Why is Fullmetal Alchemist so popular overseas? Commentary from a Japanese point of view!

Fullmetal Alchemist is a Japanese manga created by Hiromu Arakawa, and in July 2021, the cumulative circulation of the worldwide series has exceeded 80 million.

This article is about why Fullmetal Alchemist is so popular all over the world. If you haven’t read it yet, be careful as this article includes spoilers!

Three major reasons why Fullmetal Alchemist has become so popular all over the world.

Now I will introduce three reasons of the worldwide popularity of Fullmetal Alchemist 

Let’s look at them one by one

A worldview to which you can easily get used to

There is an opinion that the reason why Fullmetal Alchemist is worldwide popular is that there is no repetitive development or rut that is common in Japanese works

But I also found a different and interesting opinion.

That opinion is that the world view of the work imitates modern Europe, and while it is still a Japanese manga, it also pays homage to the industrial revolution of Japan, the history of modern industrialisation, and past wars.

It was easy to get used to because of the author’s unique style of drawing. 

I felt that it was an impression unique to foreigners and that Japanese people couldn’t think of.

Moreover, Fullmetal Alchemist is manga which came out a little bit before Japanese anime and manga became popular overseas, so at that time, I feel like the familiarity with European Culture in Fullmetal Alchemist made people overseas be more interested in Japanese anime and manga. 

By the way, when the Fullmetal Alchemist live-action movie was filmed, it seems that many scenes of it were filmed overseas. 

Growth and suffering of brothers that readers can easily sympathise with

“At the beginning of the story, the main characters – Elric brothers – wanted to “resurrect their mother from the dead”.

Therefore, the brothers perform “human transmutation” of alchemy, which is a contraindication in their world. However, they fail and one brother loses his left leg while the other brother loses his soul and the body.

But his  older brother (Edward) performed a miracle. He managed to attach the soul of his younger brother (Alphonse) in the body of the armour at the cost of his own right arm.

Thus the brother’s wish to resurrect their own mother failed.

A few years later, facing their sins, the brothers go on a journey to find a way to restore their bodies.

Edward became a national alchemist and is known as “Fullmetal Alchemist”.

After all, looking at the reactions of the fans from overseas, there were many people who sympathised both brothers feelings

1. “I don’t think the two should be punished so far. They are still kids”
2. “It makes me sad to see  how they try to get their mother back”

Two young and innocent children using alchemy couldn’t fulfil their wish because of the rules of their world and were punished for that. How would they face their sins?

This is Fullmetal Alchemist, it has a theme that everyone in the world could easily sympathise with and be interested in.

The ending and an answer to the alchemy they were looking for which even fans can be satisfied with

As the brothers continue their journey to find a Philosopher’s Stone, when they come really close to it, during the final battle, Edward’s arm prosthesis gets broken.

At that time, Alphonse dedicated his soul to the mind door and regained Edward’s true left arm. Then he remained in the door and returned to his original body.

“I believe Edward will come to pick me up.”

Using alchemy with his left arm, which Alphonse has regained, Edward, who won the battle, thinks of ways to regain Alphonse.

However, they vowed not to sacrifice anyone’s life to regain their bodies.

And Edward found an answer how to regain his brother: 

“Abandon your own alchemy (mind door)”

So instead of being able to use alchemy, he was able to regain Alphonse.

That was the end of their quest, and finally the brothers could return to their peaceful days.

Many overseas fans stated that it was good to see both grow.

• It was a mistake to think that alchemy could solve everything in the first place “Even if you can’t use alchemy, I have everyone by my side!” Edward decided to believe in humans,  that he could do anything if he had everyone by his side. Alchemy… God is not needed. I’m glad he got his answer. 
• In the latter half of the story, the two grew up a lot even though they are still 16 years old. Growth is not an easy thing to do. If you think you have grown up, you fail again. That way you  go one step further. I wonder if this is what the story tells us through the journey of the brothers. That’s what I thought. 

The first topic of  the story is sin. The final topic is how to deal with sin.

In fact, Fullmetal Alchemist is a work that makes you realise that important things are always nearby.

From the comments from overseas, the message from the author has been reached firmly.

Because of this, I could feel that people’s thoughts and wishes are universal.

Postscript

In summary, the fact that the world view, theme, and simplicity of the story are easy for readers to understand and sympathise with the characters is probably the main reason why Fullmetal Alchemist is so popular all over the world.

Recently, a new smartphone app game is being produced.

If you haven’t read it yet or if you’re already a fan of Fullmetal Alchemist you should check it out!

See you in the next article!