sori fumihiko

There’s no question that 2017 saw a hell of a year it had with live-action anime flicks. The good news is that the feedback has been largely positive on all fronts and now director Sori Fumihiko’s own offering with an adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist now looks to share in the glory with Yamada Ryosuke leading the cast.

Edward Elric, a young, brilliant alchemist, has lost much in his twelve-year life: when he and his brother Alphonse try to resurrect their dead mother through the forbidden act of human transmutation, Edward loses his brother as well as two of his limbs. With his supreme alchemy skills, Edward binds Alphonse’s soul to a large suit of armor. 

A year later, Edward, now promoted to the fullmetal alchemist of the state, embarkson a journey with his younger brother to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone. The fabled mythical object is rumored to be capable of amplifying an alchemist’s abilities by leaps and bounds, thus allowing them to override the fundamental law of alchemy: to gain something, an alchemist must sacrifice something of equal value. Edward hopes to draw into the military’s resources to find the fabled stone and restore his and Alphonse’s bodies to normal. However, the Elric brothers soon discover that there is more to the legendary stone than meets the eye, as they are led to the epicenter of a far darker battle than they could have ever imagined.

There’s at least one key cast member’s portrayal still a mystery, although the newest trailer that arrived late Tuesday deals greatly into some striking new imagery. This further includes a little more screentime with the Elric brothers, another look at the Homunculi as well as The Gate Of Truth, the long-sought after Philosopher Stones and more of Fujioka Dean’s fire alchemy as Roy Mustang. You also get a look at one of the pivotal supporting characters from the original 2001 manga and subsequent anime; she’s often poked at in memes to trigger otakus and if you’re familiar with FMA, you’ll know her when you see her.

It’s also worth noting that previous reports have stated this film intends to tell the whole story which to me is still…well… daunting considering the size and scale of the source material. Alas, I digress. December 1 is the date and so who am I to rain on WB Japan’s parade?

Check out the trailer below!

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This year, I’ve found myself a new hobby in catching up with as much anime that I’ve missed in the last fifteen years or so as I possibly can. I’m having fun with it as I’ve already seen five series and currently in the middle of a sixth, which now brings me to even more homework I’ll be doing between now and 2017.

For this, I speak of the sci-fi action series, Fullmetal Alchemist which debuted a manga from author Arakawa Hiromu in 2001 before venturing into several animated shows and a feauture film in the decade that followed. Reports in the last 12 hours from Japanese media outlets (forwarded through Crunchyroll) are now buzzing over news of a new feature film in the works for 2017 with Ashita no Joe helmer Sori Fumihiko directing and Hey! Say! JUMP’s own Yamada Ryosuke (Assassination Classroom) cast to portray protagonist, Edward Elric. 

For those as familiar as I am with the franchise, it goes a little something like this:

It begins…. 

Imagine a world in which Alchemy is not only possible, but used frequently. Alchemy, though, is a science, and with all sciences there are laws that must be followed. Welcome to the anime, Full Metal Alchemist. The story begins about two brothers, Alphonse and Edward Elric. Ever since they were young they had practiced the science of alchemy. You follow their journey of being alchemists and their quest to regain that which they have lost. 

Their father was a well recognized alchemist, which is probably where their knack for it comes from. However, when they were young their father left, and they remained in the care of their mother. One day their mother died, and in their innocence and ignorance, they attempted what was forbidden, human alchemy. 

What happened next, they were obviously not prepared for, and in the aftermath the brothers lost more than just their mother. In the freak accident Alphonse loses his body, and in a moment of panic Edward ties his brother’s soul to a piece of armor. Edward himself loses an arm and a leg, a costly reminder of what has happened. 

The story begins and details the brother’s journey to find a alchemy amplifier so that they may return to their normal bodies.

Filming is expected to commence in Italy from June through August with production utilizing CG to erect Alphonze’s armor. 

Keep your eyes peeled! I’ll be over here on Netflix playing catch-up in the meantime!

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