Wow, I finally finished it! I’m super proud I actually managed to make it to the end of this thing. Of course, I did miss a day here and there, but never more than a couple at a time, and I made them all up and posted them eventually. It’s good to know I actually have the integrity to complete one of these things if I’m ever in the mood to start another. Anyways, here’s the last day of the challenge; it’s been a lot of fun picking my favorite moments and characters from this awesome anime over the past month or so.

Day 30- What do you think happens to the characters after the series ended for good?

This is a nice, easy question to end on because half of it’s been answered for me and I love speculating about the rest. Ed and Winry obviously got married and had kids, Mustang became one badass Fuhrer with a weird French mustache, and Ling became the new emperor of Shing. We know all of that fun stuff already. Now for the things I hope happened afterwards. I, of course, would hope that all of my favorite couples from the show (besides Ed and Winry, which is obvious) got their stuff together and hooked up finally. This includes Al/Mei, Havoc/Rebecca, Ling/Lan Fan, and, above all, Roy/Riza.

I’m sad to say it, but I’m not sure if Roy and Riza would ever be able to get together after the series ended. Based on several things I’ve learned from the fandom, it seems that military “fraternization” laws would’ve kept them from every marrying. I KNOW neither of them would ever quit, seeing as they’re both so dedicated to protecting one another, but I hope that they spent their lives defending one another until retirement, when they eventually made their relationship official and married. At least, that’s what my little fangirl heart would like to think.

Ling and Lan Fan are even less likely since their country is probably very strict and I doubt royalty can marry body guards, but that doesn’t stop me from hoping they found a way to be together. I also think that Roy regained his sight and Havoc was cured of his disability (because they are both awesome characters and I think it’d be awesome to see them at their action-packed best again). I think Roy then went on to do what he said he was going to do; make things right with the Ishvalans and lead Amestris into a bright new day.

As for Ed and Al, I’m sure they had a whole new set of adventures on either side of the coast, learning as much as possible about alchemic techniques in order to teach new students the way Izumi taught them. Izumi and Olivier probably teamed up and continued to be badasses in the North (as well as Izumi’s husband and Armstrong, because they’re just awesome together). I’d also like to think that Al and Mei became a canon couple (because they’re darn adorable and really seem to complement one another), and that they both lived long and happy lives together.

Yeah, I know; I’m a huge sucker for mushy things like that. But, in all seriousness, I hope all of the awesome good guys in the show had wonderful, happy endings. I basically hope everyone lived happily ever after and did great, legendary things with their lives, as they deserve so much after the hardships they had to endure throughout the series. I truly hope that Mustang’s time as Fuhrer dawned a new age for everyone, and that war was nonexistent for the rest of their lives (they certainly earned a break from it).

I know I’m probably leaving a ton of specific characters out, but the details are already starting to fuzz out for me since it’s been a little while since I finished Brotherhood. I may just have to go watch the entire series again and see if I can’t come up with more theories…

Anyways, that’s it for me! To anyone who’s actually been following all of these, thanks for taking the time to read my (very insignificant) opinions about this series. I had a lot of fun doing this challenge, and I had even more fun watching the anime that inspired it. :) I look forward to the next challenge that happens to catch my fancy.

Sorry this one’s so late. I made a list to answer day 28’s question with the help of my roomie a while ago and I had to have her text it to me before I could post it.

