The story follows two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who use alchemy in a failed attempt to resurrect their dead mother. The ritual costs Edward his arm and leg, and Alphonse his entire body. They embark on a journey to find the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies.

The protagonists are the Elric brothers, Edward (the Fullmetal Alchemist) and Alphonse. Key supporting characters include Winry Rockbell (mechanic), Colonel Roy Mustang (Flame Alchemist), Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and antagonists like the Homunculi (Lust, Envy, Gluttony, etc.) and 'Father'.

FMA (2003) was produced while the manga was still ongoing and diverges into an original storyline halfway through with a unique ending. FMA: Brotherhood (2009) is a faithful adaptation of the complete manga storyline from start to finish. Brotherhood is generally considered the definitive version.

It is a Shonen adventure series that incorporates steampunk, dark fantasy, military drama, and philosophical fiction. It explores heavy themes like war, genocide, religion, and the ethics of science.

It is rated TV-14. While it has comedy and adventure, it deals with mature and dark themes including body horror, war crimes, grief, and political corruption. It is best suited for teens and adults.

The series was created by Hiromu Arakawa. The manga ran in Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan from 2001 to 2010.

The series uses 'Alchemy,' a science based on the understanding, deconstruction, and reconstruction of matter. It is governed by the Law of Equivalent Exchange: to obtain something, something of equal value must be lost. Alchemists use transmutation circles to direct this energy.

Yes. 'Conqueror of Shamballa' concludes the 2003 anime storyline. 'The Sacred Star of Milos' is a standalone side-story set during the Brotherhood timeline. There are also live-action adaptations available on Netflix.

Both anime series (2003 and Brotherhood) are available on Crunchyroll and Hulu. The manga can be read digitally via Square Enix apps or purchased physically from retailers.

It is consistently ranked as one of the best anime of all time due to its tight, zero-filler plot, complex character development, perfect pacing, emotional depth, and satisfying conclusion that ties up all loose ends.