Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is widely regarded as one of the greatest anime has ever been made. Praised for its good plot and engaging characters, it has become the prime recommendation for old and new fans of anime. But more and more people seem to be overlooking one vital part of this anime’s universe, which is the original 2003 adaptation, Fullmetal Alchemist. The majority of anime fans say Brotherhood is the only version of Fullmetal Alchemist worth viewing. That does a disservice to what makes the Fullmetal Alchemist universe special.
While Brotherhood provides a more extensive translation of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga, the original 2003 anime took a whole different route. The 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist started before the manga was finished, and when all the available manga chapters had been adapted, the anime continued by creating its own storyline. That sounds horrible to some, but the anime ended up doing something amazing. Fullmetal Alchemist built the characters into deeper, more emotional ones. The anime also asked tougher questions and left viewers with a lot to think about. Watching only Brotherhood means missing out on half of what makes Fullmetal Alchemist so powerful.
FMA: Brotherhood Is Great, But It Doesn't Provide the Whole Picture
Brotherhood Moves a Little Too Fast
There’s no denying that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a masterclass in adaptation. The anime follows the manga very closely, and tells the full story, benefitting from having the entire story completed before it even began. The animation looks better, and the fights are bigger. The show moves quickly from one major event to the next. Every episode pushes the story forward and that’s one reason it’s so popular.
However, it’s exactly because Brotherhood is so efficient that it leaves little room for emotional detours or extended self-reflection. That fast pace comes with a cost. Brotherhood doesn’t spend much time on slow, quiet moments. Some characters don’t get as much development. Moments of grief are acknowledged but often rushed through in service of the next major conflict. The early episodes especially skip over a lot, expecting fans to already know the story.
The 2003 Version Gave Fullmetal Alchemist Time to Breathe
The original Fullmetal Alchemist anime began broadcasting before the manga was completed. Rather than wasting time and adding filler episodes or halting production, the creators took a bold path of going off track from the original material. They slowed things down and focused on how the characters felt. This choice gave rise to a darker, more melancholic version of Edward and Alphonse’s journey. Viewers got to spend more time with each character, learning what made them tick.
Where Brotherhood often frames its conflicts in terms of clear good vs. evil, the 2003 series thrives in uncertainty. Characters are allowed to fail and consequences linger for longer. This anime also shows how hard it is to deal with loss and guilt. The 2003 series asks tough questions, like: What if trying to fix something just makes it worse? What if some things can’t be fixed at all? These aren’t easy ideas, and they make the story feel more real.
FMA & Brotherhood Present Different Messages With Different Emotions
Brotherhood Believes in Equivalent Exchange, While the 2003 Version Asks Whether Life is Fair
Both shows talk about the same big idea: the Law of Equivalent Exchange. That means nothing can be gained without giving something in return. In Brotherhood, this rule makes sense. The characters lose things, but they also grow stronger. And in the end, their hard work pays off. However, the 2003 anime questions that law and suggests that loss isn’t always balanced, because the universe may not always operate under fair rules.
This split is what gives the 2003 series its unique flavor. The anime doesn’t offer neat resolutions or victories. Instead, it presents a world where characters must live with their mistakes, not simply overcome them. Sometimes people suffer for no reason, and other times, the price is too high. In this version, the Elric brothers don’t get a happy ending, but they get a real one. That doesn’t mean the story is hopeless, it just means it’s more complicated
The Elrics Are More Fragile in Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
Both Fullmetal Alchemist series rely on the bond of Edward and Alphonse. The two brothers care deeply about one another and would do anything to fix their mistakes. But in Brotherhood, their journey feels more like a heroic mission. They fight their way toward a goal, and they grow stronger as they go.
In the 2003 anime, their journey feels like a struggle. The brothers are desperate and haunted by guilt. Their hope is not a virtue but a coping mechanism for them. They blame themselves for what happened to their mother and themselves. They are perpetually lost and unsure, and this makes their bond feel more fragile and touching. Their love for each other shines brightest when everything feels hopeless.
The Villains Are Totally Different
The Homunculi Are Monsters in FMA: Brotherhood and Tragic Victims in Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
Because Brotherhood follows the manga, it replaces the 2003 anime’s original antagonists, Wrath and Dante, with the manga’s true final villains, Father and the Seven Deadly Sins in their manga-accurate forms. Father wants to become a god and uses the Homunculi to help himself, becoming a big, world-ending threat. The battles are exciting, and everything leads to one huge final showdown. While Father is an effective villain, he is a distant, almost abstract threat.
On the other hand, Dante is intimate and unsettling. Her motivations are tied to a warped obsession with immortality, and her manipulations hit closer to home. Dante is not trying to destroy the world: she just wants to live forever, no matter who gets hurt. She’s sneaky, clever and much more personal. Her plans involve people’s feelings and fears. Similarly, the 2003 version’s interpretation of Wrath is deeply personal. Instead of being a homunculus created by Father, he is Izumi Curtis’s failed human transmutation, made from the remains of her lost child. This makes his presence in the story quite painful.
Nina’s Story Hurts More in FMA (2003) as Well
One of the darkest moments in Fullmetal Alchemist is the horrible transmutation of Nina Tucker. While this is portrayed in both series, the 2003 anime stretches the story out over a few episodes, so the terror has a chance to set in. Viewers see Nina’s life before everything goes wrong. Shou Tucker isn’t just a villain, he’s a broken man clinging to relevance. His slow descent into madness feels tragically believable. Viewers also get to see how much this event affects Ed and Al afterward.
In Brotherhood, the same story is told quickly. It’s still sad, but the impact doesn’t last as long. This makes sense for returning fans but flattens the impact for newcomers. The show quickly moves on to the next battle. In the 2003 version, the sadness sticks. It becomes a turning point, showing how dangerous alchemy can be and how some wounds never heal.
Watching Just One Version of Fullmetal Alchemist Misses the Point
The Fullmetal Alchemist Story Needs Both Versions
Some people say Brotherhood is better, so there’s no need to watch both. But that’s like eating dessert without dinner. It’s fun and sweet, but it’s still an incomplete meal. Both versions tell different sides of the same story. Brotherhood is an exciting adventure. The 2003 anime may be heavier and harder to swallow, but it stays with viewers longer. Some fans also skip the 2003 anime because they think it doesn’t have an ending, but that’s not true. The story ends in the movie Conqueror of Shamballa. This film wraps up the Elric brothers’ story well.
This may not be a perfect ending, and it’s not neat or cheerful, but it fits the world of the 2003 series. This version of the anime gives the characters closure. Together, the two shows form a complete picture. One version brings action and resolution, while the other brings emotion and reflection. Fans who watch both versions will understand the full cost of alchemy. Skipping the 2003 anime means missing out on the depth that makes the Elric brothers’ story so powerful. Fullmetal Alchemist isn’t just an anime; it’s two stories with two hearts. Watching just Brotherhood means missing out on half the reason people fell in love with these characters in the first place. The 2003 series may not have followed the manga, but it followed something just as important: the emotional truth of what it means to lose and to try again. Even if most fans have a clear favorite, both shows deserve to be seen and remembered.
