Kate ([info]kate_nepveu) wrote,
@ 2005-07-05 20:47:00
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Entry tags:anime, fullmetal alchemist, manga, recommendations

Full Metal Alchemist query

Chad has Netflix'ed the anime of Full Metal Alchemist, and this weekend I saw that Borders had the first volume of the manga prominently displayed. Do people have suggestions about which I should experience first, bearing in mind that the only anime I've seen before is Princess Mononoke (and also that I may not have time to watch DVDs at the rate Chad might)?


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[info]desdenova
2005-07-06 01:04 am UTC (link)
Disclaimer: I have only read the first book of the manga, and seen about the first half of the anime, so take my opinion for what it's worth.

So far, I think I prefer the way the plot is structured in the anime--they dive into the main characters' history completely, rather than revealing little flashes of it in between larger chunks of "present-day" action-adventure. However, as I said, it's not really a fair comparison; since I've gone through so much more of the anime, I can more clearly see how it all fits together.

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[info]kate_nepveu
2005-07-06 03:19 am UTC (link)
Thanks. Opinion seems to be pretty strongly in favor of the anime. Now if only I can squeeze out the time for it . . .

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[info]coffeeandink
2005-07-06 01:11 am UTC (link)
See the anime first.

It's not all out in the US yet, just the first three discs. If you want more after that, I'll be happy to send you fansub AVIs. A lot of people become hooked on the series around episode 7 or 8, but for me it was episode 15, which isn't available yet.

I far prefer the Japanese voice actors to the Americans on this one.

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[info]coffeeandink
2005-07-06 01:13 am UTC (link)
I should offer an explanation, whoops. I've only read the first two volumes of the manga, which are all that are officially out, although scanlations are available for a few more volumes. And a lot of manga-first readers prefer the manga. I'm waiting for the storylines to diverge more (which they do around Episode 25 of the anime or Volume 4 of the manga, I think), but so far I think the restructuring the anime did vastly improved the build of the overall plot and made the characters much more complex and sympathetic much sooner.

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[info]kate_nepveu
2005-07-06 03:22 am UTC (link)
Complex and sympathetic characters are a good thing. Thanks.

I don't know if we'll want fansubs, but I'll keep it in mind. (And thinking of getting those to work on the DVD player attached to the TV reminds me that I have these .vob files that I need to get on a DVD somehow . . . that's cat-vacuuming for later.)

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[info]rilina
2005-07-06 01:23 am UTC (link)
I've seen the first three DVDs (eps. 1-12) and read the first volume of manga. I saw the anime first, and so far I still prefer it. ( The only anime I'd seen when I started FMA was Spirited Away, so I don't think a generally lack of familiarity with the medium is necessarily a problem.)

I got hooked around episode 7.

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[info]kate_nepveu
2005-07-06 03:22 am UTC (link)
Thanks. There does seem to be a consensus in favor of the anime first.

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[info]annwyd
2005-07-06 01:36 am UTC (link)
See the anime first.

I haven't read the manga (I had trouble getting into the first few chapters), but I've seen and adored all the anime (despite the way it falls in on itself in the last season). There were external constraints that made things difficult for the anime. Unfortunately the manga snobs, and especially those people who read the manga first, tend to look down on the anime with a passion because the plot is less coherent.

The anime also has a lot more of my favorite character (so I'm kind of biased), and is a lot more cruel to viewers' hearts. It's one of those rare shounen series where characters actually die.

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Note to Kate
[info]rachelmanija
2005-07-06 03:06 am UTC (link)
If you click on the link in the comment above, you will be spoiled for very important developments. I recommend that you don't click on it until you've finished the series.

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Re: Note to Kate
[info]kate_nepveu
2005-07-06 03:23 am UTC (link)
I did click, but only skimmed and don't think I retained any plot details. I will not re-click, thanks for the warning.

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Re: Note to Kate
[info]annwyd
2005-07-06 04:34 am UTC (link)
Oh man, I'm sorry. I'd forgotten about the spoilers.

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Re: Note to Kate
[info]annwyd
2005-07-06 04:36 am UTC (link)
On checking again--I was only half-wrong in my memory; there are spoilers in the comments, so just avoid those, but the entry itself is free of t hem.

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Re: Note to Kate
[info]rashaka
2005-08-16 12:10 am UTC (link)
Oh I love your icon. Really, really love it. Can I steal it?

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Re: Note to Kate
[info]annwyd
2005-08-16 02:27 am UTC (link)
Certainly, just credit me in the comment. :)

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[info]kate_nepveu
2005-07-06 03:23 am UTC (link)
There are manga snobs? Oh dear. I suppose it's inevitable, though.

Thanks for the input.

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[info]rachelmanija
2005-07-06 03:03 am UTC (link)
The anime. The first volume of the manga is far more episodic, at least, than the anime, which may appear episodic at first but actually isn't. But that's all of the manga I've read. The anime is my favorite anime ever-- not to oversell you or anything.

Apparently if you hit "subtitle" on your DVD player you get a more literal and better translation than if you select it from the menu, which will give you a transcription of the less-than-good dub.

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[info]kate_nepveu
2005-07-06 03:25 am UTC (link)
How very weird about the subtitles, but thanks for the tip. I know that the anime is so well-thought-of, but I never hear anyone talk of the manga, which is why I asked.

Chad actually put it on his queue of his own volition, having seen the occasional episode on TV; this isn't part of my exploration of manga, but it's well-timed all the same. I hope I can carve out the time to watch it with him.

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just jumping in here
[info]rashaka
2005-08-16 12:10 am UTC (link)
Apparently if you hit "subtitle" on your DVD player you get a more literal and better translation than if you select it from the menu, which will give you a transcription of the less-than-good dub.

I noticed that in the Fruits Basket DVDs too, which are also dubbed by Funimation. I like the feature-- there's two subtitle tracks which allow you to see the original/literal translation, but if you're hearing impaired allow you a choice between translations/interpretations.


((it's my favorite anime ever too))

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Random Useless Comment
[info]leighdb
2005-07-06 06:25 pm UTC (link)
I don't read manga, but I've been catching the anime on Adult Swim, and it's my favorite show on there besides Inuyasha.

When I finally get around to setting up a Netflix account this is so one of the first things I'm getting - if for no other reason than to hear the Japanese voices of the Elrics, even though I really like the voice actors they have for the English dub.

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Re: Random Useless Comment
[info]rashaka
2005-08-16 12:15 am UTC (link)
I adore Paku Romi, the woman who voices Edward in the Japanese. I actually prefer the subtitled version because I think, especially with regard to the Elrics, the voice acting is superior. Edward's VA, especially...just...wow. There's screams of agony, and then there's SCREAMS OF AGONY. Actually, that's a regular complaint I have with dubs-- rarely are the English VAs allowed/willing to scream as enthusiastically as the original. Dunno why. Episodes 7 and 8 I think are far more emotionally affecting in the original than in the dub.

Nevertheless, I've been enjoying the dub quite a bit too. Especially with regards to the military characters and how they're being done. And some of the translations in the script are priceless-- the conversations between Roy and his people in episode 15 came off a lot funnier in English.

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Re: Random Useless Comment
[info]kate_nepveu
2005-08-16 12:38 am UTC (link)
The dub, based on four or five minutes, is more verbose than the sub, which adds to its being a little less work to watch.

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