I posted this thread , because i wanted to know the difference on the two. I'm watching Brotherhood first , this is my first time. I heard that the original series was a lot different to brotherhood. Can anybody tell me the differences?
Without trying to spoil anything I'll give you a few of the major differences. Actually both series start of relatively the same, it's after the episode with Shou Tucker that they set off in different directions fully(Shou being much more plot influential in the first anime). There is a major difference in how homunculus are born, and which ones appear. Example being Sloth, who is a major antagonist in the first, not so much in brotherhood. Mustang is more of a goof in the original anime, does more ass kicking in brotherhood. But he's awesome in both. In my opinion brotherhood had a much more satisfying ending, the original had a movie added on to try and rap it up(and really was just more confusing). So yeah there's some differences for ya, others being the animation is more colorful in brotherhood and it has more action(especially climax wise). Edit: Also what Aqua said, they were still writing the manga when FMA came out, so they made their own story after a point. Brotherhood follows the manga very closely.
literally, Brotherhood follows the manga, and FMA takes a bit off track around halfway through the series and goes off on its own
I would recommend you watch FMA first and Brotherhood second. Otherwise you probably won't appreciate the first one. Which is a shame, because it is magnificent in its own right. A few series have done this: When the anime catches up to the manga, instead of launching twenty filler arcs or making the episodes run at a fourth their normal speed, sometimes the writers will continue the story in a different direction. That's what FMA does. Both series are about the same up to the appearance and battles with Greed, at which point the first veers off and Brotherhood stays the course. The first series is kind of... somber after the split. Depressing, maybe. Brotherhood is kind of like Dynasty Warriors: The Alternate-Timeline German Anime. Lots of big burly angry men shouting and fighting each other and people cutting tanks in half and lightning and explosions and GRARRR. The first FMA is a little more restrained and serious most of the time. If you do watch the first series, though, watch the movie afterward. It is the legitimate (and much more satisfying) conclusion to the series.
The difference is the ending and how most homonculous die... Plus a bunch of stuff but I can't say because of spoilerness D: if you're watching brotherhood there's no need to watch the other one because some episodes repeat... plus brotherhood is a lot closer to the manga. Also Whinry and Edward get closer together in brotherhood so you have the cute little ending lol...
Objection! While I do love brotherhood, the first series has it's moments. Exhibit A: Spoiler [video=youtube;_WKPH_8PwFA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WKPH_8PwFA[/video] Roy's antics are reason enough to watch the first anime.
xD yeah it's so true... But I mean story wise without the epic Mustangness and a couple amazing twists with lust n teacher n a bunch of stuff but I prefer brotherhood e.e'
Looks as if I'll have to watch Fullmetal Alchemist before watching Brotherhood then, I didn't quite understand the different either, and I wasn't exactly sure what was going on. To be honest, I thought Brotherhood was some sort of sequel to Fullmetal Alchemist, and I haven't even finished the first series at all. -_-'
Pshhh, that's almost as insane as the idea of Zeppelins. To be honest I was just as confused when I first got into the series. Now I've just got started reading the Manga.
I was a few episodes in before I had realized what brotherhood was. At the Pilot I was going "What is this? A prequel? A parallel story?" and got really frustrated that I was seeing the same basic episodes again. I actually figured out what it was on accident. I was discussing FMA with a friend who was reading the manga and it became apparent rather quickly we were having two entirely different discussions. Decided to look up stuff on the manga and found out that the manga plotline is what Brotherhood was doing. But anyway, Sforzato had a good discription with the first being more intellectual and Brotherhood being more actiony. Don't get me wrong, both animes have quite a bit of both. But generally that is how it goes.
Haha, no no, not at all. If you've ever seen the two Hellsing series (one of which is unfinished), it's a bit like that. They follow the same structure to a certain point, then one just veers off while the next one stays true to the now-finished manga. Well... I dunno if I'd say that. Both are highly visceral and often dark and depressing, and they both tackle intellectual concepts. The first series focuses on psychology while Brotherhood incorporates high mythological symbols; very Western-vs.-Eastern in that respect. Brotherhood also plays up the raw power and determination of most of the cast, to meet the standard set by the manga. The original series cast begins to seem very weak despite their triumphs, which does humanize them more in some ways. I love both for different reasons. I guess it's a subject that can be discussed at length. But I'd say you're more likely to appreciate the first series if you watch it first. Idk, different strokes and all that. It's also shorter, which is nice. But, again, if you watch the first series, watch Conqueror of Shamballa when you're finished. It's the FMA equivalent to End of Evangelion except without the pointless deus ex machina tragic ending.
Brotherhood starts out rushing through some of the arcs that were at the beginning of the first series, but then after that, it goes on a completely different tangent (that, personally, I like better) As has already been said, this series is more serious than its' predecessor. Some of the homunculi from the first series aren't the same homunculi in this one and there are some completely new characters. There's also not as much focus on Scar and his back story. Like most people though, I like Brotherhood better than the first.
My favorite difference is that Greed the 2nd is in Brotherhood. Also, Brotherhood follows the Manga more closely, but still manages to introduce several original characters and get rid of some parts (Yoki's first meeting with Ed isn't shown.)
I know its already been explained, but I just love to talk about FMA. -- Fullmetal Alchemist (2003 anime) follows its on course. The story line ends differently. Some of the homunculus are different. Like Wrath, Sloth, Greed (Sorta), and Pride. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Follows the manga. It is funnier (In my opinion) and a longer series then the 1st. Also some characters that don't appear in the old one are in this one.
