Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist
File:Hagaren logo.gif The Japanese logo for the Fullmetal Alchemist anime.
Genre	Fantasy, Adventure, Drama, Action, Shōnen, Comedy
Created by	Hiromu Arakawa
Manga
Written by	Hiromu Arakawa
Published by	Square Enix
Anime
Directed by	Seiji Mizushima
Studio	Bones
Anime
Conqueror of Shamballa
Directed by	Seiji Mizushima
Studio	Bones
Manga
Written by	Makoto Inoue
Published by	Square Enix Other: Viz Media

Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, lit. "Alchemist of Steel"), commonly abbreviated as FMA or Hagaren by fans, is a manga series created by Hiromu Arakawa and serialized in Enix's (now Square Enix) Monthly Shonen Gangan. It has also been adapted into an anime TV series and a movie sequel, as well as several spin-off novels and video games.

The manga is still running in Japan, and 16 volumes have been released so far. The anime, on the other hand, is finished, and consists of 51 episodes and a full-length movie sequel. Both incarnations (the manga and the anime) have seen massive popularity in both Japan and North America; in September 2005, the anime was voted #1 most popular anime of all time in Japan in a TV Asahi web poll. It was put down for #1 again for 2006 in a recent poll. In 2005, Anime Insider named it "Series of The Year."

Plot

Template:Spoiler Fullmetal Alchemist is a fantasy manga set in the early 20th century in a country called Amestris in an alternate-historical Earth with technology dating from early 20th century Europe. In this alternate world, the exaggerated science of alchemy is heavily used in conjunction with acretian soul wanderers, but takes on a further fantastic element not seen in real-life alchemy. Real-world alchemists attempted to transmute gold and diamonds from lesser metals. In the fictional world of the series, alchemy becomes the science of transmuting matter into different matter through the use of transmutation circles—based on real-world science, yet also magical, with seemingly infinite uses. Talented alchemists may apply to take a State Alchemist test to join the Amestris military's State Alchemists.

Edward and Alphonse Elric were children living in the rural village of Resembool in the country of Amestris. Their father Hohenheim, a talented alchemist, had left home when Edward was very young and Alphonse was still an infant. Years later, their mother, Trisha Elric, died of a terminal illness. After their mother's death, they lived with Winry and her grandmother until finding a Sensei (teacher) to teach them alchemy. After completing training, they came home with the intent of reviving their mother with the transmutation circle they found in their father's notes and made the attempt soon after acquiring the circle. However, this attempt failed, resulting in a twisted mass of flesh and bone at the cost of Edward's left leg and Alphonse's entire body. In a desperate effort to save his brother, Edward sacrificed his right arm to affix his brother's soul to a suit of armor. After that, Edward's left leg and right arm are fitted with two sets of Automail, a type of advanced prosthetic limb. In the original Japanese, the term "Fullmetal" is used to describe a person who is stubborn. In the series it is often attributed by minor characters to Ed's automail arm and leg, or Al's armor body. In the sixth manga, it is revealed that when an alchemist becomes a State Alchemist, they are given a special title. Edward's title was Fullmetal, making him Fullmetal Alchemist.

A State Alchemist by the name of Roy Mustang arrives during the failed human transmutation. After seeing their skill at alchemy, Mustang suggested that the way for the two boys to achieve their goals would be to become State Alchemists and work for him. Spurred on by the man's proposal, Edward set out to become a State Alchemist, enabling him to use the resources available to State Alchemists to discover a way to restore what he and Alphonse had lost. The brothers eventually learn of the Philosopher's Stone and set off in search of it as a means to restore their bodies. Along the way they discover secrets about the Philosopher's Stone they never wanted to know; and, find other people who seek it as well, doing almost whatever it takes to get their hands on it.

