The Music of Fullmetal Alchemist: Two Approaches to Scoring a Classic

[@eoghbass2886]

The music of 2003 has left such a lasting impact on me musically. So much so, in fact, that pretty much the whole soundtrack has become an emotional trigger 😂

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Oshima's strings can transcend time and space to deliver me sorrow at any given moment.

[@BoxOKittens]

Bratja and Dante's Theme and that beautiful Romani song in Cos and so many others make 03's soundtrack my favorite anime soundtrack of all time. I still listen to the music off and on to this day.

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

For real though, Shamballa has some truly gorgeous tracks, I'm really glad Oshima got to score a film with this franchise!

[@ofgreyhairwaifu4089]

​@@CelShadedMusicTheoryto think he could have scored a new series instead...

[@rosalindhoffman6175]

As an alto flute player, thank you for all the shoutouts. Fma 2003’s music has forever changed me, thank u for covering it so thoroughly :)

[@KaterynaM_UA]

CRIMINALLY low views! I love both adaptations and if I'm honest I love original OST more, it felt more personal, while the Brotherhood more like epic scale. Can't wait for the second part!

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

I feel very similarly! I think both soundtracks are super effective, but like the adaptations themselves, they accomplish something different. I can see preferring one or another, but the emotional resonance Oshima’s score is unrivaled! Thanks for watching! ^~^

[@KaterynaM_UA]

@@CelShadedMusicTheory yeah neither of them is anything but god tier regardless of personal preferences!

[@heysteeeve]

Ooh can’t wait for you to talk about Chopin in the next vid. I didn’t realize Brotherhood uses so much alto flute! Underappreciated instrument imo.

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Absolutely! It’s an instrument that’s very particular to orchestrate around since it has such a hushed timbre, but Senju uses it really well!

[@sofyvida8541]

Love the shout out to my home boy Vaughan Williams!

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

YAS. I still think he's one of the most under-discussed hugely influential composers in the realm of film music! His sense of harmony is unparalleled!

[@rossmhn11]

fma is one of my favorite series of all time…the soundtrack is one of the first i downloaded as an mp3 from youtube onto my computer in grade school😂 so happy to hear someone cover it in depth!!!

[@miro.georgiev97]

Thank you so much for covering this! I've been waiting so long for you to talk about it, and now that you're making it a series, I can't wait until your future installments.

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

I remember your comment from ages ago on the subject! Thank you for waiting so patiently! :)

[@Crantr0n]

Only thing this video is missing is a "FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. .... Full Metal Alchemist." cut in halfway through. Immaculate all around anyway.

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

I am genuinely disappointed I didn't think to do that omg.

[@Crantr0n]

@@CelShadedMusicTheory Well nothing you can do now but pull it down, add in the edit, and wait another year before re-uploading ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@eoghbass2886]

That’s how you can open the next video.

[@STEELH3ART]

Maan I love these Soundtracks!!! For Me the FMA Brotherhood Soundtrack is trully something special. It has something very nostalgic and fits the Plot perfectly. I arranged some of my favorite pieces from this Soundtrack and I must say: This is trully a Masterpiece! Cool Analysis! I loved how you compared this two Masterpieces! It has real theoretical value!

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Yes! It's interesting how they both accomplish a sense of nostalgia through their scores. I think it goes a long way to endearing viewers to the world and characters of both adaptations! Thank you for watching. :)

[@michaelthompson9862]

I love your videos man! You go so in depth into the harmony and your analysis tying it back to the subject matter of the scene being scored is always spot on. Also love the sheet music shown. Do you transcribe it yourself?

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Thank you so much! I always try my best to show how the theory and concepts composers use elevate the narrative of whatever they're scoring, often in multiple ways! :) I transcribe myself, FMA has been my biggest undertaking yet!

[@alblurky2426]

Dangnabbit! I was tearing up with the coverage of Mace's funeral scenes! Again! Thanks for a great watch and a reminder that I need to watch the original series again. Looking forward your "part 2" video :)

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Same… I didn’t cover it here, but Nina’s episodes and Hughes’s death crushed me as a kid… such impactful moments! Thank you for watching! :)

[@mr.l3938]

I think 03 has the strongest most beautiful soundtrack but fmab has some good songs

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

It’s hard to contest how much of an impact 03’s score had on the legacy of FMA and its fandom. I truly think it’s one of the best anime scores ever written. Senju really had a tall task following it up, but I think he delivered!

[@mr.l3938]

@@CelShadedMusicTheory So true and I loved how the score from the start of the brothers adventure appeares in the end all going full circle God the ending of the series was truly a masterpiece

[@Cheddar_Wizard]

FMAB has more than “some good songs.” It, along with 03, has some of the most poignant and epic pieces in any anime put to screen.

[@_bess]

Excellent video!