Day 28- You know someone is you’re an FMA fan when…

• During the Katy Perry song “Part of Me,” the lyric that mentions sparkling reminds you of Armstrong.
• Following that, ANYTHING sparkly reminds you of Armstrong.
• Any mention of the Philosopher’s Stone makes you think about Fullmetal Alchemist (this includes the title and premise of the first Harry Potter book).
• You’re team Edward ELRIC instead of team Edward Cullen. 
• You feel the need to tack on “is dead sexy in a mini-skirt” to someone’s name when describing them.
• You pass any sort of prosthetic/limb replacement office and immediately think of automail (yes, this has happened to me). 
• You can interrupt any conversation with an FMA quote appropriate to the situation. 
• The seven deadly sins have become forever characterized as their FMA personas in your mind.
• The word ‘alchemy,’ no matter what context it’s in, instantly makes you think of FMA.
• October 3rd is an official holiday for you.
• You have a strong desire to clap like Ed does to see if you can perform alchemy yourself.
• “I’m not short; I’m fun-sized,” has been forever coined as an Ed phrase in your mind. 
• You’ve considered adopting a Shiba Inu puppy and naming it Black Hayate.
• You know every word to the introduction speech given by Al at the beginning of every episode in the first series. 
• You’ve drawn the seal on the back of Ed’s coat on ANYTHING.

I could probably think of a lot more, but it would take me an extra week. I think I’ll just leave this list nice and short so that it doesn’t turn into one nasty novel that nobody wants to read. Yes, all of these apply to me; I kind of have fangirl problems. ^^;

Doing today’s a bit early because I know I’ll forget otherwise.

Day 27- What attracted you to the series overall?

What about this series isn’t attractive? Honestly, I can’t think of anything I don’t like about it. Before I found Fullmetal Alchemist, I was the kind of girl who went for all of the mushy, sappy things. I was your typical fangirl, creating ships left and right and only valuing the romance in any story. I was a sucker for anything in which romance played a main role, whether it was a book, a movie, or a TV show. When I gave Fullmetal Alchemist a chance, however, I found myself investing in something other than romance for the first time. Instead of only caring about who ended up with who, I forgot about ships entirely, allowing myself to be swept up in the much deeper meanings and themes that can be found in Fullmetal Alchemist.

What I liked about Fullmetal Alchemist from the start (as I’m sure many other people do), was the fact that it’s an anime for everyone. It’s not strictly for guys or girls; it’s an anime that everyone can enjoy and invest in. There are both strong male characters and strong female characters, and all are complex and well thought out. The romance in the series is subtle, and adds to the story rather than dominating it completely.

This series taught me that you don’t need ships and pairings to make a story awesome; it is the characters and the heart of the story that make it amazing. It’s the kind of series that even a girly girl like me can genuinely enjoy, something I value in any fandom because it’s so hard to appeal to everyone. I love that the story deals with deep themes such as coping with death, revenge, and accepting one’s faults and mistakes in a way that is both heartfelt and humorous. It taught me so much about story-telling. Overall, I think the thing that most attracted me to Fullmetal Alchemist was it’s accessibility, and the way it was able to grab me from the very first episode and keep me entertained and invested. I applaud FMA for the way it was able to hold my interest through two series and a couple of movies without faltering, and for the way it taught me an important lesson or two about life along the way. It is truly a one of a kind show.

My love for this series can be summed up in this AMV, which is quite possibly my favorite FMA AMV ever. It really just captures what this series is about, and it’s extremely powerful. I get chills every time I watch it, much like when I’m watching the series. <3 Everything about FMA is just beautiful, so it was hard to answer this question with just one thing about the series that appealed to me.

Day 26- Has the series impacted your life in any way? How?

Oh wow, this is a deep one. I’ll start by saying that I, like many people on Tumblr, am extremely affected by the things I like. When I connect with a fandom, no matter what it is, I am hooked for life. My obsessions tend to change and fade with each passing week (I like a LOT of things), but I never forget them. This is the case with Harry Potter, Danny Phantom, and many other things I’ve liked since I was younger. This is also the case with Fullmetal Alchemist. When I first saw the series, I was a fan, but I didn’t know anyone in the fandom or participate much. My obsession soon faded into a dull appreciation of the series… until I learned that Brotherhood was coming out.

