| Fullmetal Alchemist | |
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| 鋼の錬金術師 (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi) | |
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| Genre | |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Hiromu Arakawa |
| Published by |
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| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Gangan Comics |
| Magazine | Monthly Shōnen Gangan |
| Original run | July 12, 2001 –June 11, 2010 |
| Volumes | 27(List of volumes) |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Makoto Inoue |
| Illustrated by | Hiromu Arakawa |
| Published by | Square Enix |
| English publisher |
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| Original run | February 28, 2003 –April 22, 2010 |
| Volumes | 10(List of volumes) |
| Anime television series | |
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| Live-action film | |
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 Anime and manga portal | |
Fullmetal Alchemist (Japanese:鋼の錬金術師,Hepburn:Hagane no Renkinjutsushi;lit. 'Alchemist of Steel') is a Japanesemanga series written and illustrated byHiromu Arakawa. It was serialized inSquare Enix'sshōnen manga anthology magazineMonthly Shōnen Gangan between July 2001 and June 2010; the publisher later collected the individual chapters in 27tankōbon volumes. Set in afictional universe in whichalchemy is a widely practiced science, the series follows the journey of two alchemist brothers,Edward andAlphonse Elric, as they search for thephilosopher's stone to restore their bodies after a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life via alchemy. Thesteampunk world ofFullmetal Alchemist is primarily styled after the EuropeanIndustrial Revolution.
Fullmetal Alchemist has been adapted into variousanime—two television series, released in2003 and2009, and two films, released in2005 and2011, all animated byBones—as well aslight novels. The series also includesoriginal video animations (OVAs), video games, supplementary books, acollectible card game, and a variety ofaction figures and other merchandise. Alive-action film based on the series was released in 2017, with two sequels in 2022. In North America, the manga was localized and published in English byViz Media.Yen Press owns the rights for the digital release of the volumes since 2014.
Fullmetal Alchemist has received widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. The manga has sold over 80 million copies worldwide, making it one of thebest-selling manga series of all time. It received the 49thShogakukan Manga Award for theshōnen category in 2004, the UK'sEagle Award for favorite manga in 2010 and 2011, and theSeiun Award for best science fiction comic in 2011.
Fullmetal Alchemist takes place in the fictional country of Amestris (アメストリス,Amesutorisu). In this world,alchemy is one of the most-practiced sciences; alchemists who work for the government are known as State Alchemists (国家錬金術師,Kokka Renkinjutsushi) and are automatically given the rank ofmajor in the military. Alchemists have the ability, with the help of patterns calledtransmutation circles, to create almost anything they desire. However, when they do so, they must provide something of equal value in accordance with theLaw of Equivalent Exchange. The only things alchemists are forbidden from transmuting are humans and gold. There has never been a successful human transmutation; those who attempt it lose a part of their body, and the result is an inhuman mass. Attemptees are confronted by Truth (真理,Shinri), apantheistic and semi-cerebral godlike being who tauntingly regulates all alchemy use, and whose nigh-featureless appearance is relative to the person with whom Truth converses; it is frequently claimed and believed that Truth is a personal god who punishes the arrogant.
Attemptees of human transmutation are also thrown into the Gate of Truth (真理の扉,Shinri no Tobira), where they receive an overwhelming dose of information, but also allowing them to transmute without a circle. All living things possess their own Gate of Truth, and per theGaea hypothesis, heavenly bodies like planets also have their own Gates of Truth. It is possible to bypass the Law of Equivalent Exchange using aPhilosopher's Stone, a red, enigmatic substance. Philosopher's Stones are used to createHomunculi, artificial humans of proud nature who are named after and embody theseven deadly sins; Homunculi have numerous superhuman abilities unique among each other, and look down upon all humanity. With the exception of one, they do not age and can only be killed via the destruction of their Philosopher's Stones.
