Animanga/Manga| Information
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Animanga/Anime| Information
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Animanga/Movie| Information
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, commonly abbreviated "FMA" or "Hagaren" by fans, is a , as well as several spin-off novels and videogames.
The manga is still running in Japan, and 13 volumes have been released so far. The anime, on the other hand, is finished, and consists of 51 episodes and a full-length movie. The Japanese name "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi" is translated literally into ''Alchemist of Steel''.
''"Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange . In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth."''
::― Alphonse Elric
''Fullmetal Alchemist'' is set in the early 20th century, in a country called
Amestris in an alternate-historical Earth with technology dating from early 20th century Europe. In this alternate world, the science of
Alchemy is heavily used, but takes on a fantasy element. Real-world alchemists tried to transmute gold from lesser metals. In the series, alchemy becomes the science of transmuting matter into different matter through the use of transmutation circles -- a scientific, yet equally magical practice, with seemingly infinite uses. Talented alchemists can become the military's
State Alchemist s. Against this backdrop, the series portrays the quest of the young Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, and his younger brother Alphonse, for the legendary
Philosopher's Stone . Their adventures lead them to discover the truth about their past and the very world they live in.
Edward and Alphonse Elric were children living in the rural village of Rizembool in the country of
Amestris . Their father, an alchemist, had left home when Edward was very young and Alphonse was a baby. Years later, their mother, Trisha Elric, died of an illness.
In February 1910 the boys decided to attempt to revive their deceased mother. They study alchemy with a teacher and then use their father's notes to recreate a human transmutation circle. However, this attempt fails, costing Edward his left leg and Alphonse his entire body. In a desperate effort to save his brother, Edward sacrifices his right arm to "affix" his brother's soul to a suit of armor. After that, Edward's left leg and right arm are fitted with two sets of
Automail , a type of advanced
Prosthetic Limb .
A
State Alchemist by the name of
Roy Mustang arrives during the failed transmutation in response to letters the boys had sent out seeking information about their father. After seeing their skill at alchemy, Mustang suggests that the way to achieve their goals is to become a State Alchemist and work for him. Spurred on by the man's proposal, Edward sets out to become a State Alchemist, enabling him to use the resources available to State Alchemists to discover a way to restore what he and Alphonse have lost. The brothers eventually learn of the Philosopher's Stone and set off in search of it as a means to restore their bodies.
'''
Automail arm and leg, is short, and is known for being the youngest State
Alchemist .
- Alphonse, often nicknamed '''Al''', is ''Fullmetal Alchemist's'' secondary
Protagonist ; he is Edward's younger brother. For most of the series, his
Soul is trapped in a large suit of
Armor . Alphonse is the calmer of the two, and can be seen as a
Foil to Edward's character.
— Winry, also translated as '''Winly''' (both
Pronounced ''wɪnɹi''), is a
Mechanical Expert who was a childhood friend of the Elrics. She, along with her
Grandmother Pinako, built Edward's
Automail , and she also helps maintain the automail when it gets broken.
- Roy Mustang is the Flame Alchemist. Using
Transmutation circles on his gloves, he adjusts the oxygen density in different areas of the air, and can can create sparks with a snap of his fingers to ignite the oxygen dense air. He is Edward's direct superior officer in the military, but has his own goals and intentions in mind.
- Member of the Investigations Division, and good friends with Colonel Mustang and the Elric brothers. Hughes loves his wife, Gracia, and is overly enthusiastic regarding his daughter Elicia.
- A hard-working member of the state military, and a loyal, capable aide to her superior officer, Mustang. She is especially proficient in the use of firearms.
- One of the surviving Ishbalans. He is called "Scar" due to the X-shaped scar on his forehead. Scar has an elaborate alchemical array on his right arm that was given to him by his brother. He believes himself to be an instrument of God and tries to kill State Alchemists.
- Known as the Führer, he is the military dictator of Amestris, holding the official political title of president (King is his first name). He seems to be quite easy-going, perhaps a little eccentric, but has a dark secret.
- Sultry and cool-headed, she is the first of the
Homunculi encountered in the series. She has the power to extend her fingers into lances to use as a weapon.
- Having the mentality of a child and lacking a will of his own, he is always eager to eat anything, or anyone—dead ''or'' alive.
- Sarcastic and cold-hearted, Envy has the ability to change appearance. He appears to have a particular grudge against Edward Elric.
- - Alchemy within the Fullmetal Alchemist anime refers to a three-step process. The first step is understanding the structure of matter, followed by Decomposition , and finally reconstruction and manipulation. In the Manga, the source alchemic power is still unknown to both main characters and readers. However, in the Anime, the energy for the alchemic reaction to occur comes from the Gate.
