Fullmetal Alchemist is Hiromu Arakawa’s most famous series, and it has served as many new anime fans' introduction to the medium.
As expected, there are many who tout Fullmetal Alchemist as one of the best anime of all time, and for a good reason. Here’s why Ed and Al’s close bond makes the series memorable for so many fans.
No Sibling Rivalry and Minimal Fighting
In real life, and in anime, it is not uncommon to see siblings fighting or engaging in sibling rivalry. A unique aspect of Ed and Al’s relationship is they don’t have a sibling rivalry, and it’s rare to ever see them fighting. Some fans may think this is unrealistic --siblings fight, and, for many, they fight often. However, this is far from reality with the Elric siblings.
While this may seem like a normal case in anime and other media types, sibling rivalries and constant fighting aren’t always enjoyable to watch. Some fans, especially if they have siblings, likely don’t want to sit through twenty-four episodes of two brothers bickering over meaningless topics. Ed and Al’s bond seems stronger because they don’t fight all the time.
Despite fighting on rare occasions, it is disingenuous to say the Elric brothers never tease each other. For example, when Ed, Al, and Winry are talking about Al’s memories, discussing whether they are fabricated, one of them mentions arguing over who will marry Winry.
Ed and Al Have a Realistic Sibling Relationship
There are many other factors that make Ed and Al’s relationship realistic to fans of Fullmetal Alchemist. Sure, as previously mentioned, they don’t fight as often as siblings do in other media -- but there are other ways to show “realistic”, or relatable relationships between siblings in a series. Their relationship isn’t rock-solid, and this is one of the aspects that makes their bond believable and realistic, especially given their situation; though the circumstances may be fictional.
For example, in Chapter 14 of the manga, titled "The Feeling of an Only Child", after a discussion with the Slicer Brothers in Laboratory 5, Al becomes depressed. He starts to question himself and the reliability of his own memories, believing they may be fabricated and everyone around him is simply lying to him. This is one of the times when the reader sees a different side of Alphonse -- instead of talking to his brother or Winry, he contemplates his situation and broods over it by himself. Al’s reaction is very realistic, and it reminds the reader just how young he is and how much he has suffered at such a young age.
After a thoughtless remark from Ed, Al can no longer bottle up his feelings, and he snaps, “I didn’t want to get this body!” Instead of yelling back, Ed gets up and walks away. After receiving a harsh scolding from Winry, Al follows Ed to presumably apologize, and they end up sparring. Ed tells Al they used to fight a lot when they were younger, and they end up recounting their memories together, eventually convincing Al none of his memories are not fabricated.
In the Beginning, Ed and Al Only Had Each Other
For a long time, Ed and Al believed they only had each other to rely on. Before they committed the “ultimate taboo” -- human transmutation -- they kept their plan a secret; even from the people they were close to like Winry and Pinako. But, their secret soon unraveled when Al lost his entire body and Ed lost his left leg and his right arm. The fact they keep their idea to do human transmutation a secret more or less shows the brothers mostly rely on each other; they know if they told anyone else, even if they aren’t alchemists, they would try and talk them out of it. Soon, this teaches the brothers they have to rely on other people.
The human transmutation scene is a great example of body horror and brings necessary terror to the series, it also emotionally impacts the brothers. Committing the ultimate taboo also strengthens their bond and brings them closer. It is also the main reason Ed will stop at nothing to get Al’s body back. Al also expresses the same sentiments, not wanting his brother to bear the burden alone. It was their mistake, and they know it is their responsibility to clean up their own mess. It’s glaring obviously they try to do this without involving as many people as possible. As the series continues and the brothers learn to trust multiple people, they meet new friends and create other bonds. But, no bond is stronger than the one they have with each other.
There’s little room for question -- Ed and Alphonse Elric have a realistic and complex brotherly bond. Their relationship may have its ups and downs, but Ed and Al's brotherly bond makes Fullmetal Alchemist a memorable series.