What's the difference between the FMA and FMA Brotherhood series?


I haven't watched Anime in many years, but recently I've had time to get back
into it. I've seen that one of my favorite series, Fullmetal Alchemist, has
done a series reboot. What I'm wondering is:

**Does it present a lot of deep variations** (plot-wise, character-wise or
otherwise) **, or is it just the same series with updated art?**




There are a large number of differences between the two Fullmetal Alchemist
anime, with far too many to list; therefore, I'll only cover the major ones.

To improve the flow of this answer, the following abbreviations will be used:

FMAM = Fullmetal Alchemist (Manga)  
FMA03 = Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 (Anime)  
FMAB = Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (Anime)  

The reason for the difference is because FMA03 was created when FMAM was still
in the early stages of its development. When an anime series is based on a
manga that is still in development, the anime is eventually going to reach a
point where it outpaces the manga, because anime episodes tend to be developed
quicker than manga volumes. When this happens, either filler for the anime is
created or changes to the anime's storyline and characters are made so that
the anime can continue to be developed. The latter is what happened to FMA03.
FMA03's storyline started to diverge from FMAM's storyline after around 10
episodes because, at that point, the anime was starting to outpace the manga.

On the other hand, FMAB was created when FMAM was nearing the end of its
development. This allowed FMAB's storyline to be more faithful to FMAM's
storyline because FMAB had a mostly-complete storyline to draw from FMAM.

The major differences between FMA03 and FMAB & FMAM are:

# Storyline

> Although both stories follow Edward and Alphonse, the overarching story is
> considerably different between FMA03 and FMAB & FMAM. In FMAB & FMAM the
> main antagonist was a character referred to as **Father** , a being of
> incredible power who is capable of performing transmutation at will, and
> without regard for equivalent exchange. His ultimate goal in FMAB & FMAM is
> to steal the power of what he refers to as "God" and become a being of
> infinite power and knowledge.  
>  
>  The main antagonist in FMA03 is Dante. Unlike Father, she is just a normal
> human being who created a Philosopher's Stone and has managed to live a long
> time by transferring her consciousness into the body of other human beings
> whenever she was nearing death. Dante's only motivation is to become
> immortal and live forever.

# The Homunculi

> In FMA03, the **Homunculi** were the result of attempting to perform human
> transmutation and failing. They could only be killed by destroying their
> original body.  
>  
>  In FMAB & FMAM, the Homunculi were created by Father, with each one
> representing a different aspect of his personality ( **Lust** , **Gluttony**
> , **Envy** , **Greed** , **Wrath** , **Sloth** , and **Pride** ; the seven
> deadly sins). Each Homunculus is also powered by a Philosopher's Stone.
> Unlike FMA03's Homunculi, FMAB & FMAM's Homunculi do not have an "original"
> body that needs to be destroyed. Instead, either the Philosopher's Stone
> powering them needs to be destroyed or its power drained (normally through
> forcing them to regenerate multiple times).  
>  
>  Another difference is the identify of the Homunculi themselves, with some
> Homunculi from FMAB & FMAM not appearing in FMA03 at all and others having
> their name changed.  
>  
>  **Gluttony** , **Envy** , **Lust** , and **Greed** have the same name and
> appearance in FMAB, FMAM, and FMA03.  
>  FMAB & FMAM's **Wrath** (King Bradley) is called **Pride** in FMA03.  
>  FMAB & FMAM's **Pride** (Selim Bradley) is not present in FMA03.  
>  FMA03's **Wrath** is unique to the series. He was the result of Izumi
> Curtis's attempt to revive her son.  
>  FMAB & FMAM's **Sloth** is not present in FMA03.  
>  FMA03's **Sloth** is unique to the series. She was the result of Ed and
> Al's attempt to bring back their mother.

# Hohenheim

> In FMA03, **Hohenheim** is just a normal human being who was originally
> Dante's lover; however, he eventually left her due to no longer sharing her
> desire to have immortality at any cost. Like Dante, he created a
> Philosopher's Stone and gained a long life by transferring his consciousness
> into another person's body. His role in the anime is very minor, and he
> becomes trapped on the other side of the Gate after a confrontation with
> Dante that ended in failure.  
>  
>  In FMAB & FMAM, Hohenheim was a human Philosopher's Stone with a seemingly
> infinite supply of power. Although he was originally a slave, he was granted
> his near-immortality by Father well before the events of the series took
> place. Hohenheim is more significant in FMAB & FMAM, facing off against
> Father at the end of the series. Unlike FMA03's Hohenheim, he dies at the
> end of FMAB & FMAM after finally exhausting the power of his Philosopher's
> Stone.

# The Gate

> The **Gate** is the largest major change in the series. In FMAB & FMAM, the
> Gate is the source of all alchemy and also seems to be a source of infinite
> knowledge. The Gate is also guarded by a being commonly referred to as
> **Truth** , and who is responsible for taking the required tolls from
> alchemists who perform human transmutation. Those who are capable of
> performing alchemy have their own gate, and if that gate should be removed
> (by sacrificing it to Truth), they will no longer be able to perform
> alchemy.  
>  
>  In FMA03, the Gate is still the source of alchemy, but it also serves as a
> portal between the world of _Fullmetal Alchemist_ and **Earth**.
> Furthermore, the Gate derives its powers from the souls of those who have
> died on Earth and is what powers the transmutations performed by alchemists.




