If you want to watch Fullmetal Alchemist without getting tangled in two different anime continuities, movies, OVAs, and filler lists, this guide gives you the clean route. We’ll cover the best watch order, the difference between Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which episodes you can skip, where the movies fit, and where to find JPBound’s separate streaming guide.
Short version: start with Brotherhood if you want the complete manga story. Watch the 2003 anime afterward if you want a darker alternate version. Same brothers. Very different destination. Alchemy is tidy; anime continuity is not.
Fullmetal Alchemist Watch Order: Quick Answer
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood — Episodes 1–64; best first watch and the complete manga adaptation.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood OVAs — Optional side stories; watch after finishing Brotherhood.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos — Optional non-essential movie; best after Brotherhood episode 20 or after the series.
- Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 — Episodes 1–51; optional alternate continuity after Brotherhood, or first if you specifically want release order.
- Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa — Required if you watch the 2003 anime; watch after episode 51.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection OVAs — Optional 2003 bonus material; watch after the 2003 series/movie.
If you only want the main story, watch Brotherhood episodes 1–64 and skip episode 27 if you dislike recap-style episodes. For the 2003 anime, skip pure filler episodes 4, 10, and 37 if you want a leaner run, but do not treat the later 2003-only episodes as “filler” — they are the actual ending of that version.
Fullmetal Alchemist Basics
Fullmetal Alchemist is based on Hiromu Arakawa’s manga about Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers who break alchemy’s central taboo while trying to bring their mother back to life. Edward loses an arm and a leg. Alphonse loses his whole body, with his soul bound to a suit of armor. The story follows their search for the Philosopher’s Stone and the political, military, and moral rot hiding underneath Amestris.
There are two main TV anime versions. Fullmetal Alchemist from 2003 was produced while the manga was still ongoing, so it starts from the same premise and then builds its own anime-original storyline. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood from 2009 is a separate adaptation that follows the manga through its ending. They are not Season 1 and Season 2. They are alternate routes. Choose the route badly and you get confused. Choose it well and both are worth watching.
FMA 2003 vs Brotherhood: Which Should You Watch First?
| Version | Episodes | Continuity | Best For | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | 64 | Manga-complete continuity | First-time viewers who want the main canon story | Watch first for most people. |
| Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 | 51 | Alternate anime continuity | Viewers who want a darker, slower, more original take | Watch after Brotherhood, or first only if you prefer release order. |
| Conqueror of Shamballa | Movie | Sequel to the 2003 anime | Finishing the 2003 timeline | Watch after 2003 episode 51. |
| The Sacred Star of Milos | Movie | Side story, not required for manga canon | Completionists and movie-night viewers | Optional; safest after Brotherhood. |
My recommendation is simple: watch Brotherhood first. It tells the complete manga story, has the cleanest ending, and is the version most people mean when they call Fullmetal Alchemist one of the best anime ever. Then go back to the 2003 anime if you want a more tragic alternate interpretation.
The Best Fullmetal Alchemist Watch Order
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episodes 1–26 — Watch. This covers the early Elric brothers setup, the State Alchemist world, major military players, and the first wave of homunculus reveals.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 27, “Interlude Party” — Optional recap / character reflection. It has some framing material, but impatient first-time viewers can skip it without losing the plot.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episodes 28–64 — Watch. This is the main manga adaptation through the Promised Day and finale. Do not skip around here.
- Brotherhood OVAs — Optional. Watch after finishing the series so character references and backstory land properly.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos — Optional movie. It can fit around the middle of Brotherhood, but it works best as bonus viewing after the series because it is not needed for the ending.
- Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 Episodes 1–51 — Optional alternate continuity. Watch from the beginning; do not jump in halfway expecting it to continue Brotherhood.
- Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa — Required for the 2003 route. It is the sequel/closure to that anime’s ending.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection — Optional 2003 OVAs and comedy extras. Completionist material only.
Fullmetal Alchemist Release Order
- Fullmetal Alchemist TV anime — 2003–2004, 51 episodes
- Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa — 2005
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection OVAs — 2006
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood — 2009–2010, 64 episodes
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood OVAs — released with the Japanese home-video volumes, 2009–2010
- Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos — 2011
Release order is interesting, especially if you want to experience the franchise the way older fans did. But it is not the smoothest first-time path anymore. Brotherhood gives new viewers the clearest version of the central story.
Fullmetal Alchemist Chronological Order
There is no single chronological order that merges 2003 and Brotherhood, because they are separate continuities. The early events overlap, then the stories split hard. Treat them like alternate timelines, not one timeline with missing pieces.
| Continuity | Chronological Viewing Path | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brotherhood / manga route | Brotherhood episodes 1–64 → OVAs → The Sacred Star of Milos as optional bonus | The movie is not required and does not change the ending. |
| 2003 anime route | Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 episodes 1–51 → Conqueror of Shamballa → Premium Collection OVAs | This route has its own villains, rules, and ending. |
| Completionist route | Brotherhood first → optional Brotherhood extras → 2003 series → Conqueror of Shamballa → 2003 extras | Best if you want both versions without confusing canon. |
Is Fullmetal Alchemist Filler Heavy?
Fullmetal Alchemist is not filler-heavy compared with long-running shonen anime. Brotherhood has one commonly cited recap/filler-style episode, episode 27, in a 64-episode run. The 2003 anime has a few pure filler episodes early on, but the bigger issue is not filler — it is divergence.
That matters. Once the 2003 anime moves away from the manga, those episodes are not “bad filler” you can simply delete. They are anime-canon for the 2003 continuity. If you decide to watch the 2003 version, watch the main plot through the end, then continue with Conqueror of Shamballa.
Fullmetal Alchemist Filler List: Episodes You Can Skip
| Series | Episodes | Arc / Title | Type | Skip or Watch? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brotherhood | 1–26 | Opening arcs through major homunculus reveals | Canon / manga adaptation | Watch | Episode 1 is anime-original setup, but it introduces the cast cleanly and is worth watching. |
| Brotherhood | 27 | Interlude Party | Recap / mixed framing | Optional skip | Mostly recap with Hohenheim framing. Safe to skip if you want pace. |
| Brotherhood | 28–64 | Main manga story through finale | Canon | Watch | Core story. Do not skip. |
| FMA 2003 | 1–3, 5–9, 11–36, 38–51 | Main 2003 continuity | Manga canon / anime canon | Watch | The later anime-original material is the 2003 story, not disposable filler. |
| FMA 2003 | 4 | A Forger’s Love | Filler | Skip | Standalone story; not required for either continuity. |
| FMA 2003 | 10 | The Phantom Thief | Filler | Skip | Light standalone material. Watch only if you enjoy side stories. |
| FMA 2003 | 37 | The Flame Alchemist, The Bachelor Lieutenant & The Mystery of Warehouse 13 | Filler / comedy | Optional | Skippable for plot, but popular with Mustang/Hawkeye fans because it is funny. |
| Conqueror of Shamballa | Movie | 2003 sequel film | Anime canon for 2003 | Watch if you watched 2003 | Needed for closure to the 2003 ending. |
| The Sacred Star of Milos | Movie | Brotherhood-era side adventure | Optional side story | Optional | Not needed for the manga ending. |
Which Fullmetal Alchemist Filler Episodes Are Worth Watching?
- Brotherhood episode 27 — “Interlude Party”: Skip if you hate recaps, but it is not the laziest recap ever made. There is some Hohenheim mood-setting, so returning fans may enjoy it.
- FMA 2003 episode 37 — “The Flame Alchemist…”: The easiest optional filler recommendation. It is a comedy episode centered on Mustang’s circle, and it has enough personality to justify its existence.
- FMA 2003 episodes 11–12 — “The Other Brothers Elric”: Often treated as anime-canon rather than pure filler. Not required for Brotherhood, but useful if you are watching the 2003 version seriously.
- The 2003 anime-original second half: Worth watching if you want the 2003 continuity. Do not skip it as “filler”; that would be like throwing away the ending and calling it efficiency. Bold. Wrong, but bold.
Where Do the Fullmetal Alchemist Movies, OVAs, and Specials Fit?
- Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa — Watch after Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 episode 51. Canon status: sequel to the 2003 anime continuity. Required if you want that route’s ending.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos — Optional side movie. Best watched after Brotherhood or around the middle of the series only if you already know it is not essential.
- Brotherhood OVAs — Optional backstory/side material. Watch after finishing Brotherhood, especially if you care about extra character context.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection — Optional 2003 OVA collection. Mostly side stories and comedy extras; save it for completionist viewing.
Best Fullmetal Alchemist Watch Order by Viewer Type
First-time viewers
Watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood episodes 1–64 first. Skip episode 27 only if you are impatient with recap episodes. Add the OVAs and The Sacred Star of Milos afterward if you want extras.
Release-order fans
Watch the 2003 anime, then Conqueror of Shamballa, then the 2003 OVAs, then Brotherhood, then the Brotherhood extras. This gives you the historical experience, but it is a messier first watch.
Manga readers
Go straight to Brotherhood. The 2003 anime is still interesting, but it is more of an alternate adaptation than a faithful manga companion.
Completionists
Watch everything in this order: Brotherhood, Brotherhood OVAs, The Sacred Star of Milos, FMA 2003, Conqueror of Shamballa, and the Premium Collection OVAs. Then argue about which version handles the early arcs better. It is tradition.
Returning fans
If you only need the best rewatch, do Brotherhood episodes 1–26, skip or skim episode 27, then watch 28–64. Save 2003 for when you specifically want its alternate tone and ending.
Fullmetal Alchemist Watch Order and Filler FAQ
Should I watch Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 or Brotherhood first?
Watch Brotherhood first if you want the complete manga story and the simplest recommendation. Watch 2003 first only if you specifically want release order or a slower, darker alternate continuity.
Can I skip Fullmetal Alchemist filler?
Yes. In Brotherhood, episode 27 is the main skippable recap-style episode. In the 2003 anime, episodes 4, 10, and 37 are the cleanest skips. The later 2003-only episodes should not be skipped if you are watching that version.
Are Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 and Brotherhood connected?
No. They share characters and early story material, but they are separate anime continuities. Brotherhood follows the manga through the ending. The 2003 anime creates its own path and concludes with Conqueror of Shamballa.
Are the Fullmetal Alchemist movies canon?
Conqueror of Shamballa is canon to the 2003 anime continuity and should be watched after the 2003 series. The Sacred Star of Milos is an optional side movie and is not required for Brotherhood’s main story.
Is Brotherhood a remake or a sequel?
Brotherhood is a reboot / second adaptation, not a sequel. You can start with Brotherhood even if you have never watched the 2003 anime.
Where can I watch Fullmetal Alchemist legally?
Use JPBound’s separate Fullmetal Alchemist streaming guide for current options, or browse the main Where To Watch Database. This page stays focused on watch order and filler.
Recap
For most viewers, the best way to watch Fullmetal Alchemist is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood episodes 1–64, optionally skipping episode 27, then adding OVAs and The Sacred Star of Milos only if you want bonus material. After that, watch the 2003 anime as an alternate continuity and finish it with Conqueror of Shamballa.
The key rule: Brotherhood is the main manga route; Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 is a separate anime route. Treat them that way and the franchise makes sense. Mostly. Anime still has to be anime.
