Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Part 1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Part 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

Once you shrug off the nagging sensation of deja vu, you'll realize this is a wonderful trip down memory lane.

Reviewed by Dustin Somner May 19, 2010

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a newly produced anime adaptation of the original manga by Hiromu Arakawa. Released five years after the original Fullmetal Alchemist series, Brotherhood contains elements of the original 51-episode production, but remains more faithful to the storyline of the original manga. The end result presents long-time fans with plenty of pros and cons, since they’re initially exposed to a string of familiar plotlines that regurgitate events we’ve witnessed before. Despite what may initially seem disappointing, it’s worth noting that the initial 13 episodes in the Brotherhood series cover the overall story arch of the first 33 episodes in the original production, moving through familiar territory with a clear sense of urgency. This brisk pacing serves a dual purpose, since it allows newcomers adequate background on the franchise universe (knowledge of the prior series is merely optional), without expecting long-time fans to sit through a lengthy recap of events they’ve already seen. In this regard, the first block of episodes presented in the initial two-disc set act almost entirely as a condensed retread of the initial half of the original series, allowing future episodes to continue the divergent adventures of the manga storyline.

The animation isn't leaps and bounds above the original, but you'll notice some improvements.

Born in the country of Amestris during an undisclosed period (similar to 1940’s Europe), two young brothers named Edward and Alphonse discover they possess a notable talent for the art of alchemy. Estranged from their alchemist father Hohenheim, the two boys are encouraged by their mother to hone their mystical skills and learn the laws of “equivalent exchange”. Unfortunately, not long after delving into the powers of alchemy, their mother contracts a terminal illness, leaving the young boys to fend for themselves. Intent on bringing her back, Edward and Alphonse concoct a plan to use alchemy for the forbidden act of human transmutation (creating a human from raw matter), but the cost of their botched attempt is profound. Alphonse loses his body completely (though his soul is sealed to a suit of armor), and Edward forfeits his leg and arm. After being fitted with cyborg body parts known as automail, Edward and his armor clad brother are approached by Roy Mustang of the State Military of Amestris, and agree to join the ranks of the notorious State Alchemists. This new position presents additional possibilities for the boys to further their skills in the art of alchemy, and allows them the freedom to search for a mythical Philosopher’s Stone that may hold the key to restoring their bodies.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an interesting concept, since it presents viewers with an alternate version of a series that’s already widely accepted by anime enthusiasts. In that regard, this retread may initially seem a bit lazy or unnecessary, since we don’t really need a new version of the same plotline. However, considering the vast divergence of the original series from the manga plot (which blossomed in the past five years), it becomes easier to understand what the producers were going for in the initial story arch of Brotherhood. If they’d simply picked up the new series around the midpoint of the original (the point at which the plotline no longer followed the manga), newcomers to the Fullmetal Alchemist franchise would find themselves at a total loss in trying to catch up. By starting from scratch and offering a condensed version of the first several volumes in the manga series, longtime fans are given a refresher on the origins of the predicament Edward and Alphonse find themselves in, and a re-introduction to some of the more notable characters they’ve grown to love.

On the flipside, this will likely stand as a difficult Brotherhood release for fans to wade through. Aside from the entertainingly epic first episode, I can envision a number of viewers fidgeting in their seats as they wait for a glimpse of something new. Sadly, aside from subtle personality differences between characters appearing in both iterations, there simply isn’t much to hang your hat on. We still have the sad tale of Ed and Al’s misguided attempt at human transmutation, the same story of Father Cornello, the introduction of the righteous serial killer Scar, and one of the more moving subplots involving the State Alchemist Tucker (good luck forgetting that tale?). If anything, this introductory batch of episodes kick-started my recollection of the level of depth found in the storytelling, lending a newfound (or reacquired) interest in revisiting the original series. As the credits rolled at the conclusion of episode 13, I wanted to simply pop in the next disc and discover the inevitable new path Brotherhood intends to follow. Those who take the plunge on this release should be aware you’ll inherit the unenviable task of waiting several months before we continue the adventures in Amestris; which to this reviewer is a difficult pill to swallow.

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

Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at a bitrate that falls between 3Mbps and 43Mbps), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood appears decent enough, despite one glaring flaw that shows up all too often. The singular element I'm referring to is line consistency, which reveals abundant-yet-subtle stair-stepping jaggies along thin diagonal lines. The problem is pronounced enough to be noticeable on a 100-inch display (or at a short viewing distance), but I'd wager a number of viewers won't find themselves overly distracted by the deficiency. That's not to say I'm downplaying the issue, but it's always worth mentioning the reality of differing sensitivity to nuances of this sort. Moving along, the show incorporates a bold color spectrum full of lush hues that quite literally jump from the screen. Whether we're witnessing the crimson red of Ed's cloak, or the deep blue of the State Military uniforms, colors never waver from scene to scene, and hold up with equal vibrancy in day-time or night-time sequences. Continuing with the positives, black level depth is spot on in all but a handful of shots, and contrast excels in the creation of shade differentiation. For those of you who've expressed concern over FUNimation's prior incorporation of DNR on television anime presentations, you'll be pleased to know there's a fine layer of intentional film grain in several flashback sequences, which hopefully demonstrates a shift in perspective on removing perceived "noise".

Aside from concerns over the appearance of jagged lines, I didn't detect any stand-out flaws in the production of this 1080p Blu-ray transfer, though I still expected the clarity to appear a touch better for a newly-animated series.

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

Although there are two lossless tracks on the disc, I wasn't able to navigate back and forth using the convenient menu system on my PS3. This has never been a problem on prior FUNimation titles (I suppose it's more annoyance than problem), but I thought it was worth mentioning to anyone who's not accustomed to using the disc menu in order to change the audio selection. Along the same lines, I couldn't find a subtitle option anywhere in the settings menu, leading me to believe the English subtitles are mandatory with the native Japanese audio track. Breaking down the two tracks, we have a lossless 5.1 English dub alongside a lossless stereo mix in the native language of Japanese. As you can imagine, the English option boasts a greater sense of immersion and spatial separation, giving it a noticeable edge over its Japanese counterpart. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is chock full of fantastic displays of epic mayhem (especially the first episode), so enjoying those effects across the entire sound field is a true delight. The Japanese track is still no slouch, sporting equal clarity and volume balance next to the dubbed version, but it simply can't compete with the superior English offering. Whichever your preference, there's still plenty to enjoy in the audio presentation on the disc, but the combination of the excellent English voice cast and the added depth of the full surround option make this an easy decision for non-purists.

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

Audio Commentaries:

Episode 1: Featuring Mike McFarland, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Travis Willingham, and Maxey Whitehead, this episode commentary focuses largely on the differences between the voice work of the characters in the original Fullmetal Alchemist series and this new iteration (of note, it seems as if someone pumped laughing gas into the room during the recording of this commentary).

Episode 10: Featuring Caitlin Glass, Sonny Strait, and Laura Bailey, this exuberant track follows in the same vein as the first, though the contributors seem a bit more focused on their discussion and less involved in watching the episode.

Aside from the two audio commentaries, the only additional supplements are textless opening and closing songs, and a collection of trailers for other releases from FUNimation.

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

Despite the familiar plotline of the initial 13 episodes in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, I'm willing to offer a whole-hearted recommendation to both fans and the uninitiated alike. The franchise continues to own a top spot in the world of anime, infusing deep storytelling with a tone that balances atop a precarious tightrope of outrageous comedy and depressing tragedy. I fully expect the continuing Brotherhood saga to best the achievements of the original series (considering it's a faithful adaptation of the popular manga), making this release a must-have addition to your growing anime collection.