If you’re just getting into anime, someone has probably already yelled at you to watch Fullmetal Alchemist. It’s unavoidable. But then you go to search for it and realize there are two separate shows with almost identical names, different lengths, and completely different endings. It’s confusing. Honestly, it’s the biggest hurdle for new fans. You’re looking at Fullmetal Alchemist anime episodes and wondering why one version has 51 episodes while the other has 64.
The short version? One ran out of source material and started making stuff up (beautifully, I might add), while the other stuck to the script.
The long version is a lot more interesting. It involves a young manga artist named Hiromu Arakawa, a studio called Bones, and a creative gamble that defined an entire era of television. We’re talking about two distinct journeys for the brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric. They both start with the same heartbreaking attempt to bring their mother back to life through alchemy—a taboo that costs Ed an arm and a leg and Al his entire body—but they end up in worlds that feel fundamentally different.
The 2003 Split: When Fullmetal Alchemist Anime Episodes Went Rogue
Back in 2003, the Fullmetal Alchemist manga was a massive hit, but it was nowhere near finished. In the anime industry, this is a recipe for "filler"—those annoying episodes where characters go to the beach or chase a cat just to kill time. But the director, Seiji Mizushima, and the writer, Sho Aikawa, took a different path. With Arakawa’s blessing, they decided that once the show caught up to the published books, they’d just invent their own ending.
Because of this, the first 25 or so episodes of the 2003 series actually cover the early manga chapters with a lot of detail. You get to spend more time in places like Liore or the mining town of Youswell. It feels grounded. It feels like a slow-burn mystery. But then, around the halfway mark, the story veers off a cliff into a totally different mythology.
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In this version, the Homunculi—the villains named after the seven deadly sins—have a completely different origin story. They aren't just created by a "Father" figure; they are the physical remains of failed human transmutations. That’s dark. It changes the emotional stakes. When Ed fights Sloth in the 2003 version, it’s a deeply personal, psychological trauma that the later version doesn't quite replicate.
The 2003 series eventually culminates in a movie called Conqueror of Shamballa. It’s weird. It involves real-world history and parallel dimensions. If you like your stories tragic, moody, and a bit experimental, these 51 episodes are a gold mine.
Brotherhood: The 64-Episode Sprint to the Finish
Then came 2009. The manga was ending, and the fans wanted a faithful adaptation. Enter Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
This is the one most people recommend. It’s faster. It’s brighter. It’s epic. But because the 2003 show had already covered the "beginning" of the story, Brotherhood sprints through the first 15 episodes like it’s being chased. It assumes you already know who Maes Hughes is and why his fate matters. It glosses over the "humanity" of the early adventures to get to the massive, continent-spanning conspiracy of the later arcs.
The Fullmetal Alchemist anime episodes in Brotherhood introduce characters you never saw in the first show. You get the folks from Xing—Ling Yao and May Chang—who bring "alkahestry" into the mix. You get the terrifyingly cool General Olivier Mira Armstrong at Briggs Fortress. The scope becomes huge. While the 2003 show is a character study, Brotherhood is a high-stakes political thriller with gods and monsters.
Why the Episode Count Matters for Your Watch Order
You’ll see people arguing about this on Reddit until the sun goes down. Some say watch Brotherhood and skip the "old" one. Others insist you need the 2003 version for the "emotional foundation."
Here is the reality: if you only watch Brotherhood, you might feel like the death of certain characters doesn't hit as hard. Why? Because Brotherhood spends maybe two episodes on characters that the 2003 version spent five or six on. You didn't live with them long enough to mourn them properly.
On the flip side, the 2003 ending is... divisive. It’s melancholic. It doesn't give you that big, shonen "everyone wins" satisfaction. Brotherhood delivers one of the most perfect, tightly-wound endings in the history of fiction. Every single Chekhov’s gun goes off. Every character arc is resolved. It’s 64 episodes of pure narrative momentum.
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Key Differences in Narrative Beats
- The Homunculi: In 2003, they are tragic accidents. In Brotherhood, they are literal extensions of a single being's ego.
- The Tone: 2003 is a "Seinen" (older audience) feel disguised as a "Shonen." It’s gloomy. Brotherhood is a classic "Shonen" adventure with higher production values and more comedy.
- The Ending: One ends with a portal to 1920s Munich (seriously), the other ends with a philosophical triumph over the concept of God.
A Note on the "Lost" Episodes and OVAs
Beyond the main series, there are these little nuggets called OVAs (Original Video Animations). People often miss these when counting Fullmetal Alchemist anime episodes.
For Brotherhood, there are four specials. "The Blind Alchemist" and "The People of Ishval" are essential if you want to understand the world-building that the fast-paced 2009 series skipped. They add back some of that "grit" that the 2003 series was known for. There’s also The Sacred Star of Milos, a standalone movie. Honestly? It’s skippable. The animation is unique, but it feels like a side-quest that doesn't impact the main Elric journey.
Dealing with the "Filler" Myth
A lot of new fans ask which Fullmetal Alchemist anime episodes are filler so they can skip them. In Brotherhood, there is basically zero filler, except for maybe the very first episode which acts as a "where are they now" intro for people who already read the manga.
In the 2003 version, the "filler" isn't actually filler—it’s the plot. Since the show was creating its own story, every episode where they wander into a random town is actually building the logic of that specific version's universe. If you skip episodes in the 2003 series, the finale won't make a lick of sense.
How to Actually Watch It in 2026
If you have the time, start with the 2003 version. Watch the first 25 episodes. If you love the vibe, finish it and watch the Conqueror of Shamballa movie. Then, take a break. Don't jump into Brotherhood immediately or you'll get "reboot fatigue" from seeing the same origin story twice.
When you do start Brotherhood, power through the first dozen episodes. Once you hit the "Dublith" arc or the introduction of the Xingese characters, the show finds its own identity and becomes a masterpiece.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check Availability: Licensing shifts constantly between Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu. As of now, Brotherhood is widely available, but the 2003 series is often harder to find legally due to older licensing agreements. It’s worth hunting down the Blu-rays if you’re a completionist.
- The Manga Bridge: If you find the pacing of Brotherhood's start too fast but the 2003 plot too weird, read the first three volumes of the manga. It’s the "true" version of the beginning.
- Don't Skip the Openings: The music in both series is legendary. "Again" by YUI and "Melissa" by Porno Graffitti aren't just songs; they are cultural touchstones in the anime community.
- Focus on the Themes: Pay attention to "Equivalent Exchange." Both shows interpret this law differently. 2003 views it as a flawed, cruel lie. Brotherhood views it as a challenge to be overcome through human connection. Comparing the two is the best part of being a fan.
Ultimately, there are no bad Fullmetal Alchemist anime episodes. There are only different ways to tell a story about two brothers who just wanted to see their mom smile again. Whether you want the gritty, philosophical 2003 drama or the world-saving 2009 epic, you're winning either way.