There are many qualities that make for a fan-favorite anime. Even with the variety of tastes and the just-as-large variety of genres, some series manage to check all the boxes and rise above to make it to the top of anyone’s list. Despite the growing list of shonen heavy hitters that dominate in popularity, the highest rated series anime on IMDB — with an average score of 9.1 — is one that’s stood the test of time, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has garnered widespread critical praise and for good reason. It succeeds where the first anime didn’t — in being a faithful adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s bestselling manga — and achieves a level of depth in story that remains memorable even 12 years after its conclusion. The anime combines the action-adventure to be expected of shonen with complex characters, engaging political history and intrigue, and accessible philosophical thought. For anyone unfamiliar with the series and its legacy, now’s the time to look back at what makes it so great — and why it’s deserving of the number one spot on IMDB.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the second anime series based on Hiromu Arakawa’s manga Fullmetal Alchemist. The story follows Edward and Alphonse Elric, two young alchemists who commit the ultimate taboo in alchemy: human transmutation. In an effort to bring their mother back to life, Ed loses an arm and a leg and Alphonse his whole body. With Al’s soul now bound to a suit of armor, and Ed outfitted with automail and now a dog of the military, the brothers set out to uncover alchemy’s greatest secret to get their bodies back: the Philosopher’s Stone. While being part of the military gives them the access they need to achieve their goal, it also sees them embroiled in the traumas of warfare and an insidious plot for power that has been painstakingly crafted since long before their lifetimes.
The FMA:B anime debuted in 2009, just five years after the conclusion of the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime. While its predecessor deviated from the manga partway through, Brotherhood remained faithful and carried through the intensity of revelations that would lead to the series’ epic climax. The unraveling of the Homunculi’s plans goes hand in hand with the world-building, and Brotherhood allowed the impact of the villains’ actions to carry the weight they deserved. Touching on topics like survivor’s guilt, occupation and the lasting effects of war, Brotherhood effectively creates a fast-paced action story that doesn’t shy away from emotionally resonant moments.
A major appealing aspect for FMA:B is its cast of well-developed and endearing characters. Brotherhood introduced characters omitted from the original series, while also giving more development to existing ones to better flesh out the story. Every character is uniquely designed and individual, and so many of them lend to tender moments that emphasize the importance of family, found or otherwise, and healing from the past.
For all the devastation they have caused, even the Homonculi are so intricately concocted that their final moments can often be remembered both for bombastic action and visceral moments of humanity. Brotherhood, and truly Fullmetal Alchemist as a whole, also features plenty of engaging and important female characters who have agency and play large roles in the story. Whether they’re helping the Elrics directly or not, characters like Winry, Hawkeye, Ross, Izumi and Olivier are allowed to shine with their own strengths and never once fall back to being set pieces.
The social problems central to the plot’s development also help drive Brotherhood‘s wide-ranging appeal. Military violence, political greed, stolen land and the destruction of stability are touchstones for many groups in history. The depictions of the way all this affects the characters over the course of the anime is genuine, with the resulting character development remaining consistent throughout.
Despite the relatively large cast, Brotherhood‘s story is concise and doesn’t falter. Even in episodes that are lighter on action, there’s always something key that is being revealed to propel the story forward. Brotherhood may make heavy use of symbolism and somewhat complicated subjects, but it successfully avoids being convoluted or long-winded in its storytelling.
Fans of the series will have an endless list of reasons for why Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is so great. It’s exciting, contemplative and well-crafted while the characters and their drive are memorable and heartfelt. The Elrics’ ultimate goal and all that it uncovers is a nonstop, riveting ride that always delivers. In more ways than one, it’s an anime that has stood the test of time, making its reign at the top of IMDB and beyond well-deserved.