There are several cities throughout Amestris. The main setting is the capital of Central City (セントラルシティ,Sentoraru Shiti), along with other military cities such as the northern city of Briggs (ブリッグズ,Burigguzu). Towns featured include Resembool (リゼンブール,Rizenbūru), the rural hometown of the Elrics; Liore (リオール,Riōru), a city tricked into following a cult; Rush Valley (ラッシュバレー,Rasshu Barē), a town that specializes in automail manufacturing; andIshbal, a conservative-religion region that rejects alchemy and was destroyed in the Ishbalan Civil War instigated after a soldier shot an Ishbalan child. Outside of Amestris, there are few named countries, and none are seen in the main story. The main foreign country isXing. Heavily reminiscent of China, Xing has a complex system of clans and emperors, as opposed to Amestris's government-controlled election of aFührer. It also has its own system of alchemy, calledalkahestry (錬丹術,rentanjutsu), which is more medical and can be bi-located usingkunai; in turn, it is implied that all countries have different forms of alchemy.
Edward andAlphonse Elric lived in Resembool with their motherTrisha and fatherVan Hohenheim. For unknown reasons, Hohenheim abandoned them, and Trisha soon died from an illness. After finishing their alchemy training underIzumi Curtis, the Elrics attempted to bring their mother back with alchemy. However, the transmutation backfired, and Edward lost his left leg while Alphonse was completely deconstructed. Edward sacrificed his right arm to retrieve Alphonse's soul, binding it to a suit of armor. Edward was invited byRoy Mustang to become a State Alchemist and research a way to restore their bodies, undergoing a painful medical procedure that granted him prosthetic mechanical limbs, called automail. Edward became a State Alchemist, with the title of "Fullmetal Alchemist". The Elrics spend the next three years searching for thePhilosopher's Stone to achieve their goals.
The Elrics are eventually attacked by an Ishbalanserial killer known asScar, who targets State Alchemists in revenge for his people's genocide in the Ishbalan civil war. Returning to Resembool to have Edward's limbs repaired by their childhood friend and mechanic,Winry Rockbell, the Elrics meetDr. Marcoh, who provides them with clues to learn that a Philosopher's Stone is created from human souls. They investigate a laboratory in which the Stones were created, but are hindered by the Homunculi. The Elrics decide to visit Izumi, hoping to improve their alchemy. Mustang's friendMaes Hughes continues the Elrics' research and finds out about a government conspiracy, but is killed by the homunculusEnvy. The Elrics learn that Izumi also performed human transmutation, having attempted to use alchemy to revive her stillborn child. Alphonse is captured by the homunculusGreed, but is rescued by Amestris' leaderKing Bradley. Bradley is revealed to be the homunculus Wrath and brings the captured Greed to the Homunculi's creator,Father. When Greed refuses to rejoin his fellow Homunculi, he is reabsorbed by Father.
After meeting the Xingese princeLin Yao, who seeks a Philosopher's Stone to cement his position as heir to his country's throne, the Elrics return to Central City, where they learn of Hughes's murder. LieutenantMaria Ross is framed for Hughes' murder, so Mustang fakes Ross's death and smuggles her out of the country. In encounters with the Homunculi, Mustang killsLust. Lin capturesGluttony, who swallows Lin, Edward, and Envy into his void-like stomach. They escape from Gluttony's stomach after he takes Alphonse to meet Father, who makes Lin the vessel of Greed. Mustang tries to expose Bradley to the government but finds that the higher officials are complicit in Father's plans. The Elrics and Mustang are released, but warned not to oppose Father, who seeks to use them as "human sacrifices". Meanwhile, Scar heads north with the Xingese princessMay Chang, former corrupt officialYoki, and a kidnapped Dr. Marcoh.
