Man, I still remember the first time I binged Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Sprawled on my couch with a bowl of ramen, I was completely unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster that would consume the next few weeks of my life. This isn’t just another anime – it’s THE anime that even non-anime fans end up loving.
Released back in 2009 (yeah, it’s been that long!), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has managed to hold its ground as one of the most critically acclaimed anime series of all time. But what makes this reimagining of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga so special? Why does it continue to resonate with viewers more than a decade later? Let’s dive deep into this masterpiece and figure out why it’s still considered the GOAT by so many fans.
The Story: Not Your Average Shonen Adventure
The plot kicks off with two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who commit the ultimate taboo in alchemy – human transmutation – in a desperate attempt to bring their mother back from the dead. Spoiler alert: it goes horribly wrong. Ed loses an arm and a leg (literally), while Al loses his entire body, with his soul bound to a suit of armor by Ed’s quick thinking.
This catastrophic failure sets them on a journey to find the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary artifact that might help them restore their bodies. Simple enough premise, right? Well, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
What starts as a personal quest quickly spirals into a massive conspiracy involving the military, homunculi (artificial humans named after the seven deadly sins), neighboring countries, and the dark secret at the heart of their nation, Amestris. The beauty of Brotherhood’s storytelling is how it weaves together personal struggles with large-scale political intrigue and philosophical questions about humanity, sacrifice, and equivalent exchange.
Unlike most shonen anime that drag on forever (looking at you, Naruto fillers), Brotherhood tells a complete, tight story across its 64 episodes. There’s no filler nonsense here – every episode moves the plot forward, develops characters, or expands the world in meaningful ways. The pacing is practically perfect, balancing action-packed sequences with quieter, character-driven moments.
Characters That Feel Like Real People
Let’s be real – many anime suffer from one-dimensional characters who can be reduced to a single personality trait. Not Brotherhood. Even minor characters who appear for just a few episodes have distinct personalities, motivations, and arcs.
Ed and Al are some of the most well-developed protagonists in anime history. Ed, the “Fullmetal Alchemist,” is a complex mix of genius, stubbornness, compassion, and rage. He’s short (don’t tell him I said that) with an equally short fuse, especially when someone mentions his height. Despite his tough exterior, he carries immense guilt over what happened to Al and will do anything to make things right.
Al, despite being a seven-foot suit of armor, is the gentler, more thoughtful brother. There’s something profoundly moving about this character who can’t feel physical sensations, eat, sleep, or even cry, yet remains so fundamentally human in his outlook and emotions.
The supporting cast is equally stellar. Roy Mustang, the ambitious Flame Alchemist with plans to become Führer (the leader of Amestris). Winry Rockbell, Ed’s childhood friend and automail mechanic who’s way more than just a potential love interest. Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, Mustang’s loyal subordinate with deadly accuracy and a backbone of steel. Major Armstrong, whose muscle-flexing antics provide comic relief while hiding a genuinely kind heart.
Even the villains are fantastically realized. The homunculi aren’t just evil for the sake of being evil – each has distinct personalities and motivations that make them fascinating antagonists. Father, the main villain, has a philosophical outlook that challenges the heroes not just physically but ideologically. And characters like Scar, who walk the line between ally and enemy, add layers of moral complexity to the story.
Themes That Hit Different
Brotherhood doesn’t shy away from heavy themes, tackling them with a maturity that’s rare in mainstream anime.
The concept of equivalent exchange – the primary law of alchemy stating that to obtain something, something of equal value must be lost – extends beyond just the mechanics of alchemy to become a philosophical framework for the entire series. The show constantly asks: What is the true cost of progress? Of power? Of revenge? Of redemption?
The series also takes a hard look at war, genocide, and military corruption. The Ishvalan Civil War and its aftermath serve as a brutal backdrop that informs many characters’ motivations and traumas. Characters like Mustang and Hawkeye must reckon with their participation in atrocities, while others like Scar embody the rage and pain of the oppressed.
Religion and science clash and intermingle throughout the series, raising questions about faith, knowledge, and hubris. The series doesn’t provide easy answers to these philosophical dilemmas, instead inviting viewers to contemplate these issues alongside the characters.
Perhaps most powerfully, Brotherhood explores what it means to be human. Is it our physical bodies? Our souls? Our capacity for both great compassion and terrible cruelty? Through characters like Al (human soul in an inhuman body) and the homunculi (human-like bodies with artificial souls), the series constantly challenges our definitions of humanity.
The Animation: Studio Bones Flexing Hard
Studio Bones absolutely knocked it out of the park with Brotherhood’s animation. From the fluid fight scenes to the subtle character expressions, the quality remains consistently high throughout its 64-episode run.
The action sequences are where the animation truly shines. Alchemy battles are visual spectacles, with transmutation circles glowing, matter reshaping, and elements exploding across the screen. The fights between the Elric brothers and the homunculi are particularly impressive, showcasing unique powers and fighting styles for each character.
What really sets Brotherhood apart, though, is how the animation enhances the storytelling. The color palette shifts to reflect the tone of different scenes – warm, golden hues for hopeful moments, cold blues and purples for despair, and harsh reds for violence and rage. The character designs are distinctive without being over-the-top, making even background characters instantly recognizable.
And can we talk about that opening sequence? The first opening, “Again” by Yui, paired with those visuals, still gives me goosebumps. Each of the five opening sequences not only slaps musically but also subtly foreshadows upcoming events without spoiling them.
The Soundtrack: Underrated Brilliance
Akira Senju’s musical score for Brotherhood deserves way more credit than it typically gets. The soundtrack perfectly complements the series’ emotional range, from heart-pounding battle themes to soul-crushing tragic pieces.
The main theme, “Bratja” (Russian for “brothers”), captures the essence of Ed and Al’s journey with its melancholic yet hopeful tone. Action scenes are enhanced by tracks like “Crisis in the North” and “The Intrepid,” while emotional moments hit harder with pieces like “Trisha’s Lullaby” and “Rain.”
What makes the soundtrack exceptional is how it blends various musical styles – classical orchestration, folk influences, military marches, and even jazz elements – to create a cohesive sound that feels uniquely tied to Brotherhood’s world.
The World-Building: Alchemy, Politics, and Culture
The world of Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most thoroughly realized settings in anime. The pseudo-European early 20th century aesthetic provides a familiar backdrop, but it’s the details that make it feel alive.
Alchemy itself is presented as a science with clear rules and limitations rather than convenient magic. The requirement for equivalent exchange creates genuine obstacles for the characters, forcing them to be creative and strategic rather than simply powering up to overcome challenges.
The political landscape is equally well-developed. Amestris is a military state with clear hierarchies, internal factions, and complex relationships with neighboring countries like Xing, Drachma, and Aerugo. The cultural differences between these nations – from Xing’s alkahestry (their version of alchemy) to Ishvalan religious practices – add depth to the world.
What’s particularly impressive is how the series integrates its fantasy elements with historical parallels. The genocide of the Ishvalans echoes real-world ethnic cleansing, while Amestris’ militaristic government evokes fascist regimes of the early 20th century. These parallels give the fantasy setting real-world weight without becoming heavy-handed allegory.
The Humor: Perfectly Balanced
Despite its heavy themes, Brotherhood never forgets to make you laugh. The humor serves as crucial relief from the tension, often appearing just when things are getting too dark.
Ed’s explosive reactions to being called short, Armstrong’s shirt-ripping muscle displays, and the running gag about nobody recognizing Al as the Fullmetal Alchemist provide consistent laughs throughout the series. The chibi-style comedy moments (where characters suddenly become cartoonish) might seem at odds with the serious tone, but they actually work perfectly to break tension without undermining the drama.
What makes the humor work so well is that it’s character-driven rather than random. The jokes arise naturally from established personality traits and relationships, making them feel organic to the story rather than forced comic relief.
