WHY EVERYONE SHOULD READ FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST

[@withcindy]

remember nina from FMA? 👧 this is her now 🐶 feel old yet???

[@ebnovels]

readwithcindy gahh!!! Why are you doing this to me?!? 😭 Have you looked up memes of her? They’re dark but really funny-especially the father’s day ones 😆

[@abdoulsene3138]

readwithcindy damn...🤣

[@ExceptionalOneStandAlone]

Damn

[@caiza8441]

Damn... big... brother?

[@grkm.8742]

💀💀💀💀

[@sonokuraikitsune]

I watched the original anime when I was a kid and LOVED it. I’ve been holding off on getting the manga but now that they’re coming out with beautiful hardback editions, I have no excuse not to pick it up and read it 😅

[@ebnovels]

Those hardbacks are so pretty!!! I have them on my Christmas list 😆

[@dsaillant811]

Fullmetal Alchemist is, in my opinion, the best series ever created regardless of genre, medium, or country of origin. The only things that have even come close to comparing for me are the original Mistborn Trilogy, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Avatar the Last Airbender. I watched Brotherhood when I was a freshman in college following incessant recommendations from my friends. At the time, I thought anime as a whole was terrible and had no interest in starting it. But on a whim, I checked out the beginning, and by the time I got to the Nina Tucker episode, I was completely hooked. When I got to the end of the anime, I watched the entire ending arc in one night. I got to the ending at something like 3 in the morning, and I sobbed like a lunatic through the entire last episode. This anime singlehandedly lit the fire under my ass that motivated me to start writing my book again, because I related the characters on a level I had never experienced before.

[@ebnovels]

Dan Saillant it’s awesome that you have such a love for the story!!! I also love it and Mistborn, so I’ll have to check out the other ones you mentioned (although I’m very aware already that I need to get to Avatar 😆).

[@dsaillant811]

@@ebnovels Avatar is wonderful, but Neon genesis Evangelion is on another level imo. It was an anime first, then was turned into a manga later, and was also remade into three movies recently with a fourth coming in 2020. Evangelion is the mecha anime that puts basically every other mecha anime to shame. If you're interested, check out the original series (minus the last two episodes) and End of Evangelion before going into the three newer movies, which are nowhere near as good imo. The original series is unfortunately not available to buy or legally stream at any reasonable price, but it can easily be found in places like KissAnime or 9anime.

[@davidicus6791]

You are by far one of my favorite KZbinrs, I'm so glad I found your channel. You've helped me find so many good books, I wasn't big in reading until I found your channel. Please keep up the hard work and don't stop your KZbin grind. Much love ❤

[@ebnovels]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that 😄😄😄

[@4p853]

I love fullmetal alchemist never read manga but will try one day. I like the older anime it was more emotionally for me then brotherhood

[@beLIEver31415]

YESS!! :) I was definitely convinced and it was well worth it :D I never would have picked it up in the first place if it wasn't for you talking about it so I am so thankful for finding you channel :D

[@ebnovels]

beL13ver you’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it too 💗💗💗

[@dawnbish9822]

Okay, you've convinced me to start Fullmetal Alchemist. i don't know how many times I've been in the bookstore and have gravitated towards this Manga series and have not purchased it (most recently yesterday). Now I need to go and pick it up. Thanks for the fangirl review!!!

[@ebnovels]

Dawn Bish you’re welcome! I hope you love it 😄😄😄

[@mariadaemon]

I watched the anime because of your recommendation this year and absolutely adored it thank you so much!! Then I rewatched it with my parents and they loved it too ;) (So yes I watched it twice in a year hahahaha) Now I definitively want to read the manga and I think I'll ask them for Christmas.

[@ebnovels]

maria barco yay!!! That’s awesome! I need to rewatch the show. I want to read all the manga first, though, just to see what little things are different :)

[@zezeest.9744]

I always get excited when I see people talk about Fullmetal Alchemist on here. It's a fav of mine as well. I was introduced to it through the anime because I was searching for something similar to Avatar: the Last Airbender and Fullmetal matched what I was looking for. I haven't yet read all the manga, but I plan to and am currently collecting them. Maes Hughes is my fav. Didn't expect to cry at the end of his storyline, but I did, both when I watched the anime and when I read the manga.

[@ebnovels]

Zezee St. oh my gosh, the funeral scene in the manga was the one where I almost cried 😭😭😭 It was so sad! Also, I REALLY need to get into Avatar :D

[@zezeest.9744]

@@ebnovels Same here! I had to pause when I got to that part. And yea! You def need to check Avatar. I think people who like Fullmetal will like Avatar. Though Fullmetal is a darker than Avatar, Avatar has as much depth in its story and great characters and interesting worldbuilding.

[@Rashadmcka]

I’ve never read the manga, but Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood is one of my favourite anime’s of all time. One characters death had me shocked and in disbelief, making me question so much of the mysteries of the world. I like how they don’t just forget about that character but it informs the other characters motivations for the rest of the series, rather than forgetting them after a couple of episodes like many stories often do with dead characters. (That’s not a spoiler I hope)

[@ebnovels]

Rashad Ali haha, I don’t think it’s a spoiler. And I know the character you’re talking about! I think the author does a great job of bringing in a lot of previous events. Gah, it’s just so good! 😆

[@Kairia626]

I watched the original anime when I was in middle school. I remember the very first episode I watched was Barry the Chopper and I was hooked. It wasn't until a year or two ago (I'm 24 now) that I sat down and read the entire manga series. I can't believe how many amazing characters and story elements I missed out on by only watching the first series. I haven't finished watching Brotherhood yet but I will at some point. It is just so amazing. Also unexpected Final Fantasy X shoutout was welcome.

[@elkatt3095]

as an artist myself, i think the fma manga is artistically phenomenal! the design doesn't bog you down with unnecessary details, but it still can be very beautiful at times and the inking is both efficient and strikingly placed. it's a very well-drawn manga and there are certainly some panels that make you stop and go, "wow, that is some amazing art", without being distracting as some manga can be with overloading the pages. also i absolutely agree with you that the characters are awesome!! edward is the only shonen protag that i actually like hahaha, probably because he's clearly flawed and can be smug and obnoxious at times, while still being very entertaining throughout the story, not to mention intelligent. his character also works like dynamite with alphonse's calmer, more rational personality, and they truly do make up one of the most iconic sibling duos of all times. i would recommend this manga to anyone!

[@Morfeusm]

I love Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood! I need to grab those mangas at some point! Very good story!

[@foodini666]

nice video. didn't know you covered manga, i guess i should have seen it in the background. 2nd anime is one of the best of all time even after all the time thats passed. still holds up.

[@MaryAmongStories]

you absolutely convinced me, it sounds amazing!!

[@denaiir4775]

I love this series, it's one of my favorite manga series of all times (I've been into manga for about 25 years so I've read a bunch haha). It's too bad I didn't really like any of Arakawa Hiromu's other series, but this one is sooooo good. A true masterpiece. If you like Arakawa's art style and if you don't mind slow-paced series, then check the series from Mori Kaoru (Emma is my favorite, or Bride Stories). They are really underrated, as opposed to FMA which is very popular, but the quality is amazing.

[@ebnovels]

denaiir I’ll check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@angiec7362]

I laughed when I saw this video in my feed, my copy of Full Metal Alchemist 1-3 arrived in the mail this morning. I bought it based on your past recommendation and I can’t wait to start it!

[@ebnovels]

Angie C yay!!! What great timing 😄😄😄

[@Shaegeeksout]

AMEN!!! FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST IS DA BEST!!!!

[@yapdog]

Yep, love FMA :^) This is a great video, Elle. I think your novel reviews are great and It'd be cool if you give manga more focus, too. I don't think any other BookTubers are doing this.

[@ebnovels]

yapdog I need to expand my manga knowledge! My hubby has checked out a bunch from the library recently, so maybe I can steal some from him 😆

[@yapdog]

@@ebnovels Warning: some manga may be less accessible than FMA. Others, a _lot_ less. Manga like Naruto and Bleach are accessible to western audiences and are very popular. You may like Naruto, in particular, as you follow it for a while; the characters do grow and show depth. Death Note is a less accessible manga, but it's fantastic if you're into psychological thrillers. But getting beyond the popular, well-known manga... man... it can get *really* weird out there--LOL! I remember reading one titled... "Masturbation Master" (?). I saw the title and was like _"WTF?!"_ but it turned out to be a very good story. Anyway, I hope you find some that speak to you the way that FMA has :^)

[@saiftokath9984]

FMA is the best anime ever created 😉

[@rondal7316]

Thank you for the recommendations a goal for 2019 is to change my reading and venture out, I have never read a book like this I will try it along with my others . Thank you Blessings, love and peace.

