Anime Vs Manga – Which Is Better?

If you’re a fan of Fullmetal Alchemist already, you are probably in the possession of the fact that the first anime series differs greatly from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, as well as the manga. If you’re not, you may be wondering, is going back and watching the 2003 anime worth it?

While fans are divided between which is best of the three, this article will pit the 2003 anime against the manga. The original versus its animated rival. Well, not rivals; they are fighting the same fight. Anyway. When it comes to comparing the two, while they are both works of art, which one comes out on top?

10

Story

The Manga

It would seem wrong to say the story told in the manga is worse than in the anime; luckily, that’s not what’s happening here. The story that the Fullmetal Alchemist manga tells is compelling, concise, and enjoyable to read.

The 2003 anime and the manga are similar in the beginning, but once the show catches up to and passes the physical books, they take very different paths. While that is a story still worth taking in, the manga hits all the important parts fans loved in the show, expands beyond it, and then ties everything up neatly.

The 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime was airing while the manga was being written, ultimately surpassing the manga’s release.

9

Story Themes

The 2003 Anime

Yes, story themes are a part of a story, but these two differ so much that it seems relevant to break this topic out from underneath the overarching story umbrella. The themes are darker. The trials and tribulations are grittier. And it’s not just about one having more angst than the other.

While the Elric brothers face great loss and struggle on their journey in the manga, there are certain scenes and depths that are just not reached as well as in the 2003 animated series. The gloves come off, and you can feel the emotions so strongly in the anime.

8

Cast Of Characters

The Manga

Because of the aforementioned differences in the show since it was released before the conclusion of the manga, some key characters made zero appearances in the 2003 anime that were beloved in the manga.

Ling, General Armstrong (sister to the Major we know and love), their separate crews, and even the homunculi are different between the two. While the homunculi are a separate topic that will be explored later, the overall cast is better in the manga and allows us to see their stories unfold in fulfilling ways.

7

Character Development

Tied

Boy, do the boys do some character developing in the 2003 anime. With some of the darker themes and events the boys go through, we really see a massive change in them and their goals. And that’s before visiting some of the other characters, like Colonel Roy Mustang.

With that said, this is probably the closest point of contention as we really see a lot of maturity from Edward and Alphonse, and many of the other characters in the manga. Speaking solely on character development, the anime and manga feel like they would almost be from two separate genres. Coming of age and psychological thriller. Apples and oranges.

6

Easiest For Beginners

The Manga

This isn’t to speak on how easy it is to get your hands on the manga or the 2003 anime, but solely that it is easier to digest the story and really get involved with the characters. The manga is how the story was intended to be told and viewed, and that is reflected in the quality of the story.

It builds out the world well, it fills it with stories both of the present and past, and for some of the events that transpire, even just you needing to flip the page, or swipe a screen, YOU have to continue forward instead of just watching it unfold.

The next sections contain spoilers concerning story differences. They will be light, but they will be spoilers nonetheless.

5

Hughes

The 2003 Anime

While it is no less devastating reading about what happened to Hughes in the manga, the 2003 anime really made sure we were in love with him before the tragic fate was revealed. The boys and Winry spent more time with Hughes and his family in the anime, which means we, as viewers, spent more time with him, too.

That also made the event all the more heartbreaking. And Elicia. Ugh. It feels like you can reread the story and cry once you get there. For the anime, it’s hard even to start that episode. Both were done well. But the 2003 anime just hit a lot harder.

4

Sloth

The 2003 Anime

Sloth in the manga was a big part of the story and important to all the events brewing, but Sloth’s identity and the protagonist’s finding out who Sloth doesn’t come close to how its presented in the 2003 anime.

By comparison, Sloth’s story is just kind of “okay” in the manga. The 2003 anime confirms the Elric brothers’ greatest fear and sets up Edward to face down this person who wants to kill him when all he ever wanted to do was to save them. It’s devastating but so good!

3

Hohenheim

The Manga

Hohenheim is the father of Edward and Alphonse Elric, and his story is very different between the 2003 anime and the manga. While the anime does a good job roping him into the events surrounding the climax, his overall story arc just feels a lot better in the manga.

His past is better explained, his return to his sons is built out a lot better, and his role in the conclusion of the manga gives him and viewers a cathartic release. Meanwhile, in the 2003 anime, the conclusion of his story leads up to the movie that followed: The Conqueror of Shamballa, which makes it more open-ended, naturally.

2

Barry The Chopper

The 2003 Anime

Hot take? Who knows? But Barry The Chopper was far more menacing and evil in the 2003 anime versus the manga. In life, this man was a serial killer who targeted Edward and Alphonse’s childhood friend, Winry. This led to Edward frantically trying to find her and save her before coming up against someone he really thought would kill him.

It’s one of the times Edward remembers his mortality and that of the ones he loves. It explores how he is celebrated for finding and stopping Barry while he deals with the mental cost of the situation. Then to have Barry reappear and, this time, toy with Alphonse. Holy philosopher’s stone.

1

Verdict – Tied

If anything, hopefully this tells you that the 2003 anime is so worth the watch. While the manga and the Brotherhood anime series tell the story in a clean way, probably the best way, and certainly the true way, the 2003 anime was still very well done and painted an incredible, heartbreaking story.

So, if you were debating one or the other, it should be a question about which you would want to engage with first. The manga will give you a nice-rounded education in the world of FMA, then you can take your knowledge into the 2003 anime and be blown away by some of the events that transpire. Or you could watch the 2003 anime first, as it did come out before the manga in its entirety.