3050


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?


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-01T14:55:46.543
2744
2013-03-28T16:28:56.183
93
question
fullmetal-alchemist-series
How do alchemists draw transmutation circles?


It's been a while, but I don't remember seeing any of them measuring their
circles, and it doesn't seem to be particularly important to the plot whether
they free-hand them or not.

Now some of the combat alchemists, like Roy for instance, already have small
pre-made transmutation circles on-hand(I know Roy had some on his gloves) that
they used, so they don't have to draw them every time.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-01T19:16:44.653
2750
2013-03-01T19:16:44.653
260
2744
answer


Yes, they do sometimes show them drawing the circles. Mostly it seems when
they are kids though... Check out chapter 23 of the manga when Edward fixes
the farm building and when they try human transmutation. Both times he uses a
stick or pointy ended object to draw the lines. With the farm building it
shows him walking around the building using the stick.

In both cases you can see that the lines aren't perfectly equidistant and have
a bit of a squiggly edge to them, showing their hand drawn style.

Another example would be the small transmutation circle that Edward draws on
the suite of armor to attach Alphonse, though relatively small you see him
draw that one too. It too is in no way clean/sharp.

Maybe it's just the anime that has sharp and clean transmutation circles?


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-01T21:49:19.547
2751
2013-03-01T21:49:19.547
1433
2744
answer


Practice makes perfect, they probably didn't draw perfect figures, though
drawing such shapes constantly would most certainly help them do a pretty neat
job.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-08T22:23:03.887
2847
2013-03-08T22:23:03.887
1548
2744
answer


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.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-26T20:37:57.940
3050
2013-03-26T20:37:57.940
274
2744
answer


The one thing that the alchemists do get before even being able to apply to
join state is a LOT of practice. I think this is the part that's glossed over
because it's not important. No one wants to see Al and Ed go through the
learning process on that part of it because it's boring.

It appears that this is why so many of the Alchemists specialize in one type
of alchemy. They get particularly adept at specific symbols to go with the
basic circles and other geometric shapes. Practice and dedication is
necessary, as is the will to make it do more than look like a pattern.

They show the dedication in Al and Ed when they are young in some flashbacks.
It's almost obsession for them. After enough hours of practice, you become
very good at it.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-28T16:28:56.183
3079
2013-03-28T16:28:56.183
1616
2744
answer