Fullmetal_alchemist

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Fullmetal Alchemist
鋼の錬金術師 (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi)
Demographic	Shōnen
Genre	Drama, Fantasy, Thriller, Supernatural, Steampunk
Manga
Author	Hiromu Arakawa
Publisher	Square Enix
Other publishers: VIZ Media Chuang Yi (Chinese and English) Tong Li Jade Dynasty Kurokawa Panini Comics Norma Editorial Japonica Polonica Fantastica Siam Inter Comic Daiwon CI Komik Remaja Sangatsu Manga Bonnier Carlsen Editora JBC Elex Media Komputindo
Serialized in	Monthly Shonen Gangan
Original run	January 2001 – still running
Volumes	19 volumes, with 81 total chapters (as of March 12, 2008)
TV anime
Director	Seiji Mizushima
Studio	Bones
Licensor	Aniplex FUNimation Entertainment MVM Films, then Revelation films Madman Entertainment
Network	MBS-TBS, Animax
Other networks: TVB Jade YTV Cartoon Network (Adult Swim) Hyper TV3 Channel U Animax Animax, Rede TV! Chilevisión Animax Canal +, MCM MTV Italia GMA Network, Animax Champ, Anione Canal Buzz, Cuatro Subtv LNK Rapture TV, AnimeCentral ITV,ASTV ZTV
Original run	October 4 2003 – October 2 2004
Episodes	51
Novel
Author	Makoto Inoue
Publisher	Square Enix
Other publishers: Viz Media
Published	February 2003 – March 22 2007
Volumes	6
Related works
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa

Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi^?, lit. "Alchemist of Steel"), commonly abbreviated as FMA or Hagaren, 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 18 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 high popularity in both Japan and North America. The series won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 2003. In September 2005, the anime was voted #1 most popular anime of all time in Japan in a TV Asahi web poll,TV Asahi Top 100 Anime. Anime News Network (2005-09-23). Retrieved on 2007-06-29. and was #1 again in 2006.Japan\'s Favorite TV Anime. Anime News Network (2006-10-13). Retrieved on 2007-06-29. In 2005, Anime Insider named it "Series of the Year".^{[citation needed]}

It was nominated in six of the eight categories for which it was eligible at the American Anime Awards in February 2007, winning awards in five of them: Best Long Series, Best Actor (Vic Mignogna), Best Cast, Best DVD Package Design, and Best Anime Theme Song (Rewrite by Asian Kung-Fu Generation). It was also nominated in the category of Best Anime Feature for Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa. Awards were given in twelve categories, and no other anime won more than two.American Anime Awards finalists. American Anime Awards. Retrieved on 2007-06-29.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Major characters 2.1 Common 2.2 Manga-only 2.3 Anime-only 3 Terminology 4 Manga 4.1 Release 4.2 U.S. edit 5 Anime 5.1 Production broadcast history 5.2 DVD releases 5.3 English opening quotes 5.4 Opening and ending themes 5.5 Original soundtracks 5.6 Other releases in music 6 Other merchandise 6.1 Toys 6.2 Video games 6.3 Novels 6.4 Drama CDs 6.5 Trading card game 6.6 Concert performances 7 See also 8 Notes and references 9 External links 9.1 Official sites 9.2 Non-exclusive sites

Plot

Fullmetal Alchemist is a science 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. In the fictional world of the series, alchemy is the science of transmuting matter into a different form of that same matter (following the law of equivalent exchange) 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 brothers living in the village of Resembool in the country of Amestris. Their father Hohenheim (Hohenheim of Light in the anime, Van Hohenheim in the manga) left home when Edward and Alphonse were still very young. Years later, their mother, Trisha Elric, died of a terminal illness. After their mother\'s death, Edward becomes determined to bring her back through the use of alchemy. However, this attempt failed, ultimately resulting in the loss 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 were fitted with two sets of automail, a type of advanced prosthetic limb.

A State Alchemist named 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 others who seek it as well, doing almost whatever they can to get their hands on it.

The stories of the manga and anime separate soon after the encounter with Greed, and weave vastly different tales. The most prominent of the differences is the primary antagonist. In the manga, this is a man known simply as "Father". Father is the creator of all the homunculi in the manga series and commands them from behind the curtains of the High Command of the country Amestris, which, King Bradley (the homunculus Pride in the anime and Wrath in the mangaArakawa, Hiromu (2006). Fullmetal Alchemist, volume 8. Viz Media, p. 69. ISBN 1-4215-0459-6.) later reveals to Roy Mustang, was created by Father as well. It is suspected that Father plans to use Amestris as a gigantic transmutation circle to create a Philosopher\'s Stone, but the homunculus Envy hints that, although close, this is not the whole truth. Regardless, Edward and Alphonse become mixed up in Father\'s plans and end up becoming prime "human sacrifices" for whatever he has in store.

