Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Premiering April 5th, 2009 Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is already off to a good start. This new series although originally planned to be a sequel to the highly watched Fullmetal Alchemist. This one is actually a makeshift remake of the original. The only difference is Brotherhood comes through for anime fans everywhere by staying true to the original manga.

The series starts off feeling like a perfect remake of the original with a little more classic immature Japanese humor. The series really starts to take a turn around episode fifteen when 4 new characters are introduced. This is where the manga comes in.

The story follows that of Edward Elric and his younger brother Alphonse Elric. Alphonse having lost his entire body in an alchemical experiment gone wrong is now confined to a suit of armor with only his soul holding him inside. The older brother Edward has lost both his arm and his leg in this same experiment to bring their mother back from the dead.

The two brothers have now given up their quest to commit taboo and bring their mother back from the dead, but have now set their sights in search of the philosophers stone. This ancient stone fabled to be able to commit all forms of alchemy while ignoring the rules of equivalent exchange. This seems to be the only key to retrieving their missing body parts.

So the two set out on a wild journey involving an even thicker plot to solve a mystery involving the highest levels of the military. The philosophers stone draws the attention of even the Fuhrer Bradley Himself. This mix of action, alchemical magic, silly Japanese humor, and an even deeper look into what is right and wrong when dealing with the abilities to change, destroy matter, break it down, and shape it into anything that you wish. These elements make up for a great anime that you cannot miss.