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May 22, 2012

Full Metal Alchemist: The ultimate animated chess game?

by Jay Allen, posted Dec 6th 2005 8:26PM

Full Metal AlchemistI'm a raving fan of Full Metal Alchemist. Judging by a TV Japan poll that ranked it as the best  anime ever, this adoration is shared worldwide. And yet, at times, I've found myself growing frustrated at the pace of the show. The last episode on Adult Swim that I felt moved along at a pace pleasing to my Western, ADHD-addled brain was "Theory of Avarice", in which Ed (supposedly) killed Greed. Since then, we've been treated to a series of episodes dwelling on Envy's background, Scar's motivations, the fate of Greed's cohorts after the last major battle, and - most unnecessarily - Winri's realization this week that Sloth is Ed and Al's mother, resurrected as a homunculus. (Welcome to the party, Winri; Al and the rest of us had this figured out WEEKS ago.)

But I'm learning not to be so impatient. First off, this is the Japanese style. It's part and parcel of the culture's Zen Buddhist philosophy to be more meditative and reflective on its subjects than most results-oriented Westerners can tolerate. It's why many anime tend to have stretched-out sequences where the camera pans out and tilts on a single, beautifully rendered animated cel. Second, I've come to regard the entire series as a chess game with a long, drawn-out middle game. What we're witnessing now is the final stages before the end game: all of the pieces have to be moved into their proper place for the final, mind-blowing conclusion. (Of course, if the show doesn't deliver on this promise, I'll be one pissed-off little [as] devotee.)

What do you think? Is FMA moving too slowly, too quickly, or just right? Have any episodes seemed totally superfluous?

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Belgand

Uh, spoiler warning please. I still haven't watched the most recent episodes, but they're sitting on my TiVo right now.

December 09 2005 at 2:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
The Zero Boss

True, Marvo. That puts everything in perspective, actually. :) Yu-Yu Hakusho had the same problem - fight sequences that would last for five episodes. Snooze.

December 07 2005 at 12:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Marvo

At least it's not Dragon Ball-slow.

December 06 2005 at 11:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael

Actually, you're right on the voices--they are impressive. I'm not really an anime fan (apart from Miyazaki and, on occasion, Ghost in the Shell), and I only started to watch FMA because of the alchemy stuff (a topic I find fascinating for lots of reasons, mostly historical), but I've become quite involved in the narrative and in the complexity of the world the artists have managed to create. It's quite an achievement, as good as anything else on Cartoon Network (and that's saying something).

December 06 2005 at 11:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael

Actually, you're right on the voices--they are impressive. I'm not really an anime fan (apart from Miyazaki and, on occasion, Ghost in the Shell), and I only started to watch FMA because of the alchemy stuff (a topic I find fascinating for lots of reasons, mostly historical), but I've become quite involved in the narrative and in the complexity of the world the artists have managed to create. It's quite an achievement, as good as anything else on Cartoon Network (and that's saying something).

December 06 2005 at 11:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
The Zero Boss

I may do that once it's finished on [as], but I like watching it unfold week to week. On top of that, this is one of the first anime - outside GHOST IN THE SHELL: SAC - where I've generally loved the English voice talent.

December 06 2005 at 10:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael

The whole series--every episode--is available at various anime DVD resellers on the web. The subtitles suck, but at least you can watch the whole thing at once, as I did earlier this year. It's definitely worth it for FMA fans like myself.

December 06 2005 at 10:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jason

It's just right. You'll see once you reach the end.

December 06 2005 at 8:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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