Fullmetal Alchemist and Brotherhood are two Japanese manga-based anime series that have fascinated viewers worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Fullmetal Alchemist deviates from the original manga storyline; Brotherhood closely follows the manga
- Fullmetal Alchemist has 51 episodes; Brotherhood has 64 episodes
- Fullmetal Alchemist aired from 2003 to 2004; Brotherhood aired from 2009 to 2010
Fullmetal Alchemist vs. Brotherhood
The difference between Fullmetal Alchemist and Brotherhood is that Fullmetal Alchemist is the original series based on the Japanese manga art form that emerged in 2003. In contrast, Brotherhood, also known as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, is the adaptation of the original series that came out in 2009.

The original Fullmetal Alchemist is 50 episode anime series with little connection with the Japanese art form manga. In contrast, Brotherhood is the adaptation that sticks to the manga’s storyline and portrays all the actual events.
The original 2003 FMA version of the series lacks visuals with a less intuitive background, whereas the 2009 FMAB adaption consists of advanced visuals and better animation.
Comparison Table
Parameters of comparison | Fullmetal Alchemist (FMA) | Brotherhood (FMAB) |
---|---|---|
Story | Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) is the original series with 50 episodes but is less influenced by manga. | Brotherhood (2009) is the original series adaptation that is more influenced by the manga art form. |
Animation | FMA lacks high-quality visuals and has less instinctive visuals. | FMAB uses advanced forms of visuals and has engaging backgrounds. |
Characters | It has an extensive cast, and each character is unique, which makes the series exciting to watch. | It is pretty disoriented regarding characters and doesn’t make the series much engaging. |
Antagonist | Dante is the antagonist in the original series of Fullmetal Alchemist. | Homunculus is the lead antagonist in the second adaptation of the Fullmetal Alchemist. |
Ending | The original FMA ends in Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shambala when Edward and his brother leave the world. | The Brotherhood sticks with the storyline of the manga, which ends up with Edward sacrificing his ability to use alchemy in exchange for the body of Alphonse. |
What is Fullmetal Alchemist?
Fullmetal Alchemist (FMA) is a Japanese animation series based on the manga art form that first premiered in 2003. Hiromu Arakawa’s story revolves around the lives of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse, who have gifted powers of alchemy.
The original series lacks visuals and doesn’t portray innate backgrounds, which makes the string less engaging to the audience.
The pioneer series has an extensive cast where the very character is comprehensive. The characters of the series make it exciting to watch.

What is Brotherhood?
Brotherhood (also known as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) is the adaptation series that came out in 2009 after the original series Fullmetal Alchemist.
This series has advanced visuals and intuitive backgrounds, making it more than an exciting watch for the viewers. It is a series comprising 64 episodes and follows the original manga storyline.
The characters in this series are new but disoriented because they do not follow any particular line of action. The latest advanced animations make it visually appealing to the audience.
Main Differences Between Fullmetal Alchemist and Brotherhood
- Dante is the central protagonist in Fullmetal Alchemist, whereas Homunculus plays the lead antagonist in the second adaptation of Brotherhood.
- The original Fullmetal Alchemist portrays extensive characters but has less influence on manga, whereas Brotherhood has disoriented characters but follows the original manga storyline.