Even though the anime concluded over a decade ago, Hiromu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is still heralded as one of the greatest titles in the community. The anime features the story of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, and their quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone.
From splendid visuals to enthralling storytelling, Fullmetal Alchemist has captivated several fans to the beloved series. Not to forget, it has dominated the peak of the famous anime ranking list for over a decade, highlighting its immense popularity among fans. Hiromu Arakawa is celebrated for her iconic characters; however, there’s one character in the series with whom she feels the strongest personal connection.
Fullmetal Alchemist‘s Creator Shares Deepest Personal Bond with a Character
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is arguably one of the most recognized shonen series in the anime community. With only 64 episodes, the anime doesn’t overwhelm a potential newcomer with too much pressure like One Piece or Naruto. Besides the enthralling plot, Fullmetal Alchemist‘s unique power system makes it stand out from the rest of the Shonen series.
The show is based on alchemy and its laws, which continue to leave a long-lasting impression on the audience. After the disastrous attempt to resurrect their mother, Arakawa introduces fans to the challenging journeys of two beloved protagonists and exceeds fans’ expectations with each episode.
Alphonse, who is the younger and nicer brother, is commonly regarded as the stronger fighter between the two. While the debate over which brother stands out more has long persisted, Hiromu Arakawa has subtly shared her thoughts on the subject.
When questioned about which character reflects her the most, Arakawa made a surprising revelation. She said:
Well, since all of the characters came from me, there must be a part of each of them that resembles me in some way…For instance, my assistant Yuzuka tells me that I resemble Ed. And my other assistant Takaeda tells me that I resemble Izumi. But I’m not that hot-headed!!!
Interestingly, Arakawa once shared her insights on the character with whom she feels the strongest personal connection. Fullmetal Alchemist‘s author grew up in a large family with three older sisters and a younger brother. Unlike most of her siblings, Arakawa was the quiet soul of the family, often staying out of trouble by following a different path than her elder sisters.
Arakawa’s quiet nature adds an unexpected connection to the younger Elric brother, highlighting why the mangaka feels the closest to Alphonse Elric. Alphonse Elric was showcased as an obliging character who often tries to avoid conflict unlike his big brother, Edward. The mangaka identifies most with Alphonse due to their similar quiet nature and upbringing in childhood.
Arakawa’s Favorite Fullmetal Alchemist Manga Panel Was Omitted from the Anime
Despite enthralling fans for over a decade, Hiromu Arakawa faced tons of backlash for Fullmetal Alchemist‘s controversial epilogue. Regardless, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood remains a classic as it establishes an engaging storyline with realistic and likable characters.
Surprisingly, Arakawa’s favorite manga panel never made it into the anime, leaving many fans missing out. The legend disclosed her favorite manga panel to be ‘Dog of the Military.’ Dog of the Military is the extra story Arakawa included in the last part of volume 4. The story depicts the experiences of a stray puppy at East H.Q.
The reason Arakawa chose ‘Dog of the Military’ as her favorite was that she found the story enjoyable and effortless to create. The mangaka also mentions the famous “I’m a housewife” scene and regards it as one of the most special panels of their career, as it represents a powerful statement.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
