Current Events > Finished watching FMA 2003 for the first time in a while

(+) Yeah! (+)

it's still really good imo. Brotherhood has basically taken over the FMA discourse, which is unfortunate but understandable since that's great too, but the og series is still worth watching i think. both shows obviously go in different directions with different strengths. i think 2003 does a better job with Ed's character but Brotherhood undoubtedly does a better job with the overall cast on the whole, as well as having better exclusive characters (the Xing characters vs garbage ones like Frank Archer lmao). i also think 03 is better directed and has much better music

either way the first 25 eps of 03 kick the absolute shit out of the first 10 or so episodes of Brotherhood, that's for sure

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I'm always baffled when people say start with Brotherhood since it rushes through the beginning. Things like Nina or Hughes' death just work far better when you've had 25 episodes to work with.

FMA is also just a more serious show. Brotherhood is great, but I think I prefer Dante to Father. Like the scene where Dante makes the speech about equivalent change being bullshit while she threaten's Rose's baby is just far better than anything Father ever did.

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pegusus123456 posted...

I'm always baffled when people say start with Brotherhood since it rushes through the beginning. Things like Nina or Hughes' death just work far better when you've had 25 episodes to work with.

FMA is also just a more serious show. Brotherhood is great, but I think I prefer Dante to Father. Like the scene where Dante makes the speech about equivalent change being bullshit while she threaten's Rose's baby is just far better than anything Father ever did.

That's because Father wasn't a character, he was a plot device


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FMA '03, IMO, is better than Brotherhood for most of its run, but the final 9-10 episodes are so bad that I have to give the nod to Brotherhood, when it comes to being the better series, since Brotherhood is consistently good.

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Brotherhood is shonen, 03 is seinen. Fight me.

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My take has always been 1s half of FMA 2003>1st half of Brotherhood

However 2nd half of Brotherhood>>>>>>>2nd half of '03

Once you get past Greed the Manga-Brotherhood storyline really picks up where as the '03 series becomes a mess

Lin(g), LanFan, Manga Barry, Olivia really help push FMA Brotherhood ahead of the '03 Anime
Villains are a lot better too

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2003 wrath and sloth were big favs of mine
and Lyra I think was her name

Guide posted...

Brotherhood is shonen, 03 is seinen. Fight me.

Why? You're right.

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Roy killing Lust in Brotherhood really cements that being the better series

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GS4Life posted...

Once you get past Greed the Manga-Brotherhood storyline really picks up where as the '03 series becomes a mess

This is true though. IIRC, Dante's plan was just to cause slapdash chaos all over the place just on the off chance that alchemists who lost loved ones would create a Philosopher's Stone that she could then steal? But also they keep the recipe for the Stone a secret?

Like wtf is that

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I haven't rewatched either in years, but both series are great imo.

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i think the last 10 or so eps of 2003 are actually good too, but they are rushed. it's some of the ones right before ed and al return to Lior that really feel aimless

the worst thing in any version of the show tho is frank archer i think. i can't get over how bad he was. and when they had the perfect opportunity to finally get rid of him, they bring him BACK and as a fucking terminator cyborg. i could not believe he was still around in the last damn episode, and he served no purpose whatsoever. one of Troy Baker's first roles too


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Kimbley was also an utter waste in the 2003 version as I recall.

Though I do remember a fun moment where he says, "Just need some raw materials," and he grabs a random dude that's running past him and explodes him.

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Watch Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa that the true ending for fullmetal alchemist 2003 version.

I always enjoy the 2003 version more than brotherhood.
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Part of it is that Brotherhood actually follows the manga while 2003 does its own thing as the manga wasnt finished at the time.

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Guide posted...

Brotherhood is shonen, 03 is seinen. Fight me.

I'll fight you, name the place.
both are shonen.
'03 fans are delusional and thinking that their show is "deep" despite the 2nd half is just glorified fanfic.

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Aki_Sora posted...

Watch Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa that the true ending for fullmetal alchemist 2003 version.

I always enjoy the 2003 version more than brotherhood.

nah i ain't watching Shamballa. i couldn't even make it through halfway the last time i tried. i think 03 ends on a decent enough note, and while i'm kind of indifferent on the whole "parallel real world" twist, i really don't need more of that

Ricemills posted...

'03 fans are delusional and thinking that their show is "deep" despite the 2nd half is just glorified fanfic.

i wouldn't completely disagree, altho i believe the showrunners were consulting with Arakawa the entire way. i just like how the whole show acts as a sort of character study on Ed and how the world challenges his views. as well as some of the Homonculi being more compelling

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