Major characters

File:Elric Brothers.jpg

The Elric brothers, Alphonse (left) and Edward (right)

• Edward Elric: The main protagonist, Edward ("Ed") Elric is the famous Fullmetal Alchemist, though Al is occasionally mistaken for him because of his armored body. He has a prosthetic automail arm and leg, is of short stature, and typically reacts in an exaggerated manner to any remarks about his height. He is known for being the youngest State Alchemist.
• Alphonse Elric: Alphonse, often nicknamed "Al", is Fullmetal Alchemist's secondary protagonist; he is Edward's younger brother. For most of the series his soul is trapped in a large suit of armor, causing other characters throughout the series to confuse Al for the "Fullmetal" Alchemist. Alphonse is the calmer of the two, and can be seen as a foil to Edward's character.
• Winry Rockbell: Winry is a mechanical expert who is a childhood friend of the Elrics. She, along with her grandmother Pinako, built Edward's automail, and she also helps maintain the automail when it gets broken. Her parents were executed while acting as impartial doctors during the Ishbal rebellion.
• Colonel Roy Mustang: Roy Mustang is known as the Flame Alchemist. His gloves are made of a special material, called ignition cloth, which allows him to create a spark by snapping his fingers. He then uses alchemy to change the oxygen density in the air with the help of transmutation circles on his gloves, causing a controlled explosion. He is Edward's direct superior officer in the military, but has his own goals and intentions in mind. His main goal is to become the Führer, the leader of the military.
• Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye: A hard-working member of the state military, and a loyal, capable aide to her superior officer, Roy Mustang. She is especially proficient in the use of firearms. While she may be level-headed, she sometimes uses her shooting skills in situations where they may not be entirely necessary.
• Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes: A member of the Investigations Division and a good friend of Colonel Mustang and the Elric brothers. He wishes to push Mustang up to the position of Führer by working closely under him. Hughes loves his wife, Gracia, and is overly enthusiastic regarding his love for his daughter Elysia, and tells about her to everyone he meets.
• Scar: One of the few surviving Ishbalans (Ishvalans in the manga). His real name is never revealed, but he is referred to as "Scar" because of the X-shaped scar on his face. Scar's right arm, which is tattooed with a rare transmutation circle, was given to him by his brother shortly before he died. Scar believes himself to be an instrument of God, and kills State Alchemists using his alchemical skills, despite the fact that he believes alchemy is an abomination against the natural world.
• King Bradley: Known as the Führer, he is the military dictator of Amestris, holding the official political title of president (King is his first name). Although he seems to be quite easy-going and perhaps a little eccentric, he has a mind like a steel trap , and maintaining Amestris is his chief priority at all times. He is also renowned as an exceptional swordsman.
• Lust: Sultry and cool-hearted, she is the first of the Homunculi encountered in the series. She has the power to extend her fingers into a spear in the blink of an eye to use as a weapon, and is thus known in some translations as the 'Ultimate Spear'/'Ultimate Lance'.
• Gluttony: A large figure who eats anything he can get his hands on, including humans and inanimate objects. He latches on to Lust like a child to his parent.
• Envy: Sarcastic, sadistic, and cold-hearted, Envy has the ability to change appearance. He hates mankind, viewing them as pitiful and weak. Envy is a male, but his appearance is androgynous.