The main antagonist of the anime series is a woman known as Dante. A previous lover of Hohenheim, Dante and he were masterful alchemists and perfected methods for making the Philosopher\'s Stone and a form of immortality in which their souls jump to a new host body every time their current vessel began to age. However, Hohenheim soon fell in love with another and left Dante, taking with him the perfected Philosopher\'s Stone formula. Although Dante is still able to jump from body to body to preserve her youth, she is able to spend less and less time in each body as it decays faster with each jump, so she seeks the stone\'s formula to sustain her power. Dante is the leader of the homunculi, and though she did not create all of them, she sustains them by feeding them imperfect shards of the Philosopher\'s Stone. She uses them to spur Edward and Alphonse into finding the complete Philosopher\'s Stone formula for her.

Major characters

See also: Minor characters of Fullmetal Alchemist

Common

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 right arm and left 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, gaining this title at the age of 12.
• Alphonse Elric: Alphonse, often nicknamed "Al," is Fullmetal Alchemist\'s secondary protagonist; he is Edward\'s younger brother and the narrator of the series. For most of the series his soul is trapped in a large suit of armor, causing other characters throughout the series to confuse Al with the "Fullmetal" Alchemist. Alphonse is the calmer of the two, and can be seen as a foil to Edward\'s character.
• 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 goal, mainly to become the Führer, leader of the military.
• 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 called into service as doctors for the Ishvalan Civil War (Ishbalan Civil War in the Funimation\'s adaptation of the anime) and were killed, because they were providing services to both sides of the army (curing all injuries regardless of side).
• 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 and a good marksman. While she may be level-headed, she sometimes uses her shooting skills in situations where they may not be entirely necessary. There is an unspoken relationship between her and Mustang.
• 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 talks about her to everyone he meets.
• Scar: One of the few surviving Ishvalans (Ishbalans in the Funimation\'s adaptation of the anime). 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 hungers for war and is constantly sending troops to locations all over Amestris, "purifying the land." He is also renowned as an exceptional swordsman. In the anime he is the Homunculus Pride, while in the manga he is Wrath.
• Hohenheim: Ed and Al\'s mysterious father, who disappears a few years after they are born.
• 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 to use as a weapon, and is thus known in some translations as the "Ultimate Spear" or "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 a parent.
• Envy: Sarcastic, sadistic, and cold-hearted, Envy has the ability to change appearance. He hates mankind, viewing them as pitiful and weak. His appearance is androgynous although he is male.

Manga-only

See also: State Military, Homunculi, and minor characters from the manga

• Ling Yao: A young prince of the country of Xing, Ling Yao seeks the secrets of eternal life in order to gain the throne, and travels to Amestris in the course of his quest. He is attended by two retainers, Lan Fan and Foo.
• Mei Chan: A very young princess of Xing from a low ranking family that is accompanied by a very small panda named Xiao Mei. She has the same goal as Ling of obtaining the secrets to eternal life. Having no one else to accompany her she has mastered Rentan Jutsu, a different form of alchemy that is mainly used for healing.
• Father: The main antagonist of the manga storyline, "Father" is the creator of the Homunculi and of Amestris itself, which, along with special alchemists he calls "human sacrifices", is a piece of a far-reaching plan.

Anime-only

See also: State Military, Homunculi, minor characters from the anime, and characters from the video games

• Dante: The main antagonist of the anime storyline, Dante is the leader of the Homunculi and she made the first Philosopher\'s Stone with Hohenheim of Light. Her desire to create another sets the events of the anime into motion.

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 is linked directly to the nerves of the body, attaching automail can be excruciatingly painful.
• Equivalent Exchange: 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 Alphonse attempt to return their mother back to life, and are punished by losing Al\'s body and Ed\'s leg.
• Transmutation Circle: Transmutation circles act as catalysts in alchemic reactions, and are needed for any transmutation. The circle represents the constant flow of energy, and the patterns determine what effects the transmutation has. Transmutation circles can be drawn with any substance that leaves behind a trail, ranging from chalk to blood. Alchemists often draw circles on the spot for the transmutation they need, but some keep prepared circles embroidered on clothing (such as Roy Mustang\'s gloves) or tattooed onto their own flesh (such as Scar); a few alchemists (including Edward Elric) can perform alchemy without a circle. This is likely because he saw The Gate of Truth when attempting to resurrect his mother, which allows those who see it to perform alchemy without drawing a circle, by clapping their hands and forming a circle with their arms- so Edward Elric cannot do this when missing his automail arm.
• 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 Philosopher\'s Stone requires the expenditure of raw materials: in this case, human lives.
• 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." In Episode 3 ("Mother"), when Al\'s body is destroyed following his and Ed\'s failed attempt to resurrect their mother, Ed frantically sacrifices his right arm in order to create a blood seal and bind Al\'s soul to a nearby suit of armour, which becomes his body for most of the series.
• Chimera: A chimera is the fusion of two or more different species into a single being created using alchemy. These creatures are seen as monsters by the general community, because the alchemist has taken two creatures and fused them to create one. There are also cases where the alchemist has used a human in the creation of a chimera, such cases are: Shou Tucker where he created two chimeras using firstly his wife and then his daughter. These Chimeras died shortly after they were created. However other cases such as the events of that at Lab 5, were done using more experienced alchemists, and the aid of mass amounts of Red Stones. These chimeras were created using humans, however a major difference is that these chimeras took the form of humans and then gained abilities depending on the animal they were fused with.
• Gate of Alchemy (also known as the "Gate of Truth" or just "Gate" in the anime, known as the "Doors of Truth" or "The Doors" in the manga): The Gate/Doors is said to be the source for all alchemical power. In the manga, an alchemist who sees the Doors 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 called the Doors of Truth and 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 Doors, 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 Doors 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. It takes something from the person who performs it (for example, an arm, leg or organ) but, instead of creating a human, it takes the alchemist to the Gate/Doors, 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 is a Homunculus.

