Since the trend of the anime and manga industry has peaked, many new anime and manga series have been released that have tried to be popular among the community. Most of these belong to the fantasy genre, and while some series like Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen have managed to do it, they still lack in some way.
However, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the masterpiece of Hiromu Arakawa, has managed to retain its title as the best fantasy anime series for such a long time. Its characters, storyline, and animation may contribute to it, but the main reason why it is considered the best is because of its power system.
As the name suggests, the power system of Fullmetal Alchemist is based on alchemy and its laws, which, once understood, make the series even more interesting for fans. Also, unlike other anime or manga series, the laws of Fullmetal Alchemist’s power system are the same for everyone, be it the protagonist of the series or the antagonist.
The Power System of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The show centers on the travels of two brothers who are alchemists, Edward and Alphonse Elric, from a fictional universe where alchemy is a widely accepted science. They are looking for the philosopher’s stone to heal their bodies following a botched effort to bring their mother back to life.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was adapted from the original Fullmetal Alchemist manga, and the alchemy power system is explained throughout the story. According to the story, it enables individuals to influence or transform matter by utilizing energy from nature in a process known as transmutation.
The process consists of three stages: comprehension, which calls for an understanding of the fundamental structure of any substance; deconstruction, which uses energy to disassemble the material’s physical structure; and reconstruction, which uses the same energy to reshape the material into a different shape.
The central concept of alchemy revolves around the Law of Equivalent Exchange, which states that in order to make anything, something of identical worth must be traded or lost. This law is equal for everyone, and it doesn’t change depending on the importance of character.
What Makes Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood The Best Fantasy Anime?
Although the power system of Fullmetal Alchemist may feel like a drag from an outside perspective, it is pretty simple and easy to understand. This is because the storyline of the series explains everything step by step without leaving any particular aspect as a mystery for the future, like Jujutsu Kaisen or Bleach.
Another aspect that makes it the best is that the laws introduced in the story are set in stone for everyone else. Even the protagonists, Edward and Alphonse, had to follow the Law of Equivalent Exchange, which led to them losing their body parts (or the whole body in the case of Alphonse). They don’t use plot armor like One Piece to save their protagonist and move forward with the story.
All of these facts demonstrate that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood strictly adheres to the standards of the fantasy anime genre, which is why it is widely regarded as the best anime series of all time by many anime fans.
You can watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood anime on Netflix and Hulu.
