FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST


Reviewer:	Iryl
Email:		Private.
Website:	http://www.hugglebunny.com

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The Anime


Episodes:	51
Seasons:	4
Movies:		1
OVA:		0

Price:		$20.00 DVDs (amazon.com)

Rated:		R

Catagories:	Action
		Comedy
		Drama
		Sci Fi
		Horror

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Review


Synopsis:	Edward and his brother Al try to bring their mother
		back to life using alchemy -- but lose their own body
		parts in the attempt -- a near-deadly mistake.  They
		spend the series searching for the Philosopher's stone
		in order to gain their bodies back -- with one hitch.
		Ed joins the army as the youngest known State Alchemist
		in order to access their extensive research.  Now he is
		bound to follow whatever military orders reach him on 
		his journey.

Age Rating:	For disturbing images.

Adult Content:	One brief scene where the full back of a nude man is
		shown.

Magic:		Alchemy is a "science" that can be mistaken for magic
		or a miracle (see first episode).

Overall -- What You Really Want to Know:
		Though at times light and humorous, the major themes
		in this anime are neither light nor fluffy.  The 
		range of emotions offered makes it a deep, rich show.

		The two brothers and their struggles together bring
		the theme of "the importance of family" into this 
		anime.  Their relationship is the main relationship
		of the show and is deeply moving to watch.  The 
		younger brother was injured the worst in the alchemy 
		accident, and both brothers must deal with the
		loss of body parts -- and Edward, as the elder brother,
		must deal with the guilt of inflicting such a difficult
		fate on Al.

		This show is a bildungsroman (growing experience or 
		"initiation story") for Ed.  He begins as an impetuous
		child doing things HIS way and learns that some things
		(dreams) must be forsaken in the name of what is right.
		He grows up.

		Another theme deals with the consequences of sin -- 
		particularly the sin of attempting to bring the dead
		back to life through alchemy.  Ed and Al are watched
		by non-human characters named after the seven sins:
		lust, gluttony, sloth, greed, pride, wrath, and envy.
		These characters have special abilities (shape-changing,
		etc) that make them distinct from each other -- and 
		they are after the Philosopher's Stone just like Ed and
		Al.  These characters, actually, provide some of the most
		disturbing parts of the show.  Not all, of course, but
		a good chunk.  For example, Gluttony is able to eat
		anything, and he's always hungry.  A favored way of
		Lust to kill people is to allow Gluttony to eat them.
		It never shows Gluttony killing them, but the 
		implication is disturbing enough.  Other disturbing 
		moments come from the twisted scientific experiments of
		other alchemists, the war crimes of the State, and 
		generally the obsessive desires of characters that go
		terribly, terribly awry.

		This anime is nowhere near suitable for children or 
		squeamish adults, but Christians as a whole will be 
		able to appreciate the depth of the characters and the
		obvious symbolism.  This anime is art and a show of
		depth and meaning, with strong themes.  These are the
		reasons why Fullmetal Alchemist is considered one of
		the better animes out there.  Though disturbing at times,
		it IS strong quality work.


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