Common Name: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Alternate Names: Fullmetal Alchemist (2009)
Score: 10/10, 5/5
Length: 65 episodes
Genre: Action, Adventure, Magic, Military, Drama
Summary: Alchemy is the science of equivalent exchange--the law that creation and alteration can only be achieved through loss. There are, however, some things that practitioners of the science cannot do, not because they aren't possible, but rather because the cost is too high. Edward and Alphonse Elric learned this truth at a young age when they attempted human transmutation to revive their deceased mother. Now the two brothers, one who lost his limbs and the other who is a soul bound to a suit of armor, search for the key that will return them to normal without costing anything in return--the legendary philosopher's stone.
Review: While it isn't a perfect adaptation of the original manga, mostly because it resists repeating the same beginning story of the first animated series and trims down the more fluffy parts of the manga, I think it's not unreasonable to call FMA: Brotherhood a perfect adaptation. It's tight, fun, and action-packed, exactly what you'd expect from the adaptation of a renowned series. What's best though is that the new content at the start feels like it fits in, giving a solid image of what to expect from the show from the start. That said, the show is a fantastic watch in its own right. It's great across the board in the places that count--characters, art, animation, music, plot, pacing, etc. From what I recall, the only faults that can be found in it are the same as those found in the manga, or are the result of some new stories added to an already established story.