Brotherhood vs. The 2003 Series: The Eternal Debate
I can’t talk about Brotherhood without addressing the elephant in the room – the original 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime. Both are good, but they’re fundamentally different beasts.
The 2003 version diverged significantly from the manga since it was produced while the manga was still ongoing. It created its own original ending and took the story in a darker, more philosophical direction. Brotherhood, released years later, follows the completed manga much more faithfully.
Brotherhood benefits from having the complete story to adapt, resulting in better pacing and a more satisfying conclusion. However, the 2003 version does spend more time on the early parts of the story, giving more emotional weight to certain characters and events that Brotherhood rushes through (like Nina Tucker’s tragic story – still not over that one).
Personally, I think Brotherhood is the superior overall experience, but the 2003 version has its own merits and is worth watching for a different take on the same premise. Many fans recommend watching both, starting with the 2003 version and then moving to Brotherhood.
The Impact: A Gateway Anime That Stands the Test of Time
Brotherhood’s influence on anime and its fandom can’t be overstated. For many Western viewers, it served as a gateway anime that introduced them to the medium’s potential for complex storytelling. Its consistent ranking at or near the top of “best anime ever” lists speaks to its enduring appeal.
What makes Brotherhood special is its accessibility. You don’t need to be an anime expert to appreciate it. The themes are universal, the characters relatable, and the story compelling regardless of your familiarity with Japanese animation conventions.
The series has influenced countless other shows with its approach to power systems, world-building, and character development. Its success demonstrated that anime could tell complete, complex stories with philosophical depth while still delivering the action and spectacle that draws many viewers to the medium.
The Flaws: Yes, It Has Some
No show is perfect, and Brotherhood has its issues. The early episodes move at a breakneck pace, assuming viewers are familiar with the 2003 series or the manga. This rush through early material means some emotional beats don’t land as strongly as they could.
Some side characters, particularly female ones, don’t get as much development as they deserve. While characters like Hawkeye and Olivier Armstrong are well-realized, others like May Chang and Lan Fan sometimes feel reduced to their relationships with male characters.
The series occasionally falls into shonen tropes, with convenient power-ups and villains explaining their plans in detail. And while the ending is generally satisfying, some plot threads are resolved a bit too neatly given the series’ otherwise complex approach to consequences.
That said, these flaws are minor in the grand scheme of the show’s achievements. They’re worth noting, but they hardly detract from the overall experience.
Final Thoughts: Why Brotherhood Deserves Its Reputation
After rewatching Brotherhood recently, I’m convinced it deserves every bit of praise it’s received over the years. Few anime – few TV shows of any kind – manage to balance character development, world-building, action, philosophy, and emotional impact so effectively.
What makes Brotherhood truly special is how it rewards multiple viewings. On first watch, you’re caught up in the plot and the spectacle. On subsequent viewings, you notice the careful foreshadowing, the subtle character moments, and the thematic depth that might have escaped you initially.
The series respects its audience’s intelligence, trusting viewers to follow complex political machinations and philosophical debates without oversimplification. At the same time, it remains accessible and entertaining, never disappearing up its own metaphysical backside like some more pretentious anime.
Brotherhood stands as a masterclass in adaptation, taking the already excellent source material and enhancing it through animation, voice acting, music, and pacing. It’s the rare adaptation that satisfies fans of the original while standing on its own as a unique artistic achievement.
If you’ve somehow never watched it, do yourself a favor and start. If you have, maybe it’s time for a rewatch. Either way, the journey of the Elric brothers remains one of anime’s greatest stories – a perfect alchemical blend of action, emotion, philosophy, and heart.
And remember, to obtain something of equal value must be lost. In the case of watching Brotherhood, what you’re giving up is about 24 hours of your life. What you’re gaining? An experience that’ll stick with you long after the final credits roll. That’s a trade I’d make any day.
What’s your take on Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood? Does it deserve its status as one of the greatest anime ever made? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – I’d love to hear which characters and moments resonated with you the most!