This was my first real introduction to anime, and it got me hooked for life. In this setting, the science of alchemy is equivalent to magic. At a very young age, the Elrich brothers were gifted with extraordinary alchemic abilities, but tragedy struck when they tried to bring their mother back to life. One brother lost a limb, while the soul of the other was transferred into a walking suit of armor (just go with it). In order to right their wrongs, the brothers join the state “police,” but really they are simply using their authority to find the philosopher’s stone that will help them get back what was taken from them. This story expertly intertwines magic with ancient and modern sciences, and is told within the structure of a detective mystery and family drama. You can watch the entire series (one season) on Netflix now.
And once you have, consider exploring the reboot, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which revisits the Elrich brothers’ journey and takes it in a different direction. When the original Full Metal Alchemist aired, the manga upon which it is based was incomplete. Rather than wait for the final books to be written, show creators decided to craft their own ending. Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood retells the popular story in a way that more closely follows the source material. It is a fuller and richer story, but best viewed after completing the original show. (It’s on Netflix, too.)
