Fullmetal Alchemist. Where do I start?

[Chickat]

I'm looking for a good anime on Netflix, and I thought I would start watching fullmetal alchemist. Netflix has the original one but I'm not sure if its all here as it says one season with 50 episodes. It audio has brotherhood and a movie I believe. Where should I start, and is it worth watching.

[Nish77]

Start with the very first season from around 2004 and watch it fansubbed not in english. They're all over the web. English translations and english imports tend to change the story and the wording enough that it's different. I can't say that's the case for fma but the initial series is like top 3 that I've ever seen and I would not want to watch it in english 'translation'.

Also, the first HunterXHunter was great and the second one is very good too. That's probably my favorite because of Gon. The new series is actually a recreation of the original story and seems quite good but I have not watched much of it. I'd still start with the original there and fansubbed.

-Nish

[Jtbrig7390]

I'm looking for a good anime on Netflix, and I thought I would start watching fullmetal alchemist. Netflix has the original one but I'm not sure if its all here as it says one season with 50 episodes. It audio has brotherhood and a movie I believe. Where should I start, and is it worth watching.

The Original Fullmetal Achemist or FMA Brotherhood is both worth watching. The difference is the oirginal was based on the manga but the manga stopped so they had to fill in the blanks.

Brotherhood is 100% the manga and both are done really well. I was a long time fan of FMA and I personally like Brotherhood more. In my opinion Watch the original and the fullmetal alchemist conqueror of shamballa movie that finishs the series. Then watch brotherhood.

Brotherhood has around 61 episodes and I know there not all on Netflix yet but Hulu.com has all of them subbed if u don't mind reading.

[Lagwin]

Skip the original Full metal alchemist and watch FMA Brotherhood, what they did with the original was start with the manga but then deviated a fair bit because they were still waiting for the manga to be published, brotherhood follows the manga much more closely and is by far the better of the 2(brotherhood covers the same story just far more fully and doesn't deviate...i personally found the original FMA to be a disappointment to the point of not watching brotherhood for quite a long while, a big mistake as it was far far better)

[Jtbrig7390]

Skip the original Full metal alchemist and watch FMA Brotherhood, what they did with the original was start with the manga but then deviated a fair bit becuase they were still waiting for the manga to be published, brotherhood follows the manga much more closely and is by far the better of the 2

I think both is worth watching because while the base story is the same the end story is different.

But thats me

[Swisted]

Start with the very first season from around 2004 and watch it fansubbed not in english. They're all over the web. English translations and english imports tend to change the story and the wording enough that it's different. I can't say that's the case for fma but the initial series is like top 3 that I've ever seen and I would not want to watch it in english 'translation'.

Also, the first HunterXHunter was great and the second one is very good too. That's probably my favorite because of Gon. The new series is actually a recreation of the original story and seems quite good but I have not watched much of it. I'd still start with the original there and fansubbed.

-Nish

Id watch the newest Hunter x Hunter, they have gone past where the last one ended and is on the Chimera Ant Arc

[Deleted]

Brotherhood is better as it is the actual canon, and the original anime ends with nazi germany ending

[Lagwin]

I think both is worth watching because while the base story is the same the end story is different.

But thats me

I watched/bought the series when it originally launched in the UK and spent £260 on it, it's ok in it's own right BUT it was one that had potential that was never realized and the ending was rather lame...it put me off watching brotherhood for long enough purely because it started covering the same story...you are far better watching it how it was originally intended(brotherhood) than the original half baked series

[Bobthedruid]

FMA is mediocre at best. It strayed way to far from the manga.

As for FMA: Brotherhood, it's hands down the best show I've ever seen.

[Jtbrig7390]

I watched/bought the series when it originally launched in the UK and spent £260 on it, it's ok in it's own right BUT it was one that had potential that was never realized and the ending was rather lame...it put me off watching brotherhood for long enough purely because it started covering the same story...you are far better watching it how it was originally intended(brotherhood) than the original half baked series

As I said I'm a fan of both but I do agree that Brotherhood is the better of the two. Sadly I think if someone watchs brotherhood first they won't care for the original. But if they watch the original first they may enjoy both.

[onemanaleft]

1. watch the first series with like 50ish episodes, it gives you the "wrong" storyline but its worth watching, this i deviated from the manga after like 10 episodes

2. watch the movie, its like the final episode of the 53 episode series

watching FMA makes you more appreciate brotherhoods awesomeness, sure if youre pressed for time you could just watch brotherhood but i dont think it would be as enjoyable if you only watchd brotherhood. and after watching brotherhood you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT watch FMA after that since it might ruin the series for you. so this is your only chance to watch FMA if you plan on watching brotherhood after

also, its still worth watching despite being worse. the build up and finale of the scar storyline in FMA is pretty sweet (not as sweet as brotherhood tho) and the movie IMO was very very good, and you cant exactly watch the movie if you watched brotherhood and not FMA

3. watch the brotherhood start to finish, its like 60ish episodes but the first 10 or so seem just like the first series, however after that it splits off into a far superior series that is actualy based off of the manga

the final 10-15 episodes of brotherhood are probably the best anime youll ever watch again, you might retire after that from feeling sad that theres nothing better and its all downhill after that.

