Full Version: FMA Manga Or Fma Anime (first Series) ?
Manga. The Manga has alot more going on and its alot more interesting due to the fact that it is longer.
I can't really decide, I've only read a bit of the manga(1-6) but even that little bit of the manga I've read and I judging by that I so far really like it. Though, I've finished the anime and I like it just as much. Something tells me that I might end up liking the manga more as I get deeper into it.
Manga, hands down.
The story has much more depth to it.
The story has much more depth to it.
QUOTE (GAT @ Apr 1 2005, 12:42 PM) 
Well perhaps I'd disagree with most of the readers, but the anime was better.
1) The background of the world, all this insane rush for the Philosopher's Stone, and the fact that the Homunculi and Dante plotted the Isbal massacre to gain it... that's a serious story for a serious anime, and the Isbal plotline really rules supreme.
2) The Isbal line of Scar, Scar's brother and Lust are waaay better than the manga. Scar is just an evil fanatic in the manga and his hand is not a part of the Stone Array, nor did he have a brother... his line is nothing in the manga, while in the anime Scar rules supreme.
3) Homunculus in the anime are much more appealing. I mean, they're the alchemist's sins, really, a fault of those who try Human Transmutation. They aren't essentially evil, they just lack a soul, and it's the fault of the alchemists. And they do have memories from the past life, and they CAN become human... thus their plotlines are tragic and very appealing (Lust, Envy, Greed... even that annoying Wrath). It shows that you can't just judge them as "evil", because they also have their dreams and wishes, they aren't just mass-produced war machines by some "Father"
4) Tucker's story even more scary, with what he turned into...
5) The events at Lab 5 are way better. The guardian's dilemma and suicide really got me.
6) And last but not least everything ties up in the anime - all failed transmutations are the Homunculi, thus making a very emotional showdown between Ed&Al and Sloth... Envy is Hohenheim's son, who wants revenge on his family... Scar's hand isn't just a silly killer weapon, but a part of the Stone Array...
7) Names are really more fitting in the anime. Pride is the Fuhrer, Lust is Scar's brother's lust (look what he lost... uh), Envy envies everyone in the world because his "father" left him... Sloth and Wrath don't quite fit, but in the Manga you just have a female Lust, a Wrath Fuhrer, no Pride, Envy now really has no reason to envy, and Sloth is... well... who is that worthless shadow? There we have two sins not in action in the manga (Sloth&Pride), and some rather unfit for their names, which is dissappointing...
Well, that's pretty much it.
1) The background of the world, all this insane rush for the Philosopher's Stone, and the fact that the Homunculi and Dante plotted the Isbal massacre to gain it... that's a serious story for a serious anime, and the Isbal plotline really rules supreme.
2) The Isbal line of Scar, Scar's brother and Lust are waaay better than the manga. Scar is just an evil fanatic in the manga and his hand is not a part of the Stone Array, nor did he have a brother... his line is nothing in the manga, while in the anime Scar rules supreme.
3) Homunculus in the anime are much more appealing. I mean, they're the alchemist's sins, really, a fault of those who try Human Transmutation. They aren't essentially evil, they just lack a soul, and it's the fault of the alchemists. And they do have memories from the past life, and they CAN become human... thus their plotlines are tragic and very appealing (Lust, Envy, Greed... even that annoying Wrath). It shows that you can't just judge them as "evil", because they also have their dreams and wishes, they aren't just mass-produced war machines by some "Father"
4) Tucker's story even more scary, with what he turned into...
5) The events at Lab 5 are way better. The guardian's dilemma and suicide really got me.
6) And last but not least everything ties up in the anime - all failed transmutations are the Homunculi, thus making a very emotional showdown between Ed&Al and Sloth... Envy is Hohenheim's son, who wants revenge on his family... Scar's hand isn't just a silly killer weapon, but a part of the Stone Array...
7) Names are really more fitting in the anime. Pride is the Fuhrer, Lust is Scar's brother's lust (look what he lost... uh), Envy envies everyone in the world because his "father" left him... Sloth and Wrath don't quite fit, but in the Manga you just have a female Lust, a Wrath Fuhrer, no Pride, Envy now really has no reason to envy, and Sloth is... well... who is that worthless shadow? There we have two sins not in action in the manga (Sloth&Pride), and some rather unfit for their names, which is dissappointing...
Well, that's pretty much it.
Sorry, but I'll really ask Scar to kill you.
1.IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SERIOUS!!! The manga has some sense, unlike the anime. The anime is all lies.
2.Scar is not just a evil fanatic in the manga, just read the newer chapters before you complain! Have you even read the manga?!
3. No. Totally no-no-no. It seems you like the story as the gloomy EMO paradise that is is in the anime, but I've said it once and I'm saying it again, The anime is all lies. Hiromu Arakawa-sensei would never have written a story like the anime.
4. WHAT SCARY! Tucker's just a stupid amateur, he wasn't a real genius. In anime, his story goes totally overboard, and same goes for Roze.
5. Same as the 3-thingy
6. Everything lines up in the manga too, even more perfectly, if you just actually read it. It's not completed yet. That's why everything isn't revealed yet. And hey, Scar-fan, in the manga Scar's name will be revealed. Arakawa-sensei has said so in the omake.
7.There is a Pride in manga. It's Selim Bradley. Just read the manga, really, how many volumes have you read?! Two? Three? Selim's secret was revealed in volume 19. If you haven't really read the manga, then quit blabbering about it being less good than the anime!!
Sorry for being rude. I don't mean to blame the people that like the anime, I just kinda did it.
And, by the way, the manga is about thousand million times funnier than the anime. Really.Click to view attachment
LOL, elitists.
LOL, why are people replying posts from years ago? Way to bump up the thread.
<Program Note>
@Zazaza - To answer that (probably meant to be rhetorical) question...
On our board, we do not allow posters to make duplicate threads (thread to which the same or similar topic discussion thread exists) and instead we encourage posters to add his/her posts to the existing threads. And, since we had a gap between the airing of anime series-1 and series-2, many threads that were in use before had "time-off" of sort, and now many of these threads are in use again.
And, as far as my opinion goes, it is quite fine for any posters to add his/her posts on any of these existing threads, and these posts are welcomed and appreciated as long as they are valid posts and not spam.
And, because of that, sometimes we see posters, especially newer posters replying to very old posts. This often happens when the posters open the beginning page of the thread, and not the LAST PAGE of the thread when replying to the posts on the thread. And, because we're having an influx of newer posters recently, I noticed that this is happening quite often these days. When you see these happening, please gently encourage such posters to reply to more recent posts by checking pages with more recent posts. Thank you!! ^^
==============
~ Now please resume regular discussions! ^^ ~
QUOTE (Zazaza @ May 4 2009, 01:01 PM)
LOL, why are people replying posts from years ago? Way to bump up the thread.
@Zazaza - To answer that (probably meant to be rhetorical) question...
On our board, we do not allow posters to make duplicate threads (thread to which the same or similar topic discussion thread exists) and instead we encourage posters to add his/her posts to the existing threads. And, since we had a gap between the airing of anime series-1 and series-2, many threads that were in use before had "time-off" of sort, and now many of these threads are in use again.
And, as far as my opinion goes, it is quite fine for any posters to add his/her posts on any of these existing threads, and these posts are welcomed and appreciated as long as they are valid posts and not spam.
And, because of that, sometimes we see posters, especially newer posters replying to very old posts. This often happens when the posters open the beginning page of the thread, and not the LAST PAGE of the thread when replying to the posts on the thread. And, because we're having an influx of newer posters recently, I noticed that this is happening quite often these days. When you see these happening, please gently encourage such posters to reply to more recent posts by checking pages with more recent posts. Thank you!! ^^
==============
~ Now please resume regular discussions! ^^ ~
Manga for me.
More character development, humor helps break up overly-tense moments, and all of the character relationships (I'm not talking about romantic relationships here, but rather how all the characters are connected) are much more defined.
More character development, humor helps break up overly-tense moments, and all of the character relationships (I'm not talking about romantic relationships here, but rather how all the characters are connected) are much more defined.
Definitely manga. No doubt about it.
Oh man, the manga, hands down. I find the manga storyline much more satisfying and generally more interesting than the anime, which in comparison seemed to add in some of its plot-points for convenience (like Ed and Envy being half-brothers; makes for angsty drama but seriously?) I also thought the anime storyline could be somewhat convoluted at times. And I'm more inclined towards the portrayal of the characters in the manga for some reason.
Hey, not to shun the first anime though - it's good in it's own right and there are some things it accomplishes very well. In fact, despite the impression this post may give, I actually rather like the first anime; it's just that I love the manga so much more, and wish more of FMA's popularity was derived from that since I think it's a better story in general, and one which I can appreciate more. In any case, I know the anime writers didn't have as much time to think things through as Arakawa, she was nowhere near the end of her story when the time came for the first anime to be wrapped up.
But needless to say, I'm glad they're making a more faithful adaptation of the manga now.
Hey, not to shun the first anime though - it's good in it's own right and there are some things it accomplishes very well. In fact, despite the impression this post may give, I actually rather like the first anime; it's just that I love the manga so much more, and wish more of FMA's popularity was derived from that since I think it's a better story in general, and one which I can appreciate more. In any case, I know the anime writers didn't have as much time to think things through as Arakawa, she was nowhere near the end of her story when the time came for the first anime to be wrapped up.
But needless to say, I'm glad they're making a more faithful adaptation of the manga now.
Definitely manga. Hiromu knows how to do a history! When the anime catched their own history, they screw up with the anime, and when we don't expected anything worse, they created the movie. :XX
Now with this second anime totally based on the manga I can see the light, because after all, if the studio follow the manga's history, this new season from the anime will be so much better. *---*
Now with this second anime totally based on the manga I can see the light, because after all, if the studio follow the manga's history, this new season from the anime will be so much better. *---*
Manga for me. The storyline is awesome, and watching the characters develop from chapter one is such a fulfililng feeling. Also, I love how Arakawa can insert small bits of humor that dont interrupt the flow of the chapter.
Frankly, I enjoy them equally.
Look, I love the manga. It's probably my second favorite manga ever, after 20th Century Boys. It has such a detailed world. However, while most of you think everything Arakawa does is beyond criticism, I find that the manga has periods where it drags things out way too long (ten chapters of fighting Pride was unnecessary, and I couldn't care less about Heinkel, Darius, or Dr Knox), and there are plenty of questionable elements and lame characters.
The first anime was excellent. I mean, after a long dry spell, it restored my faith in anime as a medium. It shook me with its amazing layers of emotion and complexities. It remains a favorite of mine, despite my more critical eye on it now. Even the non-manga related material was unbelievably great to me. I mean, really, stuff like Edward fighting Wrath and Sloth in the underground passage, Scar in Ishbal, Alphonse standing up to the homunuculi when all hope seemed lost, it was powerful.
So, overall, I'd say I like them about the same, though a bit differently.
Look, I love the manga. It's probably my second favorite manga ever, after 20th Century Boys. It has such a detailed world. However, while most of you think everything Arakawa does is beyond criticism, I find that the manga has periods where it drags things out way too long (ten chapters of fighting Pride was unnecessary, and I couldn't care less about Heinkel, Darius, or Dr Knox), and there are plenty of questionable elements and lame characters.
The first anime was excellent. I mean, after a long dry spell, it restored my faith in anime as a medium. It shook me with its amazing layers of emotion and complexities. It remains a favorite of mine, despite my more critical eye on it now. Even the non-manga related material was unbelievably great to me. I mean, really, stuff like Edward fighting Wrath and Sloth in the underground passage, Scar in Ishbal, Alphonse standing up to the homunuculi when all hope seemed lost, it was powerful.
So, overall, I'd say I like them about the same, though a bit differently.
QUOTE
and there are plenty of questionable elements and lame characters.
Not to me there aren't. I love every character and moment of the FMA manga.
But of course everyone sees things differently.
I prefer the manga, myself, for its storyline and character development, but over the past couple months, I think I've developed a strong(er) respect and liking for the first anime. I mean, if you had asked me a few months ago which one I prefer, I would've said, "Manga," without a pause (because the movie was . . . eh), but now . . .
I've been looking back at the first anime and the movie, and I realized that while the entire series is saturated in angst and emoness and dumb villains and a poorly constructed storyline, it was well-directed and it truly held to its theme of equivalent exchange and sacrifice. While the movie may have seem contrived and even painful at times, it was . . . heartfelt, I guess. The entire series is very heartfelt, and it's really the only anime series I can respect (with maybe one exception, which I won't bring up here because I will be laughed at). The relationships between the characters were dealt with in a realistic fashion that truly tugged on my heartstrings. And, well, I do prefer the characterizations of Ed and Mustang more in the anime as well, so . . .
I've been looking back at the first anime and the movie, and I realized that while the entire series is saturated in angst and emoness and dumb villains and a poorly constructed storyline, it was well-directed and it truly held to its theme of equivalent exchange and sacrifice. While the movie may have seem contrived and even painful at times, it was . . . heartfelt, I guess. The entire series is very heartfelt, and it's really the only anime series I can respect (with maybe one exception, which I won't bring up here because I will be laughed at). The relationships between the characters were dealt with in a realistic fashion that truly tugged on my heartstrings. And, well, I do prefer the characterizations of Ed and Mustang more in the anime as well, so . . .
Turns out I posted this three years ago:
I still think the anime did a good job of expanding the early parts of the manga and everything BUT the direction the manga has gone and how well it's all worked out has made me a massive fan.
Right now, depending on how it ends and where it goes from here; it could top Rurouni Kenshin as my all-time favourite manga too.
HOW DO I UNDO VOTE?!
QUOTE (Vagrant @ Feb 24 2006, 10:41 PM)
Hmm, I had to vote Anime, myself.
I just felt that the characters were better developed and a lot more likable in the anime. I also think the anime is funnier.
(Conqueror of Shambala wasn't that good of an 'ending' though)
While I do have a great amount of like for the manga, especially for it's action, plot twists and the fact it is still going on. The manga still has a chance to change my mind though...
It did change my mind since then. I definitely think the manga is better now.I just felt that the characters were better developed and a lot more likable in the anime. I also think the anime is funnier.
(Conqueror of Shambala wasn't that good of an 'ending' though)
While I do have a great amount of like for the manga, especially for it's action, plot twists and the fact it is still going on. The manga still has a chance to change my mind though...
I still think the anime did a good job of expanding the early parts of the manga and everything BUT the direction the manga has gone and how well it's all worked out has made me a massive fan.
Right now, depending on how it ends and where it goes from here; it could top Rurouni Kenshin as my all-time favourite manga too.
HOW DO I UNDO VOTE?!
QUOTE (penguintruth @ May 9 2009, 06:54 AM)
I find that the manga has periods where it drags things out way too long (ten chapters of fighting Pride was unnecessary, and I couldn't care less about Heinkel, Darius, or Dr Knox), and there are plenty of questionable elements and lame characters.
I, too, am bored with some of the longest fighting periods. But it's a shonen manga afterall, so it can be forgiven. But I don't agree with you about some of the side characters. I mean, c'mon, there is a lot of people in this world. It's good to have different character's points of view added to the story. If it'd be only about what Ed and Al think and how they see things, it'd be pretty lame. It'd be nice to hear some examples of those 'questionable elements'. I like searching for weak spots in mangas' plots>:)
QUOTE (Zazaza @ May 4 2009, 08:01 PM)
LOL, why are people replying posts from years ago? Way to bump up the thread.
You mean me, right? Whoops, you're right. Yeah. Gomen ne. That was stupid of me. In 2005, most of the things I was talking about hadn't happened. From now on, I'll check the year when the post was sent before replying. That was one of my first posts here. It was totally my mistake. I just tend to do things rashly when I get excited or angry about something.
I love the manga...I like the plot better than the anime and the characters as well. I enjoyed the anime, but not nearly to the degree of the manga.
And as for whether or not the fights are drawn out, I actually really like the pacing of FMA, especially when compared to other shounen series out right now. I personally don't think that anything's drawn out more than it should be, and I like that chapters are split up into a few different foci so it's not 40 pages of the same person. It's nice to see the fights get resolved in a couple chapters as opposed to some of the other manga right now that have been dwelling on the same fight for months with little progression
' (yes, I am bitter about that lol). Yay for FMA!
