Full Metal Alchemist is the gem of all mutation stories.  This is the tale of Elric brothers' (Edward and Alphonse) journey to regain their proper forms.   The world of FMA is based on Earth (is the opposite hand of Earth in most respects and is actually linked to Earth through "Gates" which you will learn about if you are lucky enough to watch FMA) but instead of being heavy into mechanism and stuff like that its more into Alchemy or "Magic"  There is some mechanism...they recreate body parts of of mechanisms...but still just about everything is powered somehow by magic.

The story circles around the Elric brothers.  Edward is between 12-15 years during the story's arc, he has the most magic ability and doesn't need to draw any symbols to do magic...all he has to do is clap his hands together...er...or something like that (it's been a while since I saw the series....sorry).  Do to performing forbidden alchemy Edward has a mechanized arm and leg...he lost his real limbs to the gate.  Alphonse is the little brother, he's around ten years old (if his voice is any indication...Kawaii!), and Alphonse lost his whole body.  What?  That's right...Alphonse lost his entire body to the gate that took Edward's arm and leg.  Edward was able to save his little brother by sealing his soul into an old suit of armor.  Apparently they kept old armor around as mementos or something????

Anyway, to restore there bodies Ed and Al search for the philosophers stone (I think...this is from memory...whaaaaa!), which Ed believes has the power to restore them.  To find the philosophers stone Ed has to join the Alchemist Arm...This is where he gets the name of the Full Metal Alchemist.  Cool neh?

This story has a lot of drop dead laughing moments...but it is also full of moments of utter seriousness, moments to cry...moments to scream...moments to hope and beg...and moments to just flop back and say WTF just happened?

Episodes - 56 (I think)

It will, quite litterally boggle the mind.

The art is exceptional, the imagery is great, the fight scenes are intense and the characters well designed.  It took a bit to warm to the characters at first because I prefer a prettier profile in a boy (so speak a yaoi-girl), but the story was just so powerful that I quickly looked past that and learned to see the beauty of the characters despite my own inclinations. 

Great sound, definitely went with the series.  (I'm not a sound specialist...it either goes or it doesn't)

The Characters were all quite well done, well rounded and fully plotted.  Each other them had their own secret pain and their own secret joy.  Even the bad guys were complete characters.

I really liked FMA.  I wasn't at first sure I would, after all it isn't exactly my thing.  Not Yaoi enough...not enough pretty boys.  The character's faces are a little too round not sharp and pretty enough...but damn...I loved this series.  It is definitely a keeper!

9.5