Movies / Animé and Toons

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Part 2

By Chris Zimmerman
August 24, 2010 - 08:40

The first set of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was perhaps the most anticipated release of the year but that still didn’t prevent it from falling just short of greatness, rehashing many of the same storylines the first series had already done in much greater detail and arguably better overall. With the release of part 2, the series jumps into the manga only storyline that differentiates it from the previous series, and along with the shift in direction comes an overall improvement in pacing, story, and even animation.

Originally conceived by Hiromu Arakawa back in 2001, the manga about a pair of alchemist brothers on a journey to regain what was lost to them swept the world by storm, becoming something of a modern classic in manga, a rarity in this day and age. When the series was first adapted into an anime, it branched off into its own storyline due to the original manga being incomplete. Despite the obvious differences, the anime was well received and hailed as one of the best in recent memory. Now with the reboot of the series following more closely to that of the manga, the obvious question becomes: Is it better?

The answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. The original had a much more deliberate pace and was very character driven whereas Brotherhood moves at a kinetic pace, using superbly crafted action sequences to hold the viewer’s attention. Despite the fact that this is a newer series, the animation isn’t quite up to the standards of the original but when taking into account the story, that’s where Brotherhood truly excels.

As previously stated, this set marks the point in which the story diverges from the original, and as a result, those only familiar with the anime will most likely be caught off guard by the number of new faces that are introduced, as well as the early departure of a few fan favorites. The set concludes the battle with Greed in spectacular fashion in which viewers are given a taste of what King Bradley can really do. From there, the set picks up steam, introducing the kingdom of Xing whose unique brand of alchemy brings an interesting contrast to what has already been established. Along with the introduction of a new country comes the ruling prince Lin, who happens to be one of many princes vying for the throne. In order to achieve his goal, he has traveled in search of the philosopher’s stone, bringing him into conflict with Ed and Al.

Fans of the original might be surprised at just how much action Brotherhood throws at its viewers. The homunculi, who had previously been relegated to a shadowy group manipulating those around them are given major personality shifts, using more direct methods to attain what they want while pitting themselves against the main cast. Especially worthy of note is Mustang’s battle with Lust. The animation here is the best the series has shown to this point and even surpasses the original. It’s also especially nice to note how fresh it is to see two characters who had little to no interaction in the previous series face to face in one of the most pivotal moments featured in this batch of episodes.

Once again, Funimation delivers the goods with two commentaries. Both are lively and energetic, exactly what one would expect from this cast. They aren’t all that informative, but it is nice to hear the actors sit down and discuss their thoughts on the show, with a little goofing around interspersed throughout.

All in all, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood part 2 should be on everyone’s pull list. Those who might have tuned out after the first set due to repetition owes it to themselves to give the show another chance. The action sequences are among the best in recent memory and beautiful to watch while the plot continues to be thoroughly engaging. Enough good things can’t be said about this release. Watch it and fall in love with Fullmetal Alchemist all over again. It’s that good.

A+

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12