How to watch ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ in order

Fullmetal Alchemist is generally (and correctly) considered one of the greatest anime franchises of all time.The series follows two brothers, Edward and Alphonse, who attempt alchemy’s ultimate taboo — human transmutation — only to pay the price for their actions by losing parts of themselves.

To gain back what they have lost, the two set out to find the philosopher’s stone and uncover a conspiracy. Fullmetal Alchemist is a perfect combination of comedy and tragedy and is full of characters you grow to love (or love to hate), but figuring out how to experience the story can be a challenge. 

Watching Fullmetal Alchemist isn’t as simple as starting at episode one and pressing play. There are two full-length anime adaptations, five films, and a manga spanning 108 chapters. Adding to the difficulty, both anime series have passionate fans who argue how new viewers should approach their first watch. Luckily I’m here to tell you that picking where to start your Fullmetal Alchemist is easier than you think.

Fullmetal Alchemist watch order

If you’re watching Fullmetal Alchemist for the first time, I strongly recommend starting with Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Both Brotherhood and the 2003 anime begin in the same place but that’s where the story’s similarities end. The 2003 anime’s story goes in a wildly different direction while Brotherhood more faithfully adapts the events of the manga.

During production of the first series, the manga’s author, Hiromu Arakawa, suggested the anime have a different conclusion than the ongoing manga. The studio followed her wishes and the result, honestly speaking, feels like fan fiction. It’s worth a watch if you finished Brotherhood and want more of the characters but it’s not necessary otherwise.

In my opinion, you only need to watch Brotherhood to experience the best of Fullmetal Alchemist. If you finish that and still want to experience more, the recommended watch order is: 

1. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
2. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos 
3. Fullmetal Alchemist
4. Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa 
5. Fullmetal Alchemist Live-action films 

Once again, Brotherhood should be your top priority. It’s the most complete story and is the closest an anime can come to perfect, in my (biased) opinion. The rest are optional viewing.

While you can watch either anime first, I advise watching each film after its corresponding anime. The Sacred Star of Milos is a film set in the same world as Brotherhood but remains separate from the events of the show. Conqueror of Shamballa is similar in that it follows the ending of the first show, bringing it to an even wilder conclusion. Then if you hate yourself and are a completionist, you can watch the live-action films on Netflix. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.