[HPFGU-OTChatter] Full Metal Alchemist and HP

[Saitaina]

The alchemy in FullMetal Alchemist is as ours would be if we continued on that course of science (and you know...it actually WORKED).  It's the shifting of matter to create something of equal or lesser value.

Basically using the materials at hand to create something else made of the same materials (a rose to another flower of the same size, water to ice, elements to their other states).

There are some simularities between HP and FMA, the Phillosopher's stone figures in both, though one is created by sacraficing human lifes (an exchange of the life of several for the imortal life of one), and one...well, isn't, being a main one that jumps out at me at the moment.

As Kempar said, the sould alchemy would be diffrent (and not evil) as Alphonse was taken in an exchange, a price.  Though, one might argue there is very little between bringing the dead back to life (what Alphonse did to end up a soul trapped in an empty suit of armor) and murdering someone and then trapping parts of your soul in a piece of jewlery.

The main crux of the anime, is the journey to discover what is right and good, and just what you're willing to do to accomplish your tasks.  The brothers (Edward and Alphonse) are faced with this choice many times in their efforts to return themselves to 'normal'.  Do they follow their desires and sacrifice others to create a Philosopher's stone, do they go against what they know and belive in just so Edward can regain his limbs and Al his body, or do they keep on the path of 'good' even if everything ends up ruined and hopeless?

Much in the case of HP, the same thread of the path you choose and the choices you make determining who you are, not your birth, your rank or your abilities.  

As for the pendant, none of the symbols really mean anything bad, most are the traditional elemental symbols, some are arrays used by various cast members for their alchemy (There's one for Fire, there's one for whatever the heck Armstrong does with the Earth, one for agricultural uses that pops up, so on).  There are two that are distinctive though, and have seperate meanings then the others.  The Flamel (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000E1EDHQ.01-A14NCOGF1E9RXR._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg), and the Oroborus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ouroboros.png)

In the show, the Flamel resembles truth.  It's the symbol worn by Ed, Al and their teacher Izumi.  The Oroborus means continuty, and are worn by the 'bad guys', or humunculus (souless humans, artificial humans to be more exact).  Neither of which are dark symbols on their own.

...and that was probably more then you needed to know but hopefully it awnsered your question and provoked instresting thoughts. *grins*

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Saitaina

It was a dead head. He hadn't expected this when he'd left Japan. Shot maybe. Stabbed possibly. Hung or strangled. Poisoned. But not heads rolling merrily down the street like a deranged bowling ball ready to gnaw off their ankles.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/saitaina

If life hands you lemons, you should make lemonaide...and then try to find someone whose life has handed them vodka.



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