03. If you disagree with them, that's fine.

Dec 12, 2021 8:51 PM

#15

Tyraq

Offline

Aug 2020

1658

It's pretty decent imo and I like the dark story of it but I guess once FMAB cane out FMA because overshadowed.

Dec 12, 2021 11:33 PM

#16

NEMESIS95

Offline

Oct 2020

1285

Probably couse of the whole "it doesn't follow the manga" routine. I mean for an original ending it still is a pretty good anime. Even though i watched brotherhood first, i still enjoyed this adaptation.

Dec 12, 2021 11:56 PM

#17

Crack

Offline

Feb 2021

2347

Yall stop the cap about the ending being bad it was fast but it made sense thematically if you think about it

Dec 13, 2021 12:44 AM

#18

PikaboyTK

Offline

Feb 2021

573

Most people usually shit on this adaptation just because it doesn't follow the manga. The reason why it's popularity has become non-existent is due to the general consensus of anime original plots being bad or the ending being shit.

In my opinion, FMA 2003 doesn't deserve the hate, it's as good as Brotherhood and even better in certain aspects.
I also don't get the hate towards the ending. It had good build-up and made sense. It doesn't follow the generic showdown between heroes and villains and also doesn't involve our protagonist just punching his way to victory.

Dec 13, 2021 6:25 AM

#19

InvaderFred

Offline

Oct 2020

109

I personally didn't hate the ending all that much, rather, I just thought Dante was a crummy end game final boss villain. I'm sure it doesn't help that I completed brotherhood first though.

Dec 13, 2021 6:34 AM

#20

outoft0uch

Offline

Apr 2020

125

Idk I love this adaptation

Dec 13, 2021 6:53 AM

#21

M3X1

Offline

Jun 2021

111

The problem is the ending and 2009's version.Most of the people only watched FMAB not this version.And the ending is really bad and rushed tho and the sequel movie of this only make it even worse for me.

I came 💦😣 I saw 👁👄👁 I came 💦😣 I saw 👁👄👁 I praise the Lord ✝🙏💯 then break the law 💲🔫 I take what's mine 🤔<- then take some more ✡💲 it rains it pours 💦☔ it rains it pours 🌧🌈

Dec 13, 2021 7:24 AM

#22

Tiago_

Offline

Jan 2021

7

Am i the only one that prefers the animation in the first adaptation?

Dec 18, 2021 11:21 PM

#23

Shoryuuken

Offline

May 2009

3529

This version was swimming in the 8,70´s until brotherhood dropped.

Steam: Zeemanhuismerk

Dec 29, 2021 1:15 PM

#24

Zanfroni

Offline

May 2018

194

When MAL started, this anime had around an 8.88 score (you can search on Youtube about timelapse videos about MAL). When Brotherhood dropped, everyone started hating on this anime because.... it's not the true adaptation I guess.

I started watching Brotherhood first and disliked it immensely. It's full of issues and most
people completely overlook them either because they let their emotions cloud their judgement or they are simply conditioned to call it a masterpiece because the general consensus is that "it's a masterpiece" (which is bullshit). This one made me appreciate Brotherhood more as just a grand, entertaining adventure, while this one is the real strong story, so I can't thank this anime enough.

As time is passing, though, people are slowly starting to appreciate this one more, so I guess there is that. As for 2003 and Brotherhood scores, they're absolutely irrelevant, especially on this website, where it's basically fanboy wars and review bombing other anime. It's disgusting.

"No one hates anime more than the anime community, which is composed of some of the most spoiled, immature, pessimist and ungrateful people on Earth."
-Anonymous anime watcher

Jan 5, 2022 3:35 PM

#25

YuudaiK24

Offline

Nov 2021

1

Because it's different. People just prefer faithful adaptations for some reason. Though the world building is smaller than the manga/Brotherhood, I think character development and most plot elevents are better implemented. Some other events aren't very good, but Brotherhood isn't perfect either. Personally the ending is good, ignoring the rushed movie. It's my favorite version though Fullmetal Alchemist is awesome whatever the adaptation you're watching

Jan 10, 2022 11:25 PM

#26

Crack

Offline

Feb 2021

2347

Contrary to what most people think, I think the ending is almost perfect. Definitely better than the manga's ending imo. I'm just a huge fan of the direction this anime took compared to the manga

Jun 17, 2023 10:33 PM

#27

-Hermit-

Offline

Mar 2021

797

Back in the day, this was rated as one of the best around, now it's like people go around downvoting it because Brotherhood exists.

Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 51 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 ) ItsMeAndrea - Dec 21, 2008	174	by AsunaQueen »» Nov 11, 1:33 PM
Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 25 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) enkil - Jul 13, 2009	116	by ballsofwhimsy »» Oct 8, 1:55 PM
Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Kotori - Jul 1, 2008	114	by GETNAKED »» Oct 4, 9:30 AM
Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 ) enkil - Jul 4, 2009	88	by ankaralaiho »» Sep 28, 2:27 PM
Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 9 Discussion ( 1 2 ) brendon14 - Oct 19, 2008	67	by Pinkyminky87 »» Sep 9, 3:55 PM

Why is this adaptation so underappreciated?

More topics from this board

Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 51 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 )

Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 25 Discussion ( 1 2 3 )

Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 3 )

Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 )

Poll: » Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 9 Discussion ( 1 2 )

Preview MangaManga Store

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters