Fullmetal Alchemist: 2003 or Brotherhood, Which Should You Watch?
In short: Watch Brotherhood (2009, 64 episodes) first. It adapts Hiromu Arakawa's complete manga. The 2003 series (51 episodes) was made while the manga was still running, so it splits off around episode 25 into its own darker story and ending. Both are by studio Bones and both are worth seeing; the 2003 version just works best as a second watch.
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Get anime picksPrefer to answer a few questions? Take the 8-question anime quiz →The premise
Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric break alchemy's greatest taboo by trying to bring their mother back to life. Ed loses an arm and a leg; Al loses his whole body, his soul bound to a suit of armour. They set out to find the Philosopher's Stone and undo the damage.
Why there are two shows
Hiromu Arakawa's manga ran from 2001 to 2010. Studio Bones began the first anime in 2003, directed by Seiji Mizushima, and soon caught up with the manga. With Arakawa's blessing, it wrote its own second half and ending. When the manga neared its finish, Bones made Brotherhood (directed by Yasuhiro Irie, 2009 to 2010) to adapt the whole thing.
How they differ
- Story: they share a premise and early events, then split. The villains, their origins and the endings are different.
- Pacing: Brotherhood moves fast early and has a huge cast and a larger conspiracy. The 2003 version is slower and more intimate.
- Tone: the 2003 series is gloomier and more philosophical; Brotherhood mixes darkness with more humour and a more hopeful arc.
- Reputation: Brotherhood has long sat at or near the top of fan-voted rankings such as MyAnimeList's.
Verdict
Brotherhood first. If you finish it and want more of the brothers, the 2003 series is a genuinely different take rather than a lesser copy, and its film completes it.
Frequently asked questions
Which Fullmetal Alchemist should I watch first? Brotherhood. It tells the complete story as the author wrote it. Watching the 2003 series first isn't wrong, but Brotherhood's opening episodes move fast on the assumption you already know the setup.
Is the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist worth watching? Yes, as its own show. It spends more time on the early, smaller episodes and builds a bleaker story about the cost of alchemy. Its ending continues in the film Conqueror of Shamballa.
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