[@Bobbyismetal]

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of my favourite anime series of all time (it's just behind Monster and Legend of the Galactic Heroes on my favourite anime list). It's my go-to rebuttal when someone complains that women can't write action-heavy or military fantasy well, because FMA is an excellent military fantasy with a fair amount of action and thought-provoking philosophy. Elliot, have you seen Avatar: The Last Airbender? I think you'd love that show as well. It's my favourite TV show of all time and my pick for the best fantasy TV show ever. A:TLA features phenomenal characters (there's a sibling relationship there that I like even more than the relationship between Ed and Al), the best character development I've ever seen in anything, very exciting and well-choreographed fight scenes inspired by real-life martial arts, and wonderfully vibrant worldbuilding inspired by a variety of Asian histories and cultures.

[@ebnovels]

I really need to watch Avatar! I’ve never even seen a single episode 😮 From what everyone says though-including yourself-I’m pretty sure I’d love it :)

[@Bobbyismetal]

I'm sure you will - I would genuinely be shocked if you didn't! Avatar also has some of the best and most badass female characters I've ever seen, one of whom has a disability who doesn't let it define her as a person, instead using it brilliantly to her advantage (you'll see what I mean). The show has so much heart, wit and excellent writing, all tied together with a satisfying and fitting final episode. As much as I love Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Hunter x Hunter (2011) - another excellent fantasy anime that I would highly recommend you watch - I would honestly say that Avatar: The Last Airbender is the best fantasy show ever, especially since I think Game of Thrones has sadly gone downhill in recent years (I still like GoT, but I no longer consider it an all-time great TV series).

[@harublooms]

I'm really glad you liked FMA!! The characters are so precious to me 😭 I finished the anime, I've started reading the manga a long time ago but I actually haven't finished it yet 🙈 Since I have a feeling we have similar likes in manga, I have a recommendation if you're up to it? ☺️

[@WatersEffectonGravity]

gimmie

[@spaceydragonmanga686]

Well I'm getting the boxset so I'm pretty excited about that!

[@ExceptionalOneStandAlone]

I watched Fullmetal Alchemist both versions and it's my favorite anime!

[@ugandantoad6616]

Best tv programme ever!

[@GEORGIOARCADE]

Lol I know I'm late to hype party. I was still sleep when this uploaded 😂. I couldn't agree more with your points about why people should check out this series. I think both the manga (comic book) & the cartoon is good. It's just a matter of personal preference. I think people new to the series should check out the cartoon first just so they can get a quick glimpse of what show may consist of. I do think people who read fantasy/young adult fantasy books should like this. I like the origin story a lot. You can find the cartoon on KZbin actually if anyone here wanna see it. So try that & you should know if it's for you cuz I usually kinda prefer the cartoon more. Yes this show is very emotional lol. Anyways great video 🌠

[@GEORGIOARCADE]

Also if they had an audio book of this with a female narrator; I would really try that just for that extra perspective on it cuz lately I find I enjoy audio books too since I have trouble reading 😁👍

[@ebnovels]

Audio books are great! I think that’d be difficult with a manga though :/ I agree that fantasy fans would likely be a fan of this series. It’s fantastic!

[@planners-books-and-budgets]

I have watched both animes but havent read the manga. This series actually made me stop because I was actually sobbing. But I absolutely love this series!!!

[@ebnovels]

Lyndsay Scannell it gets so emotional! 😭

[@mariadaemon]

Hi! I was reading the comments and I saw that someone recommended you Avatar The Last Airbender and OMG I would love you to watch it and film little reviews!! It would be nice to see someone experience it for the first time. I also think you would genuinely enjoy it a lot. oupss I just saw that a lot more people recommended Avatar to you so please don't feel pressured to watch it!!

[@zonkedoceangaming7017]

I would recommended Avatar the last air Brander, I used to watch that as a kid on Netflix and I loved every minute of it. Also thanks to you're channel I've read the Witcher books and I'm loving it so far.(I'm on tower of swallows and haven't tried the short stories so don't spoil it)

[@safinan8008]

Hi 👋🏻 enjoy ur next read!!

[@rachelcortez5712]

I love FMAB! It'd be cool if you'd do a vid recommending books similar to full metal alchemist or similar to another of your favorite manga

[@ebnovels]

Rachel Cortez I haven’t read that much manga! I’ll do videos like that for sure, though, once I have 💗

[@melimelodelectures]

Hey ! I just discover your channel, it's great ! Fullmetal Alchemist is my favorite manga ever. I have read them, seen both of the anime and the movie (they have done a movie to finish the serie of the first anime, if I remember correctly). Thank you for your entouthiasm ! Méli

[@nicoleglasson8615]

My ongoing xmas and bday presents from both my sister and my best friend have been the Fables deluxe editions. Now that I have all 15, and since I have no intention of getting the Jack of Fables deluxe editions (although they better make Fairest ones is2g), I'm seriously considering making these my next request. Every now and then I just remember how excellent FMA is. It just sort of floors me. It's so rare for a fictional property to have both an amazing plot and an amazing cast, but this series is just so... it's like the pinnacle of fiction. I don't know where to start. Also side note, have you seen the bloopers from the English dub? Because that's funny as heck.

[@RugerTooWavy]

Yes!!!!! one of my fav of all time And read One piece, HunterxHunter and Berserk too(all three are way better that Fullmetal Alchemist imo so you will enjoy it even more)

[@ebnovels]

Money Singh my hubby has read some of One Piece and Berserk but still finds FMA better ;) But neither of us has read any of the other series.

[@RugerTooWavy]

@@ebnovels read some One Piece..... read "some" Guuuuuuuuuurrrrrrllllll your husband is comparing completed story to story which is only 60% done(we at chapter 924), and i bet he read like 30 chapters. One piece is The Greatest long running manga/comic of all time and right up there with Dragon ball z, Superman, batman and spiderman. It already surpassed spiderman is terms of unit sold and if it ran for 5 years more(which it will) it will surpass both batman and superman and you are telling me you havnt read it????? blasphemy!!!!!

[@elrilmoonweaver4723]

My presence here is rather redundant, because I'll just sit here and nod in agreement. It's certainly one of the most thought provoking mangas out there without delving too much into the psychological thriller aspect like say Death Note or even Madoka Magika (for anime). One thing I will gripe about though is the fact that towards the end it becomes less about the Fullmetal Alchemist and more about the world in which the Elric brothers live in. That's one of the main reasons why I like FMA 2003 better than the manga/FMA:Brotherhood, because it never looses sight of who the main characters are and why they are important to the story (albeit alternative story). Also the music. Did i mention how great the music is in FMA 2003? It's so god damn memorable!

[@ebnovels]

Nicko Mocanu haha, I love the music in FMAB, but I’m sure the 2003 one is great :) And I don’t mind that we learn more about the world and other characters. I haven’t seen other stories do that as well as FMA does, so idk if I’d like that difference in the other version. Regardless, FMA is awesome 😄

[@elrilmoonweaver4723]

@@ebnovels Lemme link you two iconic songs from FMA 2003 (if you don't mind). The first is called Way Home: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWmykpyKg5Z-Zqc (my fav of the two) and the second Brothers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIm0faWhjJhmnJI (yes, it's sung in Russian).

[@chyenneslittlebookshop589]

I haven’t watched Brotherhood or read the books yet BUT I have watched Full Metal Alchemist just the regular one and I loved it! I want to pick up the manga ASAP

[@dsaillant811]

Absolutely watch the show and/or pick up the manga! Good that you watched the first series, because Brotherhood rushes through the begging up through the Lab 5 arc (8 episodes in Brotherhood, 25 in the original), so having the context of the first series helps understanding the beginning of Brotherhood.

[@ebnovels]

Chyennes Little Bookshop I hope you love the manga!!! 💗💗💗

[@chiefpurrfect8389]

Yeeees. Even if they aren't into manga/comics people should at least give Fullmetal Alchemist a chance because it's storytelling gold. On a side note, do you have any other manga/comics (or even anime) that you are into Elliot?

[@ebnovels]

I honestly haven’t watched many. If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them! 😄

[@chiefpurrfect8389]

@@ebnovels Oh well, you brought this upon yourself. I'm going to recommend stuff I think you'd enjoy based on your favorite book series and I should probably begin by saying that I'm one of those insufferable "the manga was better" people, except for when I'm not- which isn't all that often. It isn't that there's something wrong with anime, it's just that when adapting a manga some things are inevitably changed to best utilize the animation medium and I prefer to experience stories exactly as originally intended by the writer/artist but that's just me. For every (spoiler free, duh!) recommendation I will let you know if there's also a manga and/or anime adaptation and if there are notable differences between them. I will begin with lighter stuff and then get to the more mature and dark ones. 1. *"Mahou Tsukai No Yome"* or alternatively "The Ancient Magus' Bride" in English. It's the story of Chise, a teenage girl in an alternative present-day world who was born with a great talent for magic and has been accompanied by tragedy because of it since she was a baby. It begins with her being auctioned along with other magical creatures and oddities and being bought by Elias, a magician who is a rather unfortunate conjoining of several magical creatures and a human. Despite appearances, he takes her to his home as his apprentice and offers her the life of leisure she never had. Things aren't quite as perfect however, with the story setting the question of whether Elias is capable of human empathy or emotion at all and if he looks out for Chise because he has come to care for her or merely because it's expected of him to care for her. On the other hand, Chise seems to be fine being thought of as a mere necessity by him because she puts zero value on herself and her life. The show deals with heavy themes like depression, suicide and loss and I think they are handled really maturely, they are never romanticized or taken lightly but at the same time it's not overbearing. Despite being a young protagonist Chise is very likable and believable, her character arc is written extremely well and her relationship with Elias and its development is very interesting to see- the author said that she wanted to write a Beauty-and-The-Beast kind of story where maybe the monster doesn't have to change into a handsome prince in order to be loved. The art is beautiful, the manga is still ongoing and while there was a well-made anime adaptation that covers a good chunk of the story, it left out quite a few parts so if you want the full experience I recommend you read manga. 2. *Mushishi* or alternatively "The Bug Master". Enter a world where simple lifeforms called "mushi" coexist or form parasitic bonds with humans. The story follows Ginko, a witch-doctor who specializes in these spirits in his monster-of-the-week-formatted adventures. The story of this one isn't really anything revolutionary, its beauty lies in its simplicity and the emotions it generates in you through ambiance, which is why I recommend that you stick to the anime with this one since the medium helps convey the ambiance better, although there is also a manga if you are interested. Both mediums are completed. It's a very relaxing and beautiful show, but also kind of eerie and otherworldly. It's one of those "grab a snack and chill" series but it's far from being mindless entertainment. 3. *Vinland Saga* . This one is historical fiction. It's the story of Thorfinn, a young viking who goes from battlefield to battlefield in his quest to take revenge on the man who killed his father. At first it sounds like your typical revenge story- and for a pretty big part of it, it is- but then shit that I'm not about to spoil happens and there's a major shift as to what kind of story it is and its tone. I have seen people saying they felt alienated or even sort of "cheated" by that shift because they had signed up for a very different kind of story when they got into the manga, but I liked the new story despite the pacing slowing down quite a bit and in retrospect I understand why, while I also understand why the first part of the story had to be so contradictory to the rest of it. I don't want to give away too much, to me Vinland saga is a commentary on war, human nature and peace so if historical fiction or vikings are your thing maybe give it a try. As of right now there is only the manga which is still ongoing but I will warn you beforehand that while the art has a rough and raw beauty to it it is very detailed, so the gore sometimes hits a little too close to home- and it *is* a gory manga, especially in the first arcs- though personally I give it a pass because I think it's there to help make a point rather than be there solely for shock value. 4. *"Shingeki No Kyojin"* or as you might have heard it "Attack on Titan". I'm always a bit hesitant to recommend this one because many people dislike it on the basis of it being extremely popular and "mainstream" completely ignoring what it is that makes it resonate with people to begin with. The story is set in a fantastical place that is guarded by high walls in order to keep the last surviving people safe from Titans, huge human-like beings that are absolutely ridiculous and terrifying at the same time. They are of really low intelligence and they act on impulse. The story follows Eren, a young boy dreaming of freedom and open spaces and begins when a Titan taller than the walls appears out of thin air and kicks a hole so big through them that the rest of the Titans pour in and start to eat the people- who were terribly unprepared for the situation. Eren has to witness his mother being eaten by one of them and once he is taken to safety he vows to exterminate every single one of the Titans. And if all this sounds painfully generic- good- because it's meant to. The most interesting thing about this manga is that it begins in a very black-and-white monsters-bad humanity-good mentality and that's because it follows the undeveloped mentality of the protagonist who is ultimately a traumatized kid at this point. The more his character matures and the story progresses, the more it diverges to a morally gray one to the point where currently you can't really call any party involved the "good" or "bad" guys. The characters are more likable and well-written than people usually give them credit for but the biggest asset is the plot. It's tightly woven and well-thought out, there is intrigue, the plot twists and foreshadowing are done well and it's similar to Game of Thrones in the sense that the stakes are always believable and you never know who is going to actually die next. There's lot's of gore and the whole apocalypse situation with giant humanoids who look like they are too drunk to function is definitely unique- too unique for some I understand. Like it or hate it, Attack on Titan definitely isn't something you've seen before and if you are feeling like it's something that might interest you there's always the ongoing manga and three anime seasons as of right now. There are many people who think that the art of the manga isn't good, I can see why they think so from a technical point of view but I still find it charming despite admittedly looking awkward. Additionally, since you are into political intrigue I suggest skipping the third season and reading the manga thereafter because the politics are a lot more nuanced there. Lastly, I've an honorary mention - *Berserk* - and not because I don't think it's as great as the rest, mind you. In fact it's one of the manga that are considered classics, European-inspired dark fantasy became a big thing in the manga industry after Berserk. It's the depressing story Guts, who is fighting constantly against demons who are attracted to him because of a mark which was given to him when he was offered as a sacrifice to the demon gods in the past. Saying anything else would be a spoiler. I have a very strong love-hate relationship with this manga, it really isn't for the faint of heart. I love it for having such psychologically complex and well-written characters but at the same time I hate it for being so cruel to them. It's filled with gore, explicit content and sexual violence and the art is just so well done and detailed that you get to see the characters you love suffer in 1800p- because why the hell not. It does a great job with subverting tropes and expectations- the villain is the chosen one and Guts is no hero- he is just some dude who has had the shittiest life imaginable and is too pissed off to die- his actions are morally questionable more often than not. The manga goes way back but is still ongoing because long hiatuses aren't unusual for it and so far it has had three anime adaptations- one in 1997 and two more recent in 2016 and 2017. 1997's is outdated (though that's the one I recommend if you must watch the anime, unless old animation bugs you) while 2016 and 2017's are CGI, which really doesn't work with Berserk. It's just bad. The reason why I'm so hesitant to recommend Berserk is that you should probably check out the rest first and if stuff like "Vinland Saga" or "Attack on Titan" are too heavy or too explicit for you then this one is definitely too much. Welp. I hope I sold you into checking out at least one of these bad boys. Happy reading! Or watching. Or both.

