Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

''This article is about the anime series. Were you looking for the PSP game of the same name?''

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, also titled 鋼の錬金術師: Fullmetal Alchemist in Japan, is the independent second anime adaptation and sequel developed by Bones based on the Fullmetal Alchemist manga by Hiromu Arakawa and is directed by Yasuhiro Irie and written by Hiroshi Ōnogi. It was first announced in the manga series' 20th tankōbon volume. The series premiered on April 5, 2009 on MBS-TBS' Sunday 5:00 pm JST anime timeblock, replacing Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and ran weekly until airing its final episode on July 4, 2010. Voice actors Romi Park and Rie Kugimiya reprised their roles as main characters Edward and Alphonse Elric, respectively.

On March 20, 2009, it was announced that the English title of the series was Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and that it would receive its English language premiere on Animax Asia, with Japanese audio and English subtitles, from April 10, 2009 at 8:30 p.m, five days after its Japanese premiere. On April 3, 2009, Funimation announced they would stream English subtitled episodes four days after they air in Japan. Madman Entertainment will also stream it "within days" of the episodes airing in Japan. On February 14th 2010, the English dubbed version of the series began its run on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.

Following the premiere of the series' final episode in Japan, it was announced that a film adaptation was in production. Considering that the final episode ended the series in an almost identical manner when compared to the manga, there is little to go on in terms of determining the plot. The first teaser trailer debuted in November of 2010, bearing the title Fullmetal Alchemist: Milos no Sei naru Hoshi. The film has been scheduled for a Japanese release in July of 2011, and FUNimation announced on their blog on May 21, 2011 that they had acquired the rights to the film. A dubbed version of the movie will be released in theaters in early 2012 and on DVD and Blu-ray in the spring.

This anime series is not to be confused with the 2003 anime series (if compared with its Japanese title) or as a sequel to it and unrelated to the 13th volume of the 2003 anime series also titled 'Brotherhood'.

Staff

 * Director: Yasuhiro Irie
 * Series Composition: Hiroshi Ohnogi
 * Music: Akira Senju
 * Original creator: Hiromu Arakawa
 * Character Design: Hiroki Kanno
 * Art director: Takeshi Satou
 * Art design: Kazushige Kanehira
 * Sound director: Masafumi Mima
 * Color design: Soko Nakao
 * Design: Shinji Aramaki

Japanese Cast

 * Misato Fukuen as Elicia Hughes
 * Tomoe Hanba as Gracia Hughes

Theme Songs
Opening Themes:
 * 1) "Again" by YUI (episodes 1-14)
 * 2) "Hologram" by NICO Touches the Wall (episodes 15-26)
 * 3) "Golden Time Lover" by Sukima Switch (episodes 27-38)
 * 4) "Period" by CHEMISTRY (episodes 39-50)
 * 5) " Rain" by SID (episodes 51-60 & 62)

Ending Themes:
 * 1) "嘘 - Uso (Lie)" by SID (episodes 1-14)
 * 2) "Let it Out" by Miho Fukuhara (episodes 15-26)
 * 3) "Tsunai Da Te (Tied Hands)" by Lil'B (episodes 27-38)
 * 4) "Shunkan SENTIMENTAL (Sentimental Moment)" by SCANDAL (episodes 39-50)
 * 5) "RAY OF LIGHT " by Shoko Nakagawa (episodes 51-62)
 * 6) "Rain" by SID (episode 63)
 * 7) "Hologram" By NICO Touches the Wall (episode 64)

Insert Songs:
 * 1) "Let it Out" by Miho Fukuhara (episode 27)
 * 2) "Rain" by SID (episodes 52 and 61)
 * 3) "RAY OF LIGHT" By Shoko Nakagawa (episode 64)

Differences From the Manga
Although following the main plot line of the manga, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has some clear differences from the original work (manga), with most of the omitted content from the earlier episodes being removed presumably due to its inclusion in the 2003 anime while the less frequent omissions later in the series were cut presumably due to time or budget constraints. A few examples of the material changed from the original work are:
 * The introduction of exclusive characters (Isaac McDougal, the Ice Alchemist).
 * Earlier introductions of characters (Kimblee and Father are shown for a few seconds in episode 1).
 * Different settings for the first episode.
 * The train incident involving the Elrics' battle against Bald and his Blue Squad is omitted as well as Hakuro's ear wound.
 * The Youswell ordeal, during which Yoki is introduced, is omitted, although Yoki does appear in later episodes and a short flashback recounting the events of that omitted chapter is also shown. Additionally due to May Chang's first appearance in Youswell also being cut, Youswell is only seen once in the series when May visited it a second time during the events in the manga.
 * Since the events of May Chang's first visit to Youswell were omitted, the dialogue during her second visit was changed in the anime to avoid confusion since the townspeople haven't seen her before in the anime version, unlike the manga.
 * Instead of going to another library to look up Tim Marcoh's research after the National Central Library burned down where Ed learned about Sheska from another librarian, the Elrics head straight for Sheska's house by car, with Maria Ross mentioning on who Sheska is.
 * Ed does not arm wrestle in Rush Valley like in the manga and the 2003 anime.
 * Dominic's fear during his first meeting with Winry due to his past association with Pinako Rockbell is omitted.
 * The masked man from Ed and Al's training on Yock Island is not shown.
 * The boys' stay in Dublith is shortened quite heavily, omitting Mason's appearance while also shortening Bradley's arrival.
 * Ed's journey to South City to turn in his yearly assessment report is omitted.
 * Envy's skirmish with Lan Fan in Central as well as Ling Yao and Gluttony later joining the battle is absent.
 * Hohenheim's death is more drawn out than the original manga.
 * The Gaiden (side stories) of the manga that were shown on the 2003 series, where many characters were introduced, including Catherine Elle Armstrong and Black Hayate, are omitted.
 * When Greed is captured by Wrath and taken back to Father, he is crucified in the manga, as opposed to being tied to a metal pillar in the anime. This scene, however, was also edited in the English manga due to religious symbolism. In the English version, the cross is changed to a giant slab.
 * The flashback of the Elric brothers' past was shown quite a bit earlier while on a train ride to Reole, whereas in the manga, it wasn't shown until they arrive at their teacher, Izumi Curtis', shop in Dublith.
 * How everyone finds out about Hughes' death is portrayed many different ways throughout the manga and the 2009 series.
 * Some of the pictures at the end of the manga that show the aftermath of the story, such as Winry and Ed with their children (known by most as the "New Elric Family Photo"), have been changed a bit. Examples include the addition of Paninya and Garfiel in the New Elric Family Photo, Vato Falman with a picture of what appears to be his children instead of other Briggs Soldiers, and Mustang and Hawkeye's picture is changed a bit, depicting Mustang with a mustache and a military hat.