Terminology

• Alchemy: Alchemy within the Fullmetal Alchemist anime, put simply, refers to a three-step process. The steps are analysis (to understand the structure and properties of the substance that is about to be transmuted), destruction/decomposition (to break the substance down to its rudimentary properties), and reconstruction/recomposition (to rebuild the substance into another form or with different properties). In the manga, the source of alchemical power is believed by most alchemists to be the movement of tectonic plates-however, Mei Chan, an alchemist from the neighboring country of Xing has her doubts as to this; to her, the power behind Amestrian alchemy seems to involve the souls of the dead (while the Xing alchemy involves using the Earth's lifestream). However, in the anime, the energy for alchemical reactions comes from the other side of the Gate, supposedly from the deaths that occur in the world on the other side of the Gate. In both versions, rather than being a method of manipulating forms via their accidents (the basis of historical alchemy, derived from Greek philosophy), it is essentially modern chemistry without a reaction medium.
• Automail: A kind of prosthetics, made from metal and linked directly to the nerves of the body. Well-made automail can allow a range of movement and strength as good as or better than the original limb it replaces. Some forms of automail include ballistic devices or other enhancements. It appears to be a type of cybernetic technology, well ahead of real world cybernetics research. Edward typically has been seen altering his automail arm with Alchemy, refashioning it into a bladed weapon in the manga and anime. Since it's linked directly to the nerves of the body, attaching automail can be excruciatingly painful.
• Equivalent Exchange (also referred to as "Equivalent Trade", "Alchemical Equilibrium", and "The Law of Conservation" among some fans): The rule that alchemists in the series consider to be the foundation of Alchemy, or even the fundamental law of the world: to obtain, something of equal value must be lost. One of the themes of the series is examining the implications of Equivalent Exchange as a philosophy. It also investigates into whether Equivalent Exchange is a natural law, or rather, a false ideology. As an example, the two brothers frequently quote the chemicals present in the human body, in thinking that this simple chemical exchange would be all that was needed to bring back someone from the dead.
• One is All, All is One: A cryptic way of explaining the essence of alchemy, this phrase is used by Izumi Curtis to test whether the Elric brothers are worth teaching alchemy to. According to this, if a person were to die, as such there would be no material effect on the world. Since a human body is made up of certain basic elements, when a person dies, his or her body is decomposed and these elements are returned back to nature. These elements, in turn, provide nutrients to plants which, in their turn, become food for herbivores, which are then food to carnivores. This is the cycle of life, and the death of one person is insignificant while considering the whole cycle. However, without these individual deaths, the cycle cannot be maintained and hence the individuals as a whole are significant to the continuation of the cycle. Thus, the cycle of life can never be reversed. Understanding this and working with the cycle of life in order to create new things is what alchemy is about. In other words, as the Elrics put it, "the world is the all, and I am the one."
• State Alchemist: An alchemist serving in a special branch of the state military under the direct command of the Führer. State Alchemists are selected by a series of examinations, and are regarded as some of the most powerful and talented alchemists. The position of State Alchemist also holds considerable authority and influence, automatically being promoted to the rank of Major. However, State Alchemists are despised by the general public, often called 'dogs of the military' - meaning that the person sold their soul to the military in exchange for special entitlements.
• Taboo: A forbidden act in alchemy, for example, Human Transmutation, which usually comes with a punishment. Edward and Alfonse attempt to return their mother back to life, and are punished by losing Al's body and Ed's arm and leg.
• Transmutation Circle:Transmutation circles act as catalysts in alchemic reactions, and are needed for any transmutation; however, some alchemists, like Edward Elric, can transmute without one. The circle represents the constant flow of energy, the patterns decide what effects the transmutation has. A circle may be drawn on the spot, embroidered into an article of clothing, or even tattooed onto the alchemist itself. Transmutation circles can be drawn with any substance that leaves behind a trail, ranging from chalk to blood (see Blood Seal below).
• Philosopher's Stone: A legendary stone said to allow the holder to completely bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange. As with all things, however, to create a Philosoper's Stone requires the expenditure of raw materials: in this case, human lives.
  • Red Stone or Incomplete Philosopher's Stone (Akai Ishi): An unfinished or impure Philosopher's Stone, commonly referred to as a Red Stone. Though far less powerful than a complete stone, a Red Stone can act as a powerful amplifier for an alchemist's abilities. A related material (that appears only in the anime) is Red Water, which, while toxic to humans, can be refined into a Red Stone.
• Blood Seal: A special type of transmutation circle that acts as a seal to bind a person's soul to an object, such as a suit of armor. It must, as the name suggests, be written in blood; the soul is tied to the blood and an element in the blood must be bound with the object itself. This typically only works on armor as the iron in the blood binds with the armor. Thus the blood acts as an intermediary between the soul and the object. If a blood seal is destroyed, the soul will no longer be tied to the object, and the person will enter the Gate. Some translations refer to it as a "Blood Array."
• Chimera: A Chimera is the fusion of two or more different species into a single being created using alchemy. The body is then infused with a human soul to form a being that acts and thinks as a human, but retains all of the strengths and weaknesses of the body which they are infused into. Throughout the Anime series, chimeras were created and used in warfare and as experiments. The 5th laboratory is notorious for being the area for creating and perfecting chimeras, using military captives or convicts from an adjacent prison. Chimeras are notorious for their strange abilities and often very violent nature, however a select group of good chimeras made an appearance over a short range of episodes.
• Gate of Alchemy also known as the "Gate of Truth" or just "Gate": The Gate is said to be the source for all alchemical power. In the manga, an alchemist who sees into the Gate can then perform alchemy without the use of a written or tattooed circle because of the knowledge gained during the experience. In the anime it is said that the Gate swings forward each time the energy for Alchemy is summoned, that there is a Gate inside everyone, and that all that is necessary to access the gate is knowledge of how to do so. It is also said that a weak link between the body, mind, and spirit is what called the Gate - in other words, death. A baby, the anime posits, has a weak link between the body, mind, and spirit, and thus it is easy to summon the Gate using a baby. In the anime the Gate resembles Rodin's sculpture "The Gates of Hell", but in the manga it is more akin to an obelisk, featuring the Kabbalahistic Tree of Life.
• Truth : The ultimate goal of every alchemist. In the anime, it was just Ed's point of view to describe what he found in the Gate. In the manga, though, it was displayed as an omnipotent god-like being that exists in the Gate, enforcing the law of Equivalent Exchange.
• Rentan Jutsu (manga only): A type of Alchemy that is used in the eastern country Xing. Its roots actually lie in medicine and transmutation circles are referred to as "purification circles" by the people of Xing. While similar to Amestris alchemy (called "Renkin Jutsu" by people from Xing), the source of energy is different. Rentan Jutsu uses the power called "Lungmei" which exists everywhere on the earth. The type of alchemy that the character Mei Chan uses is Rentan Jutsu. Scar's tattoo is a mix of Renkin Jutsu and Rentan Jutsu.
• Human Sacrifice: In the manga, it is a term that the Homunculi use to refer to alchemists who have opened the Gate and seen the Truth. Human Sacrifices are a crucial part of the Homunculi and "Father"'s plan, but to what end is still unknown.
• Human Transmutation: a forbidden art in which one attempts to create a human who had died. However, it takes something from the person who performs it (example: arm, leg or organ) but instead of creating a human, it takes the alchemist to the Gate, where he or she gains knowledge proportional to what was given up in the transmutation. In the anime, the end product of a human transmutation attempt creates a Homunculus.