[@333pinkelephant333]

@@chiefpurrfect8389 I couldn't get over the pedophilic relationship in the Ancient Magus' Bride and I couldn't continue on with the series even though I really loved the whole ambiance of the manga (haven't watched the anime). If the male protagonist looked like a 15 year old like Edward Cullen did in Twilight even though he's technically like 200 or something then maybe but he looks like 30 something in human form AND THAT'S JUST WRONG!!!

[@chiefpurrfect8389]

333pinkelephant333 First off, let me begin by saying that I understand why someone would find it off-putting. I’m not going to dispute the validity of your quarrels, I can only explain what it is that ultimately redeems it to me. To begin with, there’s nothing actually sexual about their relationship. One could say that there are some romantic undertones sprinkled here and there but nothing that exceeds the platonic. Chise isn’t framed or drawn in a sexualized way either. And yes, you can make a point about the show playing Elias’ “you’ll be my wife” lines towards Chise for jokes, but I still think it’s important to consider two things- first one being that such lines need to be contextualized in-universe and in-character. The thing is, I don’t think Elias even has such thing as a sexual interest so far. Let me explain. Elias is a humanoid creature but he only understands human emotions, concepts and behavior in a superficial way, something that he himself admits pretty early on. Like his dragon keeper friend said (god I can’t remember his name, Leander? Lysander? Something like that) Elias taking Chise under his wing is like watching a child pretending to be an adult to another child. He simply isn’t there yet. Now combine that with the fact that in their world apprentices become “children” or “brides” and “grooms” to those they study magic under, and you get Elias making a shit-ton of jokes about Chise being “his bride” without fully comprehending what that statement truly entails. For example, there’s that scene early on where he takes Chise to his home, decides she should clean up and takes her clothes off so she can get into the bathtub. Despite this scene sounding clearly reprehensible when described, it really didn’t give me the vibe it was some creepy old dude getting it on by stripping a teenage girl of her clothes when watching it. To Elias Chise’s nudity wasn’t something of sexual or ANY interest, it was the same as you adopting a puppy off the streets and taking it home to give it a bath- he even calls her as much. By making Chise’s undressing process easier he was just being a super attentive host in his skewed understanding of human social behavior and customs. It’s also worth noting that when it comes to the framing the manga/show doesn’t depict this as a weirdly sexual situation and it doesn’t take this as an opportunity to make a spectacle out of Chise’s naked body. And again, you can make the argument that it still looks bad and that trivializing this inappropriate behavior as a joke is still detrimental- to which I say... fine. Like, I don’t think your issues with it are invalid in any way or that you are being oversensitive about this. It’s just that when I- personally- put this story into context and perspective, I’m just not as weirded out and I don’t think that anyone’s going to think this behavior is suddenly acceptable because some anime creature thought so, especially when you have a bunch of characters within the story calling him out and punishing him for it, which is ultimately what becomes the butt of the joke most of the times. All in all, people love to pin this on Japanese culture “being weird about teens” but I still think that accusing this story of being tone-deaf is unfair considering it has done a great job handling its darker and more serious issues- mental illness, suicide, death, identity and much more. Chise and Elias begin their character arcs from a place of absolute dehumanization. Chise willingly turns herself into property and Elias only buys her and covers her needs hoping it will make him appear more human to those constantly dehumanizing him. And once these two people are brought together they influence each other, butt heads and ultimately gain their own sense of self and agency. This is the story of The Ancient Magus Bride at its core and I think it’s a powerful story that many people could take something valuable out of- despite its different cultural values, or shortcomings in certain areas, or whatever else you want to call it.

