AnimeNfo

[madpierrot (#74742)]

 Anyone feel the same way as me?

[silverkitsune (#67502)]

I feel the exact same. It's way overrated, just like Naruto or Elfen lied. It wasn't a bad show, but it gets way too much attention.

But actually I didn't like the beginning of the show, it bored me to death. Near the end it became more interesting.

[nauXolo (#69311)]

Re: Anyone feel the same way as me?

[silverkitsune (#67502)]

Yeah, FMA is definately a mainstream of anime. Something people just watch on tv without being an anime nut. FMA along with Naruto, Bleach, they are all very popular among non-otaku type people. I think it's all based on marketing.

[Ken Hayashi (#52012)]

I've watched up to episode 32 (I think, I've stopped for some time now, waiting for the later episodes because I've bought up to episode 39 only).

I found it to be pretty interesting and enjoyable. I've no complaints about it. But since there wasn't much romance in it (as far as I can see), it won't ever be one of my favourites. But for what it is, I think it's pretty decent, if not one of the better ones out there.

[Last Exile (#35342)]

It's one of only about 5 animes with a proper plot. Stop complaining.

[Caddberry (#27690)]

Wow.. I'm shocked there are the first few people in here posting thinking that this was mediocre or over hyped.. I totally loved it.. Totally unique storyline.. Even if some of the basics are there Alchemy is new.. I liked the characters and plot twists too.. I enjoyed it and yeah it's hyped but thats because it's good..

[nauXolo (#69311)]

[madpierrot (#74742)]

Stop complaining? Haha, I'm just stating my opinion on an anime and wondering if anyone else feels the same way since it seems to be the minority. Also "proper plot", what exactly do you mean by "proper plot". I for one did not find the plot to be well executed at all and frankly half way through i didn't find it to be very good considering the direction it took. I feel like getting out my view on a show that I find to be unjustly praised.

As far as I'm concerned the show went in a really dumb direction roughly about half way through and tried to throw in waaayyy too much junk to make the anime seem more "deep" or "thought provoking", but only managed to make it seemed cluttered, poorly put together, and fake due to these poor attempts to cram in as much as possible. As I said the series started off with some nice ideas, but after that and espeically towards the end you just want to say calm down FMA. I mean the only thing the show was missing was a Super Saiyan level 5 and a card battle to decide the fate of the world and the writers would of done just about everything. Throw on a ending that didn't really do anything and I think that plot is pretty weak.

Also probably my biggest complant would be the "over sentimentality" that floods this show. They try so hard to squeeze every last tear out of everyone and it just seems so fake. I can't go into more detail without spoiling things (am i'm not 100% sure how what i can do with that), but I just want to get out my view of a show that I feel gets a lot more praise then it deserves b/c it's just not very good.

[silverkitsune (#67502)]

As for the "proper" plot bit, I felt things were really arranged in very sloppy way near the end.
spoiler

[nauXolo (#69311)]

oh my, referring to silverkitsune's spoiler, when i saw that towards the end.. i ws just like 'huh?' okay time to do my school work where at least something coherent and productive is happening

i totally forgot that happened, and i think i must have suppressed it in my mind.

yes, i retract my statement from previous, fma does not have a proper plot, it is not consistent and too random. Does the manga take a different direction?

[Last Exile (#35342)]

The manga is awful and hurts my eyes.

[Akira (#33950)]

What happens when the anime goes ahead of the manga

[Caddberry (#27690)]

I think it really depends on what you mean by proper plot.. Yes the ending came right out of left field, but I never felt lost throughout the series well until the end part.. Still though up until that whacked ending I think the plot was totally fine..

[Genki Itsumo (#14471)]

[Keiar (#71430)]

FMA an overworked cliche?

[CyBeR (#47560)]

I always wait for an anime craze to die out until I watch the series. I must say that I download anime so don't shoot me. On the hub where I usually "hang out" most of the people were talking about FMA at the superlative. So I just waited until the anime was finished and the craze died out. I did the same thing with many anime: Berserk, Full Metal Panic, DBZ, X, and more which I can't remember. This gives me the chance to watch the anime and offer a serious opinnion on it without being consider a jackass because the anime is popular and I just bash it because of that.


So...let me begin...what I'll write here I'll turn into a review on the series later:

