OP Sequence

OP: 「again」 by YUI
Watch the OP! Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Streaming ▼

 

Summary:

When the regenade Ice Alchemist runs amok inside Central, Führer King Bradley puts Roy Mustang in charge of his capture. Edward and Alphonse Elric are taking part in the operation as well, and they manage to corner the guy. Edward’s automail right arm and the fact that he doesn’t use a transmutation circle make the Ice Alchemist realize that Edward is the Fullmetal Alchemist. Regardless, the two manage to capture the Ice Alchemist, but he promptly escapes from the soldiers who come to take him away. The two brothers then return to headquarters where they get lectured by Mustang. The Flame Alchemist explains that the Ice Alchemist is Isaac McDougall, a former state alchemist who participated in the Ishbal extermination war but had given up his state alchemist title afterward and had joined an anti-establishment movement. Mustang prioritizes his capture but knows that they might have to kill him, and that’s something Ed doesn’t want to do. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Maes Hughes who meets Ed and Al for the first time, and he invites them to stay over at his house. This gives Hughes the chance to show off his wife Gracia and daughter Elicia, and the family treats the brothers to dinner. Not wanting to reveal the reason why Al can’t eat, Ed claims that Al is in the middle of alchemist training.

Meanwhile, at Central Prison, Isaac has gone to see Kimblee, the Crimson Alchemist, to convince him to join forces to overthrow Bradley and the military. Isaac points to how Kimblee had killed high ranking military officials, but Kimblee claims that he just killed them because he wanted to, so Isaac leaves him there. Back at Hughes’s home, he’s up late thinking about how the Elric brothers are seen as dogs of the army at such a young age. Ed and Al, on the other hand, are talking about dinner and how Al wants to get his original body back. The search for Isaac continues the next day until Alex Louis Armstrong is able to find him in an alley, and the commotion attracts Ed and Al. Isaac manages to escape though, and he evades capture yet again when he gets cornered by Mustang and some troops. He returns to the same alley later that night, but he’s found again by Ed and Al. Instead of running away this time, he activates multiple red-hued transmutation reactions at once across the city, causing the brothers to think of the Philosopher’s Stone. Isaac feels that Ed would understand what he’s trying to do if Ed knew what the country was trying to do, but what Ed cares about now is how Isaac might have a Philosopher’s Stone.

Isaac then forms a giant block of ice and rides on top of it, and Ed and Al realize that Isaac is trying to bury headquarters in ice. Ed thus decides to go after Isaac and has Armstrong take care of the transmutation circles that Isaac set up. The two brothers climb onto the block of ice and fight Isaac, and when Isaac tries to blow Al’s head off, he realizes that he’s fighting an empty suit of armor upon which a soul was affixed. This combined with how Ed lost his real arm leads Isaac to figure out that the two brothers committed the taboo of human transmutation. This really angers Ed, and together with Al, he beats up on their opponent. Isaac, however, still has a few tricks up his sleeves, and he freezes his blood to stab Ed in the shoulder. This gives him a chance to escape again and make his way into a dark alley, but he finds Bradley waiting there. Isaac tries to take down Bradley with a spear of ice, but Bradley kills Isaac in one quick motion. By the time Ed and Al arrive on the scene, everything is already over, and the two still don’t know if a Philosopher’s Stone was involved. Unbeknownst to them, the Homunculus Lust is on the phone with someone about Isaac’s death. She thinks that Isaac used the Philosopher’s Stone too much, and she reports that things in Lior are going well. With Gluttony nearby, she feels that it will start soon.

ED Sequence

ED: 「嘘 」 (Uso) by シド (SID)
Watch the ED! Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Streaming ▼

I really liked the music from the original FMA and had hoped that the new series could feature some good songs as well. Fortunately, YUI and SID don’t disappoint. Both songs are pretty good – Uso is a bit more catchy but I’m liking again more the more I hear it. As for the animation sequences, the OP features mostly characters shots (and this being FMA, there are a lot of characters) plus a couple of action sequences, and it was cool to see that certain parts had the character lips matching up to the lyrics. The ED meanwhile is an amusing hand-drawn style, though I didn’t really think that it matched the song. In any case, the full versions of both songs are already out there if you need some instant gratification.