File:Fullmetal alchemist manga 1 viz.jpg

FMA Vol. 1 manga cover by VIZ

Manga

Release

Fullmetal Alchemist has been serialized in Enix's (now Square Enix) monthly anthology manga magazine Monthly Shonen Gangan since July 2001 and is still ongoing with a new chapter in every issue. The 49th Shogakukan Manga Award winner in 2004. As of May 2007, there have been 71 chapters serialized and 16 graphic novel compilations released. Viz Media began releasing the manga in North America in May 2005; since then, twelve English-language volumes have been released.

Due to the fairly rapid rate that Viz Media is introducing the graphic novels (a new release approximately every two months), the English translation is quickly catching up to the Japanese release, having already covered three-fourths of the series to date. According to Nielsen Bookscan, Fullmetal Alchemist's first volume was the top selling manga in the year of 2005, and the following issues of the manga usually appear on the Bookscan's weekly Overall Graphic Novel top 10 list. Beginning with volume eight, Viz Media's releases of the manga featured a new, updated version of the "Viz Action" logo at the top of the spine. However, recent controversy among fans began when the news broke that volume eight contains an edit in two panels.

In Singapore, the manga is being released by Chuang Yi Publishing in both English and Simplified Chinese. 12 volumes have been released in English while 15 volumes have been released in Simplified Chinese. In Poland, JPFantastica is releasing the manga; as of March 2007, 5 volumes have been released. In France, the manga is being released by Kurokawa. As of January 2007, 11 volumes have been released. Volume 8, released in September 2006, was available alone or in a collector's edition, which consisted of the book packed with the original humorous novel Flame Alchemist, focusing on Roy Mustang's schedule. Before that, this novel was only available with the first print run of volume 6 in Japan, making it highly collectible. In Sweden, the manga is published by Carlsen Comics, and has as of April 2007 reached 5 volumes.

Chapter guide

Main article: List of Fullmetal Alchemist manga

U.S. edit

File:FMA Manga Edit.jpg

Panel from volume 8, showing the differences between the U.S. version and the original material

So far the content of the manga released by Viz in the United States does not differ much from the original material. The only edit so far is one panel from volume 8 showing the Homunculus Greed tied (in crucifixion style) to a cross-shaped stone slab. In the U.S. version the stone was redesigned to become round-like, probably to avoid references to Christianity. Other editions, such as the Italian one, are not edited, and still feature the cross.

Anime

Episode guide

Main article: List of Fullmetal Alchemist episodes

Production broadcast history

File:FMA movie.jpg

A promotional poster of "Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa", a feature film set after the events of the TV series.

