What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedFullmetal Alchemist
Series · 2003
If you loved Fullmetal Alchemist, start with Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (Seiji Mizushima, 2005) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Fullmetal Alchemist across media.
What hooked you in Fullmetal Alchemist was the way the pursuit of forbidden knowledge inevitably demands a profound, life-altering personal sacrifice.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa
Seiji Mizushima · Film · 2005
Adaptation
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Series · 2009
Adaptation
Fullmetal Alchemist
Fumihiko Sori · Film · 2017
Books on the same thread
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho · Book · 1988
Explores: Personal Legend, Fate and Free Will, Following Your Dreams.
Much like the Elric brothers in Fullmetal Alchemist, you will find that the journey toward enlightenment requires a total commitment to your personal legend and deep spiritual transformation.
Northern Lights
Philip Pullman · Book · 2001
Explores: Good vs Evil, Free Will vs Determinism, Loss of Innocence.
If the moral ambiguity of Fullmetal Alchemist resonated with you, this story offers a similarly complex struggle where the pursuit of scientific power clashes with the weight of morality.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Orphanhood, Friendship.
The themes of orphanhood and destiny that define Fullmetal Alchemist are mirrored here as a young protagonist discovers his own hidden power while navigating a dangerous, magical world.
His Dark Materials
Philip Pullman · Book · 1995
Explores: Good vs Evil, Free Will vs Determinism, Loss of Innocence.
Fans of Fullmetal Alchemist will appreciate this epic narrative, which mirrors the series' intellectual depth by exploring the heavy consequences of challenging the fundamental laws of the universe.
Films on the same thread
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Film · 2001
Explores: good vs evil, orphaned protagonist, self-discovery.
This film captures the same sense of wonder found in Fullmetal Alchemist, focusing on a young protagonist who must master a new, dangerous craft to uncover his true destiny.
Akira
Katsuhiro Otomo · Film · 1988
Explores: Psychic Powers, Government Conspiracy, Youth Rebellion.
Those drawn to the government conspiracies and dark experiments in Fullmetal Alchemist will recognize the same themes of reckless power and its catastrophic impact on society in this story.
Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki · Film · 2001
Explores: environmentalism, loss of innocence, identity.
The sense of being trapped in a strange, transformative world mirrors the journey of the protagonists in Fullmetal Alchemist as they confront the loss of their childhood innocence.
Castle in the Sky
Hayao Miyazaki · Film · 1986
Explores: Anti-war, Environmentalism, Orphan protagonists.
The steampunk aesthetic and the search for a legendary, powerful object in this film echo the adventurous spirit and alchemical mysteries that fuel the plot of Fullmetal Alchemist.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
If you enjoyed the strong bond and group dynamics of Fullmetal Alchemist, you will appreciate how this improvised storytelling highlights the importance of companionship during a high-stakes adventure.
Forensic Files
Podcast
Explores: crime scene investigation, scientific analysis, evidence-based analysis.
The reliance on scientific analysis and investigation seen here provides the same grounded, methodical satisfaction that you experienced watching the complex mysteries unfold in Fullmetal Alchemist.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch Fullmetal Alchemist in?
You should start with the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist television series, followed by the 2005 movie Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a separate adaptation of the source material, and the 2017 Fullmetal Alchemist movie is a distinct live-action adaptation.
Is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood a sequel to the 2003 series?
No, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is not a sequel to the 2003 series. Both television shows are separate adaptations of the same source material. While they follow the same premise of two brothers searching for the philosopher's stone, they develop the story and plot points differently.
How does Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa relate to the 2003 show?
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa serves as the direct cinematic conclusion to the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist television series. It picks up after the events of the final episode, continuing the journey of the two brothers as they deal with the consequences of their alchemical actions.
Is the 2017 Fullmetal Alchemist movie part of the original animated series?
The 2017 Fullmetal Alchemist movie is not part of the 2003 animated series or the 2009 Brotherhood adaptation. It is an independent live-action film that adapts the original story of the brothers searching for the philosopher's stone into a different medium, separate from the animated continuity.