Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has received a plethora of praise and critical acclaim and as listed as number one on this very site. Is it justified or is it just another case of MAL users upvoting their favorite series for no reason? Let's take a look.
Released in 2011, Brotherhood acts as a more direct and faithful adaptation to the original manga. This was most likely done to appease the fans of the manga who didn't care much for the divergent story in the original 2003 anime. Now, as much as I liked the 2003 anime, it had quite a few flaws. After they went in a separate direction from the manga, the 2003 anime took a heavy nosedive. The plot became unfocused and it ultimately felt like a small story taking place in a massive setting. A lot of plot elements didn't click correctly, Wrath was fucking obnoxious, the ending was abrupt and rushed. It wasn't quite a masterpiece, but it was still really good. Then along comes 2011's Brotherhood and as you can probably tell, I think Brotherhood is significantly better than the 2003 anime.
Brotherhood's story was focused, logical, had heart and emotion, was well executed, gave depth to every character that needed it and some that didn't, and even addressed some of the more annoying plot issues that the original anime had (and even some that were in the manga!) Every opening and closing song is great and fits the tone of the current arc, and personally my favorites were "Again" by Yui, and "Let It Out" by Miho Fukuhara. The soundtrack is unbelievable and carries a very emotional tone to the visuals, which are nothing short of great.
The great visual direction of the 2003 anime carries over to Brotherhood, with for the most part improvements in animation. The original's art style was a bit bland and dated poorly, but Brotherhood has a more timeless and comforting look to it that sets it apart. The only real problem I have it Envy. Envy's 3-dimensional animation for his true form is nothing short of unsightly. Putting 3D animation in a show like this is fine, so long as you don't do it once. That's because it will stick out horribly and look completely unnatural. Sure enough, it looks completely unnatural and ugly. Still though, nearly flawless.
As far as characters go, Brotherhood once again shines. Every character, even the "evil"* characters, are somewhat relate-able, understandable, and/or likable. I put an asterisk next to evil because Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of those clever little shows that knows that there is no such thing as good or evil. Every character's motivations and actions are clearly presented outside the childish realms of good and evil, so that every event feels real and the result of true human conflict. What would be a mustache twirler in any other show is a complex character with interesting traits and understandable motivations in Brotherhood.
What I consider to be Brotherhood's greatest strength is its heart and emotion. I mean no hyperbole when I say I cried for the entire last 2 episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Seeing every arc come together flawlessly and bring the anime to a close was absolutely beautiful, and it wasn't just the characters that held such powerful emotional weight. I was crying partially because I didn't want it to be over. It was too perfect and I couldn't believe it was over because I was enjoying it too much. I should say too that the list of things that have made me cry is a pretty short. It consists of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Pay It Forward, (some movie I can't remember at the minute), and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. So to say that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood carries emotional weight is a massive understatement, as it is not only intelligent, but made with real heart and it shows.
I don't give 10s out very often in any format, but Brotherhood most certainly has earned its mark. While the 2003 anime was very good and still outshines most other shonen, Brotherhood feels like the Fullmetal Alchemist series is just taking a victory lap. It's so good that it's practically unfair to even label it a shonen. It can appeal to anyone and everyone, and in my opinion, is virtually flawless.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood earns a 10/10.
