Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood are two of the most popular anime series in Japan. The main characters of these series are Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric, who are brothers. Both of these series are based on the same manga series, Fullmetal Alchemist. But why are there Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood? Are they the same series? What are the differences between these two series?
In this article, we will discuss the similarities and differences between Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. We will also compare both of these series to the original manga series, Fullmetal Alchemist. So, let’s begin.
Summary Table:
| Fullmetal Alchemist | Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood |
| Main villain is Dante | Main villain is Hohenheim |
| Has 52 episodes | Has 64 episodes |
| Much greater in terms of similarity to the original manga series than Fullmetal Alchemist | Less similar to the original manga series |
Definitions:
Before we talk about the differences between “Fullmetal Alchemist” and “Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood”, let’s first define what we mean by “Fullmetal Alchemist” and “Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.” To do this, we need to take a look back at the definitions and meanings of these two words, what kind of stories these are, and how they differ from each other in terms of the relation to the manga. First, let’s take a look at the explanation of the manga.
What is Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)?
The Fullmetal Alchemist manga series was written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. It was serialized in Square Enix’s Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine between October 2003 and June 2010, having 50 volumes released so far. The story follows the adventures of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric. One day, Edward loses his limbs in a failed attempt to revive his mother using alchemy. Alphonse, on the other hand, loses his body in a failed attempt to save his brother. In order to get their bodies back, they try out the forbidden art of alchemy. The manga is also notable for its excellent character development and realistic depictions of relationships and conflicts between the characters.
What is Fullmetal Alchemist (anime)?
Fullmetal Alchemist anime series was directed by Yasuhiro Irie and produced by Bones. It was aired on Fuji TV from October 2003 to October 2004, having a total of 52 episodes in the series. The story follows the adventures of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric based on the manga series.
What is Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (anime)?
In April 2009, Funimation Entertainment released the first season of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) in North America. The series is the adaptation of the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime series, following the lives of Edward and Alphonse Elric. It is the second anime adaptation of the manga series, following the first one with 64 episodes that aired until 2010. The story also follows Edward and Alphonse Elric on their journey to restore their bodies, but the details are different from the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime series as they have different main antagonist characters.
Which is better, Fullmetal Alchemist or Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood?
Both Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood are the adaptations of the original manga series, “Fullmetal Alchemist.” These are two different series with different antagonists and slightly different stories. Some people say that it is better to watch the original series before watching the second anime series, as it will make you understand the story better. However, we feel that both of these are good adaptations of a great manga series.
Fullmetal Alchemist Vs. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood:
As you may know, there are several words that have a similar meaning. For example, “ Fullmetal Alchemist” and “ Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood” are both used to describe the same story involving the same manga series adaptation. “ Fullmetal Alchemist” is used to describe the first anime series, while “Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood” is used to describe the second anime series. Now, let’s take a look at the differences between the two series.
The Story
Both series share the same basic plot and both are very similar to each other. The basic plot of both series involves a main character, a boy named Edward Elric, who uses alchemy to try and regain his body after being horribly disfigured.
The main difference between the two series is that in Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward tries to find a way to regain his body while in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Ed and his younger brother, Alphonse Elric tries to find a way to gain his body back.
Characters
The characters in both series are very similar to each other and are also similar to the original manga series, Fullmetal Alchemist. However, there are some minor differences between the characters in both series. The most noticeable difference is the different main antagonist. In Fullmetal Alchemist, the main antagonist is Dante, an elderly woman, while in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, the main antagonist is the Father of Edward and Alphonse, Hohenheim.
The Ending
In the original manga series, Ed and Al have to go through several tests before they are able to regain their bodies back. In Fullmetal Alchemist, Al managed to regain his body back, but Ed is still on the other side of the gate. In Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Ed and Al have managed to regain their bodies back and they are reunited.
Animation and Artwork
Fullmetal Alchemist is produced by Bones, and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is produced by Funimation. The animation and artwork of both series are very similar to each other but has slightly different animations considering that both series are produced by different companies.
The Length of the Episodes
The flow of the episodes in Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood are also very similar to each other, but the episode lengths are slightly different between both series. In Fullmetal Alchemist, there are 52 episodes while in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, there are 64 episodes.
Similarities to the Original Manga Series, Fullmetal Alchemist
Some people say that Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is much greater in terms of similarity to the original manga series than Fullmetal Alchemist. The Philosopher’s Stone is an important item in both series, and it is the main goal of both series. However, the pace, the ending, and the animation of the two series are slightly different, as mentioned above.
