Talk:Fullmetal Alchemist/Archive 3

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Contents

Anime and Manga differences

"As there was a limited amount of manga material available to adapt at the time of production, the storyline of the anime diverges from that of the manga around the middle of the series. The anime's later story and conclusion by BONES is different from that of the manga."

I'm not quite sure on the procedure of how to handle this kind of thing, but I do know that there are very significant plot-related differences between the anime and manga. So much so that I think they can be considered completely separate continuities. I guess it doesn't matter if the article doesn't delve too far into each's plot; otherwise, might it be necessary to split this article into anime and manga versions?

On a completely separate note, this reminds me of what happened between the Hellsing anime and manga. ^_^ Axem Titanium 02:37, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

I definitely think that you should discuss a little bit of how they're different, when they become different, and why. Because when I first found out about FMA is was REALLY confused as to why the anime was finished and the manga was still running and the manga came first! So I went to wikipedia and the article didn't tell me anything either. 68.171.240.254 00:09, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

The article shouldn't delve too much into each other's plot as you said. But for example in the Gate of Alchemy description it is noted that it looks like the gates of hell, which while it may be true for the anime, it's not true for the manga, and I think it should be noted somehow. So I'm not sure if there should be just clarifications wherever needed or if we need more expanded anime and manga sections. AcidArrow 04:08, 20 March 2006 (UTC)

The anime and manga differ vastly, and the differences aren't really being paid attention to (with the anime version coming out on top). It should at least be mentioned that they are fairly completely different. Hoenheim, That Door, homunculi, the philosophers stone; basically all the key concepts are different. I think that two seperate articles would be the best solution.

Theme: Science vs. Religion

Speaking of The Divine Comedy... what about the theme of Science vs. Religion? It's littered throughout the series, and I'm surprised a theology nut hasn't written an essay about it yet on here. I haven't because I'm not a theology nut... KawasakiNinja 16:08, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

I totally agree with you it would be awesome to debate this topic. however like you i'm no theology nut... Scarredmanoftheeast 00:54, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Shh! Don't give them ideas! Besides, I'm not sure what you would say, especially since alchemy can be interpeted religiously as well. --tjstrf 03:10, 13 June 2006 (UTC)
That's part of it. What's religion other than a faith? What's science other than a faith in what we're told? I'm not going to get into it, but there is a lot that can be said. I'd start something, but I'd be liable of completely screwing up the religious side of the arguement. KawasakiNinja 10:33, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Science is more than a faith in what we're told. Scientific principles may be tested. Scientific theorems may be proven correct or incorrect. Science, at its essence, is about *not* having faith in what you're told- it's about trying to see it for yourself. I suppose that people with no facility for science may well take what science says on faith, but what science says can be put to tests. I was raised with both religion and science in my home (yeah, a little awkward), and I generally don't even regard them as existing on the same plane of theoretical existence. Science is concerned with the physical world. Faith is concerned with whatever people imagine exists beyond the physical world.

once agian im with you... the theme exists so it should be discussed... Scarredmanoftheeast 01:43, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Not to start an argument, but science and theology must be essentially the same - they both deal with the fundamental question of "what is" - hence, true science and true theology will always agree completely. (e.g. creationism v. evolution - the world cannot be created BOTH by million-year evolution AND by 7-day creationism; one or the other must be correct, and true science and true religion (both reflecting reality) will necessarily come to the same conclusion on the issue.) It would be nice to see it discussed in the article, though. (I'm afraid I'm not a "regular" watcher of FMA, or I'd write one.) --Tim4christ17 13:34, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
Science primarily asks how, theology asks why, art asks who. Science and theology are very different. 24.11.29.31 04:27, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

Religion is correct not because i was rised to think that but because you must think about it without nothing there is nothing if there was nothing how can something be created and since there is something who created it. Think about it if you knew the truth about everything would you let the world know being that your trying to control the world why not lie to them why not change around the bible so they think that i'm right and the bible is wrong because if they knew the real truth they would not fallow me and only fallow God and then i couldn't be rich and everyone would live as long as i do so let me lie and rewrire the bible with lies(think about it religion control the world). The missing link in evolution is cain, when God sent him out in the world a he found a wife who do you think that wife was being that only Adam eve cain and abl was the only humans alive so you got to put two and 2 together and then look at the cathlic churches and how they are(messing with little boy's and all that for hundreds of years) and think what they would do to religion and then look they are suppose to be the forfront of religion. So never dout religion look deeper into it and you to can find the truth beyond truth. I know alot about stuff like this so if you ever want to talk hit me at corey_giles2003@yahoo.com i was thinking something like this was going on for years and FMA just fueled that fire

Steampunk? I think not

Someone listed this show as steampunk. Being a fan and someone who has watched every episode, including the OVAs I must disagree. Never has it been stated in the show or by it's creators that this series is Steampunk. The technology is post-Steampunk if anything. Whoever is listing these anime series under the teampunk category needs to prove that this series has been recognised or made with the genre in mind, otherwise I think it is a gross misjudgement to list it under the same categories as other affiliated Steampunk works. 82.155.15.197 17:52, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

The show is/was considered steampunk because its set in 1910 and features a mixture of semi-advanced technology and victorian-era technology (steam trains, no airplanes as an example). The term "steampunk" appeared after the genre it attempts to describe already existed. Fullmetal Alchemist certainly did not self-identify as "steampunk" and it probably doesn't follow all the newly invented rules and standards of the now established steampunk community, but it qualifies as steampunk under the original reasoning for the term. I don't care one way or the other if the label is applied to FMA personally. - Anon 4 January 2006
I had never heard of the term steampunk before, let alone have it associated with FMA (but for some strange region, I have this déjà vu feeling... did we talk about this already). It's not mentioned in this article, so I suggest bringing up your concerns to the steampunk article. However, I do suggest you get a user account (both of you). — Ambush Commander(Talk) 02:17, 5 January 2006 (UTC)
I am sorry but Full Metal Alchemist also emobides technology which is outside of the realm of the steam engine, therefore it does not consitute the same elements as a work of fiction within the relam of a steampunk environment. Full Metal Alchemist is primarily about the and science, yes it has steam-powered locomotives, but also diesel-combustible engine driven cars. The era in which FMA takes place is debatable, but it appears to take place during an early 20th century time - however this still does not enable it to be categorised as steampunk. 82.155.82.215 18:43, 5 January 2006 (UTC)
Great. If horse-drawn carriages and steam engines are the requirement for steampunk, leave FMA alone and go rewrite the steampunk page because half of the content there is inconsistant with what your saying. If 1910 is too late for a steampunk story, you should probably suggest what the end-date in real history should be for the genre.
Sorry, but major rewrites are not very well recieved by anonymous editors. You two really should get accounts. ;-) — Ambush Commander(Talk) 00:45, 6 January 2006 (UTC)
Unless there is some term that encompasses FMA more specifically, I consider steampunk an apt description of the anachronistic technology it incorporates. Leave it be. Also, get accounts if you want to make major changes. --Tjstrf 04:53, 6 January 2006 (UTC)


If you watch the series closely you will notice that Edward finds a love letter between Dante and his dad and his teacher describes that it is dated in a dating system from a dead religion which we can assume to be christianity since he goes to Munich through the gate. So this would mean that the time setting is way in the future and that alchemy took the place of technology explaining the degrading technology.
See expressly says that it is Christianity. She says it's an old dating system "based upon the birth of Christ". She then says it's from an ancient religion. --Gaming King 19:01, 2 May 2006 (UTC)


Well, no. FMA doesn't take place "waaay in the future." It takes place in a parrallel universe. Otherwise you will not be able to acount for earth counterparts to FMA characters and the OVA.

I believe the 'future/alternate-universe setting' dispute won't be settled, but yes: Izumi explicitly states the letter was dated using an archaic system based on the birth of Christ (Anno Domini). I don't know what steampunk is and I first heard the term in this article, but if it has to do with actual dated setting as said before, then FMA is not at all steampunk. I personally believe the series takes place in, I don't know, 18800 (yes, eightteen-thousand, eight-hundred) and not in a parallel universe in 1880 (eightteen-hundred-eighty). JDCAce 07:37, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

Roy Mustang

Using transmutation circles on his gloves, he can create flames with a snap of his fingers. Doesn't he create flames because his gloves have a flint in them, so when he snaps his fingers, they rub together. The circle just lets him control it? - discofever 23:26, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

In the episode where Full Metal and Roy Mustang have their mock battle, they explain how his gloves work. They are special gloves that allow a SPARK to happen upon snapping his fingers. He then uses the transmutation circle on his gloves in order to basically make a big fireball out of said spark. In a later episode, his gloves get wet, but using a match to make a spark he is able to then make a big fireball out of that anyway. The mk 555 09:17, 19 January 2006 (UTC)
Heh heh...Oh, how I love to answer this question when it comes up!!! Spark cloth, which is what his gloves are made out of (also called ignition cloth), with an array tattooed into it. The transmutation circle allows him to alter the air around him to create a small fire, or a huge explosion, or a big fireball, by changing the oxygen content in the air. And, mk 555, you are right, the match still allows him to create his fire, because the match touches the cloth, though wet, and activates the array.Aeris of Iniquity 01:29, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
If you would like a visual aid you can find a picture of one of Roy Mustang’s gloves on under his entry on the page State Military characters of Fullmetal Alchemist. TomStar81 02:21, 11 February 2006 (UTC)
I don't quite like the explanation about the ability, it's kind of misleading. The array on his glove allows him to change the air around, true. The gloves can then be used to cause a spark. Following chemical properties of combustion, the more (or less) oxygen is in the area, the bigger (or smaller) the resultant 'boom'. The fireballs/explosions aren't 'created' by alchemy, but are a 'result' of the alchemy affecting the air. If no one has objections, I'm going to change it. Gwendolyr 01:48, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

Setting

The article states that "Fullmetal Alchemist takes place in an alternate-historical setting in which the use of alchemy is relatively commonplace," but multiple refrences to Christianity as an ancient religion that has not been practiced for centuries appear in the English Anime (Human Transmutation is one of them). Doesn't this mean that the show takes place in the distant future? --NoPetrol 08:34, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

If you've seen the whole anime, you should know this: The world that Ed lives in is connected to our world by the gate. If Christianity was developed at the same period of time as it was in our world (about the 3rd century), it could have been forgotten before the 15th century in their world. That would still match the description that it is "an ancient religion that has not been practiced for centuries". szupie 14:15, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

