No more alchemist...

[invitan]

I know that you know that we know that everyone knows that youknow that one of the most epic shounen ever has come to an end. The very last chapter of FMA has been put up on onemanga on 11 June with a nice 112 pages. 

So what do you think about the series overall? 

I'm actually very new to FMA. I just started watching the first anime about a year and a half ago, and since then have been devouring both anime series as well as the manga. Personally, I like it as a series, as well as the characters in general, and I think Arakawa-sensei has a powerful narrative ability. The series is full of twists, with good character development. Overall, it is really one of the best shounen series I've read. 

However, the ending of the manga is somewhat disappointing to me. My expectation was built up from her excellent narration even from the start, as well as the ending of the first anime, and I really feel that the ending didn't do the series justice. I mean happy ending is good and all, but it's a bit too predictable, and too cliche for my taste. I don't mean that I want some half-assed tear jerker tragic ending, but this resolution is just too perfect, with a touch of deus ex machina. I mean, come on, Ed's battle against Pride is just too anti-climatic with Kimblee's sudden interference = =  I like Winry and all, but Ed's and Winry's romantic development is just too rapid Y__Y

I really think I like the first anime's ending way better. Instead of the normal cliche final EPIC battle, the final episodes of the first anime were full of alchemy, raw emotions and philosophy, with really unexpected and creative twists yet satisfying enough. The open ending even sets the premise for the movie, which is also excellent. I mean when I finished the first anime, I really didn't feel that FMA had ended, instead it was like an ongoing journey to me, with other episodes still unfolded ahead. The ending of the manga, however, is too complete, really. Except for the part when Ed and Al part way to travel around - I think it's a nice touch. But other than that...

WeI guess it's just me being too nitpicky, really. At least no one dies = = (except for Hohenheim, but he wanted to die anyway *roll eyes*)



 

Comments

[andyprue.livejournal.com]

Seconded with my life \o/.

Considering how impressed I was with FMA in the beginning, I was certainly...unimpressed with the last chapters. Plural. Maybe I've seen this kind of ending coming from about several months ago that it wasn't a big deal in my head. I actually have to force myself to pick it up again after a long drop, because somewhere near the end it got kinda too predictable for me. Of course I'm not talking about such details like how Ed and Al got their limbs and body back, but the general idea - final formidable enemy, big battle, everyone combine forces, the heroes beating the big bad boss. I agree wholeheartedly about the ending of first anime being more interesting and 'out of the box', one would say.

Of course it's not that bad as I seem to express, but such was my disappointment, or lack thereof. I didn't really feel anything as the end draws near :"/. Maybe it also has something to do with the fact that the exam was hectic and my brain lost the ability to feel =_=. Still.

[invitan.livejournal.com]

Towards the end I kept hoping that there would be some unexpected twists (putting all my trust in Hiromu-sensei's genius story telling skills >_<), but there's none. *sigh* Fans speculated that she might have got tired with FMA (10 years of continuous running with no hiatus, no disruption at all, even when she went through childbirth = =).

Brotherhood is going downhill. I don't know why, starting from episode 2x onwards it has been on track with decent pacing and animation, and suddenly it returns to the awkward and rushed state. Especially episode 61, which is probably the most disappointing ep of the whole series. Two most epic manga chapters are crammed into one crappy anime episode .__. Wonder if they are cutting down on the budget -___-

I suddenly remember that one of the things that usually makes me uneasy during the battles in FMA is that the characters talk too much during battles. This is even worse in the anime when the characters are animated. Seems that every character has some desperate need to talk or something = =

[andyprue.livejournal.com]

Wow, no hiatus even when she's giving birth O___O"?! That's pretty, well, awesome is the word for it O__O"...But yeah, if I were in her situation I'm not sure if there's enough motivation in me to think of an extra-ordinary awesome-enough-to-deserve-the-whole-manga ending :-?
(Still, I have no place to talk since I have a very short attention span =_=)

Oh really? I don't follow the anime but I know this gal who's head over heels with FMA Brotherhood and she keeps praising it non-stop every time so I'm surprise you said that. What's episode 61 about?

Yeah, some stuff when portrayed in the manga may seem normal enough but is extremely awkward when in animated form. I should be thankful battles in OP almost never have complicated conversations :-?.

[invitan.livejournal.com]

Ep 61 is that part after the EPIC ROCK FALLS, when the souls of the Asmetris citizens are returned to their bodies as well as the battle of Ed vs Pride. Seriously, the souls are returned in like the first 5 minutes = = Which is stupid and even more rushed than the manga.