The animation studio Bones adapted the manga into a 51-episode anime series, directed by Seiji Mizushima and co-produced by Bones, Mainichi Broadcasting System and Aniplex with character designs by Yoshiyuki Ito and scripts by Sho Aikawa, which ran on the Mainichi Broadcasting System, the TBS and Animax in Japan from October 4, 2003 to October 2, 2004. A one-hour OVA, Fullmetal Alchemist: Reflections, was released in 2005. Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa was made by the same studio, and theatrically released in Japan on July 23 2005. The film serves as a sequel to the TV series. In March 2006 a DVD featuring 3 brand new OVAs as well as the "State Alchemists vs the seven Homunculi" feature that was previously shown only at Universal Studios Japan (in Tokyo) was released on DVD in Japan.

The series has also been broadcast across many regions:

• Japan, MBS-TBS and Animax, from October 4, 2003 to October 2, 2004 (original first run)
• United States, Cartoon Network (Adult Swim), from November 6, 2004 to March 18, 2006 (first run)
• Hong Kong, TVB Jade, from February 26, 2005
• Singapore, StarHub's SCV, Channel 56, from March 9, 2005
• Latin America, Animax, from July 31, 2005 to February 22, 2006 (first run)
• Brazil, Animax, from July 31, 2005 to February 22, 2006 (first run) and RedeTV! , from June 05, 2006 to October 02, 2006 (first run).
• South Asia, Animax, from July 24, 2006
• The Philippines, Animax, from May 2006
• United Kingdom, Rapture TV, from November 17, 2005 to November 7, 2006
• Italy, MTV, from April 11, 2006
• Canada, YTV's Bionix block, from March 3, 2006, to March 2, 2007 (first run)
• Australia, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, January 2006
• New Zealand, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, January 2006
• Philippines, GMA Network, around 2nd-3rd quarter 2005
• France, Canal +, from 2006
• Spain, Canal Buzz, 2006, Cuatro 2007
• Malaysia, Astro Wah Loi Toi, around third quarter 2005; and TV3, early 2007
• Thailand, ITV, around second quarter 2006
• Finland, Subtv, began February 4, 2007
• Poland, Hyper TV, began March 1, 2007

As there was a limited amount of manga material available to adapt at the time of production, the storyline of the anime diverges from that of the manga around the middle of the series (around the end of book 6/start of book 7). The anime's later story and conclusion by Bones is different from the manga, which is still ongoing. This divergence in story from the manga source material, however, was planned from the beginning of production, and was not done "just because" the anime caught up with the manga source material.

DVD releases

Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 1 DVD cover by FUNimation

The DVDs of the anime have been licensed by various companies for different languages and regions (refer to infobox on right). Some known firms releasing the DVDs are:

• Aniplex, the original producers of the anime series, across Japan (Region 2), Taiwan (Region 3), and South Korea (Region 3)
• Asia Animation, across Hong Kong (Region 3)
• Focus Filmes, across Brazil (Region 4)
• TIGA, across Thailand (Region 3) - 17 volumes with 3 episodes each
• FUNimation, across North America (Region 1), R4 (MX, SA)
• Madman Entertainment, across Australia & New Zealand (Region 4)
• MVM (originally), Revelation Films (currently) across the United Kingdom (Region 2)
• Odex, across Singapore (Region 3)
• Panini Video, across Italy (Region 2)

The 51 episodes in the series are divided into 13 DVD volumes (both for the Japanese and US releases, at least, and presumably for releases in other regions as well). On the original Japanese DVDs, volume 1 consisted of the first two episodes, volume 13 contained the last five, and all of the volumes in between had four episodes each. FUNimation's English DVDs all have four episodes each, except for the last, which has three. There are special editions of volumes 1, 6, and 10 that contained the DVD box and three soundtracks (one for each in chronological order) inside of a tin box.

Volume 01: The Curse (Ep. 1-4) Volume 02: Scarred Man of the East (Ep. 5-8) Volume 03: Equivalent Exchange (Ep. 9-12) Volume 04: The Fall of Ishbal (Ep. 13-16) Volume 05: The Cost of Living (Ep. 17-20) Volume 06: Captured Souls (Ep. 21-24) Volume 07: Reunion on Yock Island (Ep. 25-28)

Volume 08: The Altar of Stone (Ep. 29-32) Volume 09: Pain and Lust (Ep. 33-36) Volume 10: Journey To Ishbal (Ep. 37-40) Volume 11: Becoming The Stone (Ep. 41-44) Volume 12: Truth Behind Truths (Ep. 45-48) Volume 13: Brotherhood (Ep. 49-51)

Each volume presents unique cover art that usually signifies important characters of the volume.

