So which FMA version do you like best? I actually prefer the 2003 anime by a lot, even if it didn't have Olivier or Xiao Mei the Sassy Panda
(yes, Shao May or whatever the spelling MAY be is a panda with absolute fabulosity)
Personally, I think I rank both equally. Brotherhood has, as most people seem to think, a better plot and better animation. However, I don’t feel that it was as well scripted as the first anime, and don’t even get me started on the score. I also though the ending was too optimistic… in the Manga, (SPOILERS) Mustang gets discharged. When I read that, I realized a very exciting possible silver lining… Hawkeye could lead his team (or her own team that happens to have Breda and Fuery in it, given that Falman’s in Briggs and Havoc has a significantly less happy ending in the manga than in Brotherhood). But no, they show him with his old eyes, still commanding. Havoc can walk again. Ling is going to end all turf wars. Ed and Winry have a nuclear family, there’s no such thing as painless lesson, but everybody wins (well, if Al . Also, I hated how Scar and Kimblee’s arcs (not that Kimblee really had an arc) ended- it was unrealistic. Scar, I think, changed too quickly. If I were him, I would’ve questioned Miles a bit (don’t get me wrong, I love that guy, but he didn’t suffer as much as Scar did). Kimblee just made no sense at the end, acting like he supported Ed. Which sucks because he’s one of my favorite antagonists. Okay, so now I sound like I don’t like the overrall plot better, but I do, it’s just specific little mishaps I noticed that seemed a bit more copious than in the first anime. Also, Brotherhood has my favorite homunculus, Wrath, my 2nd being other-Wrath.
The plot of the first anime wasn’t as well timed- I mean, it’s to be expected. I felt like it was less consistently satisfying than Brotherhood, if we’re talking episode by episode. I’ve watched the whole thing several times (with the exception of episodes 4 and 10… worst FMA episodes ever). In a way, I like both the each-episode-has-it’s-own-arc style of the first and the continuous flow of brotherhood depending on my mood, but generally, the continuous flow is better.
Now, I must make one crucial point- MUSIC. FMA:03 HAS UNDOUBTABLY BETTER SCORING, FMA:B HAS UNDOUBTABLY BETTER OPENINGS/ENDINGS. Also, if I should even mention movies, neither COS or SSOM compared to either series, but Sacred Star was revolting (and I have whole rant about that on here). I liked Conqueror- especially Winry’s design, she looks all grown up, with a fantastic business woman chic- but wanted to see more of the original FMA characters. Not to mention I liked Winry WAY better in the first anime… not cause I’m not a fan of EdWin (I’m indifferent, really). I was watching Ed’s fight with Father and thinking, ‘There goes that arm… wish your mechanic was here with spares. Too bad you care more about apple pie.’
As an after thought- YEAH OKAY SO IT DOESN’T HAVE BRIGGS SOLDIERS OR THE XINGESE CHARACTERS AND SUCH OTHERS BUT WE’VE GOT L’IL WRATH AND THE FAKE ELRICS AND FRANK FUCKIN’ ARCHER GONNA GO MECA AN BLOW EVERYBODIES’ FUCKIN FACES OFF BIZNIETZSCHES.
(yes, I’ve been spending way too much time on FrankArcherConfessions…)
(I mean the one he uses in the last few episodes to blow holes through walls okay, god)