Preview

For a reintroduction episode, this was pretty exciting. Having this Isaac hunt served as a way to bring up how there’s something fishy going on with the military and Bradley while at the same time reacquainted us to most of the state alchemists, Ed, Al, and their quest for the Philosopher’s Stone. They managed to work in Kimblee as well, and those of you who watched Gundam 00 probably recognized him as being voiced by Allelujah’s voice actor Yoshino Hiroyuki. I thought he did a decent job with it, but I can’t say the same for Miki Shinichirou voicing Roy Mustang. It didn’t bother me previously during the promo videos, but there’s something about his voice that just doesn’t quite seem like Mustang. I can still remember Lockon very clearly, and out of all the cast changes, this is the only one that really bothered me (so far anyway).

In any case, I still enjoyed all of the action that was in this, and I especially liked the black and white (with spurts of red) finish with Bradley. Overall, this episode was a nice way to get the audience back into the thick of things, and as expected of BONES, the production quality was quite high. It was also amusing (brought back memories) to see Ed get picked on again all time because of his height. Now that all of this is over though, it looks like they’ll be going back to the past next week for a proper telling of what happened to Ed and Al. That makes me wonder at what point Hohenheim will appear since he’s featured in the OP fairly prominently.

Oh and on a side note, what was with that really cheesy sounding English announcer saying “Fullmetal Alchemist” during the eyecatches?

135 Comments

  1. 1. Its a remake following manga
    2. First episode, is anime-original introductionary episode, chronologically taking place just before Lior.

    YES OP AWESOME.

    Now all hopes on next episodes following manga story 😐

    UnknownVoice
  2. @DaveJS
    I thought so too initially but after watching the OP in action it’s much better than I thought. Anyway OP looks absolutely amazing and I demand Blu-ray in the US. If FMA doesn’t sell blu-ray then nothing will.

    Jarmel
  3. – Alphonse action! He took a level in badass between adaptations.

    – King Bradley is so badass. They did sort of spoil the reveal of his skills a bit, though. He should have handed out a melon!

    – Kimbley’s new voice is excellent.

    Next week looks like it’s covering chapters 23 and 24, doing some of Ed and Al’s past much like the first series’ episode 3, “Mother”.

    I was pretty jazzed about the whole experience. Especially with Hohenheim in the opening.

    penguintruth
  4. Which music are we talking about here? Akira Senju should be delivering some fairly solid compositions, so if it’s the OP/ED pieces that are mentioned, well, FMA never had brilliant OP/ED music to begin with. I’m not really expecting any changes to that trend at least.

    Still, looks like a nice start. Time to see whether it can live up to the hype.

  5. @zzeroparticle

    I am sorry, but you must have misunderstood Omni.

    He meant that OP/ED music is great.

    And FMA always had good op/ed songs.

    no that pop crap other anime OPs would usually use, at least ~3 our of 4 first anime ops were j-rock.

    UnknownVoice
  6. ok,i noe this is a remake following manga,but it seem the 1st ep is diff wif manga,so my question is did they skip 1st few chapter coz the FMA 1st season already adapted it?

    hiaag89
  7. Finally! i’ve been waiting for this for so long like everyone else, i’m a die-hard fma fan, i loved the first series/movie along with the manga, this episode was just plain ‘awesomeness’ like omni said it’s very nostalgic hearing ed & al’s voices and having ed get picked on about his height again though like omni its hard getting used to the new voice actors for the rest of the cast, i really miss the old ones… 🙁 But this happens a lot when you get set to a certain way of things and then comes along something completely different which shoves aside the old. But hey, what are you going to do? I’m so happy for a second anime adaptation that will follow the manga more closely that i can completely ignore anything that remotely bugs me about it at the moment…

    “FMA shall on the first day cast down its wrath upon the world and upon the next day shall purge the world in its ‘awesomeness’… On the third day it shall set itself on top the world and declare itself god…” ~Third Gospel, fifth chapter – FMA Rules
    …Ya I know, a little too much right?