Fullmetal Alchemist does take place in an alternate-historical setting, supposedly in the early 1900s. But that doesn't mean everything has to be the same... that's what the word "alternate" means. One of the "alternate" aspects of this alternate history would be the downfall of Christianity. --Wikivader 20:10, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

It seems more likely than not that Dante and/or Hoheinheim destroyed Christianity within Amestris. It goes along with the creation of the fascist military state. As far as dates, the presence of a Church above ground in Central (the gateway into the buried city) shows that Christianity must have persisted well past the 15th century. The comments about Christianity may also only apply to Amestris. 69.144.103.34 09:23, 18 February 2006 (UTC)

There was one notable slip-up as far as Christianity being dead. In episode 10, The Phantom Thief, Psiren/Siren is shown working in a Christian church. This episode, however, was original to the anime so it's a goof we can blame on BONES. Misterstark 05:49, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

Release of the movie in US

I was just wondering when the FullMetal movie will be released in US. --User:Kniaz

Dunno. Wasn't very good IMO. --maru (talk) contribs 00:12, 13 February 2006 (UTC)

Not that that was especially valid as an answer to Kniaz's question, but okay. Mine's not much better. v_v

We've yet to hear anything from FUNi about the licensing of the movie, but as they've got first crack at anything animated they're sure to pursue that option sometime. I wouldn't expect anything until after the whole of the series is on DVD (despite FUNi wanting their productions on the big screen now). Papacha 08:39, 13 February 2006 (UTC)

FUNimation did license it. They're working on the English version of it. 70.68.46.180 23:06, 22 March 2006 (UTC)

the english version is said to be released in oct. 2006 ive read some of the summaries of it and i can't wait!! Scarredmanoftheeast 16:41, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

It's coming out on October 3rd. Anteaterking

According to Right Stuf, it's being released on September 26th. They tend to be fairly accurate about these things. 17:23, 14 May 2006 (UTC)

At one point, FUNimation unofficially mentioned that there would be four FMA releases on October 3 2006; the movie (in theaters, on DVD, and in a limited-edition DVD package similar to the one released in Japan) and the final volume of the TV series (on DVD of course). However, there has been no OFFICIAL announcement at all.

Actually there has, FUNImation bumped it to September 26th. September 12 is the release date of the regular edition of the DVD.--The great orochi 19:09, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

400 years before...

I have a question that has been bugging me for a while. SPOILER! I just saw episode 46 and acording to episode 45 & 46, everything started when the was ending. They also mentioned a letter from Dante that dates 400 years ago write in A.C mode (in the story)...reading the wikipedia entry for the black plague which dated in 1631 and doing 2+2...well, you'll see the dates are...odd! (2031? wow!)

Since Full Metal Alchemist's story is in a fictional time and space though christianism existed before (now, a non existant religion) and the dates are no longer registed like we do in real life, does someone knows the real date on the story?

odd question...just asked for curiosity ^^ 200.106.185.250 04:51, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

Why not just go with the alternate world's timeline? --maru (talk) contribs 05:45, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

and what's the alternate world's date in the story? 200.106.185.250 06:51, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

You can't go with the year 1631, the first recorded in Europe was much earlier plus the same disease is thought to have returned to Europe every generation with varying degrees of intensity and fatality until the 1700s. It's kindof easy to tell around what time the anime takes place based on the technology available....[Ed's watch] remember the date in it... Lord Falcon 00:19, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

ED'S WATCH! *hits herself on the head* that's it! But my memory fails when it comes to photographic memory...I remember it says Oct 3 or so...does it says the year too? (if not, based on the technology, FMA takes place arround the same time when WWII should had began on the FMA alternate world, right? The non-military clothing is the only thing that fails on my theory ^^; ) 200.106.185.250 05:16, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

Actually this website says Al was born 1900. The watch had a date like "3 Oct 11", which fits perfectly. There's no television, just radios, and take a look at the cars too. Lord Falcon 05:24, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

Judging based on the military technology, I would guess that FMA happens somewhere between the mid-1920s and mid-1930s of our world. The military has (if I remember correctly) easily portable submachine guns and light tanks with small turrets. That doesn't mean that the year in the FMA universe falls in that timeframe, though.
If you want to carry this speculation further, what would have caused the fall of Christianity? Without having more insights into the writers' thoughts, I would guess that the world of FMA would have had a Renaissance period that went very differently from ours, and perhaps culminated in the discovery of alchemy. Total speculation, of course. --Tachikoma 16:31, 17 February 2006 (UTC)
We've hashed this out before- FMA can be dated pretty precisely. Shambala shows the Beer Hall putsch, and we know the relation of the putsch in years compared to the Elrics. This is a pretty reliable method since we have no reason to believe that there is any temporal disconnect between the two worlds. --maru (talk) contribs 19:10, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

So, everything except the clothing (watch at how winry dresses ^^; ) match our theories. I want to add some more things:

1. a quote at the end of episode 48 ("goodbye") in the preview for episode 49 ("the other side of the door"):

"on the night of dec. 2, in the year 1916 A.C; 16 demons covered the skies of London" (I may be wrong at the number of demons, just heard that quote on TV, but the year is precise)

