Full Metal Alchemist

The Full Metal Alchemist anime series takes part over 51 episodes and one feature length film. Originally airing in October 2003 full metal alchemist was directed by Seiji Mizushima and brought to life by the Japanese animation studio Bones.

Full Metal Alchemist takes place in a post industrial revolution time period, where advancements in technology are by far over shadowed by the powers of Alchemy, an advanced form of chemistry that combines magic and science to reconstruct raw elements and materials into new objects.

The Full Metal Alchemist anime series follows two young alchemist brothers, Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric. Growing up in a small village, their father, Hohenheim, left home under mysterious circumstances and tragically their mother passed away some years later. Struck by grief at the death of their mother, Edward decides to use the forbidden alchemy of Human Transmutation to bring her back from the grave. However the first rule of Alchemy is that of Equal Exchange, “you cannot gain anything without first giving something in return, to obtain, something of equal value must be lost”. The Human Transmutation fails and during the process Al loses his body, but Ed manages to seal his soul inside an old suit of armour, but at the cost of his right arm and leg.

Ed, now with two mechanical limbs and Al, fused with the armour, set out on a quest to find the legendary Philosophers Stone (a powerful stone created by Alchemy that is said to grant limitless power) and restore their bodies. To aid him in his mission Edward enrols in the state military and soon becomes a state Alchemist, the full metal alchemist, using his position to aid their quest but at the expense of becoming a dog of the military. It soon comes to light that they are not the only ones seeking the fabled power of the Philosophers stone, at odds with a powerful group known as the homunculi and evading a mysterious figure known as Scar our duo must be the first to find the stone while attempting to stay loyal to the state military.

Full Metal Alchemist has been a huge success worldwide, winning a number of awards in both Japan and America. It can be loosely labelled as a steam punk anime series that combines a mix of military and fantasy themes. An exciting story that grows in complexity and a lovable cast of characters make Full Metal Alchemist an instant hit.