The Elrics head north as well, and reach Fort Briggs, commanded by GeneralOlivier Armstrong. They confront the homunculusSloth and learn that Father founded Amestris to amass enough population to create a massive Philosopher's Stone. With it, he can achieve godhood by absorbing the being beyond the Gate of Truth on the "Promised Day". Forced to work withSolf Kimblee, a murderous former State Alchemist and ally of the Homunculi, the Elrics turn on him and split up, joined by a reformed Scar, his group, Kimblee's chimera subordinates, and later Lin/Greed.Riza Hawkeye discovers that King Bradley's sonSelim is the homunculus Pride. Hohenheim reveals that he was made an immortal when Father arranged the fall of Cselkcess (クセルクセス,Kuserukusesu)[a] four centuries ago and had been working since then to stop Father.
The Promised Day arrives, with Father planning to use aneclipse and 'human sacrifices'— alchemists who have performed human transmutation — to trigger his own transmutation. Wrath and Pride force Mustang to perform the human transmutation, blinding him. The Elrics and their comrades battle Father's minions, resulting in Pride being defeated by Edward and being reduced to a defenseless infant form, Greed sacrificing himself to save Lin, and the other homunculi as well as Kimblee dying. However, Father manages to activate the nationwide transmutation circle and absorbs the superior being. Hohenheim and Scar activate countermeasures, draining much of Father's absorbed souls, and rendering him unstable. The Elrics and their comrades face Father, who nearly destroy Alphonse's armor. Alphonse sacrifices his soul to restore Edward's right arm. Edward defeats Father, who is dragged into the Gate of Truth. Edward sacrifices his ability to perform alchemy to fully restore Alphonse, while Lin receives a Philosopher's Stone. Hohenheim goes to visit Trisha's grave, where he dies peacefully. The Elrics return home and then go their separate ways two years later to further research alchemy. Years later, Edward and Winry marry and have two children.
After reading about the concept of thephilosopher's stone, Arakawa became attracted to the idea of characters using alchemy in her manga. She started reading books about alchemy, which she found complicated because some books contradicted others. Arakawa was attracted more by the philosophical aspects than the practical ones.[7] For the Equivalent Exchange (等価交換,Tōka Kōkan) concept, she was inspired by the work of her parents, who had a farm inHokkaido and worked hard to earn the money to eat.[8]
Arakawa wanted to integrate social problems into the story. Her research involved watching television news programs and talking to refugees, war veterans and formeryakuza.[9] Several plot elements, such as Pinako Rockbell caring for the Elric brothers after their mother dies, and the brothers helping people to understand the meaning of family, expand on these themes. When creating the fictional world ofFullmetal Alchemist, Arakawa was inspired after reading about theIndustrial Revolution in Europe; she was amazed by differences in the culture, architecture, and clothes of the era and those of her own culture. She was especially interested in England during this period and incorporated these ideas into the manga.[7] The series has asteampunk setting.[5][10][11] TheIshbal region has similarities to the Middle East, with the plot bearing relations to invasions that have occurred in the region during the 20th century.[12]
When the manga began serialization, Arakawa was considering several major plot points, including the ending. She wanted the Elric brothers to recover their bodies—at least partly.[13] As the plot continued, she thought that some characters were maturing and decided to change some scenes.[8] Arakawa said the manga authorsSuihō Tagawa and Hiroyuki Eto are her main inspirations for her character designs; she describes her artwork as a mix of both of them. She found that the easiest of the series's characters to draw wereAlex Louis Armstrong, and the little animals. Arakawa likes dogs so she included several of them in the story.[14] Arakawa made comedy central to the manga's story because she thinks it is intended for entertainment, and tried to minimize sad scenes.[8]
When around forty manga chapters had been published, Arakawa said that as the series was nearing its end and she would try to increase the pace of the narrative. To avoid making some chapters less entertaining than others, unnecessary details from each of them were removed and a climax was developed. The removal of minor details was also necessary because Arakawa had too few pages inMonthly Shōnen Gangan to include all the story content she wanted to add. Some characters' appearances were limited in some chapters.[15] At first, Arakawa thought the series would last 21 volumes but the length increased to 27. Serialization finished after nine years, and Arakawa was satisfied with her work because she had told everything she wanted with the manga.[13]
