Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist is a popular manga series and anime adaptation. It aired in the West on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, YTV, and AnimeCentral. Set in a parallel universe, the story follows the lives of Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers who have lost both their parents, and their quest to repair the damage done when as children they experimented with a forbidden form of alchemy. The disastrous consequences of trying to resurrect their dead mother using alchemy has eventually resulted in Edward losing an arm and a leg, and Alphonse's "soul" inhabiting only an empty suit of armor.

Edward is reliant on a fully functional prosthetic arm and leg, called automail, while the younger Alphonse's childish voice echoes out of the empty shell of the giant suit of armor. Through searching for an artifact known as the Philosopher's Stone, and working as State Alchemists for the needs of their nation Amestris, Edward and Alphonse seek to find a way to return their bodies to normal, and make peace with their past.http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2960

Written by Hiromu Arakawa, the Fullmetal Alchemist manga was originally serialized in Monthly Shonen Gangen magazine and later collected in graphic novels.http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=2565 The first volume was the top selling Manga in 2005. Other issues usually appear on Bookscan's weekly Overall Graphic Novel top 10 list.http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=2565 The Fullmetal Alchemist manga Viz Media was released in North America in May 2005.

The Fullmetal Alchemist franchise has enjoyed overwhelming success in Japan and overseas. It has resulted in successful sales of a huge range of merchandise including video games, clothing, jewelry and accessories, trading cards, stationery, action figures, posters, and more. http://www.tv.com/fullmetal-alchemist/show/32893/summary.html?tag=page_nav;mainhttp://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/fullmetal-alchemist-gn-1-3http://www.atoncer.com/collectibles/anime/full-metal-alchemist.htm

A second series called Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood premiered on April 5, 2009 on Japan's MBS and TBS networks, and the subtitled Japanese episodes are streamed by Funimation and Madman Entertainment. The English dubbed version began airing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim on February 14, 2010.http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-02-13/fullmetal-alchemist/brotherhood-premieres-on-u.s-tv

In 2005, the movie Conqueror of Shamballa was released in Japan, which carried on the plot from the ending of the original series. The movie takes place on Earth, as opposed to the Fullmetal Alchemist parallel universe. The movie and English DVD version were released in the United States in 2006, while the Blu-ray version was released in 2009.http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4176http://www.nt2099.com/J-ENT/news/blu-ray-dvd-reviews/anime-blu-ray-reviews/fullmetal-alchemist-the-movie-conqueror-of-shamballa-a-j-ent-anime-blu-ray-disc-review/

Fullmetal Alchemist DVDs are for sale online, and at many comic book stores and DVD retailers. DVDs available to buy include individual DVDs of the original series, half-season DVD sets of Season 1 and 2, and full-season DVD sets of Season 1 and 2.

DVD releases of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood began in Japan in 2009. English-dubbed DVD releases of Brotherhood are planned for mid-2010.

Several video games based on Fullmetal Alchemist have been created by Square Enix and Bandai, and released across multiple gaming platforms.

Other Merchandise based on Fullmetal Alchemist includes figurines, clothing, art, artbooks and guidebooks, jewellery and accessories.