Review of Full Metal Alchemist: Volume 11

Introduction

We`re getting close to the end of the road with Full Metal Alchemist, and with Volume 11, the events are getting more portentous, the stakes are getting higher, and each successive episode just gets all the more nail-biting. It`s fair to say that if you have been following Full Metal Alchemist thus far, then volume 11 is just what you have been waiting for.

Alchemy is the art of the transmutation of matter by means of an incantation, a mystical circle, or sheer willpower alone. For centuries charlatans and the deluded pursued the creation of gold by alchemical means but to no avail. But in Full Metal Alchemist, alchemy is a realised science. Set in an alternative world during the early years of the twentieth century, the transmutation of elements is indeed a reality, and the state regards such talent highly indeed. Full Metal Alchemist tells the story of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, two precocious alchemists who are on a quest. The young brothers had attempted the unspeakable, resurrecting their mother. But the Law Of Equivalent Exchange cannot be flouted, only objects of equal mass can be transmuted, and the dead cannot be brought back to life. The attempt failed disastrously. Now, Alphonse is a disembodied spirit bound to a suit of animated armour, while Edward has replaced his leg and arm with metal automail, but it`s his prodigious facility with alchemy that has earned him the name, Full Metal Alchemist. Now they search for a means to restore their bodies.

Volume 10 saw the various factions converge on the city of Liore. Just like Ishbal before it, the people of Liore have fallen victim to the military, which under the pretext of preventing the creation of a Philosopher`s Stone have laid waste to the town. Now Scar is there, attempting to turn falsehoods to reality and actually create a stone regardless of the cost. The brothers Elric go there to stop him, and find that the military is there before them. The military itself is split into blocs, with some desiring another bloodbath regardless of cost. And with the promise of a Philosopher`s Stone, the stage wouldn`t be set without the Homunculi. The factions collide in the 11th volume of Full Metal Alchemist: Becoming The Stone, once again containing 4 episodes.

41. Holy Mother
Scar brings Ed face to face with the consequences of his actions, and then declares that he will create a Philosopher`s Stone to prevent another Ishbal. The military has been forewarned however. As Al rushes to Liore with what he has learned about the Fuhrer, the Crimson Alchemist and his chimera have already entered the city ready to wreak havoc on the besieged citizens.

42. His Name Is Unknown
Al`s armour has been transmuted into an explosive, and time is running out as his body slowly oxidises. The one person who can save him, Ed is locked in a life threatening battle of his own under the city. While Mustang tries to confront the corruption in the military, the only one left to help Al is Scar, and all that Scar touches is destroyed. As the army finally advances on Liore, Al`s only chance for survival will require the ultimate sacrifice from Scar, but the price may be too high.

43. The Stray Dog
Winry and Sheska return to Resembool. Also on the train is an enigmatic stranger. He mistakes Winry for her mother, but she doesn`t recognise him. Her grandmother Pinako does however. It`s Hohenheim Elric, Ed and Al`s long absent father. Ed and Al meanwhile realise that staying with the military is no longer an option, and with good reason, as the Fuhrer`s attention now turns to the brothers following the devastation of Liore. Fuhrer Bradley orders Col. Mustang to capture them, and he knows the first place they`ll head is home.

44. Hohenheim Of Light
It`s a bittersweet reunion for the brothers and their father. Ed still resents him for leaving, but Al was too young to remember. Al wants to spend time with the father he never knew. But for a man who has been out of touch, Hohenheim knows a lot about the current situation, the Homunculi and the Philosopher`s Stone.

Video

The picture for Full Metal Alchemist comes in a 4:3 transfer and it is clear and sharp throughout, without any hint of artefacts. The anime looks gorgeous, with distinctive characters, detailed retro world design and atmospheric animation. Once again, an anime blends traditional line animation with 3D design and the results are exciting and vibrant.

Audio

You get a choice of DD 5.1 English and DD 2.0 Japanese. I chose the original language track for preference, and the Japanese track is indeed clear and dynamic enough for a stereo track. Full Metal Alchemist also has some stunning music, and in this volume, we get the fourth and final set of opening and closing themes. The English dub is something I just spot-checked, and while the main character voices are pretty good, the same cannot be said for the voices of the incidental characters. The surround is pretty good, with a fair bit of ambience and it reflects the action well. You can watch the show with translated subtitles or signs.

Features

The usual extras for a Full Metal Alchemist disc, including the multi angle credit sequences and the jacket picture.

You`ll also find the new textless credit sequences, and once again they are subtitled in Romanji Japanese, so you can sing along if you feel the urge.

There is a Production Art section that contains an Illustration and a Model Gallery. These slideshows run to a total length of around 2½ minutes.

Finally there are trailers for Spiral and Rumbling Hearts.

I`m relieved to report that the multi-angle glitch that marred earlier volumes is completely absent this time around.

Conclusion

I once compared Full Metal Alchemist to the X-Files, considering its multifaceted storyline and deep-seated conspiracies to be on a par with those of the long running sci-fi series. Well, Volume 11 of Full Metal Alchemist does something that the X-Files never did; it pays off on the viewers` investment in the series. At this point, with only two volumes (plus the movie) to go, we actually start seeing some of the storylines resolved, the conspiracies unravelled, and the story move forward as the ramifications of the events that occur impact. There is so much that I wish to share about these episodes, but I have to restrain myself. If you want spoilers, then there are countless locations on the net to find them.

So much happens in these four episodes that it`s hard to even summarise. Certain storylines are wrapped up, new ones started, characters pass from the story, and new layers of conspiracy are unveiled. The first two episodes reveal just how deep the involvement of Homunculi in state affairs is, just how much they are manipulating events to their own ends. And we also learn that they aren`t acting independently, that there is a greater mind behind them orchestrating events. The biggest development is that the Elric Brothers find what they are searching for, but as is so often the case, they are unprepared for what they achieve. The price is excessive, and they do not fully understand what it is that they have.

The final two episodes on this disc introduce a character that has been veiled for much of the series, a man whose influence has motivated the brothers in their actions. We finally meet their father, Hohenheim, and as you would expect from Full Metal Alchemist, he`s hardly the man he appears to be at first glance. Somewhat absent-minded and goofy at first appearance, he has an agenda all his own, secrets to hide, and as the story continues to unfold, his importance in the grand scheme of things expands. The disc ends on an almighty `Oh My God!" moment in a disc filled with such moments.

Full Metal Alchemist has been threatening to do this for much of its run, producing a disc that try as I might, I couldn`t find fault with. If you have been following this series as avidly as I have, then this volume justifies your faith in the series, resolves a whole heap of storylines, while setting up new threads that have even deeper implications for the future. You can see the Elric brothers edging closer and closer to their goal, and in this disc they take a big leap in that direction. Full Metal Alchemist is outstanding anime at any time, but with this volume you should be a little careful. You may just get a little head rush watching the story develop. This is an awesome disc, which if possible in an essential anime series, is even more essential.