Fullmetal Alchemist Not so Popular Anymore

This does not bode well for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

By GodLen | Sept. 2, 2009

The first Fullmetal Alchemist series was extremely popular, so Japanese scientists did the math and discovered that if they make a remake, it would be just as popular. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case anymore, because for some odd reason the ratings are falling and are not getting better anytime soon. Sankaku Complex shows us that he original held an average of between 6% and 7% throughout its run, while Brotherhood on the other hand is about 3% and quickly plummeting. Rumor has it that they plan on moving the show to a more favorable time slot, but who knows if that will save it.

Maybe it's upside down?

So why is this so unpopular in Japan at the moment? Is it because it’s a remake and people don’t want to watch it all over again (ala Endless Eight)? Or is it because there are only a limited amount of shows one can watch at once, and Brotherhood has just been pushed aside for other anime?

I don’t know about Japan, but I’ve been enjoying the hell out of Brotherhood. Though it might be because I have never finished the original, so most of the story is brand new for me. You never know, this could become popular after it’s finished, once people realize that this remake might be worth watching, like the original Gundam. Hopefully they won’t call it quits before the series is finished; that would make me very sad.

12 Comments

Nikoon Sept. 2, 2009 at 2:22 p.m.

But remakes of Gundam weren't worth watching. That's why Seed sucks and more original series and true sequels are superior.

Plus FMA doesn't have an army of model kits behind it.

Really though, I saw the first episode, thought it was ok, and stopped there. I'm content with the first series. Gundam succeeded because it continued the story and then even moved away completely from the original characters. Brotherhood is merely more of the same people, even if things turn out radically different. It doesn't help that the series goes fairly quickly into backstory that everyone who saw the first series already saw. As you said, just like Endless Eight. No one wants to be forced to have to repeat the same story just to continue on.

GodLen staff on Sept. 2, 2009 at 2:38 p.m.

@Niko: What i'm talking about is that the original Gundam was extremely unpopular during it's first run, but then near the end it became more popular because people started to see how good it has become. Then it hit its peak of popularity during the re-run, much like Star Trek. Maybe FMA:B can have the same level of success.

mediarighton Sept. 2, 2009 at 3:22 p.m.

The other issue is that...reviews of Brotherhood have been mixed at-best. This is a new director without a lot of hits to his name, it's a completely different staff and the cast was really shaken up. I really put a lot of the success of the first one on Director Seji Mizushima's shoulders, and I've been watching these guys stumble through a lot of these episodes where they haven't been hitting the right beats, moments that should be funny seem strained and vice-versa (and yes, I am taking cultural differences into account...this one's not doing it right). The musical score is just not working. One could even argue the OP/ED choice has been lukewarm.

It's getting better, and has a good cast, but frankly, Arakawa's story needs good support to fly, and I truly think it's not getting as much lift this time because the director or someone up-top is making some bad decisions. It's just not as good a show from a production stand-point.

Sigueon Sept. 2, 2009 at 3:29 p.m.

I'm enjoying Brohood, but it might just be because I'm a huge fan of the manga. Also I like saying Brohood. I'm happy as long as it doesn't get canceled.

Nikoon Sept. 2, 2009 at 3:51 p.m.

@GodLen said:

" @Niko: What i'm talking about is that the original Gundam was extremely unpopular during it's first run, but then near the end it became more popular because people started to see how good it has become. Then it hit its peak of popularity during the re-run, much like Star Trek. Maybe FMA:B can have the same level of success. "

Even with that, it's not the same. Gundam became popular in reruns. FMA was already popular once already, with the original series. I don't think an alternate retelling of an already-popular series will gain the rerun save Gundam and Star Trek got.

GodLen staff on Sept. 2, 2009 at 4:05 p.m.

@Niko: yes, that's true. I just hope maybe it will get more popular in dvd sales afterwords, which just might be too late.

HeeroYuyon Sept. 2, 2009 at 5:29 p.m.

Personally I think it's a result of burnout. Since the first 12 episodes or so were all recap sort of, not a whole of people cared to watch them, and once people get into a habit, it's not that easy to just jump right back into it. Besides, most of the fun for a show kicks in because it's fresh. The fans of primarily the FMA manga won't care for it because they already know what's going to happen a long ways ahead of the anime, and the would-be FMA anime fans don't care for it because they don't have any motivation of the cool stuff that happens ahead to sit through 12 episodes of basically recap. It's a sort of catch 22 situation.

Lance_McCloudon Sept. 2, 2009 at 6:13 p.m.

I don't find it that strange. Its sad that anime is struggling, but it seems to be that so many fans just care for that one show that is new and runs right now. It has been like this for a while with different shows, people say one show is their favorite anime of all time, but they never buy the DVDs and when its over, they find the next show to jump on, and now thats the best series ever. The reason anime is struggling now is that so many just download and never buy anything. buying the DVDs is one thing, they don't give a huge profit from what I'm told, but to me its essential to collect my favorite series on DVD even though I watch more series that I dont buy. The series that does well though, is the ones that have other merchandise and thats the way some anime make money and others don't.

On FMA, i like Brotherhood a lot more then the first show as the first took itself to serious, and the new one has more comedy. Haven't seen that many episodes still, but will get to it at some point. I have no idea where all the FMA fans went though, as that series was huge when it first hit and the fans were crazy about it. But as i said above, many newer anime fans aren't that loyal and get easily excited by whatever they watch because they havent seen much anime, and as they watch more they grow into different things. Thats how it was for me anyways. I thought there were going to be a huge uproar when Brotherhood hit and the much superior Shinichiro Miki was the new voice of Roy Mustang, thinking the older fans were going to be upset the original actor was replaced... but from what I can tell, none of the original fans watched Brotherhood.

CharredKnighton Sept. 3, 2009 at 1:27 a.m.

In this enviroment you can't take your time. Code Geass was popular not because of story, or characters, but because each episode ended on a cliffhanger which made you ask for more. Of course having seen the series, American fans felt no need to actual buy the thing since the suspense was gone, and the actual plot was mediocre, and the characters frequently obnoxious.

With Brotherhood people watched the first two episodes grew bored and then moved on to the next big thing, bitching about Haruhi even though you keep watching it.

AgentJon Sept. 3, 2009 at 1:43 a.m.

@HeeroYuy said:

" Personally I think it's a result of burnout. Since the first 12 episodes or so were all recap sort of, not a whole of people cared to watch them, and once people get into a habit, it's not that easy to just jump right back into it. Besides, most of the fun for a show kicks in because it's fresh. The fans of primarily the FMA manga won't care for it because they already know what's going to happen a long ways ahead of the anime, and the would-be FMA anime fans don't care for it because they don't have any motivation of the cool stuff that happens ahead to sit through 12 episodes of basically recap. It's a sort of catch 22 situation. "

If that was true, who would bother with the likes of Bleach or Naruto? I just think most people HaVENT read the manga, and a lot of people probably think its a straight remake.

lordhaseoon Sept. 3, 2009 at 10:03 a.m.

well they need new mateariel

blacksun69on Oct. 8, 2009 at 2:57 a.m.

As far as I've seen in the remake of FMA, there have been new characters like Ling Yao. There has been new stories like the story to overthrow King Bradley, the death of Lust. Although the quality of the anime has been poor, but the story is new. That's why I'll stick to be a FMA fan

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