Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Heavy Metal


Alchemy stands by one major rule: equivalent exchange.

Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric spent their life raised by their mother. Their father is a well-respected alchemist who hasn't been home in years. After their mother dies, the young boys (who have studied alchemy since they began reading) decide to break the taboo on human alchemy and bring her back. After much studying and gathering of ingredients, everything seems to work well. That is when younger brother Alphonse loses his body and Edward's left leg is taken from him. In a last moment effort to save his brother, Ed binds Al's soul to a nearby suit of armor but gives up his right arm in the effort. Equivalent exchange indeed.

Guilt-ridden, Edward is determined to return his brother's soul to his body. Alphonse would like to see his brother whole again. Both still miss their mother. A childhood friend of the boys, Winrey, creates Auto-Mail replacement limbs for Edward. After 2 years, they have begun a search for the most potent device in alchemy... the Philosopher's Stone. To do so, Edward has joined the military as a state alchemist to get his hands on the best information available on finding the item. Ed becomes the youngest person to pass the nationally certified state exams and becomes known as the Fullmetal Alchemist (which causes a lot of confusion because his brother is... all metal.) However, they aren't the only ones looking for the powerful stone.

This is not a show for youngsters. It is a strong series mixing emotional family ties with action and fantasy. The show has been running in the U.S. for the last 2 years and is among the highest rated series on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.

5 comments:

RT said...

Oy! You and your cartoons, lol.

Have you ever seen Evil Sandmich's blog? He loves that stuff too.

Fred said...

Sheesh - and I thought Cartoon Network was Scooby-Doo 24/7. Looks like I have to check it out!

Susan said...

I love your blog. Mind if I link you?

Unknown said...

So Mart when are we gonna have the anime fest?

Martin said...

G.G.G. - Sure, link away.

RT - There are just some things you can't do with actors. Cutting off limbs and all gets expensive. Might have to check that blog.

Jenn - Cartoon Network but it's on pretty late. Do a Google search under Adult Swim.

Lloyd - We do have to plan that don't we. Hmmm, maybe an upcoming Friday night.

Vavoom - I do really like Hayao Miyazaki's films but have heard some so-so things about Howl's Moving Castle. Been thinking of catching it at the theater but then again... it's probably still cheaper to just buy it.