How to Watch Fullmetal Alchemist (2003 and 2009) in Order

Let's talk about one of the best shonen series of all time, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood! This splendid shonen series follows the characters of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric. Edward Elric is the Fullmetal Alchemist AKA Hagane no Renkinjutsushi. Like every other shonen character, Edward and Alphonse's story is tragic.

The two brothers were raised by their mother alone, with their father having left them without a word when they were young. The day their mom passes away is when they truly realize what it means to be alone. The world of FMA sees Alchemy as an important science that follows the law of equivalent exchange AKA Toka-Koka, which states: Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return.

Following this law, brothers Edward and Alphonse decided to resurrect their mother. However, resurrection in the field of alchemy is prohibited and taboo. This led to Edward losing an arm and a leg, while Alphonse lost his entire body. The story of Fullmetal Alchemist also sheds light on several real debates like crime, war, and science vs. religion.

However, the original manga series sprouted two different series, the first being Fullmetal Alchemist and the second being Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The difference between the stories is that FMA does not follow the manga in the latter half and has 65% fillers. On the other hand, FMA Brotherhood is loyal to the manga, with only 2% filler episodes.

Our recommendation to any anime fan watching the series for the first time would be to watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The reason is that the series has better animation, better dialogue writing, and, most of all, a satisfying ending. However, both series are amazing in their ways.

FMA and FMA Brotherhood are separate stories with different endings, so watching one would not spoil the events taking place in the other. All of the other OVAs can be skipped since they hold no relevance to any plot or watch order.

Check out the full list of Fullmetal Alchemist episodes, OVAs, movies, and the watch order for both series, below:

Release Order

• Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) (51 episodes)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009) (64 episodes)

Other Media

• The Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Specials
• Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Reflections (Recap)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: 4-Koma Theater

Recommended Watch Order With Both Series

• Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
• The Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (the conclusion to FMA 2003)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Specials
• Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (side story)

Fans looking to watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood can check it out on Funimation, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and HBO Max. On the other hand, fans looking to watch the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series will have to wait for it to become available on a streaming service. The series is currently not available to watch on any platform.

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