2. I think the reason for the of christianity in the alternate world of FMA was probably the discovery of alchemy (by just hearing some quotes on the series and some of Ed's words on episode 1)

3. yeah, a different Renaissance could had been another reason why FMA's technology differs from the real world's technology arround 1920. Some of the things seemed more "advance", like the Automail and some cars in the series (spoiler! see archer's new and advamced automail which makes him look more like terminator)

that's all ^^ 200.106.185.250 05:07, 18 February 2006 (UTC)

Re 3: Yes. The opening of Shambala has a physicist facing off against the Elrics; he makes it clear physics was on the way up until alchemy succeeeded. --maru (talk) contribs 06:02, 18 February 2006 (UTC)
There is lots of bad stuff in Shambala and the opening is one of those things. The "physicist", his claims and his creation of nuclear weapons makes no sense at all. (Along with Alphonse's ability to transfer pieces of souls around, the "gate" as shown the film...etc.)The differences between the FMA world and the other world would seem to be most directly related to the creation of the Philosopher's Stone by Hoheinheim and Dante. The two of them manipulated the entire development of the FMA world from that point onward. There is lots left as yet unexplained about that 400 years. 69.144.103.34 09:13, 18 February 2006 (UTC)

"on the night of dec. 2, in the year 1916 A.D; 16 demons covered the skies of London" Lord Falcon 03:20, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

The story never points any direct relation between the time in both worlds. One could be 100 years ahead of the other one, or just have different timming, let's say 1.1 second in one world is equal to 1 second in the other. Going even further, that could be dynamic. In my belief, the second world is actually in the same universe but it's another world in another time of our current universe. Probably closer to get there going to the past, considering the time can be ciclical. --Cacumer 04:18, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
True, but we are never given any reason to think that the ratio or relationship is anything but your standard sci-fi parallel worlds with the 1:1 synching that implies. Indeed, given the parallels, we are given strong reasons to accept the time relationships at face value. --maru (talk) contribs 04:36, 8 March 2006 (UTC)
MOVIE SPOILER - The Beer Hall Putsch occurred in 1923. The article states that Ed was born in 1900 (in his world), but he says during the movie that he's 18, and it's stated he's only been in this world for 2 years, which would indeed make him 18. However, if there is an exact time-fit, then he would be 23 instead of 18. Continuity error, anyone? 213.94.132.252 12:35, 13 March 2006 (UTC)
The problem is the time distortion in the Gate. When Ed's soul first makes it to the other world, the year is 1916, during WWI, and Hohenhiem seems to have all ready established his presence in that world pretty well for just being sent there a few days earlier (how else would General Churchill know him?). When Ed enters the other world again with his entire body later that day, the year is then 1921--5 years in the other world went by in a matter of hours in Ed's world, if even that! The exact mechanics of this time difference are unknown, but I would argue that the reason "two years" went by before Eckart and Al opened the portal between both worlds in the movie is because it just so happened that it was exactly two years later in both worlds when, via the appropriate transmutation circles, the Gate was opened. But all things considered, I don't think Ed's age is a continuinity error because of the usual time distortion in the Gate that placed him years ahead of his own time in our world. Prototime 16:44, 14 March 2006 (UTC)
I agree with the idea that time does not synch up properly, at least with respect to jumping between worlds via the gate; but, I think it is fair to say that the universes are parallel, only diverging because of the rise of alchemy in place of physics in Ed's home world. What I think we are forgetting, though, is that Ed's home world uses a different dating system than the Christian, as noted by the previously mentioned letter (so just because the watch suggests "11," doesn't mean we can assume a Christian date interpretation such as 1911). Thus, it is a bit useless to attempt to pin a Christian date on the events of Al's home world, as we have no touchstone due to the gate's time warping. Teapot 18:52, 14 May 2006 (UTC)
You're right, Amestris doesn't even use the Christian dating system... but the dating system that they do use doesn't seem very far off at all. In the first episode, during the scene where Edward and Alphonse try to transmute their mother, it says on the screen: "Continental Calendar February 1910" / "Resembool Villlage" / "Older Brother 11" "Younger Brother 12." So it's 1910 in Amestris... and then at least four years later, in the series, we find out that it's 1916 in our world. Maybe the dating systems are the same, but the people in Amestris don't relate it to the birth of Christ. Maybe they're off by a couple of years... I don't know. --Wikivader 01:35, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

Last Episode Clarification

Can someone explain to me why Edward was writing funny at the end - with his left arm alone and letting his right just sit there. Was it not working in this new world. And also was it me or did it look like it wasn't made of metal? and also when i tuned in the middle of an episode there was a girl with the same automail as ed and she and ed were practicing fighting. Im not sure if this was the movie or what. But if its a new-er episode then wouldnt that make there be a 3rd or possibly a fourth season, because Episode 51 was a corny way to end it.

