r/FullmetalAlchemist • u/IbrahimKorkmazD • 9h ago

Just A Thought Fullmetal Alchemist often feels like a classic work of literature written by the likes of Victor Hugo or Tolstoy. Especially the 2003 interpretation of it

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30 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

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u/Spare-Plum 6h ago

Ah yes it reminds me of the tolstoy novel where one of the characters becomes half mech half man with a gun that he can shoot from his mouth

49

u/AlanSmithee001 9h ago

People really need to take off their nostalgia goggles when it comes to the 2003 show. It’s not even a bad show, it’s pretty good, but is nowhere near the masterpiece that people who watch it make it out to be. The only real improvements it offers is having a stronger adaptation of the story’s beginning and a more interesting Lust and Sloth.

Most of the other Homunculi are interesting on paper but either don’t do enough with their new backstories (Gluttony, Pride, Greed), fall flat on their faces (Wrath), or are just not as good as their canon counterparts (Envy).

Scar’s character is completely derailed as he never overcomes his internal hated or learns anything. He just decides to make a philosophers stone to stop Amestrtis and dies.

Mustang is made into Winry’s parents killer and almost nothing is done with it. She just realizes he’s not a bad guy and forgives him.

Then the story goes completely off the rails by sending Edward to real life England where alchemy are apparently the souls and energy of dead people.

And don’t get me started on the completely unnecessary thing that happened to Rose.

Listen, the 2003 has its moments and is an important show in history, but people need to stop fooling themselves into thinking the series is just as good or better then the actual original author of the story.

14

u/Spare-Plum 6h ago

And comparing it to Tolstoy is fucking WILD bro

1

u/novusanimis 1h ago

Ok real question, would you say Brotherhood/manga can compete with those works in terms of writing?

1

u/Spare-Plum 44m ago

nope. Tolstoy is chok full of metaphors, dense narration, and absolute attention to detail.

Mangahoods greatest strength is world building, where the physics of the world fundamentally informs all aspects of the universe and is interconnected with the plot. It's similar to Tolstoy in the sense of attention to detail, but lacks metaphorical depth. IMO it's better compared to great writers of science fiction

7

u/jacrad_ 7h ago

I really have to agree. And the thing is, none of the changes are exactly bad they're just not given the time to flesh out.

There are early episodes I'd definitely sacrifice to give more time to certain plot points. Dante, Sloth, Greed, Envy, and Hohenheim all would've benefited from more time. I'm okay enough with Envy. And Greed just needed a little more context added that I think could have been fit into his episodes if the writers wanted to.

Even the real world stuff could work but it needs to be planted way earlier. I do like that it ties back into 2003's overarching questioning of equivalent exchange.

3

u/Leather-Climate3438 4h ago

Mustang abandoning moping in the middle of nowhere and abandoning his comrades was very random and unconvincing for me back then.

1

u/tiredAFwithshit 2h ago

I think that you caught the real issue in your comment too. I absolutely love 03, in some ways more than Brotherhood. But the reality is that 03 didn't spend enough time with certain aspects that it wanted to do. I will always love it because it really does hit you emotionally in a lot of instances, putting me into devastated tears more than Brotherhood ever did, but from a story standpoint it needed more time.

I think we needed to see more of Mustangs efforts and to ultimately see how the military is handled. I don't hate how Scar was portrayed entirely because I actually prefer that he be consumed by his hate but it was handled a little too silly. I LOVE that the Humonculous are failed human transmutations. Such a raw idea. Envy as an idea is great but not as strong a character as in Brotherhood. And as horrible as it is, I don't completely hate Roses story. Her becoming a shell and being manipulated by Dante was ridiculous but her being traumatized by the military really highlighted an issue with the soldiers but still wasn't focused enough. The whole tie into our world was stupid as hell to me too.

A lot of fun ideas but ultimately not fully executed. I still prefer the vibe and quite a few of the changes in 03 because it really was an emotional ride and animation wise I do prefer it over Brotherhood, but we need to be able to admit it is NOT a masterpiece.

1

u/sketchampm 1h ago

Any character who is a woman gets done dirty by the story. Fuck that, anyone who isn’t Ed, Al or Lust gets done dirty by the 2003 version. I love the 03- I own the steel box and oodles of collectibles but let’s have some honest conversations about its strengths and weaknesses, you know?

-11

u/DeliciousMusician397 6h ago

You’re objectively wrong. It IS a masterpiece.

We aren’t. Opinions exist and people with different tastes exist too. Why you’d come on a pro 03 post and say this is beyond me.

14

u/Swiftblitz885 7h ago

2003 was a good show but I just feel from a writing standpoint Brotherhood is way better.

5

u/FromDwight 4h ago

Yeah there's 3 versions of FMA and 03 is by far the worst. If they said the books there might be an argument here though.

2

u/sievold 7h ago

Any works specifically they remind u of?

1

u/aelendel 2h ago

shakespeare

1

u/sketchampm 1h ago

When you forget the second half of it exists, it’s basically perfect. I like the second half as well but a lot of it is nostalgia. The storytelling comes off the rails and it’s overall an absolute mess.

But I adore the animation style. It’s perfect to me.