Fullmetal Alchemist is a 2003 anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's popular manga series. The series follows the Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric, and his brother Alphonse after an alchemic accident left Ed with only two limbs and Al without a human body, forcing Ed to bond his soul to a suit of armor.

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The 2003 anime rapidly outpaced the manga, so the series veered off into an original story much different from the direction the manga ultimately took. These differences naturally led to a totally different and disappointing ending, but FMA's open ending was closed for good with the follow-up film, Conqueror Of Shamballa.

10 Happy: Ed & Al Are Reunited

Ed Al Conqueror Of Shamballa

Edward and Alphonse Elric are the protagonists of Fullmetal Alchemist. Their quest for the Philosopher's Stone and their brotherly relationship is the core of the series. The brothers' separation at the end of the series is one of its saddest points. Al was restored to his human form but without his memories and the price Ed paid for his brother's life denied him the chance to see again. Conqueror Of Shamballa remedies this by reuniting the brothers, having Al regain his memories, and ending with them setting off for more adventures in our world.

9 Downer: The Elric Brothers Can Never Go Back Home

Ed & Al Real World

The Elric brothers' journey began with them burning down their home and setting off with only each other. In Conqueror Of Shamballa, it ends much the same way: they're both on the other side of the Gate, themselves the only traces of Amestris in the "real world." With the portal between worlds closed, they'll never be able to go back home or see any of their friends again. In other words, it's a good thing Ed and Al have each other again since they're all they have from then on.

8 Happy: All The Homunculi Are Dead

Homunculus feature image

Homunculi and their master, Dante, are the villains of Fullmetal Alchemist. Over the course of the series, Edward kills Greed and Sloth while Roy Mustang assassinates Pride. Lust is killed by Wrath after she betrays the other Homunculi. Dante is eaten alive by a ravenous Gluttony. After surviving the series, Conqueror Of Shamballa killed Wrath, Gluttony, and Envy.

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Wrath commits murder-suicide with Gluttony while Envy crossed the gate in the series finale and transforms into a dragon. In Conqueror Of Shamballa, he's stuck as a dragon, unable to shape-shift back thanks to the lack of alchemy in the real world. Hohenheim eventually transmutes him to open the gate from the other side, leaving Envy as the first and last Homunculus.

7 Downer: The Other Alfonse Dies

Ed Al Shamballa

The biggest divergence from the Fullmetal Alchemist manga and anime is that the anime ties the story to the real world. The real Earth lies on the other side of the Gate and its energy fuels alchemy in Amestris. Everyone in Amestris also has a counterpart in the real world. During the two years between FMA's end and Conqueror Of Shamballa, Ed befriended Al's counterpart, Alfons Heiderich. The two study rocketry together, but Alfons is roped into helping the villains. While his invention helps Ed get back home, Alfons pays for his assistance with his life.

6 Happy: Scar & Lust Are Together On The Other Side Of The Gate

Scar Lust Shamballa

Scar and Lust are tragic characters in FMA, especially considering that their histories are intertwined. Scar is an Ishvalan, a people who reject alchemy and were massacred for it. To avenge the loss of his people and his brother, Scar begins killing State Alchemists. Acting as both enemy and occasional friend to the Elrics, Scar's journey leads to his death.

In life, Lust was an Ishvalan, too, and the love of Scar's brother. Lust wished to become human and regain her memories but had to settle for mere death. At the end of Conqueror Of Shamballa, Ed, Al, and Noah hitch a ride with a Romani couple who just so happen to be Scar and Lust's counterparts. In our world, the two seem to have the happiness denied to them in Amestris.

5 Downer: Winry Has Lost Her Best Friends

Winry and Hawkeye Best Girl moral compass

Winry Rockbell is the Elric brothers' oldest friend and their neighbor in their hometown of Resembool. Over the series, Winry often joined them on their adventures, especially since she's the mechanic for Ed's Automail limbs. At the end of Conqueror Of Shamballa, Winry is still in Amestris when the portal is closed, meaning she'll never see Ed or Al again. The film ends at the Rockbells' home with a photo of Ed and Al displayed, the only thing Winry has to remember them.

4 Happy: The Thule Society Is Foiled

FMA Eckhart

Conqueror Of Shamballa draws upon the real history of the Weimar Republic, even if the facts are distorted through the lens of fantasy. The villains of the film are the Thule Society, an early 20th-century German group with founding ties to the Nazis and an interest in the occult. In the film, the Thule Society wishes to cross the Gate to "Shamballa" in hopes of bringing the Nazis to power.

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The Society is personified by Dietlinde Eckhart, who leads the invasion of Amestris in the film's third act. As she gains the power of alchemy and mutates as a result, her goal switches from conquest to genocide. Thankfully, Ed defeats her.

3 Downer: History Is On The Horizon

Nazis FMA

The main historical event in Conqueror Of Shamballa is the Beer Putsch, or the Nazis failed 1921 coup against the Weimar Republic. Just like real history, the Putsch fails and Hitler flees, although he's eventually arrested. In real life, however, the Putsch was just the prelude for Hitler's ascension to Chancellor of Germany ten years later — a successful accession due to lessons learned from the Beer Putsch. There's nothing to indicate history will transpire any differently, meaning the world Ed and Al now call home is in for a rough time.

2 Happy: Democracy In Amestris

a map of amestris from fullmetal alchemist is broken into 5 main areas

On the other side of the Gate, the political situation is far more promising. In the finale of Fullmetal Alchemist, the military dictatorship of Amestris was dissolved after King Bradley's death. In its place, a parliamentary system comprised of elected representatives was installed. This marks the dawn of a more peaceful Amestris, signified by the surviving Ishbalans having their land returned to them. This change does end Roy Mustang's dream of becoming Führer, but democracy is always preferable to dictatorship.

1 Downer: Plenty Of The Good Guys Are Still Dead

FMA The Dead

The permanence of death is a prevalent theme in Fullmetal Alchemist. Any attempt at restoring life via alchemy creates a perversion in the form of Homunculi. As such, it's fitting that the story ends with so many good people still dead. The series itself saw the Elrics' mother Trisha, Winry's parents, Nina Tucker, Maes Hughes, Scar, and Lust fall. Conqueror Of Shamballa adds the Elrics' father Hohenheim and their alchemy teacher, Izumi Curtis, to the casualty list.

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