[@eylonaharon6560]

Fullmetal alchemist brotherhood is my all time favourite series 🤩🤩🤩 ( I'm taking about the anime )

[@bedehenderson8414]

As soon as you mentioned Final Fantasy X, it was like the final nail into the coffin, and any reason to not read this manga disappeared. That game was amazing.

[@amieereads8452]

I have watched it several times but I have not read it yet! I am going to give it a try!

[@ebnovels]

ambooklife yay!!! I haven’t read it all yet, but so far there’s even more humor in the manga :)

[@nerdieone1]

FMA is amazing, I loved the original series of the anime. I've not seen BROTHERHOOD yet but it's on my list. The manga is on my list too. :)

[@nerdieone1]

FFX YEES!! ;_;

[@ohgodwhy9853]

I've thought about it over the years but frankly it's not hard to say Fullmetal is almost quite literally one of the greatest mangas of the 2000s out of mainstream stuff but is far better than it has any business being compared to stuff within the same genre and beyond. It's a perfect gateway series and while Arwakawa hasn't done much if this were her only work it would be able to stand with the same integrity other people in her medium strive for within entire careers.

[@aymenbichou04gaming]

I was looking for Manga series to read, I guess I found it!

[@leah492]

I did look for the first volume at my library this week but it was checked out! 😂

[@ebnovels]

Leah K oh no! Well hopefully it’ll be returned soon :)

[@sophiasthoughts]

Ordered a bond up of volumes 1-3 😉 arriving tomorrow 😋

[@ebnovels]

Sophia's Thoughts yay!!! Feel free to update me in future videos, even if they have nothing to do with FMA 😄

[@sophiasthoughts]

@@ebnovels I will do!! Just on skyward now so maybe I'll pick it up when I'm done with that which shouldn't be long, let's be honest! 🤣 x

[@Evan-uw1hw]

Goated

[@Revanchist]

FMA did surpass the source material but on the contrary it's still a great adaptation and tells an amazing story unlike Game of Thrones. Highly recommend the 2003 adaptation.

[@ilcosmodijess]

Girl, do you have an Amazon link where I can find Fullmetal alchemist like yours that is all in 1 book??? 😅

[@ebnovels]

This is the link to the first three volumes bound together :) www.amazon.com/Fullmetal-Alchemist-Vol-1-3-3/dp/1421540185/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542128494&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=fullmetal+alchemist+volume+1-3&dpPl=1&dpID=51SJZ0eN1WL&ref=plSrch

[@joshuagomes2045]

Ur voice is nice

[@elindigeno1215]

Hey is you again! I went on a shopping rampage today. Barnes and Noble had a promotion for Viz Media. Buy one, get one free and I have always wanted to read this manga series. My wife always gives me a hard time when I go purchase new books. I bought 5 mangas, and 2 "regular" books. That's hilarious when I would borrow books from the library, the librarian gave me a hard time as well and told me many times to stop reading manga, comic books, and to read an actual book. I started reading comic books and slowly I have gradually to reading manga. Manga us 10 times better than your weekly comics. I bought Fullmetal alchemist Fullmetal edition. Let's see how it is.

[@bookswithalyssaj449]

guess i should go read fullmetal alchemist!

[@ebnovels]

It’s fantastic!

