Poll of the Day > Gawd I miss Fullmetal Alchemist. It was such an amazing show. SPOILErs

(+) Yeah! (+)

Ed and Al are some of my favorite characters ever. I loved the world that was built up in the show and the alchemy lore.

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I don't know which one was better of the shows as I only watched one, but I really enjoyed Brotherhood.

i'm not sure what you think was spoilers in your post

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I love both shows, but I prefer the original anime over Brotherhood. They both have flaws and things that make them great, but they approach the story in different ways. Brotherhood is more plot and action focused, and the 2003 show is more of a human drama focused on emotion.

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keyblader1985 posted...

I prefer the original anime over Brotherhood

Same

Both are great though

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keyblader1985 posted...

I love both shows, but I prefer the original anime over Brotherhood. They both have flaws and things that make them great, but they approach the story in different ways. Brotherhood is more plot and action focused, and the 2003 show is more of a human drama focused on emotion.

What I dislike about Brotherhood was how they paced the first little bit. I understand why they did that, cause the 2003 anime. They skipped Yokis story line, and he was more important in the manga and Brotherhood. But you get his backstory in a crappy flashback

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Actually what bothered me about Brotherhood is that the actual story and villain were pretty blah. The homunculi were also just boss fodder, the kind you find in a dbz fighting game. No personality, no complexity, they and the main villain were just there.

The original FMA did a great job of showing the homunculi as basically being a result of the hubris of humanity and their arrogance to think they can use alchemy to raise the dead or "play god" as it were. It ties in greatly with themes of "we make our own demons" and such. Though not without its faults of course. But still better than the manga brotherhood version.

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fma >> fma:b.

idgaf if "b" followed the manga more closely, that doesn't automatically make it better.
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saspa posted...

Actually what bothered me about Brotherhood is that the actual story and villain were pretty blah. The homunculi were also just boss fodder, the kind you find in a dbz fighting game. No personality, no complexity, they and the main villain were just there.

Well done paying attention to the plot.
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Both shows are great. I prefer Brotherhood's ending, but think the original started off stronger as they didn't have to rush through content already covered by a prior series.

The homunculi feeling like Saturday morning cartoon villains was definitely a flaw in Brotherhood. Some people lived and died with no character depth at all. The original show tried to humanize nearly everyone, except maybe Gluttony and Kimbley.

The first show's problem was that the plot started falling apart near the end. When it first started to deviate from the manga, it was still good. Alphonse being turned into a Philosopher's Stone was very interesting. But then you get all these weird plot twists, and the true antagonist comes out of nowhere. But while it made questionable decisions, it still handled those decisions very well. The endings (show and movie) stayed in keeping with the show's major themes of sin, atonement, and sacrifice for a greater good.

Brotherhood's ending was nice, but too safe. Considering everything that's happened in the series, I feel like most people got off too easy.

What bothered me the most was the way everyone turned on the original anime when Brotherhood came out. The first show was lauded as one of the best anime ever, then once Brotherhood came everyone pulled a 180, saying Brotherhood was perfect and 2003 was crap (past the shared material, which everyone agrees was better the first time). That passion seems to be cooling down lately, and more people are appreciating the differences between the two now.

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'03 > Brotherhood

But yeah, that show is the shit.

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keyblader1985 posted...

The homunculi feeling like Saturday morning cartoon villains was definitely a flaw in Brotherhood. Some people lived and died with no character depth at all. The original show tried to humanize nearly everyone, except maybe Gluttony and Kimbley.

The first show's problem was that the plot started falling apart near the end. When it first started to deviate from the manga, it was still good. Alphonse being turned into a Philosopher's Stone was very interesting. But then you get all these weird plot twists, and the true antagonist comes out of nowhere. But while it made questionable decisions, it still handled those decisions very well. The endings (show and movie) stayed in keeping with the show's major themes of sin, atonement, and sacrifice for a greater good.

Brotherhood's ending was nice, but too safe. Considering everything that's happened in the series, I feel like most people got off too easy.

What bothered me the most was the way everyone turned on the original anime when Brotherhood came out. The first show was lauded as one of the best anime ever, then once Brotherhood came everyone pulled a 180, saying Brotherhood was perfect and 2003 was crap (past the shared material, which everyone agrees was better the first time). That passion seems to be cooling down lately, and more people are appreciating the differences between the two now.

Oh yeah, it was absolutely difficult being an FMA fan a decade ago, there were borderline witch hunts for any fans of the original show hehe.

Anyway, the original show's plot does fall apart, and it has probably one of the worst endings of all time (Brotherhood's ending on the other hand went too far on the other side of the spectrum with its happy-go-lucky "everyone lived happily ever after" conclusion) since I feel it actually goes against one of the most important themes of the original, that being the journey and relationship of the two brothers, which is what makes the original FMA so much better.

The followup movie wasn't that great either. The concept of the gate leading to an alternate real world of ours was somewhat intriguing but I don't know if it was ultimately a good idea.

But yeah it is a shame because it was such a great show so the final part ending badly and that ridiculous villain didn't help either. It's funny, both shows had a pretty terrible lame villain but for completely different reasons. Yet they're both inexplicably tied to Hohenheim.

