Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist (which is also known as Hagane no Renkinjutsushi in Japan), is an anime based on a manga written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The anime was produced by Studio Bones, and directed by Seiji Mizushima. The fifty-one episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist aired on MBS-TBS and Animax from October 4, 2003 to October 2, 2004. There is also a theatrical film, Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa, which opened in Japanese theaters on July 23, 2005. Five Fullmetal Alchemist OVAs were also produced. FUNimation Entertainment holds the North American licensing rights for Fullmetal Alchemist.

Edward Elric is the “Fullmetal Alchemist,” and is also the youngest State Alchemist in history. He and his younger brother, Alphonse Elric, are alchemists who tried to bring their mother back to life through alchemy. In the process, Edward lost his left leg and right arm, and Alphonse lost his entire body. Edward sacrificed his right arm to affix the soul of Alphonse to a suit of armor.

Roy Mustang, the “Flame Alchemist,” finds the brothers, and convinces Edward to become a member of the State Military of the country in order to find a way to recover their bodies. Edward’s missing limbs are replaced with two sets of automail (which is a kind of prosthetic limb), and the automail is maintained by his childhood friend, Winry Rockbell. Edward and Alphonse go on a journey to search for the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary artifact that would allow the brothers to recover their bodies.

The main antagonist of the series is Dante, the leader of the homunculi. The homunculi are artificially created humans created by Dante to help her create a Philosopher’s Stone so she can prolong her life. The seven members of the homunculi are named after the seven deadly sins (Lust, Gluttony, Envy, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, and Pride). It turns out that Winry Rockbell is being used as a hostage by the homunculi in order to keep the brothers subservient to the military.

Fullmetal Alchemist is an anime that utilizes religious imagery and themes. There is also a little bit of blood that appears in the series. Fullmetal Alchemist is not an anime series aimed at younger viewers, and this fact was recognized when Cartoon Network aired the series as part of their “Adult Swim” block. Personally, I would recommend Fullmetal Alchemist to anime viewers who are fifteen years of age and older.