Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist

Epic dark fantasy manga and anime about two brothers using alchemy to search for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies after a failed transmutation.

Category
Anime/Manga
Release Year
2001
Origin
Japan
Tags
dark fantasy
alchemy
brotherhood
military
philosophy
adventure

Detailed Overview Information

Basic Information

Full Name
Fullmetal Alchemist
Aliases
FMA, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, Steel Alchemist
Type
Manga/Anime Series
Release Year
2001
Status
Completed
Origin
Japan
Region
Japan

Creation Information

Creator
Hiromu Arakawa
Publisher
Square Enix (manga), Bones (anime)
Original Work
Manga
Genre
Dark Fantasy, Adventure, Military, Shounen, Drama, Action

Content Information

Synopsis
Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric use alchemy to try to resurrect their mother, but the forbidden transmutation costs Edward his leg and Alphonse his entire body.
Main Characters
Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist), Alphonse Elric (armor-bound soul), Roy Mustang (Flame Alchemist)
Setting
Alternate early 20th century world where alchemy is a widely practiced science
Themes
Equivalent exchange, sacrifice, morality, war, family bonds, the cost of power
Target Audience
Shounen demographic, mature anime fans, philosophy enthusiasts

Media Forms

Comics
Monthly Shounen Gangan manga series (2001-2010)
Animated Series
Fullmetal Alchemist (2003), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
Live Action Films
Live-action film adaptations (2017-2022)
Video Games
Multiple video game adaptations across various platforms
Merchandise
Figures, clothing, accessories, collectibles, art books
Books
Light novels, art books, character guides, perfect guidebooks
Digital Content
Streaming anime, digital manga, mobile games

Commercial Information

Sales
Over 70 million manga copies sold worldwide
Revenue
Multi-billion yen franchise across all media
Awards
Seiun Award, TV Feature Award, American Anime Awards
Critical Reception
9.1/10 MyAnimeList rating for Brotherhood, widespread critical acclaim
Cultural Impact
Considered one of the greatest anime/manga series of all time
Streaming Rights
Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix international distribution

Fan Culture

Fanbase
Dedicated global community spanning multiple generations
Communities
Reddit r/FullmetalAlchemist, Discord servers, anime forums
Events
Anime conventions, FMA panels, cosplay competitions
Quotes
Equivalent exchange, To obtain something something of equal value must be lost, A lesson without pain is meaningless
Memes
Equivalent exchange jokes, Nina Tucker references, Edward height jokes
Fan Art
Character illustrations, alchemical circle designs, alternative universe stories
Cosplay
Edward, Alphonse, Roy Mustang, and other character costumes
Collectibles
Premium figures, replica automail, alchemical accessories

Historical Development

2001
Manga serialization begins in Monthly Shounen Gangan
2003
First anime adaptation by Bones with original ending
2005
Conqueror of Shamballa movie released
2009
Brotherhood anime begins, following manga storyline
2010
Manga concludes after 9 years of serialization
2011
Sacred Star of Milos movie released
2017
Live-action film adaptation released
2022
Final live-action film completes trilogy