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This is definitely a funny series. It incorporates all those stereotypes we know and joke about, and also informs about some they used to have in war time (as in what the Italians would say when they were at gunpoint in war). However, if it's good satire on accurate history, you won't find it here. Each episode is only five minutes long, so you already know it'll be rushed.

Simple things like the way the relationships between different countries are presented aren't really true. Yes, France and England hate each other, but then there's the enactment of the American Revolution that, like I've said before, is ... totally inaccurate.

Yes, I know, it's a cartoon, but I love history and I can't help pointing out little details when it comes to all those little flashbacks and also presentation of certain aspects of their personalities. Still, if you need a quick history lesson with dates and funny characters, don't expect a great grade, but it can certainly make the subject more interesting if you're one of those people that history is simply a hard pill to swallow.

The very first episodes gave me high hopes. They cut to the chase, seeing as Yuu and Miki's feelings since then (though, it's more true for Miki than Yuu). I thought it was a very cute show, and it sure kept me entertained for some time, but I'm not the one who usually likes such long series.

The whole story depends on various love triangles. That seems to be each of the characters' main conflicts. I'm sorry, but there's more to romance than just some other person getting in the way. I found it funny that there was only one episode called "Love Triangle," I mean, ... why not just name the whole darn show that?

The characters were okay, still when it's something that long, I found it disappointing to find the characters, though round, they were all static. None really changed, as far as I got anyway.

It's just one of those stories you watch just to finish it. I couldn't do that. It might be interesting for a while, but it sure gets old pretty quick.

Okay, let me start off by saying that in actuality there are 16, not 13, episodes. Be warned, however. I'm not going to tell you about the extreme violence and scary-crazy people, but rather, how confusing it can get.

I loved it, I really did, but because it jumps back and forth through a couple of years (i.e. it can go from 1932 to 1931 and back to 1932 in one episode) it can really get you confused. You see things happening, but your mind struggles to put it into chronological order. However, most of it makes sense at about episode 13.

Because we watch anime, it ... mus mean that our purpouse is to neglect most if not all work that is surrounding us at the moment, so I doubt any of you will pick up a paper and pen to note the events to help you out. There is another way of better keeping up, however. You can read online about the jist of the show to help you out some. Trust me, it won't spoil it while you're watching it.

Well, I'm not going to go into any more details. I need to watch AGAIN before I fully comprehend it.

Once again, a perfect 10 for FMA. Certainly, until episode 50, you'd never would have suspected this would happen, but they made it work. It was simply so absolutely amazing. If you are into those heart-wrenching, grief-stricken stories, like most of the series was, you won't be disappointed in the movie. It obviously doesn't follow the original plot of getting their bodies back. The 'after-plot' as I like to call it, was well developed, though. They are only trying to find each other, and the sacrifices they've made, it all really does come back to you, plus the new sadness it brings. I don't want ... to give too much away, so I understand if this feels a bit confusing. I really liked how they use our world in the story though.

Art: They use the original art from the show, and like in the show, the fight scenes were amazing. I especially love the body movements. They seem so natural, and yet so much more fluid and incredible. It really makes you think that some of the incredible stunts they do are possible

Sound: They only use like three different songs throughout the movie. The one for the opening credits wasn't too out-of-this world. There was a really short song though, that the Gypsies sing, which I really enjoyed. The trade-mark song for the movie, though (or at least the one I think to have made most of an impact) was the one for the very ending. 'Lost Heaven' was very appropriate and I believe it to be of great quality. In English, I think the character voicing was superb, as expected, and they all represented their characters well.

Characters: Trust me, this movie wouldn't seem so sad if you didn't feel for the characters. They are all very realistic I think. The German Hughes, I think, was a nice touch, since it's quite a contrast from Central Hughes. It's good because it makes you realize that even though they look the same, they're their own person. Of course, on the new characters, they couldn't elaborate too much because of time limit, but they did excellent in creating them. They are not flat, meaningless characters--they are part of the plot, from the very beginning too, even if you don't realize it at first. Also, I have to note, you can tell Ed's grown up so much.