Well thats not the end of the seris... most anime's have a at least 52 episodes before it ends (there are some exceptions like samurai champloo tho) the anime had 51 episodes but the movie acts as the 52nd episode the story continues with ed and Al trying to return to each other...and about his right arm... i also noticed that it didnt work... remember when he was walking out of the door when he was leaving he had a suitcase in his left arm so he kinda pushed the door open with his shoulder... i dont really know... maybe that was all the writers could think of since he couldnt get his REAL limbs back because Wrath has them... thats a good question can anyone help us out?!?... about that girl... during the course of the anime many people appeared with some kind of variation of automail... maybe that was a coincidence... i need help answering that one too... but i would love for a few more seasons... i dont want to see this anime end... but oh yeah the story is a lot longer in the manga so read that too!! Scarredmanoftheeast 16:54, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

Well, let's see if I can answer any of your questions. First of all, wasn't Ed's arm screwed up since before he killed Sloth? Wrath ripped part of it off, and Ed replaced the automail hand by transmuting a few rifles to his automail (which explains how he shot at Lust with his automail later). Since then, he didn't really have a good automail hand -- just a crummy one that didn't move around a lot.
And either way, I don't think he had any of the automail that Winry built, when he crossed over to the other side of the Gate. He probably landed there with no limbs at all. Minor spoiler, here, but in the movie, he is not using Automail, but prosthetics that his father built for him. I think they are made of metal, but they're covered with fake skin to make them look real. It's kind of strange, though, because the prosthetics he uses in the movie do seem really advanced... they move and everything, but they aren't automail, and I don't think they had such advanced prosthetics in the 1920s. Maybe it's because Hohenheim already knew a lot about Automail, from the time he spent in Amestris.
Also, the other girl with the automail was probably Paninya, from Episode 26. I think she has automail for her right arm and both legs. And Wrath does not have Ed's limbs anymore. Thanks to Dante, they were pulled to the other side of the gate, which is why Wrath has automail at the end of Episode 51. And finally, there will not be any more seasons. Episode 51 is the last episode, and there is only one movie. --Wikivader 19:02, 26 March 2006 (UTC)

yep my bad that was def. paninya... and wrath did lose eds limbs... but why wouldnt edward get his arm and leg if they are back in the gate... and i know that the movie is the end of the but i was just trying to be a wishful thinker... and Hohenheim couldnt have made eds prosthetics until after the end of episode 51 because Ed's arm is still auto mail and it wasnt working at all... Scarredmanoftheeast 21:06, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

One could assume Hohenheim and Ed could've pooled enough knowledge to hook up the new world's technology into the part of the automail that was still attached to Ed's nerve system, which would let them move and everything. Ed did get his original arm and leg back (briefly) but lost them again when pulling Al back (presumably as a cost along with the 4 years of memories from Al). KawasakiNinja 11:38, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Release dates

Hi, this is specifically at User:69.6.129.72 but could apply to other anonymous IPs: could you please explain your rationale for constantly changing release dates to dates that aren't included in the given official site? — Edward Z. Yang(Talk) 19:39, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

Volume 7 of the manga and the third novel were both released (in the U.S., that is) on May 2. I bought them that very day.

Hmm... where did you buy them? (can you show elsewhere on the web that they were released earlier than the official site states?) — Edward Z. Yang(Talk) 01:45, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

I bought them in person, at one of the Hastings in Amarillo, Texas. I was really suprised, too, because I had read that their release date was to be the 16th. I initially thought that perhaps that particular store simply jumped street, but I've spotted them at another Hastings and Barnes & Noble as well. I'm sorry, but I don't have any websites with the earlier release date. I haven't actually looked, since I already bought them. I do remember that at one point Amazon.com had the 2nd listed as their release date, though it now lists the 16th.

It looks like Barnes and Noble is selling them. If you must, say that they've been released by certain vendors (and link to them), but not by Viz officially. — Edward Z. Yang(Talk) 21:05, 10 May 2006 (UTC)
  • shrugs* I haven't changed them. It will be immaterial in four days, anyhow. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.62.58.51 (talk • contribs) .

I've noticed that the actual availability of the novel at some locals is not always the same as that listed on the Viz website. The same actually goes for the Funimation releases. For example: a recent convention I was at had both volume eight of the manga for sale and volume ten of the anime for sale (the anime coming directly from the Funimation booth), despite the date of release, and even the date of first publication listed inside the book is July 2006. Volume ten of the anime isn't listed for release until the end of June. Anyway, I went ahead and updated the manga info, bringing the manga's engilsh chapter name translations up to chapter 33, in case anyone's curious as to why the update is coming so early. — ctu2485(Talk) 22:23, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

  • nods* I consistently find FMA books before the listed release date. As noted above, I picked up volume 7 of the manga and the third novel two weeks early, on May 2nd. I picked up volume 8 of the manga (which is supposedly set for release this coming Tuesday) three weeks ago at a Borders in Plano, and I've seen it everywhere back here in the TX Panhandle. I do find, however, the the anime seems to stay on track, at least around here. Weirdly, though, the ninth anime volume was released on May 16th- two weeks late. It wasn't even listed in the store computers until then.

The Gate of Alchemy

At different times, I've noticed different things on top of the Gate of Alchemy. For example, when Hohenheim goes through to our world, the camera pans to a shot of a group of hands reaching for something. When Ed goes through, it looks like a group of people sitting around a table. Are the objects that appear on top of the Gate significant at all? Just wondering. - Krin 00:28, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

I think the people that were "reaching for something" when Hohenheim went through the gate were holding a child up in the air, echoing the way that Dante sent him to the gate in the first place. I'm not sure about any of the other Gate scenes, though. --Wikivader 14:17, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

description of Envy

This sentence from List of shapeshifters is a bit incoherent; can someone familiar with the series rewrite it accurately and coherently?

