Fullmetal Alchemist (TV series)

Fullmetal Alchemist (Japanese: 鋼の錬金術師, Hepburn: Hagane no Renkinjutsushi) is a Japanese anime television series loosely based on the manga series Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa. It was produced by Bones for Mainichi Broadcasting System and Aniplex. The anime series is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Shō Aikawa.

The series aired a total of 51 episodes on MBS, TBS and its affiliates from October 2003 to October 2004. It was originally licensed in North America by Funimation and broadcast English dubbed on Adult Swim in the United States from November 2004 to March 2006. In July 2016, Funimation's license for the series expired and it was transferred over to Aniplex of America.

Just like in the manga, the anime series follows the adventures of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who are searching for the Philosopher's Stone so they can regain the bodies they lost in a failed attempt to bring their deceased mother back to life. During production on the anime, Arakawa requested a screenwriter-led original ending for the series that differed from the manga, which was still being actively published at the time. This led to the anime deviating into an entirely original story direction around the first dozen episodes. Despite the series not directly adapting the manga it was based on, it still managed to receive critical acclaim. The anime's storyline concluded with a sequel film, subtitled Conqueror of Shamballa, which released in Japanese theaters in July 2005. An anime television series reboot, titled Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, broadcast on the same original networks from April 2009 to July 2010. Unlike the original anime series, it faithfully adapts the entire story from the manga.