Enjoyment: You'll probably hate the ending, but not because it's badly written or too cliche. On the contrary, I don't think there could have been a most befitting ending, but what HAPPENS will tare you apart.

I HAD to give it a perfect 10. I wish I could find fault with it, but I couldn't. I know I'm being utterly biased here, but you must forgive me.

Story: A classic 'journey' story. What I love about the plot is that when they were children, they had a quest already. To bring back their mom. They wanted it so badly. Then, when they lose their bodies, I mean, how much more motivation do you need? The intensity of the goal of returning to their normal bodies is so believable, even though the goal itself is not. It is so well written, that ... I don't even mind some of the filler episodes, because even then they learn something--like the nature of humanity, or, as I believe, foreshadowing for future events (Al's belief in Psiren's likeness to their mother).

Art: The background and the actual characters themselves are all well done. I really don't know what to say for this, but when I was about 11 or 12, it was what first attracted me to the series.

Sound: Although I'm not a fan of the first opening song, every other following it, I fell in love with. I've even downloaded some. I watched it in English, of course, and the voice-actors did amazing. They really did bring life to their characters. Sounded very realistic and I'm not disappointed. I'm glad some of them have come back to voice some of the characters in 'Brotherhood'

Character: I fell in love with them. The love both Ed and Al share seems so believable (since they still fight like normal siblings) but so intense as well. You feel the tragedy, you immerse yourself within their pain and strife. They really do grow up during the series. The romance between some of the characters is often subtle. Only hinted at in most instances, and although sometimes said out-right, nothing happens between them. I think that was very important since it shows something else they've lost in the path they've chosen.

Enjoyment: If you watch this, you won't be disappointed. You might not like it as much as I do, but it really is a work of art.

The second season was actually better than the first. It had a few new characters, and although they weren't elaborated upon, I think they gave the show some extra flavor. However, little else changed. The problem remains the same and the romance moves just as slowly. However, I did like how they emphasized more on the class distinctions and the problems that they face or would face. In the first season, it seemed like empty words when they talked about low and high class, in this season, that problem is further defined.

The beginning theme, I'm disappointed to say, was pretty bad. They simply got the ... old one and added some worse sounding instruments. I don't think it sounded or fitted to well.

There's little else to say, since I don't care to repeat myself. Any thing else has already been said in my review of the first season.

At the beginning, I was very much fascinated by it. It seemed to get directly to the point and have the plot going right away. However, that didn't last long. The romance seemed a little dragged out, and although I did enjoy it, I think it moved to slow to keep the interests of the majority of the anime-watching population.

The art, I actually became fond of it after a couple episodes. The faces seemed a bit too round for my tastes, and sometimes looked a bit big, but after a while it seems perfectly fine. I do have to say, I've never seen so many ... blonds in a show before.

The beginning theme was very intriguing. It was soothing, almost like a lullaby, but something that lifted your spirits rather than making you drowsy. I think it was very well composed.

Once again, it moved slowly, even with only 12 episodes. You get a feel for who the characters are, but they don't change very much. Static characters aren't necessarily bad, but I prefer characters who go through ordeals that noticeably change them. The protaganists to change some what, but I don't think they made it obvious enough to emphasize the amount of emotion involved. And on the subject of emotion, Emma seemed completely void of them sometimes. I don't want her to be a whiny little baby, but I certainly don't want her going around with such a usual serious face when supposedly she's gotten her heart broken for the first time.

At twelve episodes, it doesn't really advance as much as one hopes it would. It moved very quickly and fluidly, which I liked, but by the end of the series, the relationship between Edgar and Lydia is very much the same. I did enjoy the romance during the series, though, and I think it was quite cute.

I liked how the manipulated all this myths and legends to fit the story. They really made them look quite different from what I imagined. Of course, it has something to do with anime's superficial nature. Some of the creatures they mentioned I never expected to have human form, ... and if they did most stories always add that they were but deformed representations of what they once were.

The music was cool. I really liked listening to it, but like any theme music, after watching a show continuously you sort of grow bored of it.