During the development of the original anime, Arakawa allowed the anime staff to work independently from her and requested a different ending from that of the manga. She said that she would not like to repeat the same ending in both media, and wanted to make the manga longer so she could develop the characters. When watching the ending of the anime, she was amazed about how different thehomunculi creatures were from the manga and enjoyed how the staff speculated about the origins of the villains.[7] Because Arakawa helped theBones staff in the making of the series, she was kept from focusing on the manga's cover illustrations and had little time to make them.[15]
The series explores social issues such as discrimination, scientific progress, political greed, brotherhood, family, and war.[16] Scar's backstory and his hatred for the State Military appear to reference theAinu people, whose land was seized by outsiders.[7] The series also examines the consequences of guerrilla warfare and the potential for unchecked militarization.[17] Some of those who displaced the Ainu were originally Ainu themselves—an irony reflected in Scar's use of alchemy, forbidden by his religion, to kill alchemists.[7] The Elric brothers' orphanhood and adoption by Pinako Rockbell highlight societal responsibilities toward orphans, while the characters' dedication to their work underscores the necessity of labor for survival.[18] The series also delves into the principle of equivalent exchange—the idea that obtaining something requires sacrificing something of equal value. This concept governs alchemical transmutation and serves as a philosophical tenet for the Elric brothers.[13][6]
Written and drawn by Hiromu Arakawa,Fullmetal Alchemist was serialized inSquare Enix's monthly manga magazineMonthly Shōnen Gangan. Its first installment was published in the magazine's August 2001 issue on July 12, 2001.[19][20] The series finished with the 108th installment in the July 2010 issue ofMonthly Shōnen Gangan, published on June 11, 2010.[21][22][23] A side-story was published in the same magazine on September 11, 2010.[24] In the July 2011 issue of the same magazine, the prototype version of the manga was published.[25] Square Enix compiled the chapters in 27tankōbon volumes, released from January 22, 2002, to November 22, 2010.[26][27] A few chapters have been re-released in Japan in two "Extra number" magazines andFullmetal Alchemist, The First Attack, which features the first nine chapters of the manga and other side stories.[28] Square Enix republished the series in 18kanzenban volumes, from June 22, 2011, to September 22, 2012.[29][30]
In North America,Viz Media licensed the series for an English language release in North America and published the 27 volumes between May 3, 2005, and December 20, 2011.[31][32] From June 7, 2011, to November 11, 2014, Viz Media published the series in an omnibus format, featuring three volumes in one.[33][34] In April 2014,Yen Press announced the rights for the digital release of the volumes in North America,[35] and on December 12, 2016, has released the series on theComiXology website.[36][37] Viz Media published the 18-volumekanzenban edition, asFullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, from May 8, 2018,[38] to August 23, 2022.[39]
Other English localizations were done byMadman Entertainment for Australasia andChuang Yi in Singapore.[40][41] A full-colorWebtoon version, reformatted for the platform's vertical-scroll format, launched on May 7, 2025, with new chapters released twice a week.[42][43]
The series has been also localized in Polish, French, Portuguese, Italian, and Korean.[44][45][46][47][48]
Fullmetal Alchemist was adapted into two separate anime series for television: a loose anime adaption with a mostly original story titledFullmetal Alchemist in 2003–2004, and a retelling that faithfully adapts the original manga in 2009–2010 titledFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.[49][50]
Two feature-length anime films were produced;Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa, a sequel/conclusion to the 2003 series, andFullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos, set during the time period ofBrotherhood.[51][52]
A live-action film based on the manga was released on November 19, 2017.Fumihiko Sori directed the film.[53] The film starsRyosuke Yamada as Edward Elric,Tsubasa Honda as Winry Rockbell andDean Fujioka as Roy Mustang.
The sequelsFullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar (鋼の錬金術師 完結編 復讐者スカー,Hagane no Renkinjutsushi Kanketsu-hen Fukushūsha Sukā) and Fullmetal Alchemist: The Last Transmutation (鋼の錬金術師 完結編 最後の錬成,Hagane no Renkinjutsushi Kanketsu-hen Saigo no Rensei) were released on May 20 and June 24, 2022, respectively.[54] They became available onNetflix on 20 August and 24 September respectively.[55][56]
Square Enix has published a series of sixFullmetal Alchemist Japaneselight novels, written by Makoto Inoue and illustrations—including covers andfrontispieces—by Arakawa.[57] The novels were licensed for anEnglish-language release byViz Media in North America, with translations of the first five byAlexander O. Smith.[58][59] The novels arespin-offs of the manga series and follow the Elric brothers on their continued quest for the philosopher's stone. The first novel,Fullmetal Alchemist: The Land of Sand, was animated as episodes eleven and twelve of the original anime series.[60] The fourth novel contains an extra story about the military called "Roy's Holiday".[61] Novelizations of thePlayStation 2 gamesFullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel,Curse of the Crimson Elixir, andThe Girl Who Succeeds God have also been written, the first by Makoto Inoue and the rest by Jun Eishima.[57] TwoWii games,Prince of the Dawn andDaughter of the Dusk, were also novelized in one volume by Sōji Machida.[62]
There have been two series ofFullmetal Alchemist audio dramas. The first volume of the first series,Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 1: The Land of Sand (砂礫の大地,Sareki no Daichi), was released before the anime and tells a similar story to the first novel. The Tringham brothers reprised their anime roles.[63]Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 2: False Light, Truth's Shadow (偽りの光 真実の影,Itsuwari no Hikari, Shinjitsu no Kage) andFullmetal Alchemist Vol. 3: Criminals' Scar (咎人たちの傷跡,Togabitotachi no Kizuato) are stories based on different manga chapters; theirState Military characters are different from those in the anime.[57] The second series of audio dramas, available only with purchases ofShōnen Gangan, consists of two stories in this series, each with two parts. The first,Fullmetal Alchemist: Ogutāre of the Fog (霧のオグターレ,Kiri no Ogutāre), was included inShōnen Gangan's April and May 2004 issues; the second story,Fullmetal Alchemist: Crown of Heaven (天上の宝冠,Tenjō no Hōkan), was issued in the November and December 2004 issues.[57]
Video games based onFullmetal Alchemist have been released. The storylines of the games often diverge from those of the anime and manga, and feature original characters. Square Enix has released threerole-playing games (RPG)—Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel,Curse of the Crimson Elixir, andKami o Tsugu Shōjo.Bandai has released two RPG titles,Fullmetal Alchemist: Stray Rondo (鋼の錬金術師 迷走の輪舞曲,Hagane no Renkinjutsushi Meisō no Rondo) andFullmetal Alchemist: Sonata of Memory (鋼の錬金術師 想い出の奏鳴曲,Hagane no Renkinjutsushi Omoide no Sonata), for theGame Boy Advance on March 25 and July 22, 2004, respectively, and one,Dual Sympathy, for theNintendo DS. They also released an action game,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (鋼の錬金術師 背中を託せし者,Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Senaka o Takuseshimono;lit. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Person Entrusted with his Back) for thePlayStation Portable in Japan on October 15, 2009, and in Australia and Europe on June 17 and July 1, 2010, respectively. In Japan, Bandai released an RPGFullmetal Alchemist: To the Promised Day (鋼の錬金術師 Fullmetal Alchemist 約束の日へ,Hagane no Renkinjutsushi Fullmetal Alchemist Yakusoku no Hi e) for the PlayStation Portable on May 20, 2010.[64] Bandai also released afighting game,Dream Carnival, for the PlayStation 2. For theWii,Akatsuki no Ōji (暁の王子,lit.Fullmetal Alchemist: Prince of the Dawn) was released in Japan on August 13, 2009.[65] A direct sequel of the game,Tasogare no Shōjo (黄昏の少女,lit.Fullmetal Alchemist: Daughter of the Dusk), was released by Square Enix on December 10, 2009, for the same console.[66] For the 20th Anniversary of the series, Square Enix releasedFullmetal Alchemist Mobile foriOS andAndroid devices on August 4, 2022;[67][68] the game ended service on March 29, 2024.[69] Of the twelve games made in Japan,Broken Angel,Curse of the Crimson Elixir,Dual Sympathy, andFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood have seen international releases.