Envy from the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist was a failed transmutation, and became a monster who could change form in any way he desired. He is mostly depicted as turning into other humans that he has met before, and for his acknowledgement that he created the form he is mostly seen in.

--Jim Henry 16:27, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

The one thing that I would like to add to that is on www.fullmetalalchemist.com, it lists Envy as being "without gender." I would consider removing all the "he"s describing Envy and just call Envy an "it".--Chris25 06:23, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

Using 'he' as a generic pronoun for unspecified/unknown/without-gendered beings (isn't that a cumbersome way to put it) is a generally accepted practice. --TangentCube 15:37, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

"A generally accepted practice" it may be, but it's still patriarchal and presumptuous. 'He' is not a generic pronoun, for all that male pronouns are supposed to be all-inclusive and female pronouns female-exclusive. Ask anyone what gender a 'he' is, and they'll tell you male. Any claim otherwise is ridiculous. In this particular case, however, I think it's immaterial. While the official site does say that the homunculus Envy is without gender, the person Envy was supposed to be a transmutation of was male, and that is the form that Envy loathes and only relunctantly reveals as his "true" form.

Trivia

Can we kill the trivia section before it gets too long? Please? — Edward Z. Yang(Talk) 22:07, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

Is it just me, or does this make NO sense?
Within fandom, it was believed that Edward himself would become Pride the homonculus, after it was revealed that Ed died against Envy. Due to the thought of being brought back by all, many people believed that Al would attempt human Alchemy, he just revived him as he was the stone.

KawasakiNinja 11:42, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

It's not well-written, but I think that poster is basically trying to say that at one point fans speculated that Al would attempt a human transmutation to revive the dead Edward and create a new homunculus Ed, who would assume the homunculus name Pride. (And really, that could have been pretty awesome- having another storyline with regular Ed back from the other side of the Gate and a homunculus Ed.)

  • tangent* But even if Al did create a homunculus Ed, I don't think it would be the new Pride. The homunculi seem to be given their names in accordance with which names have become available, in the order that they become available. (I'm basing this off the manga, where Ling actually does become the new Greed. I have wondered before if there can be more than seven homunculi at a time. What would an eighth homunculus be called?) Pride has just died when Ed is killed, but Greed is the first available name, since Greed was the first of the now-dead homunculi to die (then Lust, then Sloth, then Pride). So if a homunculus version of Ed *were* to be created, he'd most probably be the new Greed- which is kind of ironic, since he killed the old Greed.

Unnecessary Spoilers?

People keep adding to Gate of Alchemy in the Terminology section, revealing that the other side of the gate is "our world" during World War I. Since this isn't known until episode 49 (out of 51), I don't think it's appropriate to mention it on this page. I know there's a spoiler warning, but we've purposely kept many of the homunculi off this page to avoid major spoilers, so I think this information should be removed as well. However, since I've already removed it once only to see it added by someone else, I think we need to discuss it. --Wikivader 14:22, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

If there is a nessecity to bring this up then it should be, but currently there is no point in giving this spoiler. The wiki page is more of a synopsis of the series than an informational page (imo). Personally I'd like to see more talks on philosophy and theme on various animes and non-anime shows/movies, but even that isn't very wiki-like. In the end I suppose I don't know what exactly I'd like to see on the wiki... KawasakiNinja 05:58, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Those extra OVAs...

I can't believe no one has properly mentioned these yet! What about those OVAs of the show that were released in Japan. There is that interactive episode, Alchemists Vs. Homunculi; the chibi parody that takes place after the movie; that one in the future where Ed is 100; and a fourth weird one which is live action has a not-so-much moving Al standing in the middle of city. Should they be mentioned. -- Evilgidgit 11:48, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

I have lived in Tokyo for the past three weeks and have seen these Extra OVAs. Seriously, people, these aren't just any ordinary OVAs. I cried, I laughed, and I cried some more. These OVAs are so well made it surprised me. I hope you all buy the DVD and treasure it forever.

Manga Release Information

I've noticed that the Manga section is becoming more and more "wordy." With the addition of more and more sentences added onto the opening paragraph of that section, the said section is becoming more of an eyesore than a source of information. Much of the information at the bottom doesn't seem to have a connection to the previous material. Also, media release information from what seems like random countries is making its way on. Perhaps this information should be moved to the blue info box or to a separate page, as it seems awkward to move from discussing the English and Japanese (original language) releases, to next talking about companies and release dates in Singapore and Poland. This information seems awkward and excessive for the main English language page, and I feel like it should either go somewhere else in the article, or be moved to another FMA article. Does anyone else have any thoughts before I try to change anything? (Ctu2485 23:26, 21 June 2006 (UTC))

Timeline?

