The film was licensed in North America by FUNimation Entertainment and featured in cinemas for a short time. It has been edited in DVD twice in Japan, with the second being a limited edition. A CD soundtrack has also been published featuring music from the film developed by Michiru Oshima and L'Arc-en-Ciel. The film premiered in Japan on July 23, 2005. Please wait a few minutes and refresh this page.Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (劇場版 鋼の錬金術師 シャンバラを征く者) is a 2005 Japanese animated film directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Sho Aikawa, and acts as a continuation of the first Fullmetal Alchemist television series.
Just don’t go in looking for the same sunny attitude the first series debuted.Įrror: Twitter did not respond. And for fans of the original series, Conqueror of Shamballa is near perfection (aside from people hoping for one particular couple to get together at the end). Again, lots of action, suspense and the tie in with World War II was expertly done. It also made me long for more scenes with Alphonse in them as he had a more cheerful personality reminiscent of the tone the original series had.Įven so, this is an excellent movie. This is likely due to Edward’s personality being so dark and brooding, a large jump from his more go-get-em attitude in the series. As amazing as it is, -gorgeous visuals, wonderful music and an amazing pace- its dark nature makes it difficult to watch repeatedly. That being said, I don’t often re-watch this movie for the very simple fact that it has a depressing air about it. And this movie does wrap up a few plot lines that were left hanging at the end of the series (mainly the brothers being separated). The difference between the damper colors of our world and the bright colors of Ed and Al’s world make the contrast between the two stark. This movie is high on action and the setting is wonderfully realistic. When this movie came across the Pacific, it was a big deal for a reason. However, it is mentioned in passing (it’s easy to miss too) and doesn’t come up in conversation again. Also, when trying to catch a “dragon,” a spear that is reportedly soaked in Christ’s blood is used to still the beast.
Noah, the gypsy girl Ed encounters, is often ridiculed for not being of German decent, thus not of the “perfect race.” While this is sad, it’s also understandable as this movie takes place right before the outbreak of World War II. Racism is addressed, to some extent in this movie as well. No explanation for it arises, nor is there an explanation for the strange black creatures that live inside it. The idea of the gate itself, which links two worlds, can be interpreted any number of ways, though really it should be taken as is. He is then seen at the gate, being reunited with his “mother.” Both are not clothed, but there is no detail present and the exchange is quick. The only other scene to be aware of would be when a particular non-human character dies. There’s not much to speak of in this vain, aside from the few scenes where Edward is only in his boxers while repairing his automail. Just like the original series, while the language isn’t frequent, the illegitimate-son word and some d-ms are present. While worse violence is out there, it’s certainly not to be taken lightly. Limbs are ripped off and blood spurts everywhere. Though perhaps the most violent scene in the movie is when Wrath faces off against Gluttony. The enemies at the end are also corrupted by the gate and thus are transformed into a mass of mutations upon arrival, a sight that isn’t very pleasant. In the last half of the movie, a man is killed by a “dragon” and blood flows down from its jaws. Right from the start, Edward and Alphonse encounter a crazed man (during a flash back) who uses the corpses of past comrades to escape. Little do the brothers know just how heavy a task has been handed to them, separated across time and space.Īs is to be expected from a continuation of the original FMA series, this movie has its share of violence. On the other side of the gate, Alphonse retraces the steps of his brother, attempting to find some clue as to Ed’s whereabouts when help comes in an unexpected ally.
But when he runs into a gypsy with an unusual and dangerous ability, he ends up entangled in a conspiracy for power backed by a soon-to-be dictator.
Stuck in another world full of war and strife, Edward continues to research various applications of rocket science in the hopes that he can return to his brother. (Spoiler warning! This movie takes place after the events of Fullmetal Alchemist)