Episode 1: Those Who Challenge the Sun (2003 series)

The 2003 anime series starts off with this episode though in respect to the time line, the events take place after Episode 9 (Episodes 3 to 9 are flashbacks). It starts off with a mini-flash back to when two young alchemists, possibly around the age of 10 or 11, attempt the forbidden human transmutation then switches to current.

Two alchemist brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, discover a town ruled by a priest who can perform miracles. However, Edward—an alchemist who works for the military—notices something fishy about the priest's "miracles": they're alchemy.

Episode Notes

 * When Ed first sees Lust, he seems to recognize her from somewhere. It wouldn't be revealed until three episodes later in Episode 4, which occurs during Ed's Flashback, that Ed briefly saw her when he was in a graveyard trying to solve a mystery.
 * The giant bird that Cornello creates with his fake Philosopher's Stone (and his apparent affinity with parrots in general) is exclusive to this series. In the manga and 2009 anime, only the waiting Chimera fights Ed.