Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium OVA Collection
Series experience:
I watched Brotherhood a few years ago, read the manga earlier this year, and I've seen the 2003 anime and the Conqueror of Shamballa movie
Short review: The Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium OVA Collection is a cute addition to the FMA series, and an enjoyable watch for any fan. It's just a bunch of mostly non-canon shorts, but they're pretty unique and will take you back to the world and the characters you love. Best watched after the Conqueror of Shamballa movie.
Full review:
Warning: review contains spoilers
This OVA collection was meant to be an extra treat for the Fullmetal Alchemist series’ loyal fans, and I believe it was done right. It has five parts, most of which are really short, except for Reflections, which is a recap for the original anime.
- State Alchemists vs Seven Homunculi - This was so fun. You get to witness a battle between the state alchemists and the homonculi, and YOU, the viewer, are an alchemist with powers, helping heroes like Ed and Roy battle. It views like a 3D ride - when I first saw it, I was like, “Wow, this feels like a theme park attraction,” and that’s because it apparently was. This was the short film for the Universal Studios Japan Fullmetal Alchemist ride way back in 2005 or so. I so wish I could have gone!!
- Chibi Party - An adorable “afterparty” skit for the cast of the Conqueror of Shamballa movie, where the characters in chibi form drink and make merry. Honestly, tyg for this. I know this is basically making light of the canon ending they gave us, and I’m really glad to see it. We have our characters interacting again - Ed and Winry fighting over a girl, Scar and Lust alive and well, a pack of Black Hayates - this is all shameless fanservice I won’t be complaining about.
- Kids - I won’t lie, this one really made me sad. I feel like the emotional depth in this short, 3-minute story about Ed/Al’s great grandkids - coupled with cameos/lookalikes of some beloved characters - is what Conqueror of Shamballa’s ending aspires to have. It has the sense of a real end, and really pulls at your heartstrings too. A better attempt at a final epilogue.
- Live Action - This is just a “real-life” Al going through Japan to “look for” Ed. Al goes around Japan and ends up in FMA's animation studio, Bones, but can't get in because the door is too small (lol). I would have liked to see Al on the street too :<
- Reflections - Recap of the anime, usually seen as a separate OVA. My review is linked below.
Plot 6.5/10
Animation 8/10
Characters 8/10
Overall personal enjoyment 8/10
Thank you for reading!
Review for the Reflections OVA: Fullmetal Alchemist: Reflections Review
Review for the anime: Fullmetal Alchemist Review