Volume 01: Edward Elric Volume 02: Alphonse Elric fighting Ed Volume 03: Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye Volume 04: Edward facing forward and Roy facing away Volume 05: Scar Volume 06: Maes Hughes at a party with Roy and Major Armstrong Volume 07: Ed and his automail shattering Volume 08: Winry and Den Volume 09: Edward stabbing Greed Volume 10: Riza Hawkeye Volume 11: Al with the Grand Arcanum runes with Scar Volume 12: Edward and Roy Volume 13: Edward (Germany) and Alphonse (human) Movie (normal edition): Ed, Al, Eckhart, Roy, Noa, and Karl Haushoffer Movie (special edition): Edward (Germany) and Alphonse (in Ed's red coat)

The American front cover art for each box features character images over a background that shows 1/12 of a transmutation circle in rotation. The 13th Volume displays the same spot on the transmutation circle as the 1st volume.

All thirteen DVD volumes, as well as the movie, The Conqueror Of Shamballa, have been released in the United States. A limited special edition of the movie was released on November 14, 2006. MVM had released the first eight volumes in the UK; however, Funimation gave the rights over to Revelation Films. They will be re-releasing the first 8 DVDs on February 12 before finishing up to the last DVD in 2007.

Opening quotes

• Episode 2–36, 38–42: Alphonse Elric:

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's First Law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth.

• Episode 37: Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye:

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. Here at Central Headquarters there was a group of brave soldiers all willing to make that sacrifice in the name of peace. This is a tale of love and courage, a tale of the Flame Alchemist Colonel Mustang and his loyal team.

• Episode 43–50: Edward Elric:

The Philosophers' Stone: those who possess it, no longer bound by the laws of Equivalent Exchange and Alchemy, may gain without sacrifice, create without equal exchange. We searched for it, and we found it.

Note: FUNimation's 11th DVD volume incorrectly uses the first monologue (episodes 2–36) at the beginning of episode 43. Both the Japanese and American TV airings use the correct monologue.

Opening and ending themes

Openings

1. "Melissa" by Porno Graffitti (episodes 2-13)
2. "Ready Steady Go" by L'Arc~en~Ciel (episodes 14-25)
3. "Undo" by Cool Joke (episodes 26-41)
4. "Rewrite" by Asian Kung-Fu Generation (episodes 42-51)

• Episode 1 does not feature an opening theme song.
• "Ready Steady Go" and "Rewrite" are the only openings playing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and YTV's Bionix because of a deal with L'Arc~en~Ciel and Asian Kung-Fu Generation to promote their songs. The DVD releases from FUNimation include all openings in their original places and format.
• "Rewrite" won "Best Theme" for Fullmetal Alchemist at the first American Anime Awards on February 24, 2007.

Endings

1. "Melissa" by Porno Graffitti (episode 1)
2. "Kesenai Tsumi" ("Indelible Sin") by Nana Kitade (episodes 2-13)
   The alternate title used by some fansubbers is "Unerasable Sin". Episode 7's closing animation was altered slightly based on events in the episode's storyline.
3. "Tobira no Mukō e" ("To the Other Side of the Door") by Yellow Generation (episodes 14-24)
   The alternate title used by some fansubbers is "Beyond the Door".
4. "Motherland" by Crystal Kay (episodes 26-41)
5. "I Will" by Sowelu (episodes 42-50)

• Episodes 25 and 51 do not feature a closing theme song.

• Episode 25 - Features the funeral of Maes Hughes, and dialogue from a number of characters.
• Episode 51 - Alphonse reads:

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's First Law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth. But the world isn't perfect, and the law is incomplete. Equivalent Exchange doesn't encompass everything that goes on here, but I still choose to believe in its principle: that all things do come at a price, that there's an ebb and a flow, a cycle, that the pain we went through did have a reward, and that anyone who's determined and perseveres will get something of value in return, even if it's not what they expected. I don't think of Equivalent Exchange as a law of the world anymore. I think of it as a promise between my brother and me. A promise that someday we'll see each other again.

Each of the theme songs were performed by artists under Sony Music Entertainment Japan's label, whose anime distribution unit, Aniplex, handled the production and music production for the series. All of the music score was composed and arranged by Michiru Oshima.

All the ending theme songs and animation on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim are edited down for time. The DVD releases from FUNimation include the unedited full endings. The ending of episode 25 consists of a piece of very short music from the series followed by "Tobira no Mukō e". The end credits for the episode on DVD are presented on a black background. The bombing of London by zeppelins in episodes 49 and 50 is accompanied by a music track titled "Unmei", also known as the first movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5.