    DaramaDoc4U
  8. Awesome! I hope this gets subbed really soon~

    I am also excited to watch the new opening and ending, because I think that FMA always had marvellous openings and endings!

    Thanks for the fast blog on this, Omni!

    Roxas
  9. so all the trailers were taken from this episode?
    awesome! i wondered where the heck this alchemist came from ( the manga ).

    now, what to say? it’s kinda like the old intros.
    1. “Rewrite”
    2. “Ready, Steady, Go!”

    xD

    Nightflame
  10. @penguintruth – from what iv’e seen in the preview, exam is going to be in a next episode 😀

    @Eamon – because that is supposed to be a full title of this series.

    @rakkynon – hahaha that made my day xD

    about this episode…Show Spoiler ▼

    bgi
  11. Saw the RAW just to get a feel for the show and I have to say that BONES has started out running. Very well paced for a one-shot filler ep. A little convenient how all the different Amestris military characters showed up in one ep, but Isaac was badass enough to make it logical that they’d call in this much firepower to get him. Animation was absolutely gorgeous, and it took me no time to get used to the style change since it’s closer to the manga designs. I hope they can keep up this level of quality for 50+ eps. I miss Mustang’s and (especially) Hawkeye’s original seiyuu, but I’ll get used to them, and Belldandy as Lust more than made up for it.

    Only thing that bugs me is the difference in music. The original FMA had probably the best orchestral anime scores of all time, and while this one is good, it isn’t the original. The new composer has a hard road ahead, especially in the next episode, where they have to come up with something during Show Spoiler ▼

    to match “Brothers”.

    quigonkenny
  12. concerning the eye catch, maybe since Miki Shinichirou is involved they wanted to do it like Initial D haha. as for him playing lockon, i found it kind of ironic seeing as hughes played ali. hughes flashing the pics totally reminds me of Show Spoiler ▼

    RickyMack
  13. Have to say i’m pretty pumped to watch the full episode!
    Music is not bad at all, but i agree that the ending sequence is a bit off for the series.
    What really struck me the most about the opening was the moment they had the two “character lips matching up to the lyrics”, because it was Riza and Winry for both those parts. And them covering their eyes in that quick shot sorta struck me because those two you’d say go through a lot emotionally because of their relation to the other characters… but yea that was just a thought 😛

    kimikodatenshi
  14. The OP and ED’re both catchy – but I like the ED a bit more.

    And I thought that “Uso” was coming out on April 29th? The OP has a full version out already, but I don’t think the ED does as of yet.

    monochrome
  15. Beautiful animation this episode, though I feel like the backgrounds became pretty plain and sparse. What’s up with the big empty office, Roy?

    Rabid manga fan here: I was already watching diligently for changes from the other anime and parts from the manga. Lots of Hohenheim in the into is a good sign. In the flashback we see Ed knew how to do the hand-clapping-thing right after he got out of the gate. Show Spoiler ▼

    chry
  16. i kinda agree with curtis, the nice clean drawings look from the previous series has somewhat escaped from them in this brotherhood series. i mean, without the ponytail and beard with jacket, it wouldnt have known that was hoenheim in the opening. But nevertheless, IM SO GLAD TO SEE THE FIMILAR FACES AGAIN! :] go fma!

    lickysquish
  17. @UnknownVoice
    I don’t know how I missed your comment on this being an anime-original introductionary episode, spending the last few hours reading manga vols 1-4 looking for this part was a bit of a waste of time, skipping those vols last year thinking there were basically the same as the 1st anime was a bad idea 😛

    Necromancer
  18. I am so so so excited to see this on the 9th. It’s a shame I can’t understand Japanese, and have to wait for subbies. xP

    And I’m in love with the OP. And the animation at the end ~~ <3 SO CUTE!

    Anywho, that was my 2 cents. Thanks for posting! 😀

  19. Manga, you should really think a little before saying stupid things.

    What is in common between Soul Eater and Original FMA?
    Yes, the fact that neither series were finished around the time the anime came out.

    And what has it to do with the FMA: Brotherhood, which has a lot more manga storyline to draw upon from, and from the style they went (to follow the storyline those 20+ volumes has already laid out), this wont stray from the original.