Manga

Release

Main article: List of Fullmetal Alchemist manga

Fullmetal Alchemist has been serialized in Square Enix\'s monthly anthology manga magazine Monthly Shonen Gangan since January 2001 and is still ongoing with a new chapter in every issue. Along with Yakitate!! Japan, the series won the 49th Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 2004.小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者 (Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved on 2007-08-19. As of February 2008, there have been 80 chapters serialized and 18 graphic novel compilations released. Viz Media began releasing the manga in North America in May 2005;Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1. VIZ Media. Retrieved on 2006-10-05. as of December 18 2007, fifteen 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,ICv2 2005 Manga Awards--Part 1. ICv2. Retrieved August 5, 2006. and the following issues of the manga usually appear on the Bookscan\'s weekly Overall Graphic Novel top 10 list.

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

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. Reprints of earlier volumes also contain this change.

U.S. edit

So far the content of the manga released by Viz in the United States does not differ much from the original material. As of August 2007, the only edit that has been made is to a set of twelve panels from volume 8, depicting 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 in each panel, probably to avoid references to Christianity.Viz Edits Fullmetal Alchemist. Anime News Network. Retrieved September 13, 2006.

Anime

Production broadcast history

Main article: List of Fullmetal Alchemist episodes

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. The English dub of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime debuted on the Adult Swim block of the United States cable channel Cartoon Network in November 6, 2004. A year and a half later, Canada\'s YTV began airing it on March 3, 2006. A one-hour OVA, Fullmetal Alchemist: Reflections, was released in 2005.CDJapan / V.A / Fullmetal Alchemist Festival - Tales of Another. CDJapan.co.jp (2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-06. 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.CDJapan / Animation / Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkin Jutsushi) Premium Collection. CDJapan.co.jp (2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-10. On September 20 2007, Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa was released in theatres for one night in the United States.

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.

DVD releases

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The DVDs of the anime have been licensed by various companies for different languages and regions. 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 are divided into 13 DVD volumes for the Japanese and North American releases. 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 case. FUNimation is re-releasing the series in several collections. The first, called Season 1: Part 1, contains volumes 1 through 4 and was released on September 18, 2007. The second, Season 1: Part 2, containing volumes 5, 6 and 7 was released on November 13, 2007. The third set, Season 2: Part 1, containing volumes 8, 9 and 10 was released on February 5, 2008. The fourth set, Season 2: Part 2, containing volumes 11, 12 and 13 is due to be released on March 11, 2008.

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. The North American front cover art for each box features character images over a background that shows 1/12 of a transmutation circle in rotation. The thirteenth 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.^{[citation needed]} They will be re-releasing the first 8 DVDs on February 12 before finishing up to the last DVD in 2007.

• Funimation\'s volume 6 DVD case is misprinted on the backside, and has the same images as the backside of volume 5 (minus the description and cover art).

English 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 in 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 North 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.
• The beginning of "Melissa" is played in a loop on the main menu of the Aniplex DVDs.
• "Ready Steady Go" (episodes 2-41) and "Rewrite" are the only openings played 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.^{[citation needed]} 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)
   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)
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

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)
5. Fullmetal Alchemist The Movie Conqueror Of Shamballa OST (Released 20 July, 2005)
6. Fullmetal Alchemist Hagaren Song File -Best Compilation- (Released 21 December, 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" (鋼の心, 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), Yūko Satō (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 were scheduled to release in 2007. Southern Island has since lost their contract with FUNimation, putting the figures on permanent hiatus.Fullmetal Alchemist. Southern Island Toys. Retrieved July 7, 2007.

