Honestly, if you ask any seasoned anime fan to list their top five shows, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is usually sitting right at the top. It’s almost a cliché at this point. You see it dominating the rankings on MyAnimeList for years, holding onto that number one spot like its life depends on it. But why? Is it just nostalgia, or is there something actually special happening under the hood of Hiromu Arakawa’s masterpiece?
It’s about the Equivalent Exchange.
That’s the core rule of alchemy in the show. To obtain something, something of equal value must be lost. It’s not just a cool magic system; it’s the philosophy that anchors the entire narrative. When Edward and Alphonse Elric try to bring their dead mother back to life, they learn this lesson in the most brutal way possible. Ed loses a leg. Al loses his entire body. Then, in a desperate bid to save his brother's soul, Ed gives up his arm to bond Al’s spirit to a cold, hollow suit of armor.
It’s heavy stuff.
The Brotherhood vs. 2003 Debate is Still Alive
You can’t talk about Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood without mentioning the 2003 version. This is where a lot of newcomers get confused. "Do I watch the old one first?" "Is Brotherhood a sequel?"
Here is the deal: The 2003 anime started while the manga was still being written. Eventually, the studio ran out of source material and just... made up their own ending. It’s darker, weirder, and honestly, a bit of a fever dream toward the end. Brotherhood, released in 2009, is the faithful adaptation. It follows Arakawa’s manga beat-for-beat.
🔗 Read more: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
While the 2003 version spends more time on the early episodes—making the tragedy of Nina Tucker feel like a slow-motion car crash—Brotherhood hits the ground running. It assumes you might already know the basics. It rushes the first dozen episodes so it can get to the meat of the story that the original show never touched.
Some purists argue 2003 has better atmosphere. Maybe. But Brotherhood has the scope. It scales from a small personal journey into a massive political conspiracy involving the very foundations of the country of Amestris. It’s a complete, cohesive story with no filler. That is incredibly rare in the world of long-running shonen anime.
A Masterclass in Character Writing
Most shonen protagonists are loud, hungry, and want to be the "King" or "Leader" of something. Edward Elric is different. He’s short-tempered and brilliant, sure, but his motivation is purely restorative. He just wants to fix the mistake he made. He wants his brother's body back.
But the side characters are what really make Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood feel like a living world. Take Colonel Roy Mustang. On the surface, he’s the "cool fire guy," but his actual depth is staggering. He’s a war criminal. The show doesn’t shy away from the Ishvalan Civil War—a conflict that looks uncomfortably like real-world colonial genocides. Mustang and his peers are haunted by what they did. Their goal isn't just power; it’s to change the government so they can eventually be held accountable for their crimes.
That’s a level of political nuance you don't usually see in a show marketed to teenagers.
💡 You might also like: Why Grand Funk’s Bad Time is Secretly the Best Pop Song of the 1970s
Then there’s Winry Rockbell. She isn't just a "love interest" waiting at home. She’s an engineer. She is literally the reason Ed can function, providing the automail limbs that allow him to fight. Her relationship with the Elric brothers is built on shared trauma and professional respect.
And let’s talk about the villains. The Homunculi. Each represents a Seven Deadly Sin, but they aren't just caricatures. Envy’s final moments are legitimately heartbreaking. Greed undergoes a character arc that puts most protagonists to shame. These aren't just "bad guys" to be punched; they are reflections of the worst parts of humanity, given physical form by a "Father" who wants to transcend godhood.
Why the Animation Still Holds Up in 2026
Studio Bones went all out on this. Even though it’s over fifteen years old, the fluidity of the alchemy circles and the kinetic energy of the fights still look better than many modern seasonal shows. They didn’t rely on cheap CGI. The weight of Alphonse’s armor, the sparks of Ed’s transmuted blade, the terrifying scale of Gluttony’s "stomach"—it all feels tactile.
The music? Yasuhiro Irie’s direction combined with Akira Senju’s orchestral score is perfection. "Lapis Philosophorum" still gives me chills. It sounds like a requiem. It fits the show’s themes of sacrifice and the search for the soul.
Addressing the Common Misconceptions
People often say Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is "too perfect" or that the humor is misplaced.
📖 Related: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
I get it. The "chibi" humor style—where characters turn into small, cartoonish versions of themselves—can be jarring when it happens right after a scene about military corruption. It’s a very 2000s anime trope. If you can’t stand that specific brand of comedy, the first few episodes might be a struggle.
Another misconception is that it’s a standard "magic" show. It isn't. It’s more of a science-fantasy thriller. The "magic" has strict laws. It’s essentially chemistry with a psychic component. If you don't have the materials, you can't make the object. This grounding in reality makes the stakes feel much higher because the characters can't just "power up" with the power of friendship. They have to outsmart their opponents using the environment and the laws of physics.
The Philosophical Weight of the Ending
Without spoiling the specifics for the three people who haven't seen it, the ending of Brotherhood is one of the most satisfying in fiction. It doesn't take the easy way out.
It reinforces the idea that there is no such thing as a "perfect" solution. Every gain requires a loss. The ultimate lesson Ed learns isn't how to be the strongest alchemist, but rather how to be a whole human being without needing alchemy at all. It’s a beautiful, circular journey that rewards every minute you spent watching.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you’re diving back in or starting for the first time, keep these specific things in mind to truly appreciate the craftsmanship:
- Watch the background characters: Many characters introduced in the first ten episodes who seem like "villains of the week" actually return in the final act. Everything is connected.
- Pay attention to the military ranks: The power struggle between the different factions in the Amestrian military is subtle. Who reports to who matters immensely for the late-game plot twists.
- Compare the Gate of Truth: Every character who sees "Truth" has a slightly different experience. The imagery inside the Gate is tailored to each person's specific sin or desire.
- Listen to the different "Philosopher's Stone" sounds: The sound design for the stone is intentionally unsettling. It’s the sound of thousands of screaming souls, muffled.
To truly experience the impact of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, you should watch it in chunks rather than marathoning it all in a weekend. The emotional beats need time to breathe. Start with the first 15 episodes to establish the world, then buckle up for the "Briggs" arc, which is widely considered one of the best stretches of television ever produced. Check out the official streaming platforms like Crunchyroll or Hulu, which usually carry the high-definition Blu-ray masters that preserve the original line work and color grading.