How do alchemists draw transmutation circles?


In FMA, alchemists draw transmutation circles that are made up of perfect
circles and regular polygons.

![Transmutation circle](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2FAeF.png)

Is it ever show how they make perfect circles and entirely equal angles? I
know that it is difficult to free-hand draw things like that. Is anybody ever
shown using rulers/compasses, or is it just understood that they are all able
to free-hand circles/polygons without them?




First, there is no official word on this. None of the Hiromu Arakawa (the
original writer) interviews go into depth as to what the transmutation circles
even _do_ , much less how they are created. Neither of the _FMA Perfect Guide_
books mention transmutation circles to any strenuous degree, though it is
mentioned that Alphonse has more practice drawing them than Edward (for
reasons obvious to those who have seen the series).

There are [tutorials](http://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Transmutation-Circle)
online that show methods to draw these circles; however, most if not all that
I found used rulers, compasses, or other tools.

Some alchemists use circles that are likely made by tools:

  * Major Armstrong's circles are inscribed in the [metal plates on his hands](http://ginnodangan.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/fma54-42.jpg). These would require tools to make, and so may have been made perfectly circular by tools as well.
  * The same applies to other circles we see; Roy's are on [his gloves](http://media.animevice.com/uploads/0/4479/331630-fma_roy_mustang_red_75.jpg), Basque Grand's are on [his gauntlets](http://images.wikia.com/fma/images/f/ff/Basque03circle1.jpg), etc.

However, alchemists are shown drawing the circles many times:

  * In a flashback during episode 2 _FMA:B_ (and others), Ed is shown to draw a transmutation circle (the blood seal) on Alphonse's armor just using his finger, and he's still a child.
  * Around episode 23 _FMA:B_ , May Chang is shown to draw a "perfect" circle and pentagram using only her foot. She then proceeds to throw ten _kunai_ into two perfect pentagons, which are used as transmutation circles.
  * In episode 57 _FMA:B_ , the Gold-Toothed Doctor uses chalk to draw a rather large transmutation circle.
  * In episode 63 _FMA:B_ , Edward Elric draws a large transmutation circle by only dragging a pipe across the ground.
  * In chapter 1 _Manga_ , Al is seen drawing a circle using chalk and no tools (pictured below). This shot appears in similar fashion in _Brotherhood_.

![Al using chalk to draw a transmutation
circle](https://i.stack.imgur.com/74iz6.png)

In none of the above circumstances are tools shown to be used to draw the
circles. Furthermore, Scar's brother's tattoo likely could _not_ have been
drawn with tools as the human skin is not a uniform or Euclidean surface. And
also, the Elric brothers are shown, prior to their mother's death, to draw
effective transmutation circles without tools.

With all these bits of information together, it's _at the very least_ hard to
believe that there are tools used to draw the circles, or even to learn to
draw them. No one is ever seen using them; I suspect we are just supposed to
believe that freehanding it becomes a skill as alchemists get better.




First, there is no official word on this. None of the Hiromu Arakawa (the
original writer) interviews go into depth as to what the transmutation circles
even _do_ , much less how they are created. Neither of the _FMA Perfect Guide_
books mention transmutation circles to any strenuous degree, though it is
mentioned that Alphonse has more practice drawing them than Edward (for
reasons obvious to those who have seen the series).

There are [tutorials](http://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Transmutation-Circle)
online that show methods to draw these circles; however, most if not all that
I found used rulers, compasses, or other tools.

Some alchemists use circles that are likely made by tools:

  * Major Armstrong's circles are inscribed in the [metal plates on his hands](http://ginnodangan.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/fma54-42.jpg). These would require tools to make, and so may have been made perfectly circular by tools as well.
  * The same applies to other circles we see; Roy's are on [his gloves](http://media.animevice.com/uploads/0/4479/331630-fma_roy_mustang_red_75.jpg), Basque Grand's are on [his gauntlets](http://images.wikia.com/fma/images/f/ff/Basque03circle1.jpg), etc.

However, alchemists are shown drawing the circles many times:

  * In a flashback during episode 2 _FMA:B_ (and others), Ed is shown to draw a transmutation circle (the blood seal) on Alphonse's armor just using his finger, and he's still a child.
  * Around episode 23 _FMA:B_ , May Chang is shown to draw a "perfect" circle and pentagram using only her foot. She then proceeds to throw ten _kunai_ into two perfect pentagons, which are used as transmutation circles.
  * In episode 57 _FMA:B_ , the Gold-Toothed Doctor uses chalk to draw a rather large transmutation circle.
  * In episode 63 _FMA:B_ , Edward Elric draws a large transmutation circle by only dragging a pipe across the ground.
  * In chapter 1 _Manga_ , Al is seen drawing a circle using chalk and no tools (pictured below). This shot appears in similar fashion in _Brotherhood_.

![Al using chalk to draw a transmutation
circle](https://i.stack.imgur.com/74iz6.png)

In none of the above circumstances are tools shown to be used to draw the
circles. Furthermore, Scar's brother's tattoo likely could _not_ have been
drawn with tools as the human skin is not a uniform or Euclidean surface. And
also, the Elric brothers are shown, prior to their mother's death, to draw
effective transmutation circles without tools.

With all these bits of information together, it's _at the very least_ hard to
believe that there are tools used to draw the circles, or even to learn to
draw them. No one is ever seen using them; I suspect we are just supposed to
believe that freehanding it becomes a skill as alchemists get better.

