Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Box Set 1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Box Set 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

The Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood saga begins.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an anime masterpiece featuring animation from Bones (Wolf's Rain, Fullmetal Alchemist). The series is based on the original manga series by Hiromu Arakawa (Silver Spoon, Stray Dog). Produced by Hiroo Maruyama (Penguindrum, Fullmetal Alchemist), Nobuyuki Kurashige (Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos, Star Driver), Noritomo Yonai (Blast of Tempest, Classroom Crisis), and Ryo Oyama (Darker than Black, Noragami), the series is a must-see modern classic.

Brothers Alphonse Elric (Rie Kugimiya) and Edward Elric (Romi Park) attempt to bring their beloved mother back to life through the art of transmutation. The alchemy used to perform this act is taboo: a dangerous act that could cause more harm than good. Yet the brothers are determined to bring their mother back from the dead. After the transmutation attempt fails, Al's body is completely destroyed – leaving behind only his soul.

Edward loses one of his legs and attempts to save Al from death by giving up his right arm. Al's soul becomes attached to a nearby suit of armor. Attempting to move on from their past, the brothers decide to leave home and become State Alchemists. Ed soon becomes known as the “Fullmetal Alchemist” and the pair set out to find a rare Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies to their former states.

The second adaptation of the manga series, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood more closely adapts the original manga. While the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime is an essential classic itself, this newer incarnation of the saga is one that will appeal to newcomers and established fans alike – and with a approach that will appeal to manga fans more-so than the original adaptation.

The action is well choreographed throughout the epic saga. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood ramps up the action of the original series and expands the stage. The action scenes are even more intense than in the original series. The intensity on display in pulse-pounding and good fun. A thrill ride that delivers.

A must-own premium edition of an anime masterpiece.

The animation on Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is exceptional on every level. The team of animators brought an enormous sense of style to the production. The anime adapts the manga beautifully and with animation brimming with creativity. Under the art direction of Takeshi Satou (Noein – to your other self, Birdy the Mighty: Decode), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the most essential animated series around. Everything from the background art to the character designs makes a solid impression.

The cinematography by Mayuko Furumoto (My Hero Academia, Bungo Stray Dogs) and Yoshiyuki Takei (Cowboy Bebop, Darker than Black) helps to highlight the animation and its creative style. Showcasing both the darker elements of the mythos alongside the lighthearted elements (as the storyline finds moments of comedy), the cinematographic style reflects these different tones. A exceptional effort by both Furumoto and Takei.

The original music score composed by Akira Senji (Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, Princess Arete) is another exceptional component of the production. The score provides the action sequences with the energy needed to keep audiences on the edge of their seat. The character moments are also given a sense of depth necessary for the series to reach its full potential. Senji delivers in spades.

The series is written by Hiroshi Ohnogi (Eureka Seven, RahXephon). Adapting the manga, Ohnogi crafts Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood with a authenticity that makes the series a joy to watch. Exploring the difficult journey of both Ed and Al, Ohnogi focuses on their personal struggles – emphasizing the human element of the series. The writing is often elegant and profound.

Yasuhiro Irie (Eden, Code: Breaker) directs the production. Irie has a unique visual sensibility that fits the series. As director, Irie delivered a fantastic action-packed experience with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The series is a fun experience and there is so much energy on display that viewers will certainly enjoy the ride. A must-see anime gem.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Box Set 1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Aniplex, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series receives an improved presentation over previous releases by Funimation Entertainment. The newer Aniplex Blu-ray releases have significantly higher bit-rates and the episodes are spread across more discs for better compression. The picture-quality shows noticeable improvement. Color reproduction similarly excels. A first-rate effort by Aniplex.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Box Set 1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes two lossless audio options: Japanese uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles) and English uncompressed PCM. The lossless audio encoding sounds crisp and dynamic. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The original music score by Akira Senji sounds superb.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Box Set 1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Bonus Disc:

OVA:

The Blind Alchemist (HD, 16:15)

Simple People (HD, 12:39)

Fullmetal 4-Panel Comic Theater includes eight short comedic episodes. Each short is a few minutes in length. (There is no 'play all' option.)

Textless Opening/Ending:

First Season Opening Theme: "again" by YUI (HD, 1:31)

First Season Ending Theme: "USO" by SID (HD, 1:32)

Second Season Opening Theme: "Hologram" by NICO Touches the Walls (HD, 1:32)

Second Season Ending Theme: "Let It Out" by Miho Fukuhara (HD, 1:32)

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Box Set 1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the best anime series ever made. The animation is exceptional – bringing the story to life in a cinematic way. The anime adapts the original manga created by Hiromu Arakawa (Silver Spoon) and excels as a more faithful adaptation of the source-material than the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime adaptation. Fans (new and old) will delight in the series: it is a gem full of masterful storytelling and outstanding characters. The Aniplex Blu-ray releases features a improved presentation (over the Funimation releases) and is well worth owning for fans of the series. Highly recommended.