In a world where Alchemy has trumped science ,two brothers embittered by the loss of their lone mother pledge to use forbidden methods to resurrect he. Suffering terrible consequences, the two are forced to embark upon a journey that will lead them across the continent, as they experience war, tragedy, and an evil that coils around the very heart of the land.
Whereas the first series focused in on a smaller number of set pieces and actions, Brotherhood roars out of the gate and almost never lets down the pace. With every episode devoted to furthering the plot arch's, the story is very focused and driven. Though it lacks some of the fun that was exploring characters on "off-days" in the original series, it compensates with action that keeps you glued to the screen.
The animation was top-notch, with many of the abilities used my the Alchemists wonderfully rendered. The world is party static in terms of interactivity, by the cast chews up the scenery and spits it out at every turn, so this is hardly the focus.
While the soundtrack to the original was appropriate, if noticeably re-used, the emotional connect with numerous tracks is a testimony to how well-placed much of the score was. From the overture to the haunting, Chaconne-sounding end, it was a memorable experience.
The characters are universally fun and different, a particularly enjoyable exercise being to contrast the differences between the series. My only criticism is that some of the characters lose some depth due to a larger cast in this series; this being more than compensated for by a widely different and fun group, plus a better realization of the romantic sub-plots.
All-in-all, another resounding champion of the genre. The series is the heavyweight hitter for accessible, fun and mature treatment of all the topics it broaches, and is a must-see for anyone interested not only in animation but quality cinema in general.