And as for whether or not the fights are drawn out, I actually really like the pacing of FMA, especially when compared to other shounen series out right now. I personally don't think that anything's drawn out more than it should be, and I like that chapters are split up into a few different foci so it's not 40 pages of the same person. It's nice to see the fights get resolved in a couple chapters as opposed to some of the other manga right now that have been dwelling on the same fight for months with little progression
' (yes, I am bitter about that lol). Yay for FMA!
I absolutely prefer the Manga.
Totally agree!
QUOTE
It's nice to see the fights get resolved in a couple chapters as opposed to some of the other manga right now that have been dwelling on the same fight for months with little progression sleep.gif'
Totally agree!
The FMA manga generally doesn't piss about though.
It's not just fights that get resolved reasonably fast, so much happens in every chapter in general. It's hard to believe it's only 95 chapters long, compared to many 250+ chaptered mangas, that probably have smaller stories.
It's not just fights that get resolved reasonably fast, so much happens in every chapter in general. It's hard to believe it's only 95 chapters long, compared to many 250+ chaptered mangas, that probably have smaller stories.
The manga is way better than the anime. The story is really good and sometimes unpredictable, so it always keeps the readers’ interests.
I agree with Aribelle and Vagrant. We don’t have to wait half a year to see an end of a fight. And of course this manga is not about fighting, like other shounen mangas, the story itself is important. Each chapter is about 39-42 pages, but lots of things can happen in just one. The chapters don’t center on just one character, so the story never gets boring.
I agree with Aribelle and Vagrant. We don’t have to wait half a year to see an end of a fight. And of course this manga is not about fighting, like other shounen mangas, the story itself is important. Each chapter is about 39-42 pages, but lots of things can happen in just one. The chapters don’t center on just one character, so the story never gets boring.
well i have to say that i like both of them. cause with the anime you can watch it anytime and with the manga you can read it anywhere. lol
The best things about the anime that you dont get in the manga are the music and the color - it adds a lot of emotion to the story. The first FMA anime was a masterpiece I think even though it deviated so much from the manga - I thought it was very creative in the anime to have the connection between the homunculi and failed human transmutations, Roy as the killer of Winry's parents instead of Scar, and the Dante/Hohenheim story. The manga on the other hand I think has the better story, just because its like on a whole larger scale compared to the anime, if you know what I mean lol. And obviously the jury is still out on the new brotherhood series - we'll see what they do with it.
QUOTE (ShadowCat17 @ May 21 2009, 12:37 AM)
The best things about the anime that you dont get in the manga are the music and the color - it adds a lot of emotion to the story. The first FMA anime was a masterpiece I think even though it deviated so much from the manga - I thought it was very creative in the anime to have the connection between the homunculi and failed human transmutations, Roy as the killer of Winry's parents instead of Scar, and the Dante/Hohenheim story. The manga on the other hand I think has the better story, just because its like on a whole larger scale compared to the anime, if you know what I mean lol. And obviously the jury is still out on the new brotherhood series - we'll see what they do with it.
I agree... One thing i didn't like about the anime was the ending :/ Ed going through the gate almost three times? He had problems with using the philosophers stone, but not with using alchemy after he got to know about that the energy needed for alchemy came from human lives. But well, the rest of the anime was as good (sometimes even better) then manga:P I liked the end of Greed more in the anime^^ My vote goes for undecided^^
MANGA!!!!!!!!!!
drawings are better in the manga and there's always the omake to read to!!
i love both, but if i had to choose just one, i'd pick manga.
wah, both ways, fullmetalalchemist rocks!^^
drawings are better in the manga and there's always the omake to read to!!
i love both, but if i had to choose just one, i'd pick manga.
wah, both ways, fullmetalalchemist rocks!^^
manga 1 billion% XD lol i did actually watch the anime first but there were so many many many things in it that annoied me and were so wrong (im sad enough to calculate this lol but Ed would be 40 by the time WW2 started, so either WW2 started in 1917 and we are been lied to the gate time warps in the anime, or it was an error the writers thought no one would notice, lol well its a pet hate for me anyway XD) of course brotherhood follows the manga so i like that better, but still manga for meeee!
the gate time warps in the anime, or it was an error the writers thought no one would notice, lol well its a pet hate for me anyway XD) of course brotherhood follows the manga so i like that better, but still manga for meeee!
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.