- - A kind of Prosthetics , made from metal and linked directly to the nerves of the body. Well-made automail can allow a range of movement and strength as good as or better than the original limb it replaces.
- ''', in thinking that this simple chemical exchange would be all that was needed to bring back someone from the dead.
- - An Alchemist serving in a special branch of the state military. State Alchemists are selected by a series of examinations, and are regarded as some of the most powerful and talented alchemists. The position of State Alchemist also holds considerable authority and influence, with a rank equivalent to Major.
- - Transmutation circles are the devices alchemists use to power their transmutations. A circle may be drawn on the spot, embroidered into an article of clothing, or even tattooed onto the alchemist itself. Some elements of the design of the circle can be related to its effect.
- - A legendary stone said to allow the holder to completely bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange. However, the Elric brothers find that stone in fact requires some sacrifice, as seen in the final episodes.
- ('''Akai Ishi''') - An unfinished or impure Philosopher's Stone, commonly referred to as a '''Red Stone'''. Though far less powerful than a complete stone, a Red Stone can act as a powerful amplifier for an alchemist's abilities. The Red Stone will inevitably and unpredictably backfire on its owner. A related material is '''Red Water''', which while toxic to humans can be refined into a Red Stone.
- - A special type of transmutation circle that acts as a seal to bind a person's soul to an object, such as a suit of armor. It must, as the name suggests, be written in blood; the soul is tied to the blood, while the iron in the blood is fused with the armor. Thus the blood acts as an intermediary between the soul and the object. If a blood seal is destroyed, the soul will no longer be tied to the object, and the person will die. Some translations refer to it as a "Blood Array."
- - Also known as the "Gate of Truth", it is said to be the source for all alchemic power. An alchemist who sees into the gate can then perform alchemy without the use of a written or tattooed circle because of the knowledge passed during the experience. Behind the gate is an alternative world, our world, now in the chaos of a world war. People's deaths from beyond the gate fuel alchemy. The Gate resembles Rodin's sculpture '' The Gates Of Hell ''. There is also the Kabbalahistic tree of life on the gate.
- - A type of Alchemy that was used in the easten country Xing. While similar to the Amestris alchemy ("Renkin Jutsu") The source of energy is diffirent. Rentanjutsu use the power called "Lungmei" which exist everywhere in this earth. The type of alchemy that Mei Chan used is Rentan Jutsu. Scar 's tattoo is also a mix of Renkinjutsu and Rentanjutsu.
Fullmetal Alchemist was serialized in
Square Enix 's monthly anthology manga magazine
Monthly Shonen Gangan in July 2001, and the series is still ongoing with a new chapter in every issue. As of April 2006, there have been 58 chapters serialized and 13 graphic novel compilations released.
Viz Media began releasing the manga in North America in 2005. As of April 2006, six English-language volumes have been released. The seventh volume is scheduled for release on May 16. Volume eight is scheduled for release on July 18, volume nine on Sept. 19, and volume ten on Nov. 21.
Fullmetal Alchemist is released in
Singapore by
Chuang Yi Publishing in both English and
Simplified Chinese .
Note: English titles through Chapter 25, unofficial Japanese translations thereafter.
01. The Two Alchemists
02. The Price of Life
03. The Mining Town
04. Battle on the Train
05. The Alchemist's Anguish
06. Right Hand of Destruction
07. After the Rain
08. Hopeful Road
09. House of the Waiting Family
10. The Philosopher's Stone
11. The Two Guardians
12. The Definition of Human
13. Fullmetal Body
14. An Only Child's Feelings
15. Fullmetal Heart
16. Separate Paths
17. The Boomtown of the Broken Down
18. The Value of Sincerity
19. I'll Do It for You Guys!
20. The Terror of the Teacher
21. The Brothers' Secret
22. Masked Man
23. Knock on Heaven's Door
24. Fullmetal Alchemist
25. Resolution Between Master and Apprentice
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26. To the Master
27. Beasts of Dublith
28. Bravery of a Coarse Guy
29. Eye of the King
30. Inside the Armor, the Hidden Truth
31. The Serpent that Devours Its Own Tail
32. Envoy to the East
33. Battle in Rush Valley
34. Footsteps of a Comrade
35. Scapegoat
36. Bitter Alchemist
37. The Criminal's Body
38. Counterattack, Signal, Fire
39. Intricacies of Central
40. Western Sage
41. Arrogant Palm of a Child
42. Father in Front of the Grave
43. River of Mud
44. Nameless Grave
45. Return of the Man with the Scar
46. Distant Backs
47. Girl on the Battlefield
48. Promise of the One Who Waits
49. Monster Within
50. Inside the Stomach
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51. Doors of Darkness
52. King of the Den of Thieves
53. The Soul's Guidepost
54. The Fool's Struggle
55. A Sin is Born Anew...
56. Lions of the Round Table
57. Scars of Ishbal
58. Footsteps of Ruin
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See Also: Episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist
The animation studio ''''' was made by the same studio, and theatrically released in Japan on
July 23 2005 .