In Japan, some time after the series' end, all four opening and all four ending songs were released together in a single CD titled Fullmetal Alchemist Complete Best, including a special DVD containing the series' creditless openings and endings. An American version of Complete Best was released recently, with the DVD features containing only the textless ending of Kesenai Tsumi.

Episode 51's ending is from the English version. This episode includes two performances of a piano piece called "Wakare no Kyoku", also known as Frédéric Chopin's Etude in E major op.10 no.3. The first performance, a piano solo, begins when Lt. Hawkeye begins to cry over the body of Gen. Mustang (whom she believes to be dead) and continues through Envy's disappearance into the gate. The second performance, piano accompanied by oboe, begins when Winry sees Alphonse and Izumi off on their train through Edward's packing for his journey to where he can study rocketry with Hermann Oberth.

Original soundtracks

File:Fullmetal Alchemist OST1.jpg

Cover of Fullmetal Alchemist OST 1

1. TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 1 (Released 24 March, 2004)
2. Fullmetal Alchemist Complete Best (CD+DVD) (Released 14 October, 2004)
3. TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 2 (Released 15 December, 2004)
4. TV Animation Fullmetal Alchemist Original Soundtrack 3 (Released 18 May, 2005)

Other releases in music

Many image songs, complimenting the anime series, have been released in Japan.

• Romi Paku (Edward Elric)

"The Place Toward Tomorrow" (明日への場所, Asu e no Basho)

"Returnable Memories"

• Tōru Ōkawa (Roy Mustang)

"Far Side of the Moon" (月の裏側, Tsuki no Uragawa)

• Rie Kugimiya (Alphonse Elric)

"To Beyond That Dream" (あの夢の向こうへ, Ano Yume no Mukō e)

"I Am Here" (ボクハココニイル, Boku wa Koko ni Iru)

• Megumi Toyoguchi (Winry Rockbell)

"Boy Friends!"

"Silver Watch" (銀時計, Gindokei)

• Keiji Fujiwara (Maes Hughes)

"And Then, Today the World is" (そして今日も世界は, Soshite Kyō mo Sekai wa)

"Angel Heart"

• Multiple voice actors

"Fullmetal Heart" (鋼のこころ, Hagane no Kokoro, lit. "Heart of Steel"), by Romi Paku, Rie Kugimiya, and Megumi Toyoguchi

"A Rainy Day is a No Thank You" (雨の日はノー･サンキュー, Ame no Hi wa Nō Sankyū), by Tōru Ōkawa and Michiko Neya (Riza Hawkeye)

"Oh Boy, Oh Trustworthy Companions" (少年よ、信じるなかまよ, Shōnen yo, Shinjiru Nakama yo), by Tōru Ōkawa, Mitsuki Saiga (Maria Ross), Keiji Fujiwara, Tomoyuki Shimura (Heymans Breda), Yasunori Matsumoto (Jean Havoc), Tetsu Shiratori (Kain Fuery), Takehiro Murozono (Vato Falman), and Hidekatsu Shibata (King Bradley)

"Trance to Homunculus", by Mayumi Yamaguchi (Envy), Yuuko Sato (Lust), Junichi Suwabe (Greed). Yoshino Takamori (Sloth), Hidekatsu Shibata (Pride), Yasuhiro Takato (Gluttony), and Nana Mizuki (Wrath)

"Love Reference Book" (恋愛参考書～Love reference book～, Ren'ai Sankōshō), by Megumi Toyoguchi and Naomi Wakabayashi (Sciezka)

"Play with Papa" (パパと遊ぼう, Papa to Asobō), by Keiji Fujiwara and Mayumi Yoshida (Elysia Hughes)

"Last Meetings", by Romi Paku, Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Toyoguchi, Tōru Ōkawa, and Keiji Fujiwara

"Good!", by Romi Paku, Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Toyoguchi, Tōru Ōkawa, and Keiji Fujiwara

Other merchandise

Toys

Action figures, busts, and statues from the Fullmetal Alchemist anime and manga have been created by leading toy companies. The primary of these companies are Medicom and Southern Island. Medicom has created high end deluxe vinyl figures of the characters from the anime. These figures are exclusively distributed in the United States and UK by Southern Island. Southern Island has also released their own action figures in 2007 of the main characters Edward, Alphonse, Gluttony and Lust. These figures and a 12" statue are scheduled to release in 2007.

