"Hagane no renkinjutsushi" (2009) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

5 April 2009 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Cast

Romi Pak	...	Edward Elric (35 episodes, 2009)
Rie Kugimiya	...	Alphonse Elric (35 episodes, 2009)
Iemasa Kayumi	...	Narration / ... (35 episodes, 2009)
Vic Mignogna	...	Edward Elric (26 episodes, 2009)
Maxey Whitehead	...	Alphonse Elric (26 episodes, 2009)
Shinichirô Miki	...	Roy Mustang (25 episodes, 2009)
Travis Willingham	...	Roy Mustang (19 episodes, 2009)
Fumiko Orikasa	...	Riza Hawkeye (18 episodes, 2009)
Kenta Miyake	...	Scar (18 episodes, 2009)
Megumi Takamoto	...	Winry Rockbell (18 episodes, 2009)
Yuki Hayashi	...	Denny Brosh / ... (17 episodes, 2009)
Biichi Satoh	...	Heimans Breda / ... (16 episodes, 2009)
Colleen Clinkenbeard	...	Riza Hawkeye / ... (16 episodes, 2009)
Hidekatsu Shibata	...	King Bradley (15 episodes, 2009)
Caitlin Glass	...	Winry Rockbell (15 episodes, 2009)

Also Known As:

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (International: English title)
Hagane no renkinjutsushi: Fullmetal alchemist (Japan) (promotional title)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Company:

Bones

Trivia:

This is the first Fullmetal Alchemist related anime to not have Aaron Dismuke as the voice of Alphonse in the English Dub. Due to his voice changing after the dubbing of the first series. He was replaced by Maxey Whitehead, however he is still part of the cast as the voice of another character. Making this the first time he voices a Fullmetal Alchemist character who isn't Alphonse.

Movie Connections:

Remake of "Hagane no renkinjutsushi" (2003)

Just might be the perfect mainstream series

Fullmetal Alchemist is, in a way, unique. It is very much a mainstream series, with the appeal of a huge cast of unique characters, action that commonly involves special powers, a fairly straight forward story with some mostly obvious symbolism, and a mix of comedy, action, drama, and even some romance. These are all common staples of long running anime series that lean towards a more commercial and public appeal. And yet, for a mainstream series, it manages to continually surprise with a very mature and serious tone. There is a great deal of tragedy and some moments are even frightening and memorable. Few series achieve such a perfect balance of mainstream entertainment and gut wrenching drama and tragedy.

Such was what I discovered when I first laid my eyes on the original FMA series. And yet, for all it's greatness, it began to flounder in it's second season. As many series do, it took on its own form and story, and it was at that point that it started to lose its charm. So, Bones did the smart thing. They remade it. For most series, this would be pointless, but for FMA, it's very much welcome. Five years after the original series ended and the manga has had time to grow, this new FMA is better looking, paced better, and follows the manga, expanding the plot in a better direction.

It's hard not to like anything about this new FMA. The action is fantastic and looks great, as it always did. We aren't subjected to single shots or poorly edited sequences. All the action is displayed and wonderfully animated. Likewise, all the charm is here as well, from the more serious scenes that fans will remember to the humor which is consistent and still funny. Bones took everything good about the original series and threw out all the bad, replacing those particulars with higher quality details. In a sense, it even feels like a new anime, and by episode 13, it has gone in a completely new direction.

A better developed story and characters, superior animation, and fantastic details. These are what make the new FMA an instant new-age classic. Like FMA was the first time around, the new FMA will be one of the top anime to watch out for in the states.