It took nearly a decade, but it's great to see that it's safe for fans of the original to discuss the show and strengths/faults of both freely without backlash.

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saspa posted...

Ed and Al are some of my favorite characters ever. I loved the world that was built up in the show and the alchemy lore.

Are you aware they made two PS2 games and a DS game set in the universe? You can track them down and wallow in the setting even more.
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saspa posted...

Actually what bothered me about Brotherhood is that the actual story and villain were pretty blah. The homunculi were also just boss fodder, the kind you find in a dbz fighting game. No personality, no complexity, they and the main villain were just there.

The original FMA did a great job of showing the homunculi as basically being a result of the hubris of humanity and their arrogance to think they can use alchemy to raise the dead or "play god" as it were. It ties in greatly with themes of "we make our own demons" and such. Though not without its faults of course. But still better than the manga brotherhood version.

No it didn't since the original wasn't based off the manga after like episode 10. The dub for both is superior than the original though.
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Brotherhood was miles better

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Metalsonic66 posted...

Brotherhood was miles better

It was. Too bad they skipped the beginning though.
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Metalsonic66 posted...

Brotherhood was miles better

no
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Yes.

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helIy posted...

i'm not sure what you think was spoilers in your post

yeah helly, TC is all over the place. were they drinking too much you think?

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Metalsonic66 posted...

Yes.

just because it follows the manga better, doesn't make it better
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Krazy_Kirby posted...

just because it follows the manga better, doesn't make it better

That automatically makes it better.
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Revelation34 posted...

That automatically makes it better.

it's less entertaining, which is the whole point
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Revelation34 posted...

That automatically makes it better.

You ever heard of a series called Usagi Drop? The manga author's intended ending was universally hated. Thankfully the anime didn't end that way.

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Krazy_Kirby posted...

just because it follows the manga better, doesn't make it better

I didn't say anything about the manga.

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keyblader1985 posted...

You ever heard of a series called Usagi Drop? The manga author's intended ending was universally hated. Thankfully the anime didn't end that way.

Original source is always better.
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Revelation34 posted...

Original source is always better.

the entire point is to entertain, whichever does that better (regardless of how closely it follows the original source) is the better version.
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Smoking_Hamster posted...

Both shows are great. I prefer Brotherhood's ending

Same. I enjoyed both but the ending to Conqueror of Shamballa left a bad taste in my mouth knowing Ed and Al more than likely cannot return home.

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That's pretty much what I thought of it as well

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I think that while the whole idea was pretty out there, the way Shamballa ended was pretty fitting for the show. The Elrics have never had it easy for most of their lives. They give up on what they want to do what's right, and the final twist at the end plays on the unbreakable bond of the brothers. (That also shows at the end of the show too, with the decision that both of them decided make.)

On another note, I'll tell you one thing about the original show that's clearly superior to Brotherhood - Brothers. That song is the heart and soul of the franchise and an absolute work of art.

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FMA is one of the most overrated anime series in the west. Its not bad by any means but people act like its a 10/10 when its more like a 7.5/10.


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bulbinking posted...

FMA is one of the most overrated anime series in the west. Its not bad by any means but people act like its a 10/10 when its more like a 7.5/10.

The manga is a 10 at least.
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Revelation34 posted...

The manga is a 10 at least.

I can agree to that.

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bulbinking posted...

FMA is one of the most overrated anime series in the west. Its not bad by any means but people act like its a 10/10 when its more like a 7.5/10.

You may have to rewatch some anime out there. :P

But at the time, considering what standard cable TV offered viewers new to anime only had few choices. Full Metal Alchemist, Gundam Wing, Outlaw Star, Rurouni Kenshin were all that US viewers had.

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blackhrt posted...

You may have to rewatch some anime out there. :P

But at the time, considering what standard cable TV offered viewers new to anime only had few choices. Full Metal Alchemist, Gundam Wing, Outlaw Star, Rurouni Kenshin were all that US viewers had.

Dragonball too.
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Revelation34 posted...

Dragonball too.

yeah I didn't include that one because I try to watch anime that actually have endings. (sorry one piece, dbz fans but its true)

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blackhrt posted...

You may have to rewatch some anime out there. :P

But at the time, considering what standard cable TV offered viewers new to anime only had few choices. Full Metal Alchemist, Gundam Wing, Outlaw Star, Rurouni Kenshin were all that US viewers had.

They at least had access to cowboybebop and I think even samurai champloo on adult swim.

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keyblader1985 posted...

I think that while the whole idea was pretty out there, the way Shamballa ended was pretty fitting for the show. The Elrics have never had it easy for most of their lives. They give up on what they want to do what's right, and the final twist at the end plays on the unbreakable bond of the brothers. (That also shows at the end of the show too, with the decision that both of them decided make.)

On another note, I'll tell you one thing about the original show that's clearly superior to Brotherhood - Brothers. That song is the heart and soul of the franchise and an absolute work of art.

Yeah everyone always praises that one (and for good reason)

Brotherhood's soundtrack isn't half bad though.

I just don't know if in retrospect their idea for the end of the series/conqueror of shamballa was a good one.

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