I liked it. Even though it doesn't go with the main story, it's still amazing. :> There's still a story there. And personally, I prefer the seiyuus in the original series than the ones in Brotherhood.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/cWeUK2w.png[/img]

Quote from LawX

You are like the dense main character in a shoujo manga.

Quote from Crenshinibon

And you will murder someone one day, pika. If you're my daughter.

If you liked the second one then you'll like the first. They have different elements that make them both incredibly good.

[color=#ff0000]"“That's the difference between me and the rest of the world!
Happiness isn't good enough for me! I demand euphoria!” "[/color]

Wow... this is a tough decision... I watched FMA before FMA:Brotherhood, so it's hard for me to tell you how you're going to view it.

If you like faster plot and more action (and true to manga), then you might want to skip FMA... Technically, FMA followed with the manga for the first... I dunno... 17-ish episodes (however many until Ed and Al meet with their teacher), but after that it's original video animation. I think that the comedy and emotional impact was really impressive with the first series (then again, it may be because I watched it first), but the ending was incredibly bittersweet... the ending for FMA:Brotherhood is much much much more satisfying.

So, I would say... if you are really interested in watching FMA, give yourself a buffer/break to slowly forget what you've seen in Brotherhood so you won't be thinking: UGH... THIS STORY SUCKS or something like that.

The main thing you want to ask yourself is... do I like faster pace / action plot?
yes - skip FMA for now
no - go watch it right now on Hulu! 😃

I say go watch the first one. Everyone else already stated the reasons, so no need to repeat them

A just ruler amongst tyrants

Quote from robbit

Watch it you silly person. Watch it until your eyes bleed.
And then watch it again.

Lol. I like you. 😀

Quote from tartufo

@hoghat, THANKS SO MUCH for your detailed reply, seriously. That kind of insight is truly appreciated. <3

no problems, I'm glad I could help. But now I'm curious to the result, have you decided yet?

To watch it, or not to watch it, that's the question.
Don't mind that, I just have always wanted to say something similar to those lines. ^^

I won't bother to keep my manga list at two places at once, so... http://myanimelist.net/profile/Hogat
And my VN list:
http://vndb.org/u3483

Quote from Calíbre

If you liked the second one then you'll like the first. They have different elements that make them both incredibly good.

Agreed. And after you see the anime you should see the movie and the ova chibis, since they connect.

[img]http://valenth.com/lab/7091070.png[/img][img]http://valenth.com/lab/8646212.png[/img]
Please click on them!

I would normally say to watch all FMA.
But if you're looking for a story that's action-packed with a plot that makes sense and adds up in the end, you will be disappointed in FMA-1.
I mean, in the end, the manga is 10000000x more epic than the first anime will ever be, but still. It's not that bad. But whenever I try to watch FMA-1 again, I usually find myself comparing it to the manga and wishing it was more like that. ;P

[img]http://i51.tinypic.com/14w6615.png[/img]
I ♥ Shoujo!

Can I just jump in and ask, seriously, what this anime/manga is al about/??

I never read the manga, and only watched season 1 FMA. UNderstand their quest in trying to get their bodies back and whatever, then after awhile, it somewhat went on episodic mode. Then there was a guy who made his daughter meld with a dog or soemthing?? I can't remember. Then towards the end I really didn't understand anything. Is it because I don't understand anything about alchemy...or the technical words and all were beyond my understanding...I don't know.

Now I'm looking at FMA Brotherhood. Everyone's raving about it, but what exactly should I be expecting?? Is there at least some form of CLOSURE at the ending?

And exactly WHAT is so interesting about the anime?? Is it the action?? I mean, the fight scences...?? what??

Well I personally hated the first series, something to do with how badly drawn it seems compared to Brotherhoods amazing art. Also the fact that they changed certain characters about (made them completely different people O.o ) really annoyed me, it seemed pointless when they were such good characters in the manga.

I suppose overall Brotherhood is like the more polished older brother to the first series. Watching the old one would be like taking a step back, like eating a chocolate chip cookie then eating a plain one. (Unless you're lactose intolerant)

So I know it hurts that FMA is over and there's no more canon material, but with the manga and Brotherhood at least it ended without lessening how great a series it will always be remembered as.

Can I just jump in and ask, seriously, what this anime/manga is al about/??

I never read the manga, and only watched season 1 FMA. UNderstand their quest in trying to get their bodies back and whatever, then after awhile, it somewhat went on episodic mode. Then there was a guy who made his daughter meld with a dog or soemthing?? I can't remember. Then towards the end I really didn't understand anything. Is it because I don't understand anything about alchemy...or the technical words and all were beyond my understanding...I don't know.

Now I'm looking at FMA Brotherhood. Everyone's raving about it, but what exactly should I be expecting?? Is there at least some form of CLOSURE at the ending?

And exactly WHAT is so interesting about the anime?? Is it the action?? I mean, the fight scences...?? what??

Plot for manga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullmetal_Alchemist
Aobut the anime plot for season 1 FMA, you might need to try reading the manga first for background history (it is slightly confusing if you haven't read the manga). In the FMA1 anime, it follows the manga plotline at the start and takes a new turn. The basic FMA1 plot is pretty easy to understand (trust me, I'm only a kid & I sort of get it) but there is all these additional details in it and stuff... (possibly more character history compared to the manga. Eg: Lust)

**The general storyline of FMA1 anime **(... Sorry if you can't understand this, I suck at explaining):

Ed and Al try to get their bodies back using the philosophers stone. They had tried to transmute their mom (& revive her) but were unsuccessful and lost their bodies. An antagonist, Scar, is introduced. Scar is an Ishbalen (spelt right?) and Ed's Military alchemist pals are targeted by Scar- Scar wants to kill alchemists. There is a misconception between the military and the Ishbalens which led to a war between them and Scar wants revenge for his race and targets the military alchemists. It turns out that the homunculi are behind the war between the Military and the Ishbalens. Envy (a homunculus) had shapeshifted into a military officer and started the war by attacking an Ishbalen kid.