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Thank you so much, hope you look forward to the next one! :)

[@akashika]

I am so glad I found this channel, I'm not much for musical theory but the way you explain the music then play it helps me understand it in a way I never understood in school

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

It's wonderful to hear you say that! It's honestly not easy to work around YT's copyright system to appropriately showcase the music front and center, but I know how vital it is to be able to listen to the music I talk about! It's how I learned a lot myself. :) Thanks so much for watching and hope you look forward to the next one~

[@frankenbeary]

loved this video!! i've always adored 03's tracks, and this gave me a newfound appreciation for it. i can't wait for the next video, i'm excited to hear what you have to say about dante's theme and the use of classical tracks in the later 03 episodes!

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Thanks so much, those are biiiig parts of the next video, so please look forward to it! :)

[@Brumemusic]

Such an interesting video, well done ! FMA soundtracks will always be special to me. They turned an already incredible story into an unforgettable masterpiece.

[@scolefeld]

The memories arising from this video bring me closer to tears than anything has in a long time, and reminded me of why I wanted to compose music in the first place. What a perfect summary of why lovers of music should watch both series, regardless of literary-narrative preference. While I personally prefer 2003 as a story, there is no doubt that Requiem for a Brig. Gen. is extremely powerful and your score showcase brings it out wonderfully. Liked & subscribed.

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Thank you so much, I feel the same way about this series and have always wanted to find a way to express it, I’m glad you can relate! At long last my 2nd part is coming out soon :) Please look forward to it!

[@-LOTO-]

Excellent video. I'm sad I didn't see this sooner.

[@JPQuartzz]

Nice work👌🏼, I’ll be waiting for the next part 😬

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Thank you, and look forward to it! It’ll be a trip! lol

[@LunamrathP]

I could watch you cover the full scores of both series this way. I'm stoked to hear that you'll be doing more. Brilliant video. I really enjoyed seeing the approaches compared and contrasted in the way that you did.

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

I'm so glad to hear it! If I had the time to do a full rundown of both shows I would, but I've really tried my best to encapsulate the cues that make both shows' scores great. Lots more to come in the next one! :)

[@LunamrathP]

@@CelShadedMusicTheory Oh I certainly wouldn't expect anybody has the time for that haha. You're doing great man, I have no doubt you'll get at the right stuff in the next video.

[@williamarturonewman3373]

Dude your channel is pure gold!

[@MxLexi]

I just found this channel and I've already watched every video and can't wait to see FMA part 2 and whatever you do next

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

It's finally out, at long last! 😭

[@MxLexi]

@@CelShadedMusicTheory YESSSS I watched it this morning and was just gonna post how happy I was for it

[@mrnoblemonkey8401]

defiantly deserves more subs!

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Much appreciated! 😭

[@aprendendoguita2119]

Thank you

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@mrnoblemonkey8401]

man i love these videos!!!

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

So glad to hear it, thank you for watching! :)

[@HemingwayTheThird]

Good vid man, awesome

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Much appreciated! Thank you for watching! :)

[@mylameyer9205]

I love hearing music commentary! Defo got a sub outta me :D

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy it! ^~^

[@alvarezrodriguez4163]

Brilliant video! Is looking into the soundtracks of neon Genesis evangelion, the end of evangelion movie, and Rezero worth it? There's iconic sound pieces from each and I wonder what interesting information more research will yield. Keep up the good work!

[@JP-Sphere]

Would you be willing to do something like this for Evangelion score?

[@eeaargpht9751]

Which version of Brothers is used at the start of the intro? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Sad Resolution~Separation from FMA Conqueror of Shamballa!

[@eeaargpht9751]

@@CelShadedMusicTheory Thanks so much! That was killing me. Great video and channel btw!

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

@@eeaargpht9751 One of the most gorgeous cues in all FMA, couldn't help but start with it! :) Thanks so much for watching!

[@Figgy5119]

I dunno, I know you said you like them both, but I think it's clear that one composer understood the assignment better than the other.

[@ViMBarN]

Oh boy..... I'll still watch it but.... dubs..? sad..

[@TheToxic35]

L. FMA’s dub is one of the best ever made.

[@haosmagnaingram6992]

Uh yeah the FMA dubs are phenomenal. Additionally gate keeping and looking down on dub enjoyers is just immature

[@ViMBarN]

@@haosmagnaingram6992 I was just expressing my personal disappointment.. if hearing it in japenese were to annoy you or having to read subs would, I wouldn't berate you for it. it's just grating for me.. I get a sense of cognitive dissonance from it. But yeah I guess I forgot it's an old debate where people who perfer subs always come out looking bad cuz we tend to complain. Wasn't meaning to gatekeep.

[@ViMBarN]

@@TheToxic35 I never do dubs, except for giving Cowboy Bebop a try, it's legit for sure. Also Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was great. I'll try Baccano! next, people always praise it a lot!

[@heysteeeve]

Music doesn’t change in sub vs dub 🥴