[The Author]

Living in England, we don't get a good supply of animes shown on our tv...

Sure we get the highly editted CN ones, One Piece, The Dragon Ball sagas, and now Naruto...

But we hardly get any of the good ones (we used to have Excel Saga, NGE and BubbleGum Crisis 2040 once, but Sci Fi stoped putting them on because noone hardly watched them... Not surprising since they were on at 5am in the morning on weekdays)...

Well a couple of weeks ago I was flicking through the Sky+ menu, and found Full Metal Alchemist...

Unfortionitly I didn't manage to start watching it from the beginning of the series... I started watching it from where Edd and Al are fighting a Hermunculus (spelling?) ,using Edds arm and leg, with their teacher yelling at them to stop.

Even though I have missed the main source of this story line, I have to say this...

Next to Stand Alone Complex and Excel Saga, this is definitly one of the best anime shows I have ever seen...

I am definitly going to buy the dvd box set when it is released on Play.com...

And just to proove how much I love it, I havnt missed an episode since... And we've just shown the one that explains how Scar got his infamous scar and what happened to his brother...

[Rach]

Just tell you one thing.

Go after the manga.

Really.
You wont regret.

[The Author]

Just tell you one thing.

Go after the manga.

Really.
You wont regret.

Ya know, I thought someone would say this, so I tried looking for it in all the bookstores round me...

None...

Zilch...

Nada...

I couldn't even find the Excel Saga books I'm missing...

Looks like I'll have to try the interweb!

[Analog]

FMA is one definition of anime goodness. XD

(Would I be considered out of line if I beg for a sequel to the movie?)

[Chimasterwang]

You see Author has Sky+ so he can record all those things on early in the morning and watch them XD

Btw get a multi-region DVD player =P

[The Author]

You see Author has Sky+ so he can record all those things on early in the morning and watch them XD

Not really... I have Sky+ now... But back when Sci Fi had all the animes, I was awake by 5am watching them...

Up and ready for work and my daily dose of Japan!

[Eva]

Rach, don't forget to mention that the manga has quite a lot of difference from the anime.

Though, from the impression I got from most people, everyone seem to still enjoy the anime series of FMA despite it not following the manga, which you don't see much. So, you'll enjoy the anime since I found it quite good, though I would have prefer a better ending, which you need to wait for since it's a movie that close out the series.

I still need to get into manga, but not real will to do it at the moment. Only reading Naruto, GANTZ, Bleach and Air Gear manga occassionally myself.

[Lynk Former]

There are plenty of animes that work without having to read the manga... some don't of course, but there are plenty that do.

[Eva]

There are plenty of animes that work without having to read the manga... some don't of course, but there are plenty that do.

That's true. People that are loyal to manga tend to dislike anime that do not follow the manga. Don't agree with that train of thought myself. I tend to seperate them myself. Not worry about which is superior to the other myself. Like worrying about books to movies. It's always funny when people keep repeating themselves over and over again with "Books have more details." as if it's not obvious that books can have much more detail while movies and even shows have a limit time window to work with and changes to storyline are expected. Same applies with anime and manga.

Any anime can work without reading a manga. Not like you know the original story was bouched if you didn't read the manga unless another person told you or you went out of your way to read it yourself.

[Rach]

i don't dislike the anime.
i just think that the situations in the manga are very much more mature, believable and inteligent. And the characters also and their relationships.

The anime is great, but it leads to a movie (that i also enjoyed) that won't solve anything.

the manga is more... hm... how could i say? consistant.
Hiromu Arakawa, the female (yay!) autor, has very interesting ideas and concepts that the anime director didn't follow or simple remade in a 'easier but stranger' way.

[Moelman]

FMA is definitely one of my favorite animes. I still enjoy watching the reruns on adult swim on the weekends

[Black Howling]

Was a very good show but wont buy it Mvm spreading it across too many volumes on dvd in the uk and i just can't afford it. But all in all a good show

[Lynk Former]

How many volumes are there for the UK release and how many episodes are on each volume? In Australia we have it spread out exactly the same as the US release, which is really good cause we also get the tin box sets and the OST's released with em.

[The Author]

How many volumes are there for the UK release and how many episodes are on each volume? In Australia we have it spread out exactly the same as the US release, which is really good cause we also get the tin box sets and the OST's released with em.

Just checked on Play.com... So far they have 9 volumes, each with 4 episodes on them!

[Analog]

The anime is great, but it leads to a movie (that i also enjoyed) that won't solve anything.

See!! A Sequel! We need a movie sequel to the movie sequel! XP

[Lynk Former]

4 episodes per DVD is good... well at least for the price we pay down here in Australia lol.

[Laughing Man]

FMA is awesome, i missed a bunch of them but I've got the whole series on my computer as well as the movie. I thought it was all awesome, not one bad episode in the bunch

[Lynk Former]

*pokes Laughing Man* Go buy em if you think they're that good

[Laughing Man]

*pokes Laughing Man* Go buy em if you think they're that good

i have i'm up to vol 6, i cant seem to find vol 7 anywhere

[Rach]

See!! A Sequel! We need a movie sequel to the movie sequel! XP

AHYAHAHHAHAHA!

i'd rather stick with the manga coz Square-Enix isn't planning anything for FMA.

[Lynk Former]

You know, that's one thing I never got about FMA, the Square-Enix connection... and yet they never made a kickass RPG out of it. Madness!

[The Author]

You know, that's one thing I never got about FMA, the Square-Enix connection... and yet they never made a kickass RPG out of it. Madness!

Yes they have... Well I don't know if it's kick ass or not because it hasnt been released other here yet... I doubt if it ever will.