[@charitywritesbooks2828]

You should watch wisecrack video on the philosophy of FMA brotherhood

[@ebnovels]

Charity Writes Books I’ll have to look into it :)

[@musiclistner94]

Are you going to do more reading vlogs? :)

[@ebnovels]

Hopefully! Probably not for a little bit, but I am dog sitting my mom’s dog next weekend...he does make for a great little reading vlog star 😆

[@musiclistner94]

@@ebnovels That is very true! Cutest dog ever

[@diegoferreira7642]

Fmab is my favorite anime i have to read the manga. P.D: fma(manga/Brotherhood)>>>>>>>>>>Fma(2003) imo

[@mariogrozdenin3596]

no

[@skijumpnose]

I enjoy the anime also and this is my top 5 manga 5. Ranma 1/2 4. One Piece 3. Cage Of Eden 2. Tokyo Ghoul 1. Blue Exorcist

[@ebnovels]

I’ll have to check some of those out :) The hubby is just getting into Tokyo Ghoul 🖤

[@sushanthreddy1779]

@@ebnovels oh Tokyo ghoul is very gory especially it's current ongoing sequel. I think Death Note is my favorite dark themed manga and the anime is also great both versions. Please don't watch the Netflix drivel. Also if you are interested read Hunter x Hunter, it has the best magic system Nen of any book/manga

[@michaelfeeney6108]

I plan to. I actually got the whole set from Barnes and Noble when they did a ‘buy 2 get one free’ deal on manga a few years ago. A bit pricy but cheaper than elsewhere due to the deal! @feeney86

[@michaelfeeney6108]

Are you into graphic novels like your husband at all? Any recommendations? Ask him if he’s read any Ed Brubaker. I just read Kill or be Killed and enjoyed it for the most part. Not sure if you use your local library, but if they have Hoopla, it’s awesome. Not all libraries have it- more have Overdrive. Hoopla has more selection and no wait time to borrow ebooks and audiobooks. Their comic/graphic novel selection is vast and really current, with new releases all the time. I read Kill or be Killed on my iPad.

[@michaelfeeney6108]

Your husband commented back to me once to read Descender- I’ve finally started it!

[@ebnovels]

Oh yay! Are you liking it? And he just finished Kill or be Killed :D What were the pros and cons for you? Also, Sean uses Hoopla all the time :D

[@michaelfeeney6108]

Elliot Brooks Pros and cons for Kill or be Killed? It was a fun ride. I didn’t necessarily love the ending (abrupt) and while I agreed with what he tried to say, it felt a little preachy.

[@prpunkskater1]

I never understood why the majority of SFF lovers don't like manga as well, there are so much fantastic stories and much better developed characters than in many popular books. I guess the visualization or the 'perceived length" of the thing throws them off? 🤷‍♂️. Also in my house we are the opposite to you and Sean, I read about 70% SFF and 30% manga, my wife reads 80% manga and 20% books. She will read a regular manga book in under an hour and ask for the next volume and I'll say 'the next one releases in 3 months' 😂

[@Rashadmcka]

Abner One of the reasons I like manga is how quickly I can read through the story, even an extremely long series seems manageable. Where shows and novels take so much more time

[@ebnovels]

Abner hahaha, that’s awesome that you’re basically the reverse of us :D I’ve never understood why there aren’t more either. Obviously not every manga is going to be everyone’s thing, but that’s the case with SFF too 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@prpunkskater1]

@@ebnovels yup, exactly, so much variety, for fantasy style mangas I'll say Full Metal Alchemist and Seven Deadly sins are pretty much an illustrated fantasy book, if comics are your thing then My Hero Academia it is.

[@Devilman6066]

I am not watching this for the right reasons. 😢

[@cenycal]

But the binding is on the wrong side 😵 I've never read any manga and have struggled to enjoy anime. Regarding anime, characters always seem 1 dimensional and plot twists used as a crutch rather than good story. But, maybe, I'll consider reading this sometime. You are very persuasive

[@RugerTooWavy]

Try Boku no Pico.... its the best anime for newcomers and it got great story and really really good action set pieces

[@agnesmetanomski6730]

Many anime might be that way, with rather flat characters and boring plot, but there's such a huge number of animes, and quite a few very good ones in the middle. It all depends of what kind of stories you like. But among my favourite animes are "Boku dake ga inai machi", "Aldnoah zero", "Zankyou no terror", "Re: zero kara hajimeru isekai seikatsu". I find I prefer the shorter animes usually, those that are at most 26 episodes long.

[@dsaillant811]

Japanese reads vertically and from right to left, basically the opposite of English. Hence the binding is backwards. On the end of character, a lot of the mainstream basic anime can seem shallow, but FMA is not one of them. The character development in FMA is brilliant.

[@ebnovels]

Collin Carter I hope you enjoy it :) I think all genres can have stories that aren’t any good.