Anime and Manga Stack Exchange
Anime and Manga Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [fullmetal-alchemist-series]

Use this tag for all entries in the Fullmetal Alchemist ("Hagane no Renkinjutsushi") franchise, including the manga by Hiromu Arakawa and both related anime series (Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (2010)).

FMA characters, from front to back: Edward Elric, Alexander Louis Armstrong, Alphonse Elric, Roy Mustang, Winry Rockbell, Riza Hawkeye, and Scar

This tag should be used for questions about the Fullmetal Alchemist manga, movies, light novels, and both anime series (Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood). In your question, specify which medium your question is about (per these meta posts: 1 and 2).

214 questions
132
votes
5 answers

What's the difference between the FMA and FMA Brotherhood series?

I haven't watched Anime in many years, but recently I've had time to get back into it. I've seen that one of my favorite series, Fullmetal Alchemist, has done a series reboot. What I'm wondering is: Does it present a lot of deep variations…
Danalog
  • 3,773
  • 7
  • 35
  • 54
58
votes
6 answers

Is Fullmetal Alchemist based on Nazi Germany?

It may be because I'm Jewish (yes, Madara is Jewish), but I couldn't help but noticing the similarities between Fullmetal Alchemist to the German Nazi regime. German names (Edward, Alphonse, Olivier, Bradley) A Fuhrer "Dogs of the Army" Very…
Madara's Ghost
  • 19,094
  • 18
  • 101
  • 162
34
votes
4 answers

Why does an alchemist need a transmutation circle?

As a follow up, but another subject, of my question about equivalent exchange part of the alchemy laws. Why do (most) alchemists require a transmutation circle? Does any circle suffice or does an alchemist require a specific type for each (type of)…
Veger
  • 1,378
  • 13
  • 33
30
votes
1 answer

What rank does Edward Elric hold?

Ed is a State Alchemist, but what's his rank within the military hierarchy? Col. Mustang explicitly mentions a few times he's his 'superior officer', so he's a bit lower than that, but how does he compare to Maj. Armstrong or some of the staff…
Nick T
  • 401
  • 4
  • 6
29
votes
1 answer

Why was Ed's arm strong but Al's body not?

At the end of FMA: Brotherhood, when Ed got his arm back, it was muscular, and he used it to fight. When Al got his body back, however, it was weak and emaciated, as it had shown to be throughout the show on the other side of the gate? Was it ever…
kuwaly
  • 23,601
  • 40
  • 124
  • 231
29
votes
1 answer

How similar is alchemy in FMA to the real alchemy?

The alchemy in Fullmetal Alchemist is based on a real alchemy. How similar is the alchemy in the anime to the alchemy in real life history? When and how do they diverge?
xjshiya
  • 11,276
  • 19
  • 54
  • 114
28
votes
2 answers

Is there a connection between the Eye of God from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and the Rinnegan from Naruto?

After watching FMA again, I couldn't help but notice the similarities: The same ripple-like pattern. Both related to godly powers. Both related to balance (Yin-Yang/All-One) Both related to life and death. Is there a mythological or conceptual…
Madara's Ghost
  • 19,094
  • 18
  • 101
  • 162
28
votes
3 answers

How does the automail work?

An automail must be a masterpiece, as the user seems to be able to use it as a fully working arm/leg/... It seems however, that it's no regular artificial limb. What's so special about an automail? How does it work? Are there any drawbacks?
looper
  • 11,055
  • 10
  • 57
  • 91
28
votes
4 answers

What is this huge symbol on the door in the Truth realm and in the Neon Genesis Evangelion opening?

In Fullmetal Alchemist the door in the Truth realm has a huge symbol with all kinds of things on it: I've seen the opening of Neon Genesis Evangelion today and noticed that the same symbol is shown in the beginning of the opening around 0:10 -…
Mintri
  • 823
  • 1
  • 6
  • 17
26
votes
4 answers

Who the hell is Truth?

In Full Metal Alchemist, who is the character (or the concept really) of Truth? What does he symbolize? What is his purpose? From what I guess, he's some sort of your inner God, because he seems to know you better than you do yourself. He knows the…
Madara's Ghost
  • 19,094
  • 18
  • 101
  • 162
23
votes
2 answers

Why doesn't Greed harden fully?

Fighting the Elric brothers in an early episode of the FMA: Brotherhood anime, Greed eventually hardens his entire body, making him impervious to damage aside from directly transmuting his armored skin. Later in the show, Greed has multiple fights…
Fadeway
  • 777
  • 1
  • 9
  • 13
21
votes
1 answer

Why can't Alphonse repair Edward's automail using alchemy?

Edward's automail breaks many times during animation, but every time even if Alphonse didn't take any damage they go after Winrey to fix Edward's automail. Now I'm wondering if Alphonse can easily repair a radio or any other mechanical device, why…
Ali1S232
  • 875
  • 3
  • 8
  • 20
20
votes
1 answer

Who is the man in the suit in the Fullmetal Alchemist series?

Does anyone have any clues on the man in the suit? He appears in both FMA and FMA:B. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Separate Destinations (episode 10) Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Footsteps of a Comrade-in-Arms (episode 16) Fullmetal…
Batty
  • 201
  • 2
  • 3
20
votes
5 answers

In Fullmetal Alchemist, what does a State Alchemist's pocket watch do?

In Fullmetal Alchemist, it is stated a number of times that a state alchemist's pocket watch increases their power, but there doesn't seem to be a clear mechanism for that. How does that work, and what does increasing the power of an alchemist mean?
kuwaly
  • 23,601
  • 40
  • 124
  • 231
19
votes
6 answers

What does the symbol on Edward's coat mean?

In FMA, the back of Edward's coat shows this symbol: I can't figure out what it would be a reference to in-universe, because the symbology seems Judeo-Christian (a cross and what looks like it could be a serpent), and the show doesn't really have…
kuwaly
  • 23,601
  • 40
  • 124
  • 231
1
2 3
…
14 15