Ask John: Why is Fullmetal Alchemist So Good?

Question:
Why is Full Metal Alchemist so good? Its been a long time since an anime had me wanting to see the next episode as soon as possible. The last series that grabbed me this much was probably Berserk, almost 4 years ago. Also, do you have any idea how many episodes the series is likely to be? They just changed opening and ending credits with episode 26 which indicates the show is now entering its third season, which seems like a sign that it may go for a while yet.

Answer:
Fullmetal Alchemist is scheduled to be a 52 episode TV series. The change in opening and ending animations do not technically denote new “seasons” because the series is only going to be two seasons long.

As for why the series is so good, I do have a theory. Like all of the best anime series, Fullmetal Alchemist is captivating and compelling because its focus is on its characters. Regardless of how original manga creator Hiroshi Arakawa actually conceived of the story, the foundation of his story is Edward and Al Elric and their struggle to undo a terrible mistake from their past. The world of Fullmetal Alchemist is then constructed around them so that the focus and priority of the series is never in doubt and never compromised. Rather than prioritizing a marketing gimmick or a genre formula, or creating a world then filling it with after-thought characters, Fullmetal Alchemist provides a pair of well developed main characters and a clearly defined goal for them to strive toward, which allows for consistent and effective story development and gives viewers something to really sink their teeth into. The style of the series straddles a consistent balance between adventure and comedy, never straying far enough in one direction or the other to make the series feel disjointed or schizophrenic. The outstanding writing also brings the surrounding characters to life, giving them all a distinct and memorable personality even in small appearances or roles. Fullmetal Alchemist is animated well, and looks attractive, but ultimately it’s the story and characterizations that keep viewers interested, not the look of the series.

If we consider Full Metal Panic, for example, we find a show that doesn’t know if it wants to focus on its comedy or its political intrigue and mecha action. As a result, Full Metal Panic feels like two different series mashed together, each seemingly only half complete. When we look at Wolf’s Rain or .Hack//SIGN, for example, we find series that looks beautiful, but have no compelling narrative or strong character motivations, resulting in shows that feel weak and superficial. However, series like Fullmetal Alchemist and Berserk and Fushigi Yuugi and Naruto and One Piece all have fully realized and sympathetic characters for viewers to empathize with. Furthermore, especially in the case of series like Berserk and Fullmetal Alchemist, we may perceive the archetypal quest motif of characters undergoing hardships in order to mature and find something. In Berserk, Gutts was searching for the purpose of his existence. In Fullmetal Alchemist, Ed and Al are searching for their own natural bodies. As viewers, we can empathize with these characters. We can sympathize with their struggles because we too each have important, valuable and sentimental things in our lives that we strive toward achieving. So we feel for, and feel with these characters and take pride in their accomplishments and fear for their tragedies. Series like Berserk and Fullmetal Alchemist simply captivate us as viewers slightly more effectively than series like Naruto or One Piece, though, because Berserk and Fullmetal Alchemist are paced quicker because of their shorter series length. Thus Berserk and Fullmetal Alchemist have a greater impact because they feel more immediate and have a greater atmosphere of immediacy than enjoyable titles like Naruto and One Piece, which are enjoyable because they’re patient and deliberately paced.

When we add the excellent animation and music of Fullmetal Alchemist to its outstanding script and story construction, we have a show that just gets everything right. Amidst so much anime that’s either mediocre or only close to perfection, the rare shows like Fullmetal Alchemist that actually do get everything right stand out as contemporary classics that are appreciated while they’re current, and for years afterwards.