[Jtbrig7390]

1. watch the first series with like 50ish episodes, it gives you the "wrong" storyline but its worth watching, this i deviated from the manga after like 10 episodes

2. watch the movie, its like the final episode of the 53 episode series

watching FMA makes you more appreciate brotherhoods awesomeness, sure if youre pressed for time you could just watch brotherhood but i dont think it would be as enjoyable if you only watchd brotherhood. and after watching brotherhood you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT watch FMA after that since it might ruin the series for you. so this is your only chance to watch FMA if you plan on watching brotherhood after

also, its still worth watching despite being worse. the build up and finale of the scar storyline in FMA is pretty sweet (not as sweet as brotherhood tho) and the movie IMO was very very good, and you cant exactly watch the movie if you watched brotherhood and not FMA

3. watch the brotherhood start to finish, its like 60ish episodes but the first 10 or so seem just like the first series, however after that it splits off into a far superior series that is actualy based off of the manga

the final 10-15 episodes of brotherhood are probably the best anime youll ever watch again, you might retire after that from feeling sad that theres nothing better and its all downhill after that.

That is the sad thing. You have to watch the original Fullmetal Alchemist then Brotherhood or there is a good chance you won't like both.

At lease I think that way. But remember if you watch the original to watch the movie after that finishs the series.

[Krolikn]

The English dub is brilliant for both the original anime and Brotherhood. No need for the subbed version in this case.

[Scryed69]

Does it have to be Netflix or do you have access to other sites? I use a site called nwanime and its probably one off the most up to date sites to use. One off the anime I would recommend any anime follower would be Kingdoms. Its freaking awesome.

P.S. If I'm off subject here, please excuse me little bit drunk:P

[Deleted]

The English dub is brilliant for both the original anime and Brotherhood. No need for the subbed version in this case.

Eh, Alphonse and Edwards Voice Actors got on my nerves in the English Dub. Also Japanese Armstrong is best Armstrong.

[Orange Joe]

I'm looking for a good anime on Netflix, and I thought I would start watching fullmetal alchemist. Netflix has the original one but I'm not sure if its all here as it says one season with 50 episodes. It audio has brotherhood and a movie I believe. Where should I start, and is it worth watching.

Watch brotherhood if you can. It follows the manga more closely. The original FMA was made early on in the manga, so instead of making fillers they changed the story a lot.

[Zoma]

Watch both, starting with the non-Brotherhood version. Brotherhood is better, but the beginning seems to have been made on the assumption that the viewer had already seen the first one, so Brotherhood rushes through its beginning pretty quickly until it reaches the part where the plotlines separate.

[MrLordDariusCrowley]

I'd sart with FMA(2003) since they have fillers that give more screentime to some of the minor characters. After that i'd watch FMA:Brotherhood, which is my personal favorite of the two. And since you got to spend more time with every character in the first anime you'd feel like you know each character better.

- - - Updated - - -

Watch both, starting with the non-Brotherhood version. Brotherhood is better, but the beginning seems to have been made on the assumption that the viewer had already seen the first one, so Brotherhood rushes through its beginning pretty quickly until it reaches the part where the plotlines separate.

Essentially this.


Incoming spoilers for one of the earlier episodes of FMA(2003) and later episodes of Brotherhood.
There's an episode in the original anime which is pulled directly from the manga (aside from one added character) that introduces us to another character that reappears later in the manga and is slightly important (not very) later in the manga/Brotherhood, but dies later in the 2003 version of the anime.

Also regarding dub vs sub. Haven't seen FMA(2003) in dub, but have seen both in sub and recently rewatched Brotherhood dubbed and I have to admit both versions are equal. Though the dub has the added benefit that you don't have to be glued to your screen to read the subs. Also, since I was rewatching it dubbed I took the liberty of playing WoW on 1 computer while having FMA:B running on another PC, so I didn't have to focus as much .

[Deleted]

If youre from one of the few countries that can watch FMAB with japanese audio + with 11 different subtitles on youtube at 720p, go there
If not, good luck.
I personally recommend watching FMAB and just skipping FMA.

I saw FMA in 2006 (english dub) It was great. Then I watched both FMAB and FMA in 2012. Let me tell you, FMA was damn boring that time. :P Not nearly as good as Brotherhood.

[icausewipes]

Start at Brotherhood and don't look back.