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鋼の錬金術師
Also known as Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
Two brothers seek what they lost in a world shaped by alchemy.
After a forbidden attempt to restore their family leaves Edward Elric with a metal arm and leg, and his younger brother Alphonse bound to a suit of armor, the brothers set out to recover what they lost. Edward becomes a State Alchemist, hoping that access to military research will help them find the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. Their search takes them across a country where alchemy shapes everyday life and state power, uncovering dangerous experiments, hidden agendas, and the human costs of ambition. As the brothers pursue answers, they confront enemies whose plans reach far beyond their personal quest. This 2003 adaptation begins from Hiromu Arakawa’s manga but develops its own storyline, giving its themes of sacrifice, guilt, and responsibility a distinct conclusion.
In a world where alchemy can transform matter according to strict principles, brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric attempt a forbidden act to bring their mother back. The experiment fails catastrophically, costing Edward limbs and leaving Alphonse without a body. Determined to undo the damage, they travel in search of the Philosopher’s Stone. Edward joins the state’s alchemical ranks to gain access to resources and research, while both brothers weigh the risks of using power to reverse a loss.
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Episodes 1-9
The Elric brothers travel as Edward pursues the Philosopher's Stone, hoping it can restore their bodies. Early cases reveal the risks and ethical limits of alchemy, while their encounters with State Alchemists and civilians expose the personal costs of the brothers' ambition. Their search soon points toward a wider mystery.
Episodes 10-16
The brothers meet allies and adversaries as they probe the Stone's origins and the military's involvement in alchemical research. Edward's clashes with fellow officers offer moments of levity, but accounts of the Ishbalan conflict reveal a brutal history that shapes the present. A devastating loss forces the brothers to reconsider their path.
Episodes 17-26
Following leads left by a former researcher, the brothers investigate the Philosopher's Stone and its human cost. Their search brings them into direct contact with the homunculi, whose ties to alchemy and the Elrics' past complicate the mission. As loyalties shift, the brothers face truths that challenge what they believe about their own creation.
Episodes 27-36
A journey back to the brothers' childhood brings their teacher, Izumi, into the story and revisits the principles behind their forbidden transmutation. Meanwhile, new dangers emerge at military headquarters, and Alphonse's identity becomes a target of doubt. The resulting confrontations connect personal questions to a larger plan unfolding around the homunculi.
Episodes 37-51
The brothers uncover the purpose behind the experiments and violence surrounding them, while old allies return as the conflict moves toward its center. Edward and Alphonse confront the homunculi and the forces manipulating the military. Their final choices test the bonds between them and redefine the meaning of sacrifice, alchemy, and home.
Every episode of Fullmetal Alchemist with its broadcast title and air date, grouped by arc. Watch links search Crunchyroll for the series.
Every character has a full profile covering their history, abilities and relationships.
The brothers' attempt to overcome death leaves lasting consequences. Their journey repeatedly asks whether a desired outcome can justify the harm caused in seeking it, especially when human lives become tools.
Alchemists, soldiers, and leaders must reckon with what they create or enable. The story connects private decisions to public consequences, emphasizing that good intentions cannot erase responsibility.
The Ishbalan conflict shapes the lives of survivors and military personnel long after the fighting. The series examines guilt, prejudice, and the difficulty of confronting institutions that benefit from violence.
Edward and Alphonse's loyalty sustains their search, but love does not make every sacrifice harmless. Their bond is tested as they learn to respect each other's choices and limits.
The 2003 series established Fullmetal Alchemist as a major anime title for audiences in Japan and abroad, pairing action-adventure storytelling with sustained questions about war, ethics, and the value of human life. Because the manga was still being published, the show eventually developed an original storyline rather than following the source throughout. That creative choice gives this series a distinct identity and makes it a notable example of an adaptation that took its own path while retaining the manga’s central characters and themes.
Content notes: Violence, Body horror, Death and grief, Military conflict, Human experimentation.
This 2003 fantasy-adventure anime follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who use alchemy in an effort to restore what they lost after a forbidden human transmutation. Their search draws them into a wider political and moral crisis.
The 2003 television series has 51 episodes. Its original Japanese broadcast began in 2003, and the story unfolds across that single run. Episode numbering or presentation may differ slightly between releases.
Yes. The 51-episode run reaches a deliberate conclusion to its own story, rather than stopping mid-plot. Its final episodes resolve major conflicts while emphasizing the consequences of the brothers’ choices and the series’ central themes.
For this series, start with episode one and watch through episode 51 in order. The story develops continuously, so watching episodes sequentially is the clearest way to follow the brothers’ journey and its shifting conflicts.
Alchemy is the practice of transforming matter according to rules that demand an equivalent exchange. Characters use it for everyday tasks and combat, but attempts to bypass its limits bring grave consequences, making it central to the series’ conflicts.
Suitability depends on the viewer. The series includes fantasy violence, disturbing imagery, bereavement, and serious ethical questions. Families may want to review an episode guide or watch together, since its adventurous tone sits alongside emotionally intense material.