1) Cross Game [] Clannad series
2) Monster [] Avatar: The Last Airbender
3) Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
4) Baccano!
5) Code Geass R1 [] Death Note (First Half)
6) Usagi Drop
7) Berserk
8) Now and Then, Here and There
9) Kids on the Slope [] Code Geass R2 [] Death Note (Second Half)
10) B Gata H Kei [] Daily Lives of High School Boys [] Avatar: Legend of Korra [] Cowboy Bebop
If you break things down a bit then it becomes clear. At the start of the series Al has a childish obsession with being a better alchemist than his dad, and Ed like any younger brother goes along with Al. After their mother dies Al is the one who decides to violate the taboo - his obsession has turned darker and twisted into anger at his father, and in order to prove that he really is better he attempts to do something that no one has ever achieved.
After the events of that night Al's bitterness at being the cause of everything causes him to seek the philosopher's stone and return Ed to his original body, but this is the important bit - Al never comes to terms with the fact that years have passed in their search because of his obsession with returning Ed to his original body. If he had, then Ed would have returned to a more mature body with all of his memories intact. The fact that he didn't highlights the extent of Al's obsession.
There are other clues to the underlying theme in the show too. Everyone who violates the taboo has done so because they were obsessed with one thing or another - in the case of Ed and Al's teacher it was the loss of her child. In addition to this the way that the homunculi are "born" and the manner in which they are named also points towards the underlying theme of obsession. What most people don't realise is that the seven sins all grow from seed that is planted when a person becomes obsessed with something.
You can watch both, as they're very different versions of the same story. They're both completely standalone series, even though the 26 episode anime seems to have gone up in smoke.
I hear a lot about it. 50 episodes are a bit too much for me atm, since I've got more priorities and somehow not much time to watch anime (exams..etc), but if the first episode caught my attention then I'd probably marathon it easily after I finish my exams. Though just wondering, do you watch Space Bros.? :P
The point I was making was about the reason why one series ended with Al back in his body from the night that he and Ed attempted to resurrect their mother - but without any memories of his journey with Ed for the Philosopher's Stone, his brother's sojourn as a State Alchemist, the homunculi, or any of their adventures from the last several years.
Then we have the way Al ended up in Brotherhood - in his body that had aged alongside time in the outside world, physically weak, but retaining all of his memories.
By comparing the outcome for Al, it's possible to extrapolate the driving force behind Ed's personality - which is obsession in the original adaptation. Ed is more the typical shounen hero in Brotherhood, but he has a much darker and more driven personality in the original adaptation - which is why the comedy didn't really fit well with that series.
At episode 238 from One Piece you're just getting started. There's a lot of backstory to come in the Enies Lobby Arc and further on. Luffy goes way beyond the stupid then badass shounen mc at various times but always keeps his funny character. That's who he is. The Enies Lobby arc has also some brilliant fights for you and more background on the world of One Piece and especially Robin. If you are not sure that 300 more episodes are worth watching just check out some AMV's. Always helped me. Spoilers a bit but who cares. Find some more on my profile. ;)
It's hard to tell if you will grow to like Nana more if you keep watching but there's quite some more happening than just Hachi's first relationship breaking. I've seen quite some drama show but Nana is by far the most mature and realistic one regarding decisions and over all story. Being sick of all the school kids crying about love in anime might have pushed Nana ahead as well. But that might be age difference as well.
Seems so. The only reason he's posting all this on my profile is because I posted that comment on your profile. He seems to think I'm a troll for some odd reason. But why take him seriously when I can confuse him by spamming his wall with stuff from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air?
All Comments (21) Comments
If you break things down a bit then it becomes clear. At the start of the series Al has a childish obsession with being a better alchemist than his dad, and Ed like any younger brother goes along with Al. After their mother dies Al is the one who decides to violate the taboo - his obsession has turned darker and twisted into anger at his father, and in order to prove that he really is better he attempts to do something that no one has ever achieved.
After the events of that night Al's bitterness at being the cause of everything causes him to seek the philosopher's stone and return Ed to his original body, but this is the important bit - Al never comes to terms with the fact that years have passed in their search because of his obsession with returning Ed to his original body. If he had, then Ed would have returned to a more mature body with all of his memories intact. The fact that he didn't highlights the extent of Al's obsession.
There are other clues to the underlying theme in the show too. Everyone who violates the taboo has done so because they were obsessed with one thing or another - in the case of Ed and Al's teacher it was the loss of her child. In addition to this the way that the homunculi are "born" and the manner in which they are named also points towards the underlying theme of obsession. What most people don't realise is that the seven sins all grow from seed that is planted when a person becomes obsessed with something.
Hope that helps.
The point I was making was about the reason why one series ended with Al back in his body from the night that he and Ed attempted to resurrect their mother - but without any memories of his journey with Ed for the Philosopher's Stone, his brother's sojourn as a State Alchemist, the homunculi, or any of their adventures from the last several years.
Then we have the way Al ended up in Brotherhood - in his body that had aged alongside time in the outside world, physically weak, but retaining all of his memories.
By comparing the outcome for Al, it's possible to extrapolate the driving force behind Ed's personality - which is obsession in the original adaptation. Ed is more the typical shounen hero in Brotherhood, but he has a much darker and more driven personality in the original adaptation - which is why the comedy didn't really fit well with that series.
Hope this helps.
It's hard to tell if you will grow to like Nana more if you keep watching but there's quite some more happening than just Hachi's first relationship breaking. I've seen quite some drama show but Nana is by far the most mature and realistic one regarding decisions and over all story. Being sick of all the school kids crying about love in anime might have pushed Nana ahead as well. But that might be age difference as well.
But I gotta say, your sig is both mesmerizing and terrifying. I love it.