Its on the PS2 and used the same battle method as The Tales of Symphonia.

[Lynk Former]

Oh yeah there is x.x Jeez, even I knew that since I was lookin at it ages ago. Thing about the PS2 is that a lot of RPGs are released for it, but most of them are released in Japan, then the US and then the rest of the world gets the scraps.

But no wonder I forgot about the FMA game since it's pretty mediocre...

On another note, the FUNimation FMA movie site is up: http://www.fullmetalalchemist.com/movie/index.htm

[Rach]

There's FMA 1 and 2 US RELEASES for playstation 2

The first one is called FMA Broken Angel, the second is only called FMA 2 and the third game is on the translation part. It was released in japan in december/05 or january/06, not sure. The games are fun but not the best ones i've ever played. The action part is very devil may cry like.

The games for Game Boy Advance and FMA Dream Carnival (the 4player fighting game, that in my opinion is much better than Smash Bros. But that's just me) weren't translated though.


Now, explaining the square enix thing.

The manga was released by Hiromu Arakawa and was a big hit in japan back in 2001.

So, Square-Enix had their eye on the manga to release a game. That's how Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Tobenai Tenshi (here translated as Broken Angel) came up. The manga had no intentions of becoming a anime until after the release of this game.

Square-Enix had a studio set for the animation scenes, that would go as a b-side of the manga. Then, they called the voice actors, all the staff and made the cg scenes in the game. So that you can notice some huge differences from the cg scenes in the game to the character design in the anime series. A little hint? Hawkeye's uniform. She has the lieutenent colonel patch and tag. And it goes on.

The game was such a hit in japan that the fans were claiming for a anime sequence! And that's how the anime started, with the direction by Square-enix, and that's how the manga and the anime got different, coz miss Hiromu had no power in the anime script.

[Lynk Former]

lol @ Rach: You just have a general distaste for Nintendo. Smash Bros is one of the most indepth alternative fighters around and has a big fan following and "elite" following for a VERY good reason. This game has sponsored professional gamer tournaments happening.


And yeah, after I asked I read up on how the anime came to be. Either way, it's not that much of a big deal if the anime goes by a different path, I mean the manga still exists and still gets the recognition it deserves. I know it does down here where the manga sells very well along side the anime.

[Rach]

i just like games with stories, lynk, that's all ^^'

and nice graphics.
and nice characters.

from all the smash bros gang, only samus and snake saves.

my boyfriend loves smash bros.
i don't =p
and we're both good with that

[Lynk Former]

You'd love Fire Emblem Path of Radiance (and other FE games), great story, and if you would get past the fact that "you" are Link, you'd also love The Legend of Zelda lol. As for Metroid, it's a wonder you like that since the story is implied and isn't active LOL.

Either way, you gotta realise that just cause it's Nintendo doesn't mean it's all Mario-like. It'd be like me avoiding Metal Gear Solid cause it's on Playstation! MADNESS!

But yes, like you, I like a game with good graphics and a good story... I just don't stop that far XD

[Rayanz]

OMFG!!! i love FMA to death!!! lol roy mustang is my hero + he's super hot haha i even have his gloves and almost baught his entire uniform on the internet lmao... but other then him the actual show is super awsome!!! i have almost all the DVD's ok well i have 1,7,8,9,10 XD but i have seen every episode except for the last 4 *OH THE ENTISIPATION!*

[darktruth]

ROFL, it's spelled "anticipation" XD.

[Scar da Kookee]

Hell I'm glad that the Navy exchange here in norfuck gots an anime section in the DVD/Music department.

box sets of Eva, Azummie, and robotech.
I really got to get some money set aside for those
*kicks his new 'used' car and 'payments' he's got to make on 'it'*

I WANT GITS SAC 2 T_T

[Stormfalcon]

Fullmetal Alchemist is a great series!!

Envy...male or female. A genderless character.

Why do I get the "female" kind of impression. Many people
say "MALE!!" Hmmm...

[The Author]

Fullmetal Alchemist is a great series!!

Envy...male or female. A genderless character.

Why do I get the "female" kind of impression. Many people
say "MALE!!" Hmmm...

Envy's the one with Edwards arm and leg right?

If so... Why is s/he called Wrath over here?

[Lynk Former]

Wrath is the one with Ed's arm and leg and can perform alchemy, Envy is the one that that shapeshift.

[The Author]

Wrath is the one with Ed's arm and leg and can perform alchemy, Envy is the one that that shapeshift.

SPOILER!!!

...Edd and Al's mum?...

[Eva]

Wrath is played by a different character in the manga. Though, that character stiil a homunculi in the anime, but just not Wrath.

No, Author.

Read more, but beware you'll be spoiled if you did not complete the anime series.
Envy not Edward's and Al's mother, that would be the Sloth. Also, Envy would be Edward's and Al's half brother, if you look at it like that, since Envy's father was Edward's and Al's father. While his mother would be Dante.
Though, I could be mistaken since it's been over two years since I last watched the series.

[The Author]

Ah...
Thank you Eva...
Makes sense now!

[Stormfalcon]

Wrath is played by a different character in the manga. Though, that character stiil a homunculi in the anime, but just not Wrath.

No, Author.

Read more, but beware you'll be spoiled if you did not complete the anime series.
Envy not Edward's and Al's mother, that would be the Sloth. Also, Envy would be Edward's and Al's half brother, if you look at it like that, since Envy's father was Edward's and Al's father. While his mother would be Dante.
Though, I could be mistaken since it's been over two years since I last watched the series.

Thanks! Makes sense now.