Honestly, people keep saying the original FMA anime is better than Brotherhood and it drives me nuts

Tbh, I rewatched both last month and Brotherhood follows the manga almost perfectly after episode 12, while the 2003 version goes totally off the rails. It matters because the story and ending are completely different, and Brotherhood's finale is the one the author actually wrote. Has anyone else noticed this or am I just being picky?

4 comments

4 Comments

irisowens2mo ago

Used to think the 2003 version was the better one because it felt darker. But you're right about it going off the rails, and that ending just felt weird and sad. Brotherhood actually finishes the story it sets up, and that final fight is just so good. I guess I just needed to see them back to back to get it.

ivanbell2mo ago

Saw a video essay that broke down the 2003 ending perfectly. It pointed out how the gate sending Ed to our world basically broke its own rules. The show spent all that time on equivalent exchange, then just threw it out for a random, sad twist. Brotherhood's final fight with Father works because every character's journey, even the side ones, feeds into stopping him. That's why the ending hits harder, it actually means something.

ivanbell2mo ago

Honestly, that whole debate reminds me of the time I tried to explain the two endings to my dad.

patricia2622mo ago

The 2003 anime's original ending with the Gate of Truth and our world was a huge creative swing. It felt sad because it abandoned the manga's core theme of equivalent exchange for a bleaker, almost random punishment. Brotherhood sticking with the promised day and the final battle against Father pays off all the setup about the nation's people and their connections. Seeing them back to back, @irisowens, really shows how Brotherhood's ending feels earned, not just shocking.