    Oldern
  20. Wow I suppose that masking major spoilers as innocuous sequences in the first OP has now become common practice… I mean, Clannad’s first OP already showed the very ending of the After Story, now we get this…

    Anyway, what is this with all the Hohenheim sequences? I guess I’ll have to wait for the second OP to see some Mei. But Riza and Winry singing part of the OP was awesome.

    steelman
  21. @lickysquish – that’s exactly how manga is drawn. somewhat simpler than the first series, but with more charm, at least for me. also, Hohenheim in the first series was introduced before being shown in the manga. in the opening he looks just like his manga counterpart.

    @chry – that’s not Roy’s real office, only a temporary one for the time he is in Central.

    bgi
  22. Best part of the OP is @1:47 when Ed loses his arm and leg, Al loses his body and Winry…. TREMBLE. That’s just perfect! I laughed nonstop for quite some time after that ^^; Good episode!

    The fact that the episode itself is just a sort of mental recap for all of us who watched the (dreadful) first series and just a little introduction to everyone else on the FMA unierse ^^

  23. This is gonna be great! I enjoyed the first FMA anime, but I think that this one will be better with all the extra characters from the manga being thrown into the mix. I’m not concerned as to whether this is a continuation or a remake. I’m just gonna enjoy it! ;D I wonder if this will be dubbed by FUNimation like the other one was…

    Incarnate
  24. I love FMA and for some reason this one looks less gruesome. I remember the scene where ed loose his leg to be a bit more bloodier. I know Omni mentioned it before that it looks like it was puzzle.

    Love the opening YUI is great. Thanks OMNI for another great blogs.

    Dragonite88
  25. Shinichiro Miki as Roy Mustang = EPIC WIN
    Kikuko Inoue as Lust = *fangasm*

    Awesome stuff, can’t wait for more.
    Also:
    http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7996/vlcsnap921536.png
    http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4682/vlcsnap922106.png

    As if we needed confirmation of what we all already knew, the first few seconds of the OPs gives us “Number 23” from manga Chp74 and 75 (aka Van Hoenheim), and the episode shows a brief glimpse of manga main baddie “Father”

    Newtype Destroyer
  26. amazing!!1
    now, i hope they cut out roze and focus on more important parts!!!
    didn’t like her haircoloring in the first season, her character and the fact, that she was *****, u know -_- it was damn disturbing.

    tomtom
  27. The feeling is weird after so many years but the series I remember knew how to make serious scenes serious and funny scenes funny.Its kinda the opposite here.Overused “small” gag.Too much chibi mode use.Too many characters introduced which….too many for just 1 episode.It had more of a Soul Eater feel rather than an FMA feel.The thing is,I came to watch FMA not Soul Eater.

    God~Knows~
  28. Sad to say, if this gonna be just a total remake according to the manga, then its gonna be a phail.

    I like FMA anime, I dont like the FMA manga, enough said, the author is fuk weak in connecting the chapters together for the manga, which on the other hand the FMA anime string together very well.

    Asteroth
  29. I figure this episode was used to introduce all the main stay characters, maybe to not waste screen time on introducing them later on. This is probably why everything felted rushed.

    Zache
  30. Asteroth, I also watched the FMA anime and have pretty much no clue what differentiates from manga and anime. So I’m not going to jump to conclusions, but if what you say is true, then the Fullmetal name will be tarnished.

    Hopefully not true, cuz I am very pro-FMA.

    invAZN
  31. I think it is a bit early to jump to conclusions about how the anime will manage. Things seem good this time around, and its only one episode. I’m glad they didn’t just redo Lior.

    Also, I myself am a fan of the manga, and I think it is quite good. I wouldn’t worry about the Fullmetal Alchemist name being tarnished. After all, the manga has been around for a long time, and, one must remember, was the foundation for the first series, after all.

    Arakiba
  32. It just feel weird, I feel the old FMA first episode has a lot better feel to it, the only thing about this episode one is more flashy when they use their powers but in term of storyline and music, old series is better.
    I am just comparing episode one to episode one of old series, hopefully the rest of the series will be better.

    mike
  33. the animation somewhat changed from the “natural” look in the First series to the “sharper” look of Arakawa’s drawings. I am much more accustomed to seeing the “calm” rather than the “scowling” Ed. the looks of Alphonse , Roy, Riza, and the others didn’t change at all, only a bit.

