Anime Review: Full Metal Alchemist

Review Full Metal Alchemist Written by WarpshadowRating Excellent

I know there are about four of you out there that haven't seen Full Metal Alchemist. To those people, I ask why not, do you not know what you are missing?

It is forbidden to attempt bringing back the dead using alchemy but when the mother of Edward and Alphonse Elric died they felt they had to try. The result literally cost Ed an arm and a leg but Al even more as his entire body was lost in the process and had his soul attached to a suit of armor to give him a semblance of life. The military takes notice of Ed and offers him the orpportunity to become a state alchemist. As that offers the only possibility to gain the power to put his and his brother's body back together Ed heads for the capital to take the exam.

The usual conflict in anime are simple and set in black and white. Full Metal Alchemist throws this all out the window and presents a story with shades of grey and is presented with complexity and maturity. Characters from the main character to the supporting cast are very different than the usual fate for a shonen adventure show. Although it does have it's ups and downs like every show Full Metal Alchemist will metaphorically hit you in the gut a couple of times while watching it and truly make you think a couple other times. This is one of the new classics of anime that should be watched by just about anybody who claims to be an anime fan.