Common Sense Media Review
By Lien Murakami
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful anime explores mature themes with some gore.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Parents say this anime showcases a compelling narrative centering on two brothers fighting to reclaim their bodies after a tragic experiment gone wrong. While the series is highly praised for its deep themes and character development, many reviews highlight its graphic violence and mature content, making it more suitable for older audiences rather than younger children.
- deep themes
- graphic violence
- mature content
- character development
- older audience recommended
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 119 kid reviews
Kids say this series is a masterpiece that combines complex themes of loss and morality with intense action, but it is not suitable for younger viewers due to its graphic violence and mature content. Many reviewers highlight the emotional depth of the storytelling, strong character development, and the philosophical questions posed, recommending it for audiences aged 13 and above, while warning parents about the frequent gory scenes and dark subject matter.
- masterpiece
- intense action
- graphic violence
- emotional depth
- complex themes
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In a world where an advanced science of alchemy allows practitioners to transform and control various elements, brothers Edward (Vic Mignogna) and Alphonse Elric (Maxey Whitehead) are prodigal young alchemists who literally lose parts of themselves in an attempt to resurrect their dead mother in FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD. Alphonse loses his entire body and Edgar sacrifices his arm and leg in order to attach his brother's soul to a suit of armor. The brothers are forced into military service where they battle enemies of the state while searching for a powerful object called the philosopher's stone which they believe will help them return their bodies back to normal.
Is It Any Good?
Manga purists should be ecstatic as not only is the original storyline kept intact, but the art is closer to that of the manga as well. This is the second anime series adaptation of the popular Japanese manga series Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa. Unlike first Fullmetal Alchemist series which had its own original plotlines, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood reboots the Elric brothers' story as it appears in the manga. Fans of the first anime series who have not read the manga series may be a little disappointed that Brotherhood is not a sequel, however, there are enough differences in plot to keep things interesting for those familiar with the series.
Despite containing many visual and thematic conventions common to the genre (the prodigal youths, violent adversaries, over the top destruction, and giant sweat drops), the storyline contains an enjoyable balance of action, tragedy, humor, and surprisingly mature themes. The Elric brothers and their large supporting cast are generally well thought out with believable motivations. The villains have some dimension to them and are not purely evil or misguided minions as they are in many more mainstream series. This combination of great characterizations, as well as some solid pacing and believable plot points make Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood stand out as a worthy time investment for any anime fan or newcomer with the maturity to handle the more violent aspects and the attention span to understand the complex plot points.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of mature anime. Teens: What attracts you to anime? How does watching a serious story told through animation change the story? What would Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood be like in live-action? What themes do you notice recurring in mature anime?
Talk about alchemy. What is alchemy in this story? What does alchemy mean in our world? How can you find out more?
Does the violence in this series help advance the story? Would the episodes have the same impact without the violence? Does watching violent TV or movies have any effect on you (nightmares, aggression, release of negative emotions, elation)?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 14, 2010
- Cast : Romi Pak , Vic Mignogna
- Network : Adult Swim
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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