FMA: Brotherhood

[dragonimp]

Just finished watching the premiere episode of the new FMA. My reaction was a resounding:

Meh.

It's probably just this episode. It felt too cramped. They were trying to introduce too many characters and too many concepts at once. One of the great things about FMA - both the manga and the original anime - was the gradual way the story played out. This felt rushed. Once the story proper gets going it'll probably be fine, but I really wasn't impressed by the pacing or the storytelling here.

Also, based on the teasers, I was expecting a lot more from the animation. It had its moments, but it also felt awkward.

It's going to take me a while to get used to Roy's new voice, too. It just doesn't have the depth and resonance I'm used to.

Riza wins for one-liners, though: "Please only be useless on rainy days, sir."

Comments

[binaryalchemist.livejournal.com]

I seconded that in my own review...Meh. And Roy's new voice sounds too damn young--yeah, I know he's supposed to be only 29, but he wasn't authoritative enough. Hawkeye did win, and having Roy get blasted in the face would have been funnier if he'd had a chance to be Colonel Bastard--a little early for the classic "useless when wet" running gag. Too much exposition--I still think that the original opening--which is for FMA and the Manga--works better. That bit at the end with Armstrong begging Ed to touch him was like some kind of realllllly sick Yaoi joke. And Tricia Elric making QUICHE???? What happened to stew, for god's sake??? And it was very, very Arakawa-esque--for better or worse....I expected worse, hoped for better...

[dragonimp.livejournal.com]

Roy sounded... I think it hit me as "young" so much as ... thin. Washed-out. It's like there was nothing behind it. Which is unfortunate, because manga!Roy is so much more centered and grounded than first-anime!Roy, he should sound more authoritative, not less.

Yeah, that quiche was out of nowhere. I mean, I sure she made a lot of things, but frugal country living = quiche??

(And Armstrong showing up with roses and then doing that "go ahead, touch me!!" line? I was like "OMG pedophile alchemist!!" Armstrong is a sap and a fop, but he's not supposed to be a pervert!)