Again, I must bring up the point of it only had 12 episodes. For this reason I understand that the characters weren't meant to have really changed. It's not a fault, because they really handled it quite nicely. The characters were three dimensional, even though they didn't changed. It's not as if they had some stagnant personality. You see a couple sides of them as the series progresses.

Over all it was short and simple and cute, and I think that made all the difference.

Story: It was really quite a story. I think the plot progressed at just the right pace. It does linger on Kotoko's unrequited love, but they do it tastefully. Of course, it was quite predictable since they do end up together (no shocker there). But feminists, BEWARE!

Art: I liked the art style, but I don't think there was anything absolutely amazing to it, then again, I'm not much of an expert on that and I certainly don't know what to look for in this category. Most of the characters were pleasing to the eye, though. Oh, but there is the fact that, physically, most of ... the characters don't seem to change, except for Non-chan and Naoki's little brother. They do address this, though, when the police in Hawaii stops Kotoko and mentions how he thought she was an elementary school girl.

Sound: I would have given it a ten, UNTIL I heard them speak English. It was truly embarrassing, it all honesty. I adored the music they featured, but again, the way they spoke English was a real turnoff.

Character: I really don't like that I had to give a ten to the characters. They were round and quite well developed, I think, but as mentioned above, you can tell how anti-feminist the whole show is. I really angered me, but I can't lie, I enjoyed the show. Almost all the girls in a relationship are slapped across the face at least once. I'm quite tired of anime always showing a girl in love with her superiors (money wise, I understand, funny enough, but intellectually? I'm sorry but men are no match the most women when it comes to brains. Also, what is wrong with Kotoko? Crawling after some guy? And when they're married, he get's angry at her she excuses it with "it was my fault." And Chris does the same thing, but she degrades herself in order to follow that guy. I would never give a guy the light of day if they didn't already like me, and even if they did, I probably won't like them either. However, you do grow attached to the characters. The predicament is quite believable, after all. I know many a smart men and women who end up married with someone with no intelligence (only difference is that Kotoko remains loving and faithful, which I respect.)

Enjoyment: Like I said, it was credible. This Shoujo actually evolves into a Slice of Life anime, though towards the end, I think it resembles the Novelas I secretly watch sometimes. This is quite a show for someone who wants to let go of reality for a while, though it is believable, I sincerely believe a relationship like that would never last long. But it was cute after all--just like reading about magic; it's not real, but you can still dream about it =)

Special A was anything but special. It was very cliche, but it's hard to avoid that in shoujo anime. There was nothing mind-blowing about neither the music or the art.

The story is pretty basic. In all honesty, I don't really think there is such a thing as orginality, but it's up to the people writing or directing to make it seem real. We know Shakespeare based Romeo and Juliet off a book someone had already written. How many times have we heard the story of 'I must defeat him...oh, wait I just found out he loves me?' but the issue isn't whether it was original ... or not, it's simply that they didn't know how to move the plot efficiently.

To me, one of the most important, if not the primary, thing to a story is character. If you have believable characters, then the audience will automatically simpathize and invest their own emotions into those characters. Yes, it is a comedy. Most of the things in the show defied the laws of physic, to say the least, but take Akira for example. The problems of her past evolving Yahiro really gives her more depth. As compared to Hariki who mentally retarded but ended up in the S.A. anyway. They should have developed a bit more of the characters. What's the point if it's just the same thing again and again? Yes, we know she thinks of him as his rival, but wouldn't it be more interesting if she had become aware of her own feelings on her own and had to defeat him in order to prove to herself she wasn't in love? Or what if he suddenly let her win (and I'm not talking about that crap challenge with the flower) what would she have done? Would she have realized that she probably really didn't want to win?

What I'm saying is that there could have been so much more done to make them more human. Why doesn't he let her win, anyway? Does he feel she'll love him that way?

That aside, though, I really liked the less fictional aspects of the show. It wasn't TOO bad, in all honesty. I won't watch it again, and I got bored about half way though, but hey, it had it's good parts. I can't think of any NOW, but I remember liking somethings....