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Discover the differences between Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Explore which one to watch as well.
The Fullmetal Alchemist series is among the most iconic in all of anime. With the manga and all its adaptations receiving stellar reviews, it is no surprise that most new viewers consider this to be an unmissable story. At the same time, Fullmetal Alchemist is also a rare case where it has two separate adaptations, not merely featuring remakes but an entire retelling of the source.
Everything from the animation style, the characters, and the conclusion— are different between Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. To help navigate which you may enjoy better, let us take a closer look at the intricacies of each series.
What Is Fullmetal Alchemist About?
The original Fullmetal Alchemist manga is set around the world of alchemy, following the lives of the brothers—Edward and Alphonse Elric. After a failed human transmutation attempting to bring back their dead mother, Edward loses two of his limbs while Alphonse’s entire body is sacrificed and he is trapped in an armor.
However, soon after this, the brothers discover the existence of Philospher’s Stones, mysterious objects that allow them to overcome the laws of Equivalent Exchange. Determined to restore their bodies, they set off on a vast adventure.
While perfecting their powers of Alchemy, the protagonists get embroiled in political scheming, dark conspiracies, and agendas that may threaten the entire world. This is the basic premise of both Fullmetal Alchemist anime as well. However, they soon begin diverging from this point.
Why Are Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood So Different?
Fullmetal Alchemist has two main anime adaptations, the first made in 2003 and the second in 2009 with the title of Brotherhood. Both adaptations are widely different from each other, and for valid reasons.
Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) was created when Hiromu Arakawa’s manga was still ongoing, with no clear conclusion in sight. This was also fairly early on in the series, which would have made it impossible to go on an extended hiatus and retain their core viewership. To prevent this, Studio Bones proceeded to create their own story and conclusion.
However, to make it up to the fans of the manga, the same Studio Bones created another adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist in 2009. They titled this Brotherhood, following the storyline of the source much more faithfully.
The Main Differences Between Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The overarching themes of both adaptations of Fullmetal Alchemist are the same, but there are significant differences in all other elements. These include:
1) Tone and Animation
The original Fullmetal Alchemist is a very introspective and philosophical series that doesn’t shy away from dark visuals and a slow pace. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood also features this, but it is not as highlighted. Rather, Brotherhood is a much more fast-paced series with dynamic action.
As a sign of the times, the original series was made in 2003 and projects a strong retro flavor through its visuals. Brotherhood has seen an upgrade over this—showcasing dynamic sequences and essentially putting Studio Bones on the map. It also utilized color much more effectively compared to its counterpart, since it isn’t quite as moody a series.
2) Characters
The main point of difference between both Fullmetal Alchemist anime are its characters. The most apparent proof of this point is the existence of Father, the antagonist of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. This figure was extremely complex, showcasing immense strength and terror whenever he appeared on screen.
The original Fullmetal Alchemist anime did not have characters like Father. On the contrary, the villain of this part is Dante, an immortal and ambiguous antagonist who used to be Hohenheim’s lover.
Additionally, several important characters are missing in the 2003 version. Xing and all its citizens are never introduced, while beloved side characters like Olivier are also not present.
3) Homunculi
The different antagonists in the series directly correlate to the difference between Homunculi. In the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime, Homunculi were created as a result of failed human transmutations.
Brotherhood, on the other hand, took an approach more in tune with a shonen anime. In this, the Homunculi were created by Father, who possessed the powers of the Philosopher’s Stone. By dividing the stones within him, he created the Seven Deadly Sins.
The roles of the Homunculi are also notably different in both anime. Lust, who was merely a minor villain in Brotherhood, played a much bigger role in the original. Additionally, King Bradley, who was Wrath in Brotherhood, is Pride in the 2003 version.
Sloth is the most memorable difference between the two. While merely being a facet of Father in Brotherhood, Sloth was the homunculus created when Edward and Alphonse attempted to resurrect their mother. She looked exactly the same, going on to serve Dante.
4) Beginning
Both Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood run relatively the same till the death of Maes Hughes, but the way they are delivered varies from the beginning. The original series takes time to flesh out its story more, showcasing the backgrounds of the protagonists and their confrontation against Father Cornello.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood takes a different approach, with many considering it an abrupt opening. It immediately starts by showing a confrontation between the Elric Brothers and the Freezing Alchemist. The series featured Armstrong, Mustang, and other important characters right from the beginning as well.
5) Ending
One of the most frequent fodder for debate arises while comparing the two anime and their vastly different endings. The original Fullmetal Alchemist series concludes in an open-ended manner, showing Edward sacrificing himself to save his brother. While Alphonse was returned to his body as a 10-year-old with no memories, Edward ended up being pulled across the Gate.
This caused him to end up in Nazi Germany, following which the series concludes through a movie. Titled Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa, it follows Edwards’ adventures in this new location while Alphonse attempts to bring him back.
Hence, the original Fullmetal Alchemist ended in a confusingly where the brothers faced another unrelated quest in Germany before finally reuniting. While it is canonically the “real ending” of the story, most viewers still consider the anime’s ending the official one. It was bittersweet, ambitious, and left an impact, though some loved it and others hated it.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, on the other hand, takes a much more satisfactory route. After the defeat of Father, it showed Edward sacrificing his Alchemy to save Alphonse. The brothers reunited, following which Edward married Winry and they all lived happily ever after.
Should You Watch Fullmetal Alchemist or Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood?
Over the years, the common opinion has been that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood far surpasses its predecessor. It is the perfect adaptation of the manga and receives widespread praise from every viewer. Hence, everyone undoubtedly needs to watch it.
While there is an element of truth to the above, the original Fullmetal Alchemist series has its own charm. It has a more melancholic tone compared to Brotherhood, captivating viewers by making them face deep questions. While it is anime-original for the most part, that doesn’t necessarily make it bad.
Therefore, we would certainly recommend watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood first to get an understanding of the creator’s vision. However, it is also worth trying the original Fullmetal Alchemist after this to get a glimpse at an alternate series of events in this world. Similar to how the Fate Series has multiple routes, viewing Fullmetal Alchemist in the same manner will be highly enjoyable.
Conclusion
The difference between Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood ultimately comes down to faithfulness to the source material. While both adaptations explore similar themes of sacrifice, morality, and human nature, they do so in distinct ways. Nevertheless, it is worth watching both versions and making your judgement on which is the better standalone story rather than looking at it as a better adaptation of the manga.
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