Fullmetal Alchemist watch order: What’s the best way to watch its adaptations?

The Fullmetal Alchemist anime is a tale of two brothers striving to mend their broken bodies through the art of alchemy. The series boasts a rich history, featuring two different anime adaptations and a collection of movies and original video animations (OVAs).

Given this, determining the ideal Fullmetal Alchemist watch order can be a bit of a puzzle for newcomers.

This ONE ESports guide serves as your compass, exploring the unique merits of each series and ultimately guiding you towards the best Fullmetal Alchemist watch order.

What is the Fullmetal Alchemist anime about?

Fullmetal Alchemist is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. It tells the story of two alchemist brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who are searching for the Philosopher’s Stone to restore their bodies after a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life using alchemy.

The manga was serialized in Square Enix’s shonen manga anthology magazine Monthly Shonen Gangan between July 2001 and June 2010.

There are two anime adaptations of Fullmetal Alchemist, both produced by Studio Bones.

The anime series was later adapted into a film titled “Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa” in 2005. This film explores Edward’s journey in a parallel world after the events of the 2003 anime series.

How many seasons of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime are there?

While some sources may divide it into parts, there is essentially one season for each of the two Fullmetal Alchemist anime series.

The first anime adaptation premiered on October 4, 2003.

A second anime adaptation, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, premiered on April 5, 2009, and closely follows the manga’s storyline.

Fullmetal Alchemist watch order: Find out how to watch the Fullmetal Alchemist anime

The 2003 anime was produced while the manga was still ongoing. Recognizing this, the creators diverged from the manga’s storyline to create an original ending.

This allowed them to explore unique plot points and character developments not found in the source material. While it has its dedicated fanbase, the 2003 series deviates significantly from the core narrative and themes of the manga.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a faithful adaptation of the entire manga. It closely follows the original story, characters, and themes, accurately representing the author’s intended vision.

Both versions are considered excellent anime in their own right. Watching both allows for a deeper appreciation of the Fullmetal Alchemist universe, showcasing the versatility and adaptability of the source material while offering two distinct storytelling experiences.

This means you should watch the anime and movies as follows:

The Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa movie does not directly correspond to specific manga chapters. It is considered a separate story that takes place after the main manga narrative, essentially acting as a conclusion to the Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) anime series.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos is not considered canon to the main storyline of the manga or the Brotherhood anime. It’s a standalone movie released after Brotherhood concluded. While it features the Elric brothers and some familiar characters, it’s a self-contained story with no significant impact on the overarching narrative or character development.

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