See how it all began! Innocence and flesh were sacrificed when two young brothers ignored the laws of Alchemy in an attempt to resurrect their mother. The horrors they recklessly unleashed that night marked the beginning of a journey that leads from darkness to light and back.
In an era of war and corruption, State Alchemist Edward Elric and his brother Alphonse desperately search for the Philosopher’s Stone. The legendary artifact is their last hope to restore what was lost – or it could be their undoing. The grisly truths found in the quest for the relic will test their souls in ways unimaginable. Murder stalks the brothers from the shadows and false prophets conspire to steal their faith. Morality is assaulted by military atrocities and scientific abominations. Amid the ashes of their childhood, Edward and Alphonse will discover the power to create is but a breath away from the power to destroy. The bond of brotherhood will be their greatest weapon in the fight for their lives.
Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) remains one of the best and most popular anime series of recent years. Other shows have tried to copy its singular mixture of slapstick comedy, supernatural adventure and genuine warmth, but none has succeeded. Although they knew it was forbidden, young Alphonse and Edward Elric used alchemy to try to bring their mother back from the dead--and paid a dreadful price. Ed lost his left leg and sacrificed his right arm to preserve Al's disembodied soul in a suit of armor. Edward later received the "automail" prostheses that earned him the title of "Fullmetal Alchemist." As the youngest State Alchemist in history, Ed tries to research the Philosopher’s Stone, which he believes can restore their bodies. But State Alchemists work for the military, and Edward is sent on missions that bring him and Al into contact with new friends, new challenges, and new dangers. The brothers learn that terrible things have been done in the quest for the Philosopher's Stone, by the military and by the Homunculi, Lust, Gluttony, and Envy. These sinister figures believe Ed can succeed where they have failed, even if it means committing multiple murders. The Elric brothers' inner struggles eclipse the violent external battles: Al has begun to doubt that he ever existed in human form; Ed fears that Al hates him for delving into the forbidden knowledge that destroyed his body. But nothing can weaken the bond between the brothers that constitutes the emotional core of the series. Ed sometimes appears hot-tempered and cynical, but his bitter exterior conceals a kind heart; Al is gentler and more patient, but he suffers from the physical isolation his armor body imposes. Fullmetal Alchemist is, simply, a terrific series, and this set makes an excellent introduction for audiences who missed its initial release. (Rated TV PG: violence, grotesque imagery, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
(1. Those Who Challenge the Sun, 2. Body of the Sanctioned, 3. Mother, 4. A Forger's Love, 5. The Man With the Mechanical Arm, 6. The Alchemy Exam, 7. Night of the Chimera's Cry, 8. The Philosopher's Stone, 9. Be Thou for the People, 10. The Phantom Thief, 11. The Other Brothers Elric, Part 1, 12. The Other Brothers Elric, Part 2, 13. Fullmetal vs. Flame, 14. Destruction's Right Hand, 15. The Ishbal Massacre, 16. That Which Is Lost, 17. The House of the Waiting Family, 18. Marcoh's Notes, 19. The Truth Behind Truths, 20. Soul of the Guardian, 21. The Red Glow, 22. Created Human, 23. Fullmetal Heart, 24. Bonding Memories, 25. Words of Farewell)