Naturally, I was really excited about Brotherhood. I started watching it when the dub was released, and followed it to episode 25 before school got in the way of finishing it. When I came back to it and was finally able to finish it, however, I remembered exactly why I had loved the series in the first place. Fullmetal Alchemist in itself (without the fandom or anything outside of the show) is a life-changing series; the fandom just adds on to that impact. Fullmetal Alchemist was the first big anime series I ever discovered and watched, and it’s one of the only ones I found by myself, without the influence of friends and other anime fans. 

Fullmetal Alchemist is special to me for many reasons, the main one being that it’s really touched me in a way that few other animes have been able to do. The messages and themes in the series are just so powerful, and I lost myself in this amazing story as I watched it unfold. As someone who enjoys to write, I found myself entirely inspired by this anime, which contains every element of a brilliantly told story. It has wonderful, well-written, deep, and complex characters. It has humor, romance, and heartfelt moments that truly make you feel and care for the characters. It has brilliant animation and gorgeous music, and the timing is brilliant. Each episode presents you with a message without smacking you over the head with it, a moral that you can take away and apply to real life.

I’ve only been a part of this fandom for a short while, so I haven’t made any real bonds with other fans, but I feel a certain kinship to everyone who enjoys this series. It’s an amazing thing to be able to share with other people, and I find myself grinning uncontrollably anytime I come across fanart, GIFs, or quotes about the series because it reminds me that I’m a part of this awesome community of people who love this amazing anime just as much as I do. Fullmetal Alchemist was essentially my gateway into the much larger realm of anime; it’s where I learned about most of my favorite voice actors and discovered cons and panels. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve wasted watching FMA/voice actor panels and wishing more than anything that I could be there with everyone. This story was essentially my introduction into the world of anime (not counting Pokemon and Sailor Moon, the shows I watched as a kid), and for that it will always be special to me.

I’ll end this post now, before I get any sappier, by saying that this anime truly changed my opinion of anime in general, and helped me to delve into this amazing world of wacky shows and great people. I definitely don’t regret discovering it, because I’m sure I’d be a much grumpier person without this awesome fandom in my life. Consider this post my own special little tribute to Fullmetal Alchemist, which will forever be one of my favorite animes. <3

Day 25- Roy Mustang: What do you think?

He’s dead sexy… in a mini-skirt.

No, but seriously. I LOVE HIM. Come on; just LOOK at his fabulousness. Just like my favorite ship in the series (which also involves him), I never really noticed or formed an opinion about him in the first time I watched the series. I was younger then, and more focused on Ed and the main storyline than anything else.

When I watched Brotherhood, however, I was able to appreciate all of the characters more, including the sexy bad-ass that is Roy Mustang. What I love about Mustang is that he’s an extremely real character. He has flaws, he screws up, and he doesn’t always makes the best decisions. What makes him awesome, however, is that he has a massive heart. When he messes up, he keeps chugging along and trying to fix his mistakes. He spends the entire series trying to improve his position and become the Fuhrer so that he can make Amestris a better place.

He falls off the wagon sometimes, but he always manages to find his way back to the right path. It’s this realism in him that makes him so awesome, and I love all of the humor and heart that was poured into his character throughout this series. So yes, I adore Roy Mustang and all of his dorky, awkward antics. I’m ecstatic to have this chance to dedicate an entire post to him, because he is truly one of my favorite characters in this series. <3

Day 24- Do you have any opinions of the OST? What are they?

I apologize in advance for this post, because it’s gonna be pretty boring. I have never actually listened to the OST, though I would really like to find the time to. The music throughout the series (including all of the openings, endings, and scores) is absolutely gorgeous. More often than not, the music was the cause of the chills I usually got while watching the series. It’s all just so powerful and well-done; I know I would really enjoy listening to the soundtrack. I especially love the Brothers theme from the series; the score and the song are both really beautiful and hold a lot of meaning for the anime.

