Fullmetal Alchemist - Episodes

[sammii]

So on the recommendation of neytaritook, I've started watching 'Fullmetal Alchemist.' It's my first foray into what I call 'hardcore' anime - really the only other thing I've watched is 'Avatar: The Last Airbender', which I loved (but not M. Night movie, ick). So these notes are from an anime newbie, who has just in the past month or some come to understand concepts such as the 'barrettes of rage', so go easy on me. ;)

(Ok, 'barrettes of rage' probably deserves some explanation. I was on deviantart.com looking at SPN pictures, and couldn't understand why Michael was wearing barrettes in this picture:

Supernatural+greedy by *xanseviera on deviantART
neytaritook had to explain to me that those were the anime symbol for 'rage', meant to symbolize popping veins. They still look like barrettes to me, so I'm going to be forever calling them 'barrettes of rage.')

Ok, Fullmetal Alchemist.

Some bullet points.

• I have to admit that the animation and the style was very strange for me at first, as well as some of the animation choices. Like the way Ed seems to morph into some sort of evil-demon-pokemon when he gets mad. That's a little weird.
  
• I'm not quite sure why they started it when they did. It's like they jumped into the middle to confuse us, and then went back to explain everything. Personally, I would have liked it better if they'd started the whole thing with 'Mother' so that things could have been clear from the beginning. I don't have any problems with the first to episodes per se, but I think I would have enjoyed them more if I'd known what was going on.
  
• That said, I do like the story. I'm a sucker for stories with strong fraternal love (SPN, anyone?) and while the characters maybe aren't as complex as Sam and Dean, there's still that there.
  
• I think the alchemy thing is cool. It's an interesting 'skill' and I like hearing more about what they can and can't do.
  
• I really liked the 5th episode, 'The Man with the Mechanical Arm'. The political edge, with the 'Military' is quite interesting. I want to learn more about the Military characters.
  
• I'm also interested in what exactly has happened with their dad. It's weird, this is almost an SPN parallel too...an absent father who they're kind of sort of looking for...they're looking for him less here than they are in SPN, but that angle is still there.

So yeah, so far I'm enjoying it. I'm sure I'll have more thoughts as I get more watched. :)

Comments

[neytaritook.livejournal.com]

I call them barettes of rage now too, lol.

I think when Ed morphs it's kind of like being so out-of-control emotionally that you're like a different being, haha. I think another part of it is because they are adapting a manga (though about halfway through they totally split from it cause they ran out of manga to adapt, which is why they started the show over again and re-made it as "Brotherhood" btw. That's a whole other bucket of fish). It's a way to convey emotion in a still drawing and they brought it into the show for faithfulness and humor.
At this point after four or so years I'm so used to it that I don't even really notice, haha.

They should have started it with "Mother," yeah. That's a common critique. I think they really wanted to start with ACTION ACTION ACTION WE ARE FIGHTING A PRIEST AND A LION THING! to get boys to watch. I think the manga starts the same way, but I can't find my first volume...But I didn't even get that six or so episodes were flashbacks the first time through.

I think Edo is pretty complex. Moreso later. I don't think it's really possible to compare it with SPN after a point because Sam and Dean are ten or so years older, though.

I didn't care about the military or their story the first time through, but now I really do. I love Riza Hawkeye.

:)

[sammiik.livejournal.com]

I guess it's just my political-science major self, but I really adore political intrigue of any sort, and they seem to be bringing that in.

So I'm interested. :)

Ed's morph kind of gave me a 'wtf' moment, I have to admit. I jus thought it looked kind of like messy animation, but as I said, I'm a total newbie when it comes to anime (and manga for that matter).