 I think it is now when Ed and Al discover how a philosopher stone is made (...by sacrificing humans)

Anyways, Ed and Al keep searching for the philosopher's stone and reunite with their alchemy teacher. Some background history on the teacher is presented. Ed and Al discover how homunculi are created (when there is a failed transmutation). The teacher & Ed & Al (and other ppl) had created some homunculi.
The real main antagonist is then introduced- Dante. Dante is acquantanced with Ed's alchemy teacher.... Stuff happens (sorry, this is so vague). It is revealed that Dante and Ed's father (before the dad married Ed's mum, he was Dante's lover) created philosopher stones. They are both really old and had remained young by sacificing lives to create philosopher stones to keep transferring their souls into other bodies. But the dad is overwhelmed by guilt and had stopped creating philosopher stones.

Scar (the seeking revenge ishbalen), manages to create a philosopher stone and infuses it with Al's armour body. Dante kidnaps Al to obtain the philosopher stone. Ed tries to save Al. Ed gets killed but gets revived by Al (Al used the philosopher's stone to revive Ed) and Al disappears. Ed then risks his life to revive Al. Al is revived (& gets his real body back) whilst Ed gets transferred into a parallel world with his dad. That is the ending of FMA1 anime. The sequel is Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa.

Anyways, about FMA brotherhood, it is the FMA anime which actually follows the manga. The plot is exceptionally great and (should) have alot of philosophical stuff and good fight scenes. The ending should be an awesome ending ^^

Simply another normal human being...

Quote from lydiaann

Can I just jump in and ask, seriously, what this anime/manga is al about/??

I never read the manga, and only watched season 1 FMA. UNderstand their quest in trying to get their bodies back and whatever, then after awhile, it somewhat went on episodic mode. Then there was a guy who made his daughter meld with a dog or soemthing?? I can't remember. Then towards the end I really didn't understand anything. Is it because I don't understand anything about alchemy...or the technical words and all were beyond my understanding...I don't know.

Now I'm looking at FMA Brotherhood. Everyone's raving about it, but what exactly should I be expecting?? Is there at least some form of CLOSURE at the ending?

And exactly WHAT is so interesting about the anime?? Is it the action?? I mean, the fight scences...?? what??

It's a really deep, impressive series with PERFECT closure at the end - no plot-holes for you to worry about, no loose threads! Everything is resolved and made perfectly understandable, don't worry.

When you ask what this series is 'all about', I personally believe that it's about redemption - pretty much all the 'good' characters have done seriously wrong things in the past (Ed and Al with their necromancy, Roy Mustang with his war-crimes, Scar with his serial killing, etc) and the series is about how they redeem themselves by finally making good on their wrongs - by repenting and helping other people, and thus erasing the burden of their sins.

The other major point this series makes is that 'war' as we know it is completely pointless and is the result of political machinations that have nothing to do with the common good. Even though there is a lot of war/fighting in this manga/anime, it's actually promoting a very pacifist ideology that encourages us to think about WHY we're going to war before stupidly going ahead with it. Many times during the 'Brotherhood' anime, I felt that there was a very direct and relevant commentary on contemporary war/politics, including, say, the war in Iraq, etc. FMA is kind of a wake-up call to think more deeply about war and its ugliness... As well as a wake-up call to remind us that even if we have erred before, we can always turn towards the light and redeem ourselves.

Any more than that, I can't say, or it'll spoil the plot for you! Trust me and watch 'FMA: Brotherhood' - after the first two or three episodes, the plot will progress in a very easily understandable way (even though it's still deep and moving).

Enjoy! 🙂

If you've never watched either, I would say watch the first season and Brotherhood.
But since you've already watched Brotherhood, I wouldn't suggest watching the first season. 🤣

Seriously though, because the first season deviates from the manga, some of the bad guys become good and made-up characters etc, so it could totally ruin the 'canon-ness' of Brotherhood for you.
But I really did enjoy the first season since I thought of it as a stand-alone series with little connection to the manga storyline. Personally, I thought the director did a pretty good job with the fillers and alternate ending (and it was nice of them to make a movie to try to close up the loose ends of the first season ending). Overall, I was entertained and had a good time in the end which was good enough for me.

Regarding Brotherhood, I can't really say much since I haven't gotten around to watching Brotherhood yet (too lazy lol), but I have read up to the manga beyond the first season, so I suppose that should at least count for something. 😛

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Yeah, like FMA-1 is decent alone...I liked it a lot, it was a lot more entertaining/had more meaning than other shounen animes I've seen. But if you've watched BH and liked it a lot and haven't seen the first anime, then I guess...I dunno, you'll probably end up not liking it as much as BH. o.o Because the manga/BH is absolutely amazing, and again, I simply cannot go back and watch the first anime without comparing it to the manga/BH. D: It can't really compare with the deepness and epicness of the manga/BH. (IMO, at least!)

But maybe you should do it like this: try to watch it at least...but before doing so, forget all about BH/manga if you can. (which would be impossible for me XD)

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I ♥ Shoujo!