Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Volume 1

Label:

Manga Entertainment

Certificate:

15

Format:

DVD, Blu-ray

Discs:

2. (13 episodes )

Running time:

325 mins approx

Subtitles:

English

Video:

16:9 Anamorphic

Sound:

English 5.1, Japanese 2.0

Release date:

23rd Aug 2010

DVD RRP:

£24.99 - Amazon - Play - Manga UK

Blu-ray RRP:

£34.99 - Amazon - Play - Manga UK

Brief synopsis:

In a world reminiscent of Europe at the dawn of the 20th century, science has long worked symbiotically, and has in many ways been supplanted by, the art of alchemy; the ability to transmute matter by breaking it down and re-constructing it in another form in a manner akin to magic. Using the “Law of Equivalent Exchange” which states to gain something, something of equal value must be lost, Alchemists in the service of the military are able to use their skills to become both tools to produce creations of wondrous design and breathtaking beauty or as terrible and destructive weapons of mass destruction. But there is one skill that is considered taboo, one ritual that must never be performed, the act of human transmutation. In an attempt to bring their deceased mother back from the dead, the young Elric Brothers broke this rule and paid for it dearly. Their failed attempt cost the younger brother Alphonse his entire body and in a desperate bid to save his sibling’s soul by binding it to a suit of armour, the older Elric, Edward, quite literally paid an arm and a leg.

When it becomes apparent that the only way to gain access to the military’s research on alchemy so that they might figure out how to regain what they had lost is to enlist, Ed decides to take the exam to become a State Alchemist, even if it means becoming a much-despised “dog of the military”.

As the Elrics get closer to uncovering the truth behind a mysterious item known as “the Philosopher's Stone”, an item that they hope will allow them to reunite Alphonse with his real body, they are pulled deep into untold conspiracies and despicable schemes spreading far and wide from the upper echelons of the military to a group of un-natural beings to shadowy individuals from the Elric sibling’s own past. Edward soon finds that if he’s to survive what is to come, whilst trying to put right everything that he has done, then he needs discover on whom he can truly rely and how to unlock his full potential as the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Comments:

Back in 2003 Japanese production company Studio Bones (Darker than Black, Soul Eater) created the first anime series based upon the popular manga Fullmetal Alchemist. To say these series was a success would be somewhat of an understatement but it had a major downside in that there had been only five volumes of the manga published at that time and as such the anime had to tread it’s own path for the second half of it’s 51 episode run. Then over half a decade later, Studio Bones returned to Fullmetal Alchemist once more with this second anime series which restarts the story back at square one and promises to follow the manga much more faithfully than before - both visually and plot-wise – from beginning to end.

And follow it it does and while this new series definitely benefits from a good half decade of improvements in animation techniques and CGI it actually looks more like the original manga than the first anime did. It also manages to capture the tone of the manga far better than before with both the dark and disturbing moments mixed in equal measure with the lighter hearted jokey moments. Often funny, frenetic and furious, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is equally as often painful, poignant and philosophical.

As the “Brotherhood” part of the title would seem to indicate, the interaction between the brothers as they undertake their journey, or more of a quest even, to make good on the mistakes of their youth creates the heart of this series. At times supportive, at others argumentative, they’re always there for each other, each being the reason the other continues on with their quest. Along the way the brothers have to face up to the fact that it’s not just with great power that great responsibility comes, but also with each of our actions there’s always a reaction to be dealt with, and often a negative one at that. Embedded deeply in the story of Fullmetal Alchemist is the recurring message that we must all face up to our actions rather than keep running from our pasts, lest they catch up with us one day.

There’s no need to have either seen the 2003 anime or read the manga in order to enjoy this series, and in a number of ways it would actually help if you haven’t, though if you have then the foreknowledge regarding the fates of several of the characters and the back-stories surrounding them will make several scenes all the more powerful.

Now, with this series being from Studio Bones we know it’s going to look nice with high production values - and in this area it doesn’t disappoint – but how does it sound? While most of the English voice actors have returned for this second version, not all the Japanese seiyuu either could or would so a large number have been recast. Generally this all seems to have been for the better as the English voice actors’ previous experience with the series has made for a more polished performance second time around while the Japanese recasting has afforded the inclusion of a number better known talents than before such as Kikuko Inoue (AMG’s Belldandy) and Fumiko Orikasa (Bleach’s Rukia Kuchiki) to name but a few. Most important though is the return of Romi Park and Vic Mignogna as Edward Elric’s Japanese and English vocal talents respectively as these two really make this series and bring the headstrong young alchemist come to life in two very different but equally impressive ways.

Extras:

Not a whole lot actually, there’s audio commentary on episodes 1 and 10 and the ever present text-less opening and closing animations and that’s your lot.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Volume 1, containing the first 13 episodes of this 64 episode series is available now from most high streets and online retailers. A trailer for this release can be found at Manga UK’s website here.