    Ed new look is like seeing Ichigo backwards. Ichigo carried the guilt of his mom’s death, so he scowls. but when he realized that it wasn’t his fault at all, his face lightened to a more natural look. that is the logical explanation. While on Ed, his pupils became narrower, seeing it at odds with the former Edward of the first Fullmetal Alchemist.

    So much for that.

    knight of one
  34. Insane. It’s just insane to tell the story all over again. I’d be more comfortable if they did a different beginning, and then proceeded on with the manga story.

    Keroro21
  35. I really hated the first anime. I never read the Manga, but I felt the first anime was just horrible in terms of pacing and never could decide if it wanted to be a comedy or an action anime. They did not mix scenes well, it felt very forced.

    Now, I heard a second season was coming, and I was dreading all the FMA fanboys going totally nuts again. Then, I heard it was a remake, and 100% based on the Manga. Usually, the Manga IS better, so I’m actually -going- to watch this one in full, though I cannot deny the crappy first anime will pretty much influence me alot in this series.

    Also, to all you people complaining about how your precious FMA characters are different. THIS IS THE WAY THE AUTHOR OF FMA INTENDED THEM TO LOOK AND ACT. The first anime, you could say those were less true than this one, I’d imagine. I haven’t read the Manga, but I hate when people automatically assume they know a character and that the authors true vision is the wrong one, despite them having made the character.

    Mkilbride
  36. im just wondering where the original series actually branched off from the manga? and are they gonna have the remake of all the manga stuff in the first season too because that seems like a waste of time. Anyway, other than that im mostly just really confused more than anything and i really cant understand anything thats going on cause i never really read the manga from FMA. For the first episode, i felt that it was a little weak, mostly because i didn’t find the action scenes very cool or interesting but im just hoping for the best because the first series with the anime original ending is one of my top 5 animes of all time. I guess i just have to wait till next episode to see whats gonna happen.

    baka
  37. You guys always complain no matter what, there’s actually never a nice comment.
    This seem more promising than the previous FMA animated. I feel more like watching FMA now than last time.

    Syouke
  38. I don’t see any part of it as following the manga.

    Well the episode overall was good but i if it follows the manga i would rather prefer the first make because i liked the anime better than the manga.

    Let’s see how it turns out.

    banzemanga
  39. @baka

    It really branched off from the very first episode. Characters are different, motivations are different, the timeline is different, as well as major events from Ed and Al’s past (almost everything concerning his State Alchemist exam). Anybody who says that the first 25 episodes of the first anime are the same as the manga are lying through their teeth.

    Len
  40. Just watched the episode.

    Wow, the darker feel and general way the episode went left a very good impression. I liked it alot more than the first episode of the original anime.

    Mkilbride
  41. I think Kimblee didn’t sound bad since we’re used to manic Hallelujah… Roy on the other hand, bothers me to NO END. It sounds SO MUCH like Lockon that I can barely pay attention to what he’s saying. The least he could have done was try to lower his voice a little.

    Overall, of the old cast I miss Roy and Riza’s seiyuu the most. Lust’s new seiyuu is doing a great job though.

    san-san
  42. Awesome! 😀 I already like this new series ^^

    Can anybody answer these questions for me…?

    Who is it in the ver-very beginning of the OP? Show Spoiler ▼

    and
    What is that strange transmutation circle, again, in the very beginning of the OP? It kinda looks like the army’s symbol, is that it? And it was weird curtains around it :S

    I don’t really mind you spoiling me, well, cus you can’t XD I’ve read the manga up till now so.. Just put the “spoiler” thingy for al those who don’t want to be spoiled XP

    Thanx!

