Fullmetal Alchemist vs Brotherhood: Difference and Comparison

Fullmetal Alchemist and Brotherhood are two Japanese manga-based anime series that have fascinated viewers worldwide.

Key Takeaways

  1. Fullmetal Alchemist deviates from the original manga storyline; Brotherhood closely follows the manga
  2. Fullmetal Alchemist has 51 episodes; Brotherhood has 64 episodes
  3. 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. 

Fullmetal alchemist vs Brotherhood

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 comparisonFullmetal Alchemist (FMA)Brotherhood (FMAB)
StoryFullmetal 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.
AnimationFMA lacks high-quality visuals and has less instinctive visuals.FMAB uses advanced forms of visuals and has engaging backgrounds.
CharactersIt 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.
AntagonistDante is the antagonist in the original series of Fullmetal Alchemist.Homunculus is the lead antagonist in the second adaptation of the Fullmetal Alchemist.
EndingThe 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.

fullmetal alchemist
 

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

  1. Dante is the central protagonist in Fullmetal Alchemist, whereas Homunculus plays the lead antagonist in the second adaptation of Brotherhood.
  2. The original Fullmetal Alchemist portrays extensive characters but has less influence on manga, whereas Brotherhood has disoriented characters but follows the original manga storyline.

References
  1. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/intellect/stic/2013/00000004/00000001/art00012

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023

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10 thoughts on “Fullmetal Alchemist vs Brotherhood: Difference and Comparison”

  1. Adaptations are somewhat inevitable, but they fail to capture the original essence. Deviating from the manga leads to a less genuine storyline.

    Reply
  2. The original series might lack some visual appeal, but its extensive cast and unique characters are what truly make it stand out.

    Reply
  3. The original series and the adaptation both have their merits, but the adaptation is undoubtedly more engaging due to the advanced visuals.

    Reply
  4. Both series are undoubtedly captivating, but it’s intriguing to witness the varying perspectives on their visual appeal.

    Reply
  5. Both series have their unique appeal. However, a well-drawn story with engaging characters should always take precedence over everything else.

    Reply
  6. It’s fascinating to see how different aspects such as visuals and character uniqueness affect the overall appeal of the series.

    Reply

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