Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Episode 1 Discussion/Poll

[crow-kun]

Originally Posted by Nosauz

also is it me or was the ED just awesome?

It was great. The 4-koma was nice. I wonder if there is going to be one every ending.

[Nosauz]

i wouldn't mind but as the show gets progressively darker I would prefer OP/ED that match the shows over arching themes and mood.

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by Claies

I'm pretty sure it's a total remake, and they made up the Ice Alchemist episode as a vehicle to get the first ~9 episodes of the first season (first volume of the manga) done with in two, so they can get on with the rest of the manga. If they're going to take the time to tear through most of the 23+ volumes they'll have to hurry.

Ah, beat me to it.

Let me explain what Claies is getting at.

If they were making a fully manga-faithful adaptation, they'd need to rehash about 20 episodes worth of information we'd already seen (with a few changes between the way the first anime did it and the the way the manga did) and give us a handful of episodes' worth of new, manga-faithful adaptation more, until they got to the point of where the first anime and the manga broke off. Obviously they are not, to a point.

With the current manga storyline apparently approaching its end, I'm sure Arakawa-sensei is involved enough with this new anime project to have the anime ending mapped out in a compatible way with the manga (she wrote this episode, after all), but they're going to be hard pressed to fit the 93 chapters already released into the anime, much less whatever remains of the manga storyline. The best way to cut corners is to gloss over what has already been animated, and so that's what they're doing.

This first episode is filler so that they can fit several episodes worth of plot points

Spoiler for manga plot points in Episode 1:

(the boys meet Armstrong, the boys' interest in the Philosopher's Stone is introduced, various characters are introduced to the audience, etc.)

into a much shorter period so they can be as faithful as possible with the manga storyline over the rest of their limited run (51 episodes total, if I have heard correctly).

Don't worry. This is going to be a manga-faithful adaptation. But not until after the point where the manga and first anime diverged.

[crow-kun]

Originally Posted by Nosauz

i wouldn't mind but as the show gets progressively darker I would prefer OP/ED that match the shows over arching themes and mood.

Sort of like Winry parading around in hot pants?

[Alchemist007]

The best way to cut corners is to gloss over what has already been animated, and so that's what they're doing.

Really? It seems like its just a teaser ep to get the audience excited. If they do gloss over a lot of the old stuff, it'd be nice.

[bayoab]

Originally Posted by quigonkenny

(she wrote this episode, after all)

Bones wrote the episode. She only designed the character for the episode and he's a straight knock off of the guy from the train.

[The Avatar]

Originally Posted by quigonkenny

Ah, beat me to it.

Let me explain what Claies is getting at.

If they were making a fully manga-faithful adaptation, they'd need to rehash about 20 episodes worth of information we'd already seen (with a few changes between the way the first anime did it and the the way the manga did) and give us a handful of episodes' worth of new, manga-faithful adaptation more, until they got to the point of where the first anime and the manga broke off. Obviously they are not, to a point.

With the current manga storyline apparently approaching its end, I'm sure Arakawa-sensei is involved enough with this new anime project to have the anime ending mapped out in a compatible way with the manga (she wrote this episode, after all), but they're going to be hard pressed to fit the 93 chapters already released into the anime, much less whatever remains of the manga storyline. The best way to cut corners is to gloss over what has already been animated, and so that's what they're doing.

This first episode is filler so that they can fit several episodes worth of plot points

Spoiler for manga plot points in Episode 1:

(the boys meet Armstrong, the boys' interest in the Philosopher's Stone is introduced, various characters are introduced to the audience, etc.)

into a much shorter period so they can be as faithful as possible with the manga storyline over the rest of their limited run (51 episodes total, if I have heard correctly).

Don't worry. This is going to be a manga-faithful adaptation. But not until after the point where the manga and first anime diverged.

Do you think 51 episodes will be enough to do the manga justice?

[NakedAngelX]

Originally Posted by kamikazex

yess was looking forward to this. only disappointing part for me was the halfway point when they said "fullmetal alchemist" in english...twice.

Lol at that cut scene part! Felt like some sort of Horrible English Dub.

[Nochgo]

lol same here. when I heard that, I was like.... huh? wtf? It was pretty bad too, the way they said it. Anyhow, this wasn't a bad episode. I wonder how fast they are going to get to the part where anime diverged from manga..

[Yu Ominae]

Spoiler for Isaac's rank:

Seems that he's a major before he became an anti-Amestrisian alchemist.

[Claies]

Originally Posted by The Avatar

Do you think 51 episodes will be enough to do the manga justice?

They'll probably have to disregard a lot of things to make enough time, such as:

Spoiler for Plot:

Most of the chapters that describe what the military characters went through in Ishbal, the whole saga about Chimera Number 28 and 66, and Shou/Nina Tucker.

In stead of that, they'll put in everything about Xing, Xerxes, and the Drachma border with Major General Armstrong.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with how much introduction they took care of in one episode with filler that's easily stuck into the timeline. It looks like they'll also finish off Lior and the Human Transmutation in the second, so the pacing looks great so far.

Of course, I can't speak for people who haven't seen FMA before. I feel like what's seen so far requires knowledge of at least the first 4 episodes.

[crow-kun]

Originally Posted by Yu Ominae

Spoiler for Isaac's rank:

Seems that he's a major before he became an anti-Amestrisian alchemist.

Being a state alchemist automatically makes you a major. So it's not really a spoiler.

[Hamchan]

Wow FMA is back with a bang!
A great episode if you've seen the series before, highly entertaining.
People seeing this series for the first time though would have been really confused though as they don't explain anything at all.
Looks like next episode should be flashback though and maybe the one after that is Lior?

Spoiler for Minor character:

Also I spotted Greed in the OP. Does this mean he will be in before episode 14 where I assume a new OP will come up? If so, they are going through the series pretty fast (as they should!)

Originally Posted by Nosauz

also is it me or was the ED just awesome?

Yeah that ED was really awesome. Looked pretty high production values actually XD

[Jays]

Even if it's a new series I can't help but be overwhelmed with nostalgia and what not, feels like 2004 all over for me again... wish I was as young back as I was back then.

What can I say? I mean this episode clearly looks like it was made to be some sort of intro for those who don't know about the basic characters from the get go, seeing as the pace was so sporadic, even so it was entertaining, and as always incredably humerous. The OP and ED were awesome, though I find it interesting how Edward's dad makes a full faced appearance this early compared to the last one - I've only seen the previous anime.

I felt right at home with Hughes, Armstrong, and even King Bradley; I definaly think that Miki as Mustang is something that has to grow on me, as I assume according to many manga readers it fits him more than Okawa, but even still I wasn't able to get a good gist of his character. It some what struck me odd as to how Mustang had lost that intimidating and imposing character that just breathed hell down your kneck, but then again I'm open to anything.

Finally, I am so, so glad that Hiroyuki Yoshino is Kimblee. Anyone who's watched Gundam 00 has to be extatic, I mean what a match made in heaven, just hearing him get me all excited.

Now you know what would be a match made in heaven? Something that has happened, was awesome, and should happen? Junichi Suwabe as Greed 'nuff said.

[crow-kun]

Originally Posted by Jays

Finally, I am so, so glad that Hiroyuki Yoshino is Kimblee. Anyone who's watched Gundam 00 has to be extatic, I mean what a match made in heaven, just hearing him get me all excited.

This is the only thing I disagree with. He sucks as Kimbley.

[Hamchan]

Originally Posted by crow-kun

This is the only thing I disagree with. He sucks a Kimbley.

Really? I feel confident he can pull off insane evil guy after his portrayal of Hallelujah in 00

[crow-kun]

Originally Posted by Hamchan

Really? I feel confident he can pull off insane evil guy after his portrayal of Hallelujah in 00

It's his voice. It's too high pitched and annoying. It may work for some lanky pretty boy nut job. But not a smooth criminal psycho.

[Jays]

Originally Posted by crow-kun

It's his voice. It's too high pitched and annoying. It may work for some lanky pretty boy nut job. But not a smooth criminal psycho.

Maybe I'm just right at home with it? I don't want to say "just wait!" because that would be unfair to you, but at the same time, I loved his portrayal of Allelujah/Hallelujah, specially when he went completely blood thirsty and insane.

The way I look at it, if they casted this guy, then perhaps this Kimblee is one fucked up guy.

[bayoab]

Originally Posted by Hamchan

Spoiler for Minor character:

Also I spotted Greed in the OP. Does this mean he will be in before episode 14 where I assume a new OP will come up? If so, they are going through the series pretty fast (as they should!)

That should be happening even if they adapted the manga panel by panel. It really isn't that long until those events. There was a ton of filler added to the first series which basically doubled how long it took to get there. There are a couple other oddities in the OP however which are "Aren't you jumping the gun a little on those?"

[Charred Knight]

Originally Posted by Jays

Maybe I'm just right at home with it? I don't want to say "just wait!" because that would be unfair to you, but at the same time, I loved his portrayal of Allelujah/Hallelujah, specially when he went completely blood thirsty and insane.

The way I look at it, if they casted this guy, then perhaps this Kimblee is one fucked up guy.

His saying that Kimblee should have a deeper voice.

I wouldn't know since I haven't watched it yet since I am waiting for Funi to stream it.