The series has also been broadcast across several regions
- United States, Cartoon Network ( Adult Swim ) on November 6 2004 to March 18th 2006 (First run)
- Hong Kong, TVB Jade on February 26 2005
- StarHub's SCV, Channel 56, on March 9 2005 in Singapore
- Latin America, Animax on July 31 2005
- UK, Rapture TV on November 17 2005
- Italy, MTV on April 11 2006
- Canada, YTV 's Bionix block on March 3 2006 .
- Australia, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, January 2006
- Philippines, GMA Network , around 2nd-3rd quarter 2005
As there was a limited amount of manga material available to adapt at the time of production, the storyline of the anime diverges from that of the manga around the middle of the series. The anime's later story and conclusion by BONES is different from the manga which is still ongoing.
]]
The DVDs of the anime have been licensed by various companies for different languages and regions (refer to infobox on right). Some known firms releasing the DVDs are:
- Aniplex R2(JP), R3(TW)
- Asia Animation R3(HK)
- TIGA R3(TH) - 17 volumes with 3 episodes each
- FUNimation R1(NA), R4(MX, SA)
- Madman Entertainment R4(AU)
- MVM R2(UK)
- Odex R3(SG)
The 51 episodes in the series are divided into 13 DVD volumes. In the original Japanese DVDs, Volume 1 consisted of the first two episodes, Volume 13 contained the last five, and all of the volumes in between had four episodes each. Funimation's English DVDs all have four episodes each, except for the last, which has three.
- Volume 01: The Curse (Ep. 1-4)
- Volume 02: Scarred Man of the East (Ep. 5-8)
- Volume 03: Equivalent Exchange (Ep. 9-12)
- Volume 04: The Fall of Ishbal (Ep. 13-16)
- Volume 05: The Cost of Living (Ep. 17-20)
- Volume 06: Captured Souls (Ep. 21-24)
- Volume 07: Reunion on Yock Island (Ep. 25-28)
- Volume 08: The Altar of Stone (Ep. 29-32)
- Volume 09: Pain and Lust (Ep. 33-36)
- Volume 10: Journey To Ishbal (Ep. 37-40)
- Volume 11: Becoming The Stone (Ep. 41-44)
- Volume 12: Unknown Title (Ep. 45-48)
- Volume 13: Unknown Title (Ep. 49-51)
Only the first eight volumes have been released in the USA. The ninth volume, ''Pain and Lust'', is scheduled for release in the USA on May 2, 2006, while the tenth volume, ''Journey To Ishbal'', is to come out June 27, 2006. Volumes 11 (''Becoming the Stone'') and 12 are due to be released in August and September respectively, with the final volume due on October 3rd. However, MVM has only released the first six volumes in the UK.
;Openings:
#"Melissa" by
Porno Graffitti (Episodes 2-13, also used as ending for episode 1)
#"Ready Steady Go" by
L'Arc~en~Ciel (Episodes 14-25)
#"Undo" by
Cool Joke (Episodes 26-41)
#"Rewrite" by
Asian Kung-Fu Generation (Episodes 42-51)
- "Ready Steady Go" and "Rewrite" are the only openings playing on Cartoon Network 's Adult Swim because of a deal with L'Arc~en~Ciel and Asian Kung-Fu Generation to promote their songs. The DVD releases from FUNimation will include all openings in their original places and format.
;Endings:
#"Kesenai Tsumi" (Indelible Sin) by
Nana Kitade (Episodes 2-13)
The alternate title used by some fansubbers is "Unerasable Sin", which is also the title given to it on the American release of the first soundtrack but not on the American DVD releases.
#"Tobira no Mukou e" ("To the Other Side of the Door") by
YeLLOW Generation (Episodes 14-24)
The alternate title used by some fansubbers is "Beyond the Door"
#"Motherland" by
Crystal Kay (Episodes 26-41)
#"I Will" by
Sowelu (Episodes 42-50)
All the ending theme songs and animation on
Adult Swim are edited down for time. The
DVD releases from
FUNimation include the unedited full endings.
The ending of episode 25 consists of a piece of incidental music from the series followed by "Tobira no Mukou e" ("To the Other Side of the Door"). The end credits for the episode are presented while Ed and Al are on the train to Rush Valley.
The ending of episode 51 plays a piano piece called "Wakare no Kyoku", also known as
Frederic Chopin 's Etude in E major op.10 no.3. The end credits play to this music while Sheska writes a letter to Winry.
#TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 1 (Released 24 March, 2004)
#Fullmetal Alchemist Complete Best (CD+DVD) (Released 14 October, 2004)
#TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 2 (Released 15 December, 2004)
#TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 3 (Released 18 May, 2005)
#
Romi Paku ('s
Seiyū )
##''明日への場所 / Asu e no Basho'' ("The Place Toward Tomorrow")
##''RETURNABLE MEMORIES''
#
Toru Ohkawa ('s Seiyū)
##''月の裏側 / Tsuki no Uragawa'' ("Far Side of the Moon")
#
Rie Kugimiya ('s Seiyū)
##''あの夢の向こうへ / Ano Yume no Mukou e'' ("To Beyond That Dream")
##''ボクハココニイル / Boku wa Koko ni Iru'' ("I Am Here")
#
Megumi Toyoguchi ('s Seiyū)
##''BOY FRIENDS!''
##''時計 / Gindokei'' ("Silver Watch")
#
Keiji Fujiwara (' Seiyū)
##''そして今日も世界は / Soshite Kyou mo Sekai wa'' (Literally, "And Today World")
##''ANGEL HEART''
#''Multiple''
##''鋼のこころ / Hagane no Kokoro'' ("Heart of Steel" or "Fullmetal Heart"), by Romi Paku, Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Toyoguchi
##''雨の日はノー･サンキュー / Ame no Hi wa No Thank You'' ("A Rainy Day is a No Thank You"), by Toru Ohkawa,
Michiko Neya ('s Seiyū)
##''少年よ、信じるなかまよ / Shounen yo, Shinjiru Nakama yo'' ("Oh Boy, Oh Trustworthy Companions"), by Toru Ohkawa,
Mitsuki Saiga (' Seiyū), Keiji Fujiwara,
Tomoyuki Shimura ('''Heymans Breda's''' Seiyū),
Yasunori Matsumoto ('''Jean Havoc's''' Seiyū),
Tetsu Shiratori ('''Kain Fuery's''' Seiyū),
Takehiro Murozono ('''Vato Falman's''' Seiyū),
Hidekatsu Shibata ('''Fuhrer King Bradley's''' Seiyū)
##''TRANCE to Homunculus'', by
Mayumi Yamaguchi (),
Yuuko Sato ('''Lust'''),
Junichi Suwabe ('''Greed''').
Yoshino Takamori ('''Sloth'''), Hidekatsu Shibata ('''Pride'''),
Yasuhiro Takato ('''Gluttony'''), and
Nana Mizuki ('''Wrath''')
##''恋愛参考書～Love reference book～ / Renai Sankoushou ~ Love Reference Book ~'', by Megumi Toyoguchi,
Naomi Wakabayashi ('s Seiyū)
##''パパと遊ぼう / Papa to Asobou'' ("Play with Papa"), by Keiji Fujiwara and
Mayumi Yoshida (' Seiyū)
##''LAST MEETINGS'', by Romi Paku, Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Toyoguchi, Toru Ohkawa, and Keiji Fujiwara
##''Good!'', by Romi Paku, Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Toyo, Toru Ohkawa, Keiji Fujiwara
Video Games based on the Fullmetal Alchemist world, have also been released. Sony-Square Enix have released a few titles in the Japanese RPG (3 titles), and Fighting (1 title) genre for the
PlayStation 2 . Bandai has released other titles in the Japanese RPG vein for the
Game Boy Advance (2 titles) and the
Nintendo DS (1 title).
The storylines of the games often diverges from both that of the anime and of the manga.
A fan-based video game for the PC called Fullmetal Alchemist: Bluebird's Illusion was also created, and was only sold in Hong Kong. It is said that there were only around 100 copies of the game made, and that they were auctioned off on Yahoo!Auctions Hong Kong.
The Square-Enix games of Full Metal Alchemist has been released to Japan and the U.S. Territories, and there are three titles released on the Playstation 2, all three have been released to Japan, and only 2 have been released to the U.S.
Due to the fact that the first two games were critical and commercial failures, whatever plans for the third game to be released to the U.S or any of the games to be released to Europe have been canned.
Several novels have also been written as sidestories or spinoffs to the original manga. In September 2005, Viz Media released an English translation of the first of these novels, ''Fullmetal Alchemist: The Land of Sand''. The second novel, ''Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist'', has also currently been released by Viz. The third novel, ''Fullmetal Alchemist: The Valley of White Petals'' is set to be released on May 16, 2006. All three novels are written by
Makoto Inoue and translated into English by
Alexander O. Smith .
See Also: Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game
A ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' Trading Card Game was published in 2005. There are currently three releases, namely Premier Edition, Blood & Water Expansion and Artificial Human.
A Hero's Passing, Alchemist's Gate and Seven Deadly Sins are the upcoming releases as stated in the
Official Website
