FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST BROTHERHOOD

For those of you who are wondering what's the difference between 'Fullmetal Alchemist'(FMA) and 'Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood'(FMAB) series, the simple difference is the storyline. Although the characters as well as the basic storyline remains the same in both the series yet there's a lot of difference in both the plots.. The first half of the FMA anime follows the manga storyline but then severely diverges from it somewhere near the middle of the story. However, FMAB follows the manga plot strictly and has gained more popularity than FMA ever did.

Story:

The world of FMA and FMAB is styled after the European Industrial Revolution and is set in a fictional world where alchemy is one of the most advanced scientific techniques known to man. Alchemy follows the rule of 'Equivalent exchange' and has a taboo on 'Human Transmutation'(bringing dead people back to life).The story is about two brothers Edward(Ed) and Alphonse(Al) Elric and their search for the Philosopher's stone that they believe can help to restore their bodies after their disastrous failed attempt to bring their dead mother back to life using alchemy.

Born in the village of Resembool in the country of Amestris, the two brothers lived there along wid their mother Trisha Elric after their father Van Hohenheim left home years ago for some unknown reason. However years later, their mother Trisha died because of a terminal illness leaving the Elric brothers alone. Determined to bring their mother back to life using alchemy, the brothers started to research on the forbidden art of human transmutation(the attempt of modifying or creating a human). The attempt fails disastrously resulting into loss of Edward's left leg and Alphonse's entire body. In a desperate attempt to save his brother, Ed sacrifices his right arm to affix Al's soul to a suit of armor. The childhood friend of the Elric brothers Winry Rockbell and her grandmother Pinako create automail(advanced prosthetic limb) left leg and right arm for Ed after which the Elric brothers move to Central where Ed chooses to become a State Alchemist and work for the State Military of Amestris. Ed's friendly relation with State Alchemist Colonel Roy Mustang(the one who recruited him and to whom Ed reports to) allows the brothers the freedom to search for Philosopher's stone as a part of Ed's reasearch.

Throughout the story they meet many antagonists like Scar who seeks vengeance on State alchemists for wiping out his race(Ishavalans), the homunculi(seven hmounculi named after the seven deadly sins, i.e., Pride, Lust, Gluttony, Envy, Greed, Wrath, Sloth) who are a group of human like creatuers that carry the philosopher's stone inside themselves and hence have the power to survive almost any harm. As the story progresses, the Elric brothers discover that the homunculi and much of the high ranking officers of the State military officers are commanded from behind the curtain by a man simply known as the 'Father' who gained immortality by creating the Philosospher's stone by tricking the Elric brothers father Van Hohenheim centuries before the series timeline. He palns to use Amestris as a gigantic transmutation circle in order to transmute the entire country for reasons unknown to the Elric brothers. When Ed and Al discover 'Father's' plan, they set out with their friends and other trustworthy military officers to defeat him.

FMAB is undoubtedly my favorite anime. I havent missed a single episode of the series yet. The best part about the anime is that it moves a break neck speed with twists and turns in each and every episode. Even though i know the story and how it ends yet the anime still manages to capture me unlike any other anime i've seen till date. There are many touching and heart warming scenes in the anime. The realtionship of brotherhood, friendship and love has been potrayed in the best possible manner in this anime. The anime has everything that you can ask for,whether its action,adventure,suspense,romance,comedy... you name it and it has it!! Overall a great series that'll definitely make you wanna see it again and again!! ^_^