There are a large number of differences between the two Fullmetal Alchemist
anime, with far too many to list; therefore, I'll only cover the major ones.

To improve the flow of this answer, the following abbreviations will be used:

FMAM = Fullmetal Alchemist (Manga)  
FMA03 = Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 (Anime)  
FMAB = Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (Anime)  

The reason for the difference is because FMA03 was created when FMAM was still
in the early stages of its development. When an anime series is based on a
manga that is still in development, the anime is eventually going to reach a
point where it outpaces the manga, because anime episodes tend to be developed
quicker than manga volumes. When this happens, either filler for the anime is
created or changes to the anime's storyline and characters are made so that
the anime can continue to be developed. The latter is what happened to FMA03.
FMA03's storyline started to diverge from FMAM's storyline after around 10
episodes because, at that point, the anime was starting to outpace the manga.

On the other hand, FMAB was created when FMAM was nearing the end of its
development. This allowed FMAB's storyline to be more faithful to FMAM's
storyline because FMAB had a mostly-complete storyline to draw from FMAM.

The major differences between FMA03 and FMAB & FMAM are:

# Storyline

> Although both stories follow Edward and Alphonse, the overarching story is
> considerably different between FMA03 and FMAB & FMAM. In FMAB & FMAM the
> main antagonist was a character referred to as **Father** , a being of
> incredible power who is capable of performing transmutation at will, and
> without regard for equivalent exchange. His ultimate goal in FMAB & FMAM is
> to steal the power of what he refers to as "God" and become a being of
> infinite power and knowledge.  
>  
>  The main antagonist in FMA03 is Dante. Unlike Father, she is just a normal
> human being who created a Philosopher's Stone and has managed to live a long
> time by transferring her consciousness into the body of other human beings
> whenever she was nearing death. Dante's only motivation is to become
> immortal and live forever.

# The Homunculi

> In FMA03, the **Homunculi** were the result of attempting to perform human
> transmutation and failing. They could only be killed by destroying their
> original body.  
>  
>  In FMAB & FMAM, the Homunculi were created by Father, with each one
> representing a different aspect of his personality ( **Lust** , **Gluttony**
> , **Envy** , **Greed** , **Wrath** , **Sloth** , and **Pride** ; the seven
> deadly sins). Each Homunculus is also powered by a Philosopher's Stone.
> Unlike FMA03's Homunculi, FMAB & FMAM's Homunculi do not have an "original"
> body that needs to be destroyed. Instead, either the Philosopher's Stone
> powering them needs to be destroyed or its power drained (normally through
> forcing them to regenerate multiple times).  
>  
>  Another difference is the identify of the Homunculi themselves, with some
> Homunculi from FMAB & FMAM not appearing in FMA03 at all and others having
> their name changed.  
>  
>  **Gluttony** , **Envy** , **Lust** , and **Greed** have the same name and
> appearance in FMAB, FMAM, and FMA03.  
>  FMAB & FMAM's **Wrath** (King Bradley) is called **Pride** in FMA03.  
>  FMAB & FMAM's **Pride** (Selim Bradley) is not present in FMA03.  
>  FMA03's **Wrath** is unique to the series. He was the result of Izumi
> Curtis's attempt to revive her son.  
>  FMAB & FMAM's **Sloth** is not present in FMA03.  
>  FMA03's **Sloth** is unique to the series. She was the result of Ed and
> Al's attempt to bring back their mother.

# Hohenheim

> In FMA03, **Hohenheim** is just a normal human being who was originally
> Dante's lover; however, he eventually left her due to no longer sharing her
> desire to have immortality at any cost. Like Dante, he created a
> Philosopher's Stone and gained a long life by transferring his consciousness
> into another person's body. His role in the anime is very minor, and he
> becomes trapped on the other side of the Gate after a confrontation with
> Dante that ended in failure.  
>  
>  In FMAB & FMAM, Hohenheim was a human Philosopher's Stone with a seemingly
> infinite supply of power. Although he was originally a slave, he was granted
> his near-immortality by Father well before the events of the series took
> place. Hohenheim is more significant in FMAB & FMAM, facing off against
> Father at the end of the series. Unlike FMA03's Hohenheim, he dies at the
> end of FMAB & FMAM after finally exhausting the power of his Philosopher's
> Stone.

# The Gate

> The **Gate** is the largest major change in the series. In FMAB & FMAM, the
> Gate is the source of all alchemy and also seems to be a source of infinite
> knowledge. The Gate is also guarded by a being commonly referred to as
> **Truth** , and who is responsible for taking the required tolls from
> alchemists who perform human transmutation. Those who are capable of
> performing alchemy have their own gate, and if that gate should be removed
> (by sacrificing it to Truth), they will no longer be able to perform
> alchemy.  
>  
>  In FMA03, the Gate is still the source of alchemy, but it also serves as a
> portal between the world of _Fullmetal Alchemist_ and **Earth**.
> Furthermore, the Gate derives its powers from the souls of those who have
> died on Earth and is what powers the transmutations performed by alchemists.

