Fullmetal Alchemist: 2003 or Brotherhood, Which Should You Watch?

Why are there two completely different versions of the same story?

Because the original 2003 anime was produced while the manga was still ongoing, and the anime eventually caught up to and then surpassed the source material. Rather than stall out waiting for more manga chapters, director Hiromu Arakawa and the studio chose to let the anime diverge into its own original ending. Once the manga was actually completed years later, Brotherhood was produced specifically to adapt the full story as Arakawa originally intended, following the manga far more faithfully from start to finish.

So which one is the "real" or "correct" version?

Brotherhood is the version that actually follows the manga's complete story, and it's generally considered the more critically acclaimed and popular of the two by a meaningful margin. If you want the story exactly as its creator intended, with a much larger cast of side characters given real depth and a more coherent overarching plot, Brotherhood is the technically correct answer.

Then why would anyone recommend the 2003 version at all?

Because it's not simply a worse version of the same story, it's a genuinely different one, and there's a real case for it on its own terms. The 2003 anime takes the story in a darker, more psychologically heavy direction once it diverges from the manga, and it's often praised for being a tighter, more focused character drama specifically because it has less ground to cover than Brotherhood's more expansive, faithful adaptation. Some longtime fans, myself included on certain days, genuinely prefer its ending's emotional weight even while acknowledging Brotherhood is the more accomplished overall achievement.

What's actually different about how each version handles the story?

The first roughly 25 percent of both series covers very similar ground, since both start from the same manga chapters before the 2003 version begins diverging. After that split point, the 2003 anime takes the story in its own original direction with a different central antagonist structure and a notably bleaker tone, while Brotherhood continues following the manga's own escalating plot, introducing the Homunculi's true nature and a significantly larger scale conflict than the earlier series ever attempts.

Can I watch both, and if so, in what order?

Genuinely yes, and I think doing so gives you the fullest appreciation of this franchise. Most fans recommend watching Brotherhood first if you're only going to watch one, since it's the more complete and faithful telling. But if you enjoyed it and want to see an entirely different take on the same premise and characters, going back to watch the 2003 series afterward works well, precisely because you'll already understand the shared setup and can appreciate where the two versions diverge.

If you can only pick one, how should you actually decide?

Ask yourself what you're actually looking for. If you want the definitive, complete story with the largest cast and the most satisfying long term plotting, watch Brotherhood. If you want a tighter, more emotionally bleak character study that trades some of the manga's scope for a more focused psychological angle, and you don't mind that it's telling its own separate ending, the 2003 series is a legitimate choice, not a consolation prize.

Frequently asked questions

Is Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood a remake of the 2003 series? Not exactly. Both adapt the same manga up to a point, but Brotherhood follows the complete manga story faithfully, while the 2003 series diverges into its own separate original ending.

Which Fullmetal Alchemist series should I watch first? Brotherhood is generally recommended first, since it's the more complete and faithful adaptation of the full manga story.

Do I need to watch both versions? No, either stands on its own. But watching both gives a genuinely interesting comparison of two different takes on the same premise and characters.

Is the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist worth watching if Brotherhood already exists? Yes, on its own terms. It's a different, darker story rather than simply an inferior version of Brotherhood.

Want something else with this kind of emotional weight?

If Fullmetal Alchemist's mix of adventure and heavier themes is your speed, our anime recommendation quiz can help point you toward something in a similar register.