First off, I'd like to start off by saying that FMAB is my first anime ever so bias is inevitable. However I will try to address the criticisms. Do note that while criticisms exist, they do not take away from my personal overall enjoyment of the series. Others might see it differently which is completely fine. I'm writing this review because lots of people in the anime community believe FMAB to be overrated. While I might not change your point of view, hopefully I can at least give you some reasons why some people (including myself) believe it to be one of the, if not
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the best anime of all time. I don't think it is necessarily a masterpiece, nor is any anime, but I believe it be very close. Every anime has its flaws, that is inevitable. However, what makes something a good anime is how its highs outweigh its lows and how others perceive the flaws.
Story (9/10) FMAB is an anime packed with twists and turns, an incredible journey throughout its whole. It's written with such delicacy and care, and strings along the viewer. There's a strong aspect of mystery surrounding the homunculi (main villain group) and their origins but there's something that makes that mystery incredible. We are given bits of info at a time that lead us to make inferences. And then those inferences are proven to be not quite right-in fact what we are given is far more exciting than what we had imagined. We are never given too much exposition or lore at once but at the same time FMAB is always making us ask the questions. And thankfully, unlike some anime that raise questions and don't answer them, FMAB does the opposite. It'll answer questions and then bring new ones to the surface. Or partially answer them wanting us to crave for more. And when the big reveal finally arrives it is incredibly epic. Lots of people criticize the first arc as being rushed, but personally, I think it does exactly what it needs to. Lots of anime dwindle on the setting up the plot but FMAB gets right to the point and gives us 10-13 episodes of action packed goodness right off the bat. I will say however, the Briggs arc was far too slow. It introduced the worst villain (Sloth) and the plot slowed down from its previous pace. However, the briggs arc sets up an amazing final arc which I think makes up for it. The Final Arc is perfect. It flows so well from battle to battle that it all feels like one massive final battle. It's epic and militaristic filled to the brim with emotion and high stakes. It embodies the desperation of the Brother's improbable quest and the journey to the final segment. Finally, all the arcs flow very well. Everything is relevant and nothing is forgotten. The only episodes that are one offs are the two fillers. The story get progressively more hopeful as it continues. Additionally events in the the first arc very relevant in the final arc.
Art (10/10) Not much to say here. I'm not huge on animation in general in anime so long as it's not Ex-Arm or Berserk. The animation was great for its time and still looks great now. Particularly the homunculi regeneration animations were impressive. The chibi very much retains its manga style which pays homage to the manga and I believe enhances the experience.
Sound/Music (10/10) The OST of FMAB fits perfectly. When it needs to be suspenseful the music is suspenseful, when it needs to be militarily grandiose it is epic, when it needs to be sad it is tragic. When listening to the OST on its own, you can even visualize the scenes that certain music is played in.
Character (10/10) This is definitely the most impressive aspect of FMAB. EVERY CHARACTER STAYS RELEVANT. Ed are not given too much power and require each other to balance one another. Ed is an alchemical genius but is lacking in combat. Al is vice versa. Together they are a strong duo but without each other they are limited. Ed in particular fights smarter, not harder. He doesn't sat some anime cliché when he loses like: "I wasn't strong enough" There is no boring training arc. He simply outsmarts the opponent when it is appropriate. He never wins a fight he shouldn't be able to win. The narrative digresses the focus from Ed and Al to all the side characters on several occasions. They all matter in the grand scale of things and fit perfectly in the beautifully written work of art that is FMAB. For one, the female characters are given more justice than almost any shonen out there. They are strong willed and take the lead while still preserving their femininity. Winry doesn't need to be a hard ass. She is Ed's mechanic and yet she is given so much more than that. Olivia is FMAB's answer to the Damsel in Distress cliché. Characters are not one note. They are given multiple dimensions and each have their own unique philosophies that are complex. For example, Kimblee is a psychopath, but he also serves as a realist to put Ed and Al's outlandish goals into perspective. He values non hypocrisy and consistency, something that the narrative needs. The side characters are all so relevant and this is barely touching the surface of all the characters.
Enjoyment (10/10) If you couldn't already tell. I love this series more than is probably healthy. I enjoyed every second of it. FMAB is often critiqued for its comedy, especially in the first arc when it is the most dark. Often, people say that the comedy takes away from the dark moments. But I think it balances out the darkness, not making it too edgy.
Overall (10/10) If you're looking for an anime with an incredible story, fitting music, a balanced magic system, a unique shonen, epic moments, deep themes, an amazing journey, a classic that lives up to the hype, then I highly recommend giving brotherhood a shot. Episodes 1 and 27 are optional and the dub is phenomenal (arguably better than the sub, which is not common) The manga is also great and has some cut content the anime does not include. Enjoy!
May 21, 2021
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
(Anime)
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First off, I'd like to start off by saying that FMAB is my first anime ever so bias is inevitable. However I will try to address the criticisms. Do note that while criticisms exist, they do not take away from my personal overall enjoyment of the series. Others might see it differently which is completely fine. I'm writing this review because lots of people in the anime community believe FMAB to be overrated. While I might not change your point of view, hopefully I can at least give you some reasons why some people (including myself) believe it to be one of the, if not
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