<h1>The two continuities</h1>
<p>As you may know, there are essentially two versions of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime - the 2003 version, called simply &quot;Fullmetal Alchemist&quot;, and the 2009 version, called &quot;Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood&quot;. The 2003 version deviates from the manga part-way through, while the 2009 version sticks to the manga all the way to the end. For more details, see <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/q/55/1908">What&#39;s the difference between the FMA and FMA Brotherhood series?</a>.</p>
<p>These two versions are unrelated to each other in the sense that it's not the case that one is a sequel to the other, or anything like that. They're just two separate continuities that happen to start in the same place.</p>
<p>This being the case, it's up to you which one you want to watch first. Some people believe you should watch the 2003 version and then the 2009 version; some people believe the opposite; and yet others believe that you should only watch one and not the other. All these positions have their merits and demerits; perhaps the most typical order is 2003 followed by 2009, if only because that's the order in which they were made.</p>
<hr />
<p>Within each continuity there are multiple entries. There <em>is</em> a specific order in which these entries within a single continuity should be watched.</p>
<h1>Within the 2003 continuity</h1>
<p>You should watch in the following order:</p>
<ol>
<li><em>Fullmetal Alchemist</em> (the 51-episode 2003 TV series)</li>
<li><em>Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa</em> (a 2005 movie)</li>
</ol>
<p><em>The Conqueror of Shamballa</em> is a sequel to the 2003 TV series, so it makes no sense to watch it at any time before finishing the show.</p>
<p>There is also something in the 2003 continuity called <em>Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection</em>. I have never managed to locate a copy of this, but it probably makes the most sense to watch it only after you've completed the 2003 TV series.</p>
<h1>Within the 2009 continuity</h1>
<p>You should watch in the following order:</p>
<ol>
<li><em>Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood</em> (the 64-episode 2009 TV series)</li>
<li><em>Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos</em> (a 2011 movie)</li>
</ol>
<p>Unlike <em>The Conqueror of Shamballa</em>, <em>The Sacred Star of Milos</em> isn't a sequel - rather, it's a side-story taking place somewhere around episode 20 of <em>Brotherhood</em>. You could, in principle, watch it at any time after episode 24 of <em>Brotherhood</em>, but I would recommend leaving it until the end of the series anyway.</p>
<p>There are also four half-episode-length specials that accompany <em>Brotherhood</em>. You should watch these after you have finished <em>Brotherhood</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-09T03:20:58.097Z
One thing that I felt after watching both the shows is that 2009 series relies on 2003's character development (?) to some extent. How Ed made it as state alchