Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood

First episode airs tonight on adult swim at 12 eastern/ 11 central.

With the exception of the robot in the loin cloth most of the original english voice cast has returned. I never really watched sat down and watched the first series so I’m looking forward to this one.

I’ve seen about half of it already in japanese, and I’m really hoping the english cast helps it along because I’m not liking it too much so far, direction wise.

The story is fine. I love the manga, and Brotherhood stays very close to the manga story, but I think the direction is horrible in comparison to the original series. Everything from the music to the way jokes and moments are played…it’s just not worthy of what BONES usually pulls off. I’m glad they like to try out new talent, but this director didn’t work out. The first episode is solid though, so you’ll enjoy at-least that.

Sadly, Japan hasn’t responded well either (poor ratings) and the show was moved to a time-slot where it couldn’t do much damage. However, again, I’m excited about the dub, because they rocked so much on the original. But if you don’t take to this one, take a look at the original. It’s different, but really well done.

I’ve seen some 54 episodes and an OVA into Brotherhood as well as the first series in Japanese, so I can’t really help you out on the dubbing, but i can tell you other things.

My most fond memories of the original series was of the music. It where a big soundtrack of high-quality (digitally ?) orchestrated songs with an often mellow theme. It was also absolutely brilliant. The music in brotherhood didn’t really catch my attention while watching the series, so I didn’t think much about it. But recently I grabbed the first OST from the Lossless Anime Music thread and I must say: It’s even more awesome.

This time, it’s fully orchestrated (really: choir, brass, flutes, woodwinds, strings, percussion – a full philharmonic orchestra) and some tracks are beautiful beyond my ability to convey it (see: Trisha’s Lullaby and Requiem for the Brigadier General). I normally don’t listen to the intros or endings (or hardly any music with lyrics), but the first intro (Again by YUI) really caught me off guard. It’s magnificent. However, I think Bratja from the original series is the absolute best.

And if I compare the rest, Brotherhood just rules. The characters are better portrayed, the story is both deeper and more captivating and especially better written. The visual also seems to have improved, even if only little. And I don’t agree with MediaRight on Brotherhood having a lesser director. To me, the directing surpasses the original. It can be funny without compromising the serious moments and especially Mustang gets more space to flourish.

So, bottom line: Watch it – Get soundtrack (not necessarily in that order, though)

Fascinating.

I didn’t think the first series was all that great anyway. I’ll definitely watch Brotherhood now.
(Well, maybe I’ve been too lazy to check it out for myself.)

I’ll definitely watch Brotherhood now.

I doubt you’ll be disappointed. 🙂

Brotherhood is reeeeal good. I love how they followed the manga, and not the weird twisted story of the first series. In the first one, King Bradley has no purpose, he just wants military power, but has apparently made e country better, whereas in Brotherhood, he’s actually more than just military power, he has a huge purpose, and he doesn’t make Amestris better, only worse. Ahhh I love brotherhood. Also they don’t look weird like in the first series (proof of this is Hohenheim)

the first anime series Full Metal Alchemist was good but brotherhood is way much better…i like its story line…i’ve been reading the manga as well to understand it very well 🙂

I’ve seen about half of it already in japanese

The story is fine. I love the manga, and Brotherhood stays very close to the manga story, but I think the direction is horrible in comparison to the original series. Everything from the music to the way jokes and moments are played…it’s just not worthy of what BONES usually pulls off. I’m glad they like to try out new talent, but this director didn’t work out. The first episode is solid though, so you’ll enjoy at-least that.

I watched like 15 episodes, I read the manga before this was released & I agree with your opinion.
I dislike the vocal acting on Brotherhood, the first anime had it so much better, specially in characters like Mustang & Hawkeye.
I’ve personally don’t think that the music would reach the quality that the previous anime did, as I watched 15 episodes of BH, I can only remember this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLXtkxU69B0

English DUBS FTL!
Subs i had no problem with. Series was good though. Just ended (64episodes) a movies coming out soon.