We learned toward the climax of the original series that the Law of Equivalent Exchange, something built up by main character Edward and his brother Alphonse, as well as most of those around them, for 40+ episodes didn’t really matter all that much in the end. I remember the feeling of deflation from this realization, which came like a sucker punch. It was at this point when I began to re-evaluate the series just a bit. The rule change left me out in the cold. Then the movie, Conqueror of Shamballah, was released. While solid on its own terms, it too left a ton to be desired as it kept the main characters separated for far too long and maintained a somber, serious tone throughout. So now, the new series gives the Fullmetal franchise a third opportunity to get things completely right, as well as a chance to follow the manga more closely.

“An automail arm… a young gifted alchemist…  I know you! You are the Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric!”

And with that, they’re back. It’s almost like they never left. Edward and Alphonse Elric, along with the most of the supporting cast and a few new characters along the way, continue their adventures in the fictional land of Amestris. Edward, the titular Fullmetal alchemist, and his brother Alphonse, the boy whose soul is bonded to a suit of armor, seek the Philosopher’s Stone, a fabled alchemical item that can bypass the aforementioned Law of Equivalent Exchange. The boys need the Stone to restore their bodies, lost in a botched attempt to bring back their deceased mother.

I admit that I have not been following FMA: B on Funimation’s streaming service, but I have been following some of the reactions to it online. One criticism from the fans has been the overall slow pace of the first half. These first 13 episodes of FMA: B have had a rather unfortunate task: catching up to where the original anime diverged from the manga. However, there isn’t too big a problem with this. It was a necessary task, and the show does what it can to remain fresh, exciting, and humorous. It’s true that there are points where information can be redundant and some reveals not so revealing, but if that’s the price that must be made to get to the later stuff, then so be it.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood looks great. Is it my HDTV which makes FMA: B look better than the original series did a mere five years ago? Is it the subtle, slightly noticeable changes to the character design and art style? Or has newer animation simply spoiled me so much that I’ve gotten complacent? Whatever the case, FMA: B looks fantastic, courtesy of top-tier animation studio BONES. They proudly display their quality throughout these first 13 episodes. Their work here is superior to what they did in the first series by far and  this high level is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the show.

If there’s a nitpick to be found in the animation, it’s the transitions from the regular, more “normal” art  style to the wackier comedic animation. This can be a bit jarring at first. It took the entirety of the first episode to get reacquainted with this style, which I was hoping would die out with the original series. The sheer number of stylistic transitions in the first episode is astounding. It’s as if approximately 300 “short” and/or “I didn’t expect *you* to be the Fullmetal alchemist!” jokes are placed within the first half, specifically within the first five or so episodes. The condensing of the original series is mostly likely the reason for this. If so, then these wacky moments can be expected to disappear a bit in the future. Once again, with the condensing in the first 13 episodes, some of the emotional impact from the original series is also lessened or disappears completely. Again, this problem should all but disappear during the second season when the plot gets more interesting and we move beyond what we already know.

Unfortunately, the English dub has lost just a bit of panache from the original series. Sonny Strait returns as Hughes, but it’s somehow different and less effective. His character seems toned down a bit and because of this Strait’s comedic timing and pitch-perfect voice acting suffers. J. Michael Tatum replaces Dameon Clarke as Scar, and it just isn’t as effective. Clarke’s performance added depth to Scar that took him to great levels in the original series. Tatum’s interpretation just isn’t as good.

Not everyone is rusty, however. Vic Mignogna is back as Edward and, love him or hate him, this is his signature role and he owns it. I can’t imagine any other American voice actor in this role, and despite my general lukewarm attitude towards Vic’s work, he’s great here. Also, Travis Willingham brings a surplus of depth to Col. Roy Mustang, one of the show’s most complex characters. Lastly, Laura Bailey’s Lust is lovely, though largely a bit player thus far.

Having purposefully avoid watching this series until its DVD release, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is best when viewed in a marathon session. I devoured these 13 episodes and was not disappointed. This is just what the anime industry needs right now: a tried-and-true blockbuster action series with a compelling story and a lot of heart.

DVD extras include the following: Episode 1 commentary, episode 10 commentary, textless opening and closing songs, and several Funimation trailers.

Overall Grade: A-
Review by: Zack S. Lowe
Director: Yasuhiro Irie
Animation Production: BONES

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