I recently watched FMA:Brotherhood and it's time to shamelessly recommend another anime with similar vibes - Baccano! I think they're comparable on a lot of levels and you'll probably like one if you enjoyed the other (the only reason I've heard people dislike Baccano! is either "it's too convoluted" or "it's too gory" and I don't think those will be issues if you liked fma).
1 - Strong, well-written ensemble cast
Despite having so many characters, both shows are masterfully written to get you invested in and attached to each character in their own way.
2 - Fast-paced & action-packed
Unlike traditional Shonen, neither show makes me want to skip its fight scenes because they're so visually interesting and figure into the plot! Along with that, the main plot never stops moving, making even the forays into side characters and past events feel worth your time.
3 - Well-balanced and palatable comic relief
With the intensely heavy content they're dealing with, both shows must rely on comic relief - but manage to do so with grace, making it natural and human (Baccano! in a particularly weird way that never ruins the show's serious tone).
4 - Creepy, dark, and morally ambiguous
Alchemy, immortality, homunculi, you want 'em, these shows have got 'em. Asides from that they also both give really fucked-up and interesting horror, have awesome character and "monster" design, and frequently throw you deep ethical and moral questions as though they aren't keeping you up at night already.
5 - Unique, flavorful setting
FMA's setting of Amestris is varied in almost every episode, ranging from the Eastern desert to the Northern wall and anything inbetween - while Baccano!'s setting of 1930's NY seems nicely stable until you're suddenly in the 1700's dealing with 1700's problems. Also Baccano! comes with a train heist AND a train shooting AND a train-roof fight all in one, since several important episodes happen on a train ride. Also they cut away to pan for gold in California for a while. It's a weird show. You'll like it.
Other notes on commonalities:
- Beautiful, dynamic animation!
- I usually prefer sub over dub, but both shows have A+ dubs!
- Weird time skipping/flashback-heavy presentation (very dramatic)!
- Disabled and disfigured people present and important in the narrative!
- Guilt as a theme... Humanity and self worth as a theme... A complete lack of purity culture and an emphasis on changing and growing as a person... I cry
- Pacifist characters who are allowed to be pacifists!
- Child peril as a symptom of well-rounded child characters (as well as nice sweet ones who don't get bodily harmed or kill people)!
- Tons of strong female characters of all kinds - and pretty low on fanservice! (It's almost nonexistent in Baccano!, and very occasional in fma. Was honestly a little disappointed fma had any at all.)
- I had childhood crushes on cute guys from both shows! Roy, my beloved... Firo, also, my beloved... why do you both get girlfriends.
idk where to watch Baccano! nowadays so please hop onto the discussion if you know where it's available for others to find! :)
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