Hiromu Arakawa’s fame with Fullmetal Alchemist has been exceptional. Any little criticism that may come with it quickly gets overshadowed by the wonderful storytelling and depiction of so many different factors. The approach taken towards the series is unique to a point where everything comes out as well-researched. The amount of care put into its making has helped both the original series and Brotherhood to stand atop a pedestal.
It was a story about war that had a roller coaster ride of emotions. Each and every step taken, each chapter introduced, gave a sense of eagerness for the fans. However, there also came a risk with introducing such a genre and angle at that time. As if Arakawa didn’t already have enough problems as a female shonen writer.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Almost Didn’t Make It
During an interview in the Fullmetal Alchemist Chronicle Artbook (via Jojo Wiki), Hiromu Arakawa sat down with JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure mangaka Hirohiko Araki. The latter talked about how starting a manga with views that contrasted a Japanese outlook was very unorthodox when he first pitched the idea. It took him a long time to get his series to reach its highest fame.
I was told that it would be difficult to set a story in a foreign country with a foreign main character. Such a manga was in danger of being questioned at any time by the magazine’s editorial team. I guess I was a bit cocky at the time. I wanted to challenge the rules and jinxes of shonen manga. As long as I respected the principles of Shonen Jump, which are ‘Friendship,’ ‘Effort,’ and ‘Victory,’ why not include Western characters?
The story was started at a time when the rules of Shonen’s writing weren’t as flexible. There was a certain code meant to be followed and it came with strict adherence to norms. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is the exact opposite of all that. When Araki first pitched the idea, it was frowned upon greatly.
It was nowhere near the masterpiece it stands as today. The very chance of its success was near to none and he was even advised not to set the story in a foreign setting so as to anticipate the audience’s reaction. However, dedication and vision together helped form a strong idea.
Hiromu Arakawa’s Big Gamble
During his conversation with Hiromu Arakawa, Hirohiko Araki acknowledged how the Fullmetal Alchemist mangaka also took a very similar risk. At the time both their manga came out, the chances of their success could have easily been sabotaged because of the settings and names that they used.
I was told that a bizarre long-running drama series would not be a hit in the manga world. That’s why it was a miracle that an editor appreciated my universe, encouraged me, and allowed JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to get serialized. For that reason, choosing the name ‘Elric’ in Fullmetal would have been dangerous at the time.
Arakawa chose to go for the name Elric for both the brothers, a choice that could have negatively impacted her series. Understanding one’s vision and giving it the right path can change much about a story. He pointed out how such a simple decision was also a glaring risk in the name of Fullmetal Alchemist’s fame.
The right hand behind one’s back can also give the right push. Both Arakawa and Araki got the right push regardless of how unusual their works were. They weren’t ones to immediately bend to Shonen tropes but that didn’t mean their stories would remain untold.
Fullmetal Alchemist and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure are available to watch on Hulu.