Video games

File:Fullmetal2 ps2box usa org 000boxart 160w.jpg

Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir (PS2)

Video games based on the Fullmetal Alchemist world have also been released. However, the storylines of the games often diverge from those of the anime and manga. For the PlayStation 2, Square Enix has released three RPG titles and one fighting game. Bandai has released two other RPG titles for the Game Boy Advance and one for the Nintendo DS. Of the seven games, Broken Angel, Dream Carnival, Curse of the Crimson Elixir, and Dual Sympathy have see international release, the others being Japan-only.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Stray Rondo (GBA) (2003)
2. Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel (PS2) (2003)
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Omoide no Sonata (GBA) (2004)
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Dream Carnival (PS2) (2004)
5. Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir (PS2) (2004)
6. Fullmetal Alchemist 3: Kami wo Tsugu Shoujo (PS2) (2005)
7. Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy (NDS) (2005)

In addition, a fanmade Dōjin soft for the PC called Bluebird's Illusion, based off the Fullmetal Alchemist manga, was created by X-Ocean, and was only sold in Hong Kong. It is said that there were only around 100 copies of the game made, and that they were auctioned off on Yahoo! Auctions Hong Kong. The game is in violation of copyright, and thus cannot be found on the market anymore.

Recently, FUNimation licensed the franchise to create a new series of Fullmetal Alchemist related video games to be published by Destineer Publishing Corporation in the United States. Destineer released its first Fullmetal Alchemist game for the Nintendo DS titled Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy on December 15, 2006, and has commented that this will be the first of many titles that they plan to release. On February 19, 2007, Destineer announced the second game in its Fullmetal Alchemist series: the Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game. A completely accurate translation of the TCG from Press Pass, Inc., this title is scheduled to be released in May 2007.

Novels

Several novels have also been written as sidestories or spinoffs to the original manga. The following novels are written by Makoto Inoue, translated into English by Alexander O. Smith, and distributed by Viz Media.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Land of Sand (October 4, 2005)
2. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist (January 10, 2006)
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Valley of White Petals (May 16, 2006)

Drama CDs

So far, there has been two series of audio dramas, one based on an alternate interpretation of the manga, and the other are shorts found in audio CDs with purchases of the Shonen Gangan magazine.

• Manga drama CDs

For this series, the voices of the Elric brothers are different (Junko Minagawa voices Edward). However, the Tringham brothers are voiced by their seiyū from the anime.

• Fullmetal Alchemist Vol 1: The Land of Sand
• Fullmetal Alchemist Vol 2
• Fullmetal Alchemist Vol 3
• Specials

There are 2 stories in this series. The first is included in Shonen Gangan's April and May issues for 2004, while the second story is found in the November and December issues.

Trading card game

Main article: Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game

A Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game was published in 2005. Since then, five expansions have been released: Blood & Water, Artificial Human, A Hero's Passing, Alchemist's Gate, and Seven Deadly Sins. Another expansion, Sacrifice, is set to be released in February 2007.

Concert performances

During the month of December 2004, "Tales of Another Festival" was staged in Tokyo and Osaka, featuring performances by several of the musical artists from the television series as well as narrations by the voice actors/actresses. The Festival was extremely well attended, drawing over 30,000 fans. Excerpts of the events have appeared on several fansites, and a DVD of the concert entitled Fullmetal Alchemist Festival - Tales of Another was released in Japan on April 27, 2005.

See also

List of voice casts of Fullmetal Alchemist Amestris Ishbal Episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir

Fullmetal Alchemist 3: Kami wo Tsugu Shoujo Fullmetal Alchemist: Carnival of Dreams Gate of Alchemy Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim) Transmutation circle Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist) Lab 5

External links

Official sites

• FUNimation Fullmetal Alchemist official website
• Adult Swim official Fullmetal Alchemist page
• YTV Fullmetal Alchemist page
• GMA TV's Fullmetal Alchemist page
• Animax Latin America Fullmetal Alchemist page Template:Es icon

Non-exclusive sites

• Fullmetal Alchemist ({{{type}}}) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Fullmetal Alchemist ({{{type}}}) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Fullmetal Alchemist at AnimeNfo
• Fullmetal Alchemist at IMDb
• Fullmetal Alchemist at TV.com