Video games

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. Square Enix has released three RPG titles, Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel, Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir, and Fullmetal Alchemist 3: The Girl Who Surpasses God, and one fighting game, Fullmetal Alchemist: Dream Carnival, for the PlayStation 2; Bandai has released two RPG titles, Fullmetal Alchemist: Stray Rondo and Fullmetal Alchemist: Omoide no Sonata, for the Game Boy Advance and one, Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy, for the Nintendo DS;Fullmetal Alchemist DS-bound. Gamespot UK. Retrieved August 5, 2006. and Destineer released a game based on the trading card game in North America for the Nintendo DS. Of the seven games made in Japan, Broken Angel, Dream Carnival, Curse of the Crimson Elixir, and Dual Sympathy have seen international release (although Dream Carnival has not been released to North America); the others, Stray Rondo, Omoide no Sonata, and The Girl Who Surpasses God, have not been released internationally, though The Girl Who Surpasses God is scheduled to be released in the United States in 2008.

In addition, a fanmade Dōjin soft title 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. There were only around 100 copies of the game made, and that they were auctioned off on Yahoo! Auctions Hong Kong.^{[citation needed]} 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, a translation of Bandai\'s 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.Fullmetal Alchemist Video Games coming from Destineer. Anime News Network. Retrieved August 5, 2006. On February 19, 2007, Destineer announced the second game in its Fullmetal Alchemist series: the Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game. This title was released October 15, 2007. Gamestop.com - Fullmetal Alchemist: Trading Card Game product page

Novels

Six novels, authored by Makoto Inoue, have also been written as sidestories or spinoffs to the original manga. The first five have been translated into English by Alexander O. Smith and distributed by Viz Media in the United States.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Land of Sand (ISBN 1421501554, release date October 4, 2005)
2. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist (ISBN 1421502224, release date January 10, 2006)
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Valley of White Petals (ISBN 1421504022, release date May 16, 2006)
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Under the Faraway Sky (ISBN 1421513978, release date October 16, 2007)
5. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Ties That Bind (ISBN 1421514311, release date December 18, 2007)
6. Fullmetal Alchemist: A New Beginning

Novelizations of three of the PlayStation 2 games — Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel, Curse of the Crimson Elixir, and The Girl Who Surpasses God — have also been written; the first was authored by Makoto Inoue and the rest by Jun Eishima. None of these have been translated for distribution outside Japan.

Drama CDs

So far, there has been two series of audio dramas; one is based on the manga and were for purchase in stores, and the other are shorts found in audio CDs with purchases of the Shonen Gangan magazine.

• Manga drama CDs

For the first volume of 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: False Light, Truth\'s Shadow
• Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 3: Criminals\' Scar

• Specials

There are 2 stories in this series, each with two parts. 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.

• Fullmetal Alchemist: Ogutāre of the Fog
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Crown of Heaven

Trading card game

Main article: Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game

A Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game was published in 2005 by Press Pass Inc. Since then, six expansions have been released: Blood & Water, Artificial Human, A Hero\'s Passing, Alchemist\'s Gate, Seven Deadly Sins, and the final expansion, Sacrifice, released in February 2007.Fullmetal Alchemist TCG - Release Schedule. Joyride Entertainment. Retrieved August 5, 2006.Fullmetal Alchemist TCG: Alchemists\' Gate Details. Joyride Entertainment. Retrieved August 30, 2006. Production of the game was discontinued on July 11th, 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

• Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim)

Notes and references

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Fullmetal Alchemist

Official sites

• FUNimation Fullmetal Alchemist official website
• Adult Swim official Fullmetal Alchemist page
• YTV Fullmetal Alchemist page
• GMA TV\'s Fullmetal Alchemist page
• Anime Central\'s Fullmetal Alchemist page

Non-exclusive sites

• Fullmetal Alchemist (anime) at Anime News Network\'s Encyclopedia
• Fullmetal Alchemist (manga) at Anime News Network\'s Encyclopedia
• Fullmetal Alchemist at the Internet Movie Database
• Fullmetal Alchemist at TV.com

v • d • e Fullmetal Alchemist
Primary characters	Edward Elric • Alphonse Elric • Winry Rockbell • Roy Mustang • Maes Hughes  • Scar • Izumi Curtis • Hohenheim • Minor characters of Fullmetal Alchemist
Anime Characters	Dante • State Military • Homunculi • Minor anime characters
Manga Characters	Father • State Military • Homunculi • Ling Yao • Minor manga characters
Mass Media	Manga  • Anime (episode list) • Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa • OVAs • Video games (characters) • Trading cards
Items / Concepts	Alchemy • Automail • Blood seal • Chimera • Equivalent Exchange • Gate of Alchemy • Philosopher\'s Stone • State Alchemist • Transmutation circle
Locations	Amestris • Ishval • Lior

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia