Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist, also rendered FullMetal Alchemist or Full Metal Alchemist and abbreviated to FMA, is a manga series by Hiromu Arakawa. It is also a very popular anime directed by Seiji Mizushima.

World
FMA is set in an Earth-like world at a technology level similar to that of the Industrial Revolution. The most obvious machines are automobiles, trains, and automail, the last being highly functional, mechanical prostheses. The story is set in the country of Amestris, which is governed by a Führer from the capitol of Central City. The Führer is also the head of the State Military, the primary offensive and defensive force of Amsetris. Much of Amestris seems to have a Germanic flavor to it. There is probably a good reason for this.

Alchemy
The most striking difference between the world of FMA and our own is the existence of alchemy. In the canon, alchemy is a very advanced science, the use of which allows alchemists to transmute matter from one state to another. Alchemy obeys the law of Equivalent Exchange, which states that you can't create something without destroying something of equivalent mass and composition. Furthermore, there is a strict law against human transfiguration which seems to extend to all living, non-plant things.

Most, though by no means all practitioners of alchemy in Amestris are State Alchemists. They have to sit a difficult exam with two parts, theoretical and practical, in order to earn the title. The reward for doing so is access to resources that laypeople can only dream of as well as a silver watch and a nickname, as in the Fullmetal Alchemist or the Flame Alchemist. The downside is that State Alchemists are technically part of the military and must do as they're told. Researchers also come up for review every year and must show results or lose their privileges.

Story
Edward and Alphonse Elric are the sons of an alchemist, who is missing/presumed dead. They live with their mother in the village of Resembool and grow up performing minor alchemical feats. When their mother dies, however, they break every rule in the book in an attempt to bring her back. The attempt fails horribly, at the expense of Ed's left leg and Al's entire body. In a desperate attempt to save his little brother, Ed trades his right arm for Al's soul and fixes it to a suit of armor.

A few days later, the boys are contacted by Roy Mustang, a colonel and alchemist in the State Military. He offers Edward the opportunity to become a State Alchemist. Ed is determined to find a way to restore his brother's body, and so he sits the exam and becomes the youngest State Alchemist in history.

In their search for answers, the Elric brothers learn of the Philosopher's Stone, an artifact that is said to have the power to perform human transfiguration. However, they aren't the only people looking for the Stone. They gradually become embroiled in a series of events that started years ago and goes deep into the military, all the while being pursued by homunculi, humanoid creatures with bizarre powers, who hope the Elrics will lead them to the Stone. For what purpose, nobody knows.

Note: the story of the anime (the only one this PPCer knows) diverges from that of the manga. This was a deliberate choice on the part of the creator, so each version may be considered its own separate canon.

Protagonists

 * Edward Elric


 * Alphonse Elric


 * Roy Mustang


 * Winry Rockbell

Antagonists

 * Solf J. Kimblee


 * Dante (anime-verse only)


 * Homunculi
 * Lust
 * Gluttony
 * Envy
 * Greed
 * Wrath
 * Sloth
 * Pride

The Military

 * Roy Mustang


 * Riza Hawkeye


 * Kain Fuery


 * Jean Havoc


 * Maes Hughes


 * Olivier Armstrong

Missions in this Continuum

 * Mission Reports from the Department of Mary Sues, Full Metal Alchemist Division