I’ve always been extremely affected by music, so I guess it’s no surprise that the scores in animes and movies are usually my favorite things to listen to. There’s a power in music that you really can’t get in any other medium; the power to tell a story without anything on the screen for you to look at. Obviously, movie/anime scores are always put with the movie or the anime, but I like the fact that just the music itself can tell a story all on its own. Just by listening, you can get a sense of the mood and the emotion behind it. Your imagination can usually always fill in the rest, so I absolutely love nerding out over the music that accompanies my favorite things before I watch them. Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to do this with FMA, but I do eventually plan to listen to the OST when I have time. I have a feeling I’m gonna love it when I do. <3

Day 23- Do you have a favorite Elric brother? Why or why not?

Oh man, you can’t ask me this question! Trying to pick a favorite between Ed and Al is like trying to pick a favorite kid. Okay, so I imagine it’s not that extreme, but it’s still really hard. I love them both so much, and especially together. They make such an awesome team, and you can really feel the brotherly bond between them throughout the series. I really couldn’t imagine there being one without the other, which is probably why most of the first movie made me so sad. Al is absolutely adorable, and you already know (from earlier posts) how I feel about Ed. <3 I love them both equally, and even though Ed is my favorite character overall, I can’t choose between him and Al. Can I just pick them both and call it done?

Day 22- Your opinion on the anime: raw or dubbed?

Definitely dubbed. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t care; I love all of the English voices for the characters. Of course, I may be a bit biased because the dubbed version was the first I heard/watched, but it’s still my favorite even after hearing the original. I love all of the English voice actors for FMA, and it’s one of my goals to meet them all someday because they seem like such awesome people.

That isn’t to say that I don’t respect and appreciate the original voices, however (Hello? Romi Paku is an amazing person and voice actor). I’m the kind of person who doesn’t really have a preference overall when it comes to anime. I’ve watched several animes subbed and I’ve watched several dubbed. For some animes (such as Vampire Knight and Black Butler), I prefer the subbed version. For others (such as FMA, Ouran, and Nabari no Ou), I prefer the dub. It usually depends on which one I hear/get used to first. I’m not for that whole war between dubs and subs; I honestly don’t think one is inherently better than the other. There are good and bad Japanese dubs just like there are good and bad English dubs. Everyone has a right to watch whichever version they like best, however, and it annoys me when someone insists that all English dubs suck and tries to tell me which version to watch.

Also, I’d love to take this post to appreciate some of my favorite voice actors ever, whose voices help make FMA even better than it already is: Travis Willingham, Aaron Dismuke, Vic Mignogna, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Laura Bailey, Sonny Strait, Maxey Whitehead, J. Michael Tatum, Caitlin Glass, Todd Haberkorn, Wendy Powell, Monica Rial, Christopher Sabat, Jerry Jewell, and many others who deserve thanks and praise for their awesome work. Seriously, if I had the time to list everyone who ever did a voice in FMA, I would. <3 No matter what kind of hate English dubs get, I hope these guys know that there are lots of anime fans who appreciate what they help bring to us.

Also, this video is adorable proof that subs and dubs can get along, and I absolutely love it. With that, I am done. *peacefully climbs off of my soap box*

Day 21- Do you think Maes Hughes is an adorable and loving father or just creepy?

Definitely adorable. <3

Seriously. How can you consider him creepy? Sure, he might’ve gotten a little annoying at times, but he was the kind of character that made me smile every time he came on screen. Can we just take this post to appreciate the adorableness that was Hughes? I seriously cried so hard when he died.

My emotions could not handle that moment when his daughter told them to “stop throwing dirt on Daddy.” ;-; SO SAD.

Day 20- Your favorite anime OP/end

This one’s easy. Both my favorite opening and ending come from Brotherhood.

For my favorite opening, it’d have to be this:

And for the ending, I ADORED this:

I like both of these because they’re artfully done and the songs are awesome. Both of them are also on my iPod now, which lets you know I loved them enough to look them up and download them. Seriously, if these could be combined in an episode, it’d make that episode a SUPER episode. Love, love, LOVE them both.