    Byg2
  43. wow! I’ve watched it…and it’s ~awesome~!!!!! (although they’re using thinner outlines for the hair, which bugs me in someway (but you, like, only notice it on Ed..)…and sometimes the character-design reminds me of Avatar: the last airbender..(again, only for Ed))
    But I was like ?????????? 😕 at the guy in the begining of the OP (which I love BTW, very cathchy (sp?))Show Spoiler ▼

    , cause I haven’t come that far in the manga, yet, because, and don’t aske me why, I’m waiting for the library to buy them in swedish 😛 lol. but I think I’m going to quit waiting for the translaters and just read it in english online, which is much easier than I ever thought, I realised after being forced to read an english novel in english class…so thanks to my english teacher for making me believe in myself and my english-knowledge! and thank you to all who had anything to do with the restart of the best anime ever!!!! (lol I’ve like watched only three of them properly)( but Bleach is close second!!)
    ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!

    sry for the long comment, but FMA touches my heart…it must be Al, I love him and want to comfort him in any way possible (except avoiding to watch this new season)!
    I don’t know what to say, but everytime I watch an AMV (like one where Vic sings ‘Brother’ :*( ) when Ed is blaming himself for Al’s pain, my tearcanals just opens wide, and I feel -so- pitiful for bitching about school, and having to dust my room and do other chores, cause I have a mother (although no father), a house, four siblings who are more or less healthy, an nephew I love, a change to educate for free (in sweden), breakfast everyday, no war in sight, I’m able to enjoy the spring with my nose, hands, feet and mouth! I can feel the new grass when I go out for the first time barefeet, I can smell when the snow disapears from the air, I can feel the warm sun and wind on my face, I can feel the smell of the flowers and the fertilizer on the fields (lol), I can taste the first new potatoes, the strawberries, and the grilled paprika and corncobs, and fresh bread and cookies and pies and muffins! Which Al can’t….*sob*

    again I’m -SO- sorry, I just had to get it out of my system!
    Love to you all for loving FullMetal Alchemist!

    (PS:I always thought the Manga was funnier, I hope this new serie that takes after the manga also takes after it’s great sence of humour!)

    Lily
  44. Screw you MkilBride@, and Syouke@!

    The first anime was better, it started before Brotherhood, and the art wasn’t all pointy and ragged like the manga. In fact, I hated the manga, it didn’t make any sense, even when I read it! You idiots are like children, when your toy is old and easy to rip, you throw it away, forget everything you felt for it, and buy a GOD DAMN PLAYSET!! You’d choose the new thing over the previous show that made people want to read the manga? You douchebags make me sick!

    Keroro21
  45. Bahhhhhh, the first episode is just more of the same. I mean, if you like that then by all means, enjoy. However, I FINISHED WATCHING Full Metal Alchemist awhile ago, I don’t need to see it again with the story order just mixed up a little.

    Nick
  46. i know what you mean about miki shinichiro as roy. weird. i got used to his other seiyuu. but at the same time, his voice is sexy so i don’t really mind. :]

    ooh. i wonder if they’ll do more image songs! sorry. my mind is wandering. lol

    addi-chan
  47. Personally I am glad to see this new series – I was wondering how they were gonna continue the story after the way the first series ended and now I have my answer – they’re not! It was good to see Ed and Al in action again and I look forward to seeing what directions this new series takes things.

    **Keroro21 – Bad form. I don’t care how much of a raging fanboy you are, this is a public space and you should use some restraint. New material featuring characters we’ve come to love is almost always a good thing as long as the characters’ motivations/personalities remain the same. I’d wager you cried like a little ***** when Show Spoiler ▼

    If you were at all dissapointed in the end of the last series (which you probably were judging by the veracity of your post) then you are a freakin hypocrite. Go cry to your mom if you can’t handle it and let the rest of us discuss the series like civilized people.

    I wouldn’t throw away the old series for anything – hopefully I will be able to put this new series up on the altar of awesomeness with it. Only time will tell.

    Mike42
  48. Wow, I wasn’t going to re-watch FMA but this episode is one of the best 1st episodes I’ve seen in a while. I might have to keep up with this one. I usually treat shonen animes like they had Ebola because most lack a story or any kind of character development(except in the scream and power level area), but I always held FMA up a bit higher but never seriously sat down to watch from beginning to end. If this show keeps up this grade of episode I might have to deem FMA Ebola free.

    spec

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