Anyone make a new article outlining all the events in Fullmetal Alchemist in order? I'm working on a RP/Fanfic and I need to know what happens at what time. Thanks. --Heeroyuy135 05:09, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

I don't think it's necessary to have an entire page for that... We could just create a section on this page outlining the order of major events. But there's no reason to mention every single event that happens in the series... it should be mostly back-story related, such as when main characters were born, when Hohenheim created the stone, etc... that way, people can relate these events to the time frame of the actual series. --Wikivader 00:51, 30 July 2006 (UTC)
Update: I just went through the first few DVDs and picked out a couple of dates that I'm sure about. I don't know exactly when things happen later in the series, but these dates and ages are given to us in writing. I understand that some of these might be different in the Manga, but I'm going by the anime here. In the first episode of the anime, during the human transmutation scene, it presents the date as "Continental Calendar February 1910" -- the other dates are based around this.
1899 -- Ed is born.
1900 -- Al is born.
1905 -- Ed is 6 and Al is 5. They use alchemy for the first time.
1910 -- Ed is 11 and Al is 10. In February, they attempt to transmute their mother. On October 3, they burn down their home and leave Resembool.
1911 -- Alicia Hughes is born on Ed's 12th birthday. Ed passes the alchemy exam.
1914 -- Ed is 15, and Al is 14. They arrive in Lior. Later that year, they also return to Resembool after being gone for 4 years.
From that point on, the events in the series are pretty packed together, although I think one or two years do pass between Ed's arrival in Lior and the end of the series. So, the "December 2, 1916 AD" date in London referenced at the end of the series might actually match up with the "Continental Calendar 1916" in Amestris, making the dating systems the same. I'll have to look into it a bit more. I'll also try to pinpoint a date for the death of Winry's parents, which is somewhere between 1905 and 1910, but it's probably just 1905. --Wikivader 02:06, 30 July 2006 (UTC)
I would love for there to be an article on timelines, though it would be very complicated -- for one thing, the manga timelines is different from the anime timelines. **SPOILERS FOR EPISODES 50-51 /MOVIE** Plus there is a weird discrepancy between the timelines on either side of the Gate. It's 1916 when Ed first crosses over to the Gate, but time seems to move differently in our world -- Hohenheim has clearly been there for some time since Dante threw him over there, oh, roughly a few hours before Ed goes through. No more than a day. And when he goes through the second time, it had to be 1920 at the earliest. I instigated a discussion about this in on the fm_alchemist community, so if anyone wants to use it to help build an anime timeline, be my guest, and I'd love to help: http://community.livejournal.com/fm_alchemist/4828426.html Several corrections were made to my rough timeline in the comments which should be observed. However, this is almost all fan speculation, so I'm not sure it's still not entirely right. Grianne 04:13, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
I only noticed two problems with the show's chronology. First, it's 1916 on Earth when Ed arrives from Amestris the first time, and if you pay attention to how much time passes since 1914 in Amestris, it doesn't seem like it could actually be two years. We know that Edward does turn 16 (at the same time that Alicia turns 4), so it's probably 1915 in that episode -- but I don't see how a year could have passed between that episode and the end of the series. So, either Earth's timeline is only a year different than the timeline in Amestris, or I've miscounted the years, and they're actually identical -- which is strange -- why would a dating system based on the birth of Christ be so foreign to them if it's the same one that they use, or only off by a year?
The other problem is the one that you mentioned -- Edward goes across the gate again, not long after the first time, and then we find out that it's 1921 on Earth. But maybe that isn't a discrepancy at all. I think that Edward actually arrived on Earth in 1916, the second time, but spent five years there... because by the time they show the "Munich 1921" screen, and Edward talking to his father, he seems to have been there for quite some time.
And yes, the Manga seems to be off by a year, but that isn't the only difference in storylines. Different events happen, so we would need two timelines anyway. --Wikivader 16:09, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
The reason for the discrepancy in years between the manga and the anime is because BONES rearranged events in the anime. For example, in the manga Ed's watch reads "Don't Forget 3.Oct.11" instead of "3.Oct.10" -- this is because in the manga Ed and Al leave Risembool without having burnt their house, got to Central for one year to study and earn Ed's state certification, and then Ed returns in 1911 and burns the house down. BONES compressed that part of the story (it makes sense, really) as well as shifting a lot of events that takes place when Ed is 15/16 in the manga (like Tucker and Nina) and have it take place in the flashback.
About the other side of the gate -- I'm pretty positive Ed didn't arrive back in our world in 1916. Obviously there is no definitive way to prove it, but there is this much: in the Kids OVA, it's stated that Ed has turn 100 in the year 2005 in our world. Now, in his world, he was born in 1898. Clearly that doesn't work. The only way he could turn 100 in 2005 is if he was 16 in 1921 (and therefore had a "birth year" of 1905 in our world). Which means that he had to have come out of the Gate the second time in 1921, if he's 16 at the end of the anime. Also, I would say you are correct about the years in Ed's world, it doesn't match up. I actually don't think that it's 1916 in Ed's world at the end of the series, I think it's still 1915, despite what date it is when Ed appears in London. My reasoning for this is the fact that in Conqueror of Shamballa, it's supposed to be 1917 on that side of the gate (according to the August issue of Newtype, anyway, and I'm presuming they got their info from BONES) and two years have passed for Alphonse.
The conclusion we came to on the fm_alchemist community was that the Gate spits people out whenever it pleases. There isn't really any other way to rationalize it. For one thing, when Ed arrives in our world, Hohenheim's been there long enough to become an advisor to Churchill and hook up with Alter!Ed, but Dante had only thrown him through the gate no more than a day before in Ed's world. I tried to imagine that maybe time in our world is meant to move faster than in Ed's world, but the same amount of time appears to have passed for both Ed and Al between the end of the series and the beginning of the movie (1915-1917 and 1921-1923). Furthermore, time doesn't move very differently when Ed and Dietrich are popping back and forth between worlds during the climax of the movie. So, apparently it's random.
This is why I said a timeline is complicated. ;) I wish BONES would just release one ... I like to think there is actually a method to the madness, though maybe they are just as confused as we are about their creation. Grianne 03:26, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Wrong dates