Arakawa oversaw the story and designed the characters for the RPG games, while Bones—the studio responsible for the anime series—produced several animation sequences. The developers looked at other titles—specifically Square Enix's action role-playing gameKingdom Hearts and other games based on manga series, such asDragon Ball,Naruto orOne Piece games—for inspiration. The biggest challenge was to make a "full-fledged" game rather than a simple character-based one.[70] Tomoya Asano, the assistant producer for the games, said that development took more than a year, unlike most character-based games.[71]
Funimation licensed the franchise to create a new series ofFullmetal Alchemist-related video games to be published byDestineer in the United States.[72] Destineer released its firstFullmetal Alchemist game for the Nintendo DS, a translation of Bandai'sDual Sympathy, on December 15, 2006, and said that they plan to release further titles.[73] On February 19, 2007, Destineer announced the second game in itsFullmetal Alchemist series,Fullmetal Alchemist: Trading Card Game, based on thetrading card game of the series, which was released on October 15 of that same year for the Nintendo DS, in North America only.[74][75][76]
Themassively multiplayer online role-playing gameMapleStory received special in-game items based on the new anime series in 2010.[77]
TheFullmetal Alchemist has received several artbooks. Three artbooks calledThe Art of Fullmetal Alchemist (イラスト集 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST,Irasuto Shū Fullmetal Alchemist) were released by Square Enix; two of those were released in the US by Viz Media.[78][79] The first artbook contains illustrations made between May 2001 to April 2003, spanning the first six manga volumes, while the second has illustrations from September 2003 to October 2005, spanning the next six volumes.[28] The last one includes illustrations from the remaining volumes.[80]
The manga also has three guidebooks; each of them contains timelines, guides to the Elric brothers' journey, andgaiden chapters that were never released in manga volumes.[28] Only the first guidebook was released by Viz Media, titledFullmetal Alchemist Profiles.[81] A guidebook titledFullmetal Alchemist Chronicle (鋼の錬金術師 CHRONICLE), which contains post-manga story information, was released in Japan on July 29, 2011.[82]
Action figures, busts, and statues from theFullmetal Alchemist anime and manga have been produced by toy companies, including Medicom and Southern Island. Medicom has created high end deluxe vinyl figures of the characters from the anime. These figures are exclusively distributed in the United States and UK by Southern Island.[83] Southern Island released its own action figures of the main characters in 2007, and a 12" statuette was scheduled for release the same year. Southern Island has since gone bankrupt, putting the statuette's release in doubt.[84] A trading card game was first published in 2005 in the United States by Joyride Entertainment.[85] Six expansions have been released before the card game was withdrawn on July 11, 2007.[86] Destineer released a Nintendo DS adaptation of the game on October 15, 2007.[76]
In a survey fromOricon in 2009,Fullmetal Alchemist ranked ninth as the manga that fans wanted to be turned into a live-action film.[87] The series is also popular with amateur writers who producejadōjinshi (fan fiction) that borrows characters from the series. In the Japanese market Super Comic City, there have been over 1,100dōjinshi based onFullmetal Alchemist, some of which focused on romantic interactions between Edward Elric and Roy Mustang.[88]Anime News Network said the series had the same impact inComiket 2004 as several female fans were seen there writingdōjinshi.[89] OnTV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150,000 people voted for their top 100 manga series,Fullmetal Alchemist ranked ninth.[90]
