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Back in the day, it was pretty common for a manga and its anime adaptation to air at the same time. Sometimes, it would even mean that the anime made many original decisions due to the lack of available chapters.Black Butler, Fruits Basket, Soul Eater,andFullmetal Alchemistare some popular examples of this phenomenon.
While most of these series originally changed many things from the manga,Fullmetal Alchemistis the only one to bring two different experiences to life, and somehow both make sense in their own way.
While some fans preferFullmetal Alchemist, others wouldn’t think twice before crowning Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as their absolute favorite. Both series have found dedicated fanbases and the ‘which one’s better’ debate has been ongoing since forever. However, when one looks at the fan discussions, it becomes clear that fans are more inclined towards one of them.
The Primary Differences BetweenFullmetal AlchemistandFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemiststarted airing in 2003, soon after the manga started serializing in 2001. The anime ended in 2004, long before the manga as well. Therefore, the anime used the story in the manga to set things up but progressed with original twists that were wildly different fromthe manga.
The story had not explored some characters at that time, who were brilliantly explored by the anime. For instance, Envy and Lust had slightly better characterization in the 2003 anime. With how things were progressing, the anime also concluded the story with an original ending. It was unpredictable and different from the original mood ofHiromu Arakawa‘s story.
Fullmetal Alchemist Has a Surprising Connection With Rachel McAdams’ $130M Movie That Became a Cultural Phenomenon
On the other hand,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodwas much more faithful to the manga. WhileFullmetal Alchemist was more focused on individual characters and their struggles,Brotherhoodprogressed the world and the characters simultaneously. The pace and scope ofBrotherhoodfelt more grand as compared toFullmetal Alchemist.
The former was shonen to its core, while the latter was much darker and used unpredictable twists to make the story more compelling. However, the biggest difference was how both stories ended. The ending ofFullmetal Alchemistchose to separate the brothers, leaving fans to wonder what they would be up to in their individual lives.Brotherhoodon the other hand, brought closure to most plotlines and felt more satisfying.
And the Better Adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s Manga is…
Both series have their individual strengths and weaknesses. They offer extremely different experiences to the audience with one of them being more grim and dark. However, one thing is clear,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis the better adaptation of Arakawa’s manga. Interestingly, it’s also what fans believe to be the better adaptation overall. Many fans explained why they preferBrotherhoodoverFullmetal Alchemist.
Some striking aspects ofBrotherhoodthat were mentioned numerous times throughout the discussion were its cohesiveness and its world-building. Many fans believe thatFullmetal Alchemistis the greatest shonen ever written andFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhooddoes justice to that description.
Moreover, many fans also preferred the adaptation they watched first. While the popular opinion was inBrotherhood’s favor, many fans explained the charm of the original anime as well.Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis the clear winner of the debate, butFullmetal Alchemist (2003)isn’t far behind either.
Fullmetal AlchemistandFullmetal Alchemist Brotherhoodare available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Laveena Joshi
Anime Writer
Articles Published :926
Laveena is an anime content writer at FandomWire. Having written more than 800 articles, she’s an expert in mainstream shonen series, ranging from the bizarre world of JoJo’s to the expansive worldbuilding of One Piece.With her formal education in Journalism and Mass Communication, she explores entertainment journalism through the lens of anime and manga, from mainstream and classic titles to niche and obscure ones.