Ummmm.... The dates on the page say book 8 will be released by july 18, 2006, and it says that on the VIZ media site. The funny thing is, i got volume 8 on june 26, 2006. IN AMERICA!!!!!! wow,

Street dates are broken/ignored all the time; that doesn't make them wrong. -- TangentCube 18:23, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
But the thing is, it wasnt a street date. it says on the official Viz media page that volume 8 was released on july 19. or somewhere aroud that date. look for the link on the page.....
That's a textbook example of a street date. —TangentCube -c -t 07:15, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

gas?

hohenheim told elric that people use gas to kill people in the "real world" and it's an obvious reference to world war 2, is it not?

but the year is supposed to be 1921 so that has yet to happen, right?

sorry if you've already covered this or if i've missed something

--anon

No. World War I. See Poison gas in World War I. --maru (talk) contribs 13:09, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

Seperate character pages

I think we need seperate pages for characters such as Edward Elric, anybody else agree? A series with only 26 episodes, 2 movies, even has its characters with their own pages. I think I'm going to move Edward Elric to make him his own page.

Good call. The manga hasn't even finished yet, you could clearly expand the sections far more than they are now. (Wait, why am I even here? I haven't edited anything FMA related for months.) --tjstrf 12:18, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

Opening prologues

To whoever edited the information about the opening prologues, is there documentation somewhere that Al's Seiyuu did the final prologue in the Japanese dub? Because it always sounded like Romi Paku to me! Her voice is pitched a little higher than it is when she usually voices Ed, but it definitely does not sound like Al. I could be wrong of course. Grianne 04:06, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

Alphonse

I just watched an awesome video on YouTube, click here to see a Tribute to Alphonse Elric. --Yancyfry jr

Please don't link to copyright violations. -- TangentCube -c 06:13, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

"Forged" Steel?

Is there any particular reason why the title is translated on this page as "Alchemist of Forged Steel"? Hagane simply means "steel" [1], and forging just refers to the process of converting high-carbon pig iron to steel/wrought iron, or shaping it with heat. I changed it earlier, and it's been changed back, so I thought I'd point that out. -- HKMARKS 05:50, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

I'd heard somewhere that Arakawa specifically wanted 'hagane' translated to 'fullmetal', which I would guess was to evoke a different meaning than simply 'steel'; however, I can't think of (or find) a source to corroborate this, so... -- TangentCube -c 06:03, 8 August 2006 (UTC)
That still doesn't really explain it. Fullmetal comes from full metal jacket bullets and Full Metal Jacket the movie, and it has nothing to do with forging steel. It just sounds cool... and perhaps she wanted to express that he could control more metals than just steel, or was "fully" made of metal (for the joke of Alphonse being mistaken for the Fullmetal Alchemist). I guess. "alchemist of forged steel" has only 5 (14) Google results and every one of them is ripped from this page. "alchemist of steel" has over 1000. - HKMARKS 06:14, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

Fan Sites

What kind of site can make it into a "fan site" listing? I'm all for a small list of sites, but I feel it's way too easy, and unnoticeable, if some Joe walks up and adds his Yahoo! GeoCities site that contains screenshots and three sentences of information. What can go on the list and what cannot? I don't believe any of us wants a list of sites like that. JDCAce 07:45, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, I guess that's for us to decide ourselves. I don't see any guidelines for it. Obviously, a Geocities site with two screenshots and a few words isn't good enough. If it has a decent amount of information beyond what's already written in the article or on other linked fansites, then it's a good site to list. I guess that's what's important, really -- the site should have something to add. There's no reason to link to a fansite that only consists of the same information that's on another fansite that we already linked to. Wikipedia is for providing information, not advertising Joe's webpage :-) --Wikivader 02:52, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

Similarities

this would be mainly aimed at those who have read the bonus mangas at the ends of volume 8, and FMA profiles manga. (or if you have played fullmetal alchemist and the broken angel) Has anyone besides me noticed that even though they arent reffered to by the sam name, has anyone noticed the similarities between Jude and Professor Wilheim

Vandalism

I gotta type on an onscreen keyboard (terribly hard), so I'll make it short:article vandalised: me suck at editing, me erased parts someone fixy please. Done by some douche by the name of "Ryodin".EAB 01:40, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

Fixed. —TangentCube /c /t  02:06, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
And, in the future, if you see something like this, you can revert the changes fairly easily. Just remember to get a good version. —TangentCube /c /t  02:09, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
I'm a newb, thanksEAB 22:07, 9 October 2006 (UTC)