The series has become one of Square Enix's best-selling properties, along withFinal Fantasy andDragon Quest.[91] With the release of volume 27, the manga sold over 50 million copies in Japan.[3] By January 10, 2010, every volume of the manga has sold over a million copies each in Japan.[92] Square Enix reported that the series had sold 70.3 million copies worldwide by April 25, 2018, 16.4 million of those outside Japan.[93] By July 2021, the manga had 80 million copies in circulation worldwide.[94] The series is also one of Viz Media's best sellers, appearing in "BookScan's Top 20 Graphic Novels" and the "USA Today Booklist".[95][96][97] It was featured in theDiamond Comic Distributors' polls of graphic novels andThe New York Times Best Seller Manga list.[98][99] The English release of the manga's first volume was the top-selling graphic novel during 2005.[100]
During 2008, volumes 19 and 20 sold over a million copies, ranking as the tenth and eleventh best-selling manga volumes in Japan respectively.[101] In the first half of 2009, it ranked as the seventh best-seller in Japan, having sold over 3 million copies.[102] Volume 21 ranked fourth, with more than a million copies sold and volume 22 ranked sixth with a similar number of sold copies.[103] Producer Kouji Taguchi of Square Enix said that Volume 1's initial sales were 150,000 copies; this grew to 1.5 million copies after the original anime aired. Prior to the new anime's premiere, each volume sold about 1.9 million copies, and then it changed to 2.1 million copies.[104]
Fullmetal Alchemist has generally been well received by critics. Though the first volumes were thought to be formulaic, critics said that the series grows in complexity as it progresses.Jason Thompson called Arakawa one of the best at creating action scenes and praised the series for having great female characters despite being a boys' manga. He also noted how the story gets dark by including real-world issues such as government corruption, war and genocide. Thompson finished by stating thatFullmetal Alchemist "will be remembered as one of the classicshonen manga series of the 2000s."[105] Melissa Harper ofAnime News Network praised Arakawa for keeping all of her character designs unique and distinguishable, despite many of them wearing the same basic uniforms.[106]IGN's Hilary Goldstein wrote that the characterization of Edward balances between being a "typical clever kid" and a "stubborn kid", allowing him to float between the comical moments and the underlying drama without seeming false.[107] Holly Ellingwood for Active Anime praised the development of the characters in the manga and their beliefs changing during the story, forcing them to mature.[108] Mania Entertainment's Jarred Pine said that the manga can be enjoyed by anybody who has watched the original anime, despite the similarities in the first chapters. Like other reviewers, Pine praised the dark mood of the series and the way it balances the humor and action scenes.[109] Pine also praised the development of characters who have few appearances in the original anime.[110] In a review of volume 14, Sakura Eries—also of Mania Entertainment—liked the revelations, despite the need to resolve several story arcs. She also praised the development of the homunculi, such as the return ofGreed, as well as their fights.[111]
Fullmetal Alchemist was one of the Manga Division's Jury Recommended Works at the 8th and 11th installments ofJapan Media Arts Festival in 2004 and 2007, respectively.[112][113] Along withYakitate!! Japan, the series won the 49thShogakukan Manga Award for theshōnen category in 2004.[114] It won the public voting forEagle Award's "Favourite Manga" in 2010 and 2011.[115][116] The series won the "Shonen Tournament 2009" by the editorial staff of the French websitemanga-news.[117] The manga also received the 42ndSeiun Award for best science fiction comic in 2011.[118] Arakawa also received the New Artist Prize in the fifteenthTezuka Osamu Cultural Prizes for the manga series in 2011.[119][120]Fullmetal Alchemist ranked third on the first annualTsutaya Comic Awards' All-Time Best Section in 2017.[121] The manga was nominated for the Grand Prize of the 10thSense of Gender Award in 2010.[122]
...an offcial [sic] fan event is confirmed to be held on July 12. Arakawa's original manga started its serialization in the August 2001 issue of Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan published on the same day of 2001.
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