- Director: Yasuhiro Irie
- Year: 2009
Overview
Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, use alchemy in a failed attempt to bring their dead mother back to life. The attempt goes wrong, leaving Edward without a leg and arm, and Alphonse as a soul bound to a suit of armor. They become state alchemists to search for the Philosopher's Stone, which they hope will restore their bodies. Along the way, they uncover a government conspiracy that plans to sacrifice the entire nation for power.
Takeaways
Alchemy is run on the law of Equivalent Exchange, which means you don't get something for nothing. The brothers learn this the hard way when their attempt to revive their mom fails and costs them their bodies. The government conspiracy is run by people who treat human lives as expendable resources for their own selfish power trip. Ed and Al can't defeat them alone, so they have to build real trust with friends and allies to stop the plot. Their final win shows that trying to cheat the natural balance of life with the Philosopher's Stone isn't worth the price, and you have to accept the reality of the world.