What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Series · 2009
If you loved Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, start with Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood across media.
What hooked you in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was the way high-stakes world-building remains anchored by the intimate, unbreakable bonds between brothers.
Start with the source
The source
Fullmetal Alchemist
Series · 2003
Adaptation
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa
Seiji Mizushima · Film · 2005
Adaptation
Fullmetal Alchemist
Fumihiko Sori · Film · 2017
Books on the same thread
Demon Slayer
Koyoharu Gotoge · Book · 2018
Explores: Sibling Bond, Grief, Moral Duty.
Just as the Elric brothers navigate a harsh world to fix their past, Tanjiro fights to restore his sister after tragedy, mirroring the core sibling devotion found in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
The Final Empire
Brandon Sanderson · Book · 2009
Explores: Class struggle, Revolutionary overthrow, Magic systems.
Readers who appreciate the complex magic systems and political intrigue of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood will find a similar depth in the world-building and revolutionary stakes of this gripping fantasy.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 1
Koyoharu Gotouge · Book
Explores: revenge, sibling bond, tragic loss.
The desperate quest to reverse a family tragedy drives this story with the same emotional weight and sibling-focused intensity that defined the journey of the characters in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Mistborn
Brandon Sanderson · Book · 2010
Explores: Class struggle, Revolutionary overthrow, Found family.
If the intricate magic and struggle against systemic corruption in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood captured your imagination, this story offers a comparable blend of hard magic and high-stakes social revolution.
Films on the same thread
Akira
Katsuhiro Otomo · Film · 1988
Shares a thread with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: Government Conspiracy.
This film captures the same sense of government conspiracy and the terrifying consequences of human ambition that underpin the darker, more unsettling moments of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Castle in the Sky
Hayao Miyazaki · Film · 1986
Explores: Anti-war, Environmentalism, Orphan protagonists.
Fans of the steampunk aesthetic and the sense of wonder in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood will appreciate this beautiful adventure that centers on young protagonists navigating a dangerous, magical world.
Sherlock Holmes
Guy Ritchie · Film · 2009
Shares a thread with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: Steampunk.
The dynamic interplay between Holmes and Watson echoes the deep, foundational partnership of the Elric brothers, offering a similarly compelling bromance set against a backdrop of mystery and steampunk-inspired intrigue.
Ghost in the Shell
Mamoru Oshii · Film · 1995
Shares a thread with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: Government Conspiracy.
The philosophical questions regarding the cost of humanity and existence that appear in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood are explored here through a gritty, tech-focused lens that challenges your perception of identity.
Podcasts on the same thread
Anime Grind
Podcast
Explores: Personal Growth, Goal Setting, Positive Mindset.
If you were moved by the perseverance and character growth seen in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, this podcast provides the motivational analysis needed to apply those same heroic lessons to your life.
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The camaraderie and group dynamics that make the journey in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood so memorable are mirrored in the humorous, high-stakes improvisational storytelling found throughout this fantasy adventure series.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood the same story as the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series?
No, the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood are different adaptations. While both feature the Elric brothers searching for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies, Brotherhood follows the original manga plot more closely, whereas the 2003 series diverges into an original storyline.
Should I watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood before watching Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa?
You should not watch Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa immediately after Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The movie serves as a conclusion to the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series rather than a sequel to Brotherhood. These two versions of the story exist in separate continuities.
How does the plot of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood differ from the 2017 Fullmetal Alchemist movie?
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a complete television series adaptation that covers the full journey of the brothers as they encounter the Homunculi and the corrupt military. The 2017 Fullmetal Alchemist movie is a condensed live-action adaptation that covers only a portion of the events depicted in the series.
What order should I watch the Fullmetal Alchemist titles in?
There is no required viewing order since Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series are standalone adaptations. If you want to see the complete story of the Elric brothers as written in the original source material, you should prioritize watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.