Product Description

Perhaps the truth about the past is its eternal presence within us all. This theory has never been more evident as the events of long ago emerge once again in the paths of Manabu and his comrades. During a routine mission, the situation becomes decidedly non-routine as the flames of the past surround Captains Murase and Julia. Can they depend on each other when their lives are on the line? David also encounters an old flame of his own when Big One is sent to rescue survivors from a small aircraft crashed on a remote planet known as the resting palce of the most beautiful jewel in the Universe. Soon, the Sirius Platoon will come face to face with a mystery that may prove true love is stronger than dark, ghostly legends.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33012 in DVD
• Brand: FUNIMATION PRODUCTIONS, LTD
• Released on: 2006-01-10
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .38 pounds
• Running time: 30 minutes

Features

• Ever since Ed and Al attempted human transmutation, they have desperately avoided one person: their childhood teacher, Izumi. Bearing dreadlocks, an iron will, and incredible alchemic skills, she is horrified that Ed and Al used her teachings to violate nature. Now she has caught them, and is shipping them back to her hometown for a frightening interrogation. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes i

Amazon.com
As Fullmetal Alchemist enters its second season, Ed and Al pursue the rumor that the inhabitants of Ishbal created a Philosopher's Stone without using alchemy. If the Elrics can learn how it was accomplished, they may be able to restore their bodies without harming anyone. After an unrewarding trip with Winrey, the Elric Brothers meet the one person they fear: Izumi, their old alchemy instructor. The filmmakers intercut the Brothers' present encounter with Izumi and flashbacks of their early training, suggesting the ongoing journey to mastery of their art. But episodes 27 and 28 suffer from a cultural gap. Izumi is modeled on a traditional Zen master: she gave Ed and Al the koan "All Is One, One Is All" to unravel to test their worthiness as pupils. But in place of the slap Zen masters sometimes administer, she beats the Elrics savagely and needlessly. To Americans, Izumi acts not like a wise disciplinarian, but a brutal sadist. While her training ultimately benefits Ed and Al, these episodes don't translate emotionally. (Rated TV PG: violence, grotesque imagery, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Ready, Steady, GO into the third season!
Fullmetal Alchemist continues to amaze and astound as one of the most popular and, quite frankly, best anime series in recent years. With its mix of technology and magic in the story, the emotion of the characters, and the richness and deepness of the story itself, anime fans find themselves marking their collective calendars when they find out a new volume is on the way. I include myself in that group, and couldn't wait to rip off the cellophane on this chapter and throw it into my PS2 when I picked it up.
In this volume, which at the halfway point transcends into the third season of episodes. (I'll correct the previous reviewers here: Yes, you read that right, THIRD--officially, a "season" of a TV series is 13 episodes, give or take a couple. Usually in an anime series, a new season is signified by a new opening/closing theme and animation. In this volume, that occurs for the third time. So there you go.) Anyway, getting back to the main point, there is a good point in the fact that with a new season, the story tends to slow down a bit, which it does here. Only after an amazing ending to Season 2, though, does that happen. Lt. Maes Hughes continues his investigation into the Homunculi and the events surrounding Lab Five, and comes dangerously close to the truth. Meanwhile, Ed and Al have scampered off again without telling the State, this time in search of a way to restore their bodies without using the Philosopher's Stone. Noble of them, considering the damage said Stone does to everything around it. At this point, they've reached a new found maturity, and it shows in spades in the two boys. Their galpal Winry totes along, sensing a great opportunity to shop and find some rare machine goods. The group happens across another young girl sporting similar automail (one arm and both legs), and meet another quite talented machinist. All this adventuring, though, only serves to worry their boss, Col. Roy Mustang, who's in the middle of working his way to the top of the State "food chain". Ed and Al also meet up with their old alchemy teacher, Izumi, who ends up having a little more to learn the young'uns (mostly through multiple beatings). This exchange is both hilarious and insightful, and Ed and Al come away from the reunion all the wiser. Then there's that strange little long-haired boy on the island...

The ending of the second season is by far the most powerful scenery in the whole series up to now. The English voice cast painstakingly worked to ensure maximum heart-wrenchings (as you'll find out if you listen to the commentary), and boy, did it work. I've never really gotten emotional toward an anime series, but that sequence was rattling. Funimation has put together a completely superb talent pool to bring true dubbing quality to this series, and it deserves no less. Yes, the action slows down in this volume, but with a story this deep (and seemingly with no end in sight), once a while you've just gotta endure a little plot development here and there. (Just look at Dragon Ball Z for the most extreme example of this.) Patience, however, is guaranteed reward in this series. You won't be disappointed. The animation quality doesn't peter off a bit, either. Every episode is as well-drawn as the last. The soundtrack is powerful, complete with western-themed piano, symphony, and throbbing drums to set off every emotion and setting. This is one of the few series out there that gets everything right: solid action, gripping characters, a well-paced story, and sight & sound quality unheard of in made-for-TV anime.

Extras include commentary on Episode 25 (from Roy's, Hughes', and Havoc's voice actors), which is informative and funny; of course the obligatory "clean" openings/closings (without credits on the screen); a full episode of "Mr. Stain in Junk Alley" (CGI comedy series coming soon); and previews of coming attractions.
Again, the only drawback to the disc setup is the mandatory previews you have to sit through before the menu even comes up; this time one for "Mr. Stain" and one for "Baki the Grappler". REALLY could've done without that because neither preview is very interest-generating. Other than that, the menu and setup are flawless.

If you've followed the series up to now, you'll definitely want to keep on truckin' through after this volume. It doesn't let up at all save for some flashbacks and story development, and again, contains one of the most gripping scenes in recent anime history. Get it NOW!

Not the best, put important episodes nonetheless
Many people have criticized Volume 7 (episodes 25-28), saying they are some of the most boring episodes of the series. This might be, but you have to look at the big picture. Episode 25 is the Season 2 finale, and is probably one of the most dramatic shows in the series. After that, a couple cheesecake Season 3 opener shows are always going to look bad. They do, however, start to bring in some important new characters, new revelations on the secret of Ed's alchemy, and begin a greater plotline that extends all the way to the end of the series. Just bare with it, enjoy the shows for what they're worth, and you'll be rewarded once things start to pick up again in the next volume.

Sadness
FMA now has the distinction of being one of maybe three anime and/or cartoons that have made me shed real tears (who didn't cry when Mufasa died?). This is one sad volume, starting with the very first episode and promising only to get sadder with the next volume. While I won't say who dies so as not to spoil this volume for anyone, I will say that it was a key player and definitely one of the more lovable ones.

After that, the story follows the Elric brothers as they are once again exploring their past. The boys leave Central to find more clues on the stone, but on the way they meet a person from their past who drags them away from the quest in a forceful way. Now, the boys must find a way to explain to their old alchemy teacher how they ended up the way they are, while also going through a brutal refresher course. Between all of this, Ed finds the importance of auto-mail; Scar kills; and Colonel Roy Mustang learns to cry.

Definitely the most powerful volume to date, I'm completely shocked that this series can keep getting better. New characters are introduced every other episode, and every one is so distinctive that they become instantly memorable. I can't stress this enough: Fullmetal Alchemist is the best anime series to come out since Cowboy Bebop, and any fan of anime who isn't collecting this series should hurry up and get with the program. You're missing out on something great.