The series has captivated me from the first episodes. It was that general athmosphere...a bit of lightheartness and some serious stuff. At first I thought it was going to be an adventure anime, finding new places, new faces all the time. Mostly I got what I wanted, the exploration part was just very good and I almost never got bored. The universe in which the action was set was pretty good in my opinnion. There weren't any conflicting ideas or information fed to the viewer. I enjoyed the elements of the anime revolving around the science of alchemy which as normal science was breaking the barrier of religion. At this point I was already fascinated by what the anime showed me.
The characters were somewhat suddenly brought into scene. It gave me the impression that I had the episodes numbered wrong but that faded away pretty quick. The story behind their appearence and abilities was good and impressive. The interaction shown with the other characters that appear is somewhat shallow but not exactly superficial. Nothing can really be said in a conclusive manner about this. Some characters were suprisingly good(Greed, Lust, Wendy<<that's her name I think>>, that chick which was Mustang's right hand) while some were horribly bad(Gluttony for example) so I'm not going into this. The two brothers shared quite a relationship but it gets pretty weird at times, their interaction changing drastically at some points, too sudden and unbelievable(in a bad way) so I can only rate them as mediocre towards good, although I pretty much enjoyed them...quite a nice bunch.
Before I get into what really matters for me I'll say something about the graphics and sound.
The animation was good, I have no complaints there. The battles were fluid and pretty fun to watch (the Elric brothers ducking it out in training for example). But taken the year of the show I can't say that it surprised me with it's quality. As good as it can get for the times so no complaints.
The music score was great in my opinion. The opening theme was really something to look forward to, not skip and the ending was pretty good as well though not great. I listened to it at times before I ended a session of episode viewing. The music during the episodes was notable, as a great OST to listen to in my spare time as soon as I get it. The voices were very well chosen, a bit of a funny choice for Alphonse(big body, youngers voice...weird).
The technical part of the anime was overall good for me. I can't even complain about the drawing style for the anime which a major minus in most modern anime in my book. This one was resonable.
Now for the story which is the backbone for anime. For me at least.
It starts off pretty slow which ain't that bad taking the number of episodes. The more episodes, the slower the story. But it didn't really matter much here. The story, revolving around a subject such as alchemy actually managed to become something pretty awesome with the introduction of the villains, with names of sins born from sins. That was a part of the story which was well put into scene throughout the entirety of FMA. The story, although sufering from the filler disease is enjoyable because of the constant changes in it. Be it a location change or a change in the atmosphere, it is progressing with each episode, exception being the fillers.
The fact that the story ends abruptly with the introduction of the parallel univers idea is a minus. Even if it evolved nicely until that point, I can only express my disaprovement for that artifice in the plot line. It was just a way of ending the anime in a weird manner, taking a turn around the simple ending and finishing it with a drop of "to be continued"
Value-wise...this is an anime I will be rewatching when I'll have the time. I enjoyed the characters interacting and developing, some of them changing and making mistakes which would mark their life for all time. I don't believe I'll ever forget the girl-dog chimera episode...that was disturbing and very sad at the same time but sublime in the way it was screened and finished in the end.

My conclusion is that I liked the anime for it all. It is not the perfect 10 anime I was told it was but it is good. The over-hype is not totally a mistake nor is it right.

[Genki Itsumo (#14471)]

Exactly..not a perfect series, but not a bad one either...

As for the dub fans (if this is violation of posting, considering that there is an old discussion about this, let me know, and I'll move it right away) for the dub on CN, they seem to be liking it a lot..the translation is very precise, and the voices...well...I won't comment on the voices >_<

That sort of proves that the plot must have been likable if the translated version is liked as well...

[Alex (#93801)]

[Caddberry (#27690)]

Alex.. Mark spoilers properly.. I fixed it for you, but in the future I'll just remove what you write.. well.. or fix it depending on how rushed i am..

Anyway.. Please check out the rules and faq of the forum & Welcome!

[Alex (#93801)]

Sorry, dude. I'm new to this site and forums in general and forgot to do that. It won't happen again.

[SkyDragon (#96111)]

IMO I think FMA is an excellent show. I never got bord watching it, but to be in top 5 is little too overrated. I agree that it has a better storyline than other animes and addicted from time to time. But to say it is better than Full Moon is hard to say...

PS: What's wrong with Elfed Lied being in the top 5? I would be happy to see it as #1. It's like my all time favourite show...Sorry, being a little bias here. hehe!

[LeaDKillz (#125327)]

Well, I just finished watching this series and I posted on another site about my disappointment in the movie and ending. I was just wondering if anyone also felt the movie just didn't do justice to the series?

[Veleon (#124559)]

I enjoyed this anime from begining to end. Definetly a top in my book. The only thing that could make it better was a romance. After all, most stories are better with a romance, in my opinion.

[Rosepetals (#42525)]

It took me a minute to figure it, but I think this belongs in the FMA threads versus the general discussion forum-I'm moving it now.

[LeaDKillz (#125327)]

I think they did have some romance in it but never developed it at all and just left it as hints/assumptions. I think you could take the way Winry felt about Ed as more and vice versa, but it was never really developed other than blushes, hugs, getting made fun of and some other things.

[angel (#111641)]

I enjoyed full matal alchemist untill the end when I watched the movie the only thing that it lacked was romance I would love it if Ed and Winery got together and Hawkeye and Mustang
!!Spolier!!

[Last Exile (#35342)]

Very few series get the full package right. This was one of them. Great animation quality, very good soundtracks, excellent voice cast (Romi Paku and Michiko Neya alone are just spellbinding), very well planned out and enthralling story, great plot, captivating character cast, plus worth rewatching. Long series are usually made of fail. This is probably the only one that wasn't. It caught me right away. This one is probably gonna hold the #2 mantle on my favourites of all time for quite some time.

[Steve (#127459)]

This series was really disappointing. It's like most really long series that just keep throwing in more of the same plot in slightly different packaging. But on top of that it has an absolutely horrible ending.
Spoilers

[Drake (#126461)]

I thought if it was longer , you people wouldn't think it was overrated and not as good. I thought the series was phenomenal.

[spiderpig0402 (#339732)]

im with you buddy. at first it was OK, but in the long run it kinda got me bored.