I then started to read the manga and though slow starting it really hit home how much better it was. In particular the image and representation of war and its effects are amazingly powerful, something the anime missed. The main villian Father is also far more menacing and of paramount interest due to his link to Hoenheim and his frightening plans for the country.

I hope that the new series will stick closely to the manga while giving us some new material. I also urge others to read the manga or re-read if you ditched it; it develops into something amazing.

I'm so excited. XDD

If you're going to criticize the film, at least get the negatives right.

It's one of the few "series films" to actually try and tell a coherent story. Most are choppy action/music videos that gloss over everything and make little sense. This at least served as a good book end to a respectable series.

I can't wait for this new series.

I know the manga was so damn good compare to the anime story (and i couldn't agree more. I even buy the original manga from the store :p), but the anime vers got some of the unique plot for it self. and from what my point of view, if it's a remake and the story is really exactly the same from the manga series, it's less attractive for me. because it got the same-exact story. if the manga is still running low on the volume. i guess it will be a great one. but the manga is already so far away.. i don't know when the anime series will keep up and then again, many anime series doesn't really follow up manga series which has a lot of volume.

(aa~ i want to see the edward who see/meet einstein or thomas alfa.. - i couldn't remember who he said he want to see in the last movie. And again, he was together with alponse. I want to know whether they can make it back home safely and how, and i want to see many things)

But then again i'm still 'moe~ru' and can't wait anylonger to watch this series, even though it has the same-exact story..
because after all, i'm a big fans of FMA..
FMA Saikyo...
Banzai...

The original anime story seems rushed at the ending, and some of the ideas and characters didn't seem to fit the series style...maybe that's why I prefer manga over anime. Specially with wrath...

The story started molding up nicely after Ling appeared, Character interaction and development is a strong point in the manga. Also we can see the "true ending". We have to consider that the story Arakawa wanted to tell us since the beginning is the story pictured in the manga.

The anime was good, no doubt, but the ending was modified by Arakawa for obvious reasons, they couldn't wait for her to finish so they had to make up an ending, we should be thankful she was the one that made the ending of the anime and not someone else, that's why we can consider it canon.

But the story of the manga should have priority over the anime, this story is not rushed, she planned it since the beggining, she even incorporated some anime-only characters like Kingsley... and even if you are fan only of the anime or think this is just to make money, you should at least give it a try out of respect for Hiromu Arakawa.

And I think both the anime and the manga has a very good story. I think I prefer the anime though, even if the manga is very close with the latest chapters.

I just hope they don't slaughter the manga. Other than that, I'm totally looking forward to a fuller FMA story.

All I'm hoping for is that they do the manga justice. Besides, they've already milked FMA quite a bit--the terrible movie, the merchandise at conventions--it's going to happen either way. They might as well have a second go at it, as long as they don't royally screw up again. :)

I think, though, that because of the time it takes to produce each episode, it'll turn out fine if they handle it right. There's still a lot of stuff to cover because of the fullness of the manga's story, so here's hoping Bones doesn't screw it up again.

People say the anime plot is "bad" because, quite honestly, it's all over the place. It isn't bad in itself, but it is a little convoluted at times and fizzled out at the end. It was almost like the writers were covering their asses. I don't say that because, as you put it, it wasn't "OMG HAPPY." I say that because it was a total out-of-the-ass deus ex machina when Ed died, Al brought him back to life, then Ed went right through the Gate again. Even with this I would have been happy, but the movie was just bad fanfiction altogether.

Don't forget the fact that the character personalities in the manga are much fuller, more consistent and realistic with their development.
I think the anime is fantastic, but the manga, from an artistic standpoint, has a lot more on it. And a lot more potential in the long run.

As I always wish people would do, don't knock someone's opinion straight up. 's not cool.

Looks like Bones is taking a page from Gainax's book. Milk everything you have over and over again until it becomes completely worthless.

I guess hurrah for utterly shameless milking of Full Metal Alchemist.

And the manga is very obviously coming up to an ending point. Several of the protagonists are in the process of planning a "final showdown", all of the surviving homunculi, as well as Hohenheim, are in play, one of the central characters is on his last legs and literally fading in and out, and the Big Bad seems to have all his pieces just about in place. The only real secret left is to find out what the "sacrifices" mean, but I imagine that's going to be a massive "pieces falling into place" surprise/twist right before the end, so it'll come when it comes. I give it 5-6 chapters more at most before it really starts hitting the fan with some major endgame action, if it even takes that long.

I want to see the manga animated, i want to see all those crazy shits she introduced as characters, i want to see the insanity unfold before our eyes. and i want to see more Greed.

Also, you're concerns over time are misplaced. we'll have 5 more chapters out before the series even starts, and consider this. we'll get about 2 season worth or 50 episodes minimum out of the manga storyline, more than that even in my opinion. that's a good 1-2 years for her to finish up in. there is plenty of time for the manga to finish, and if they have to, well, they'll do filler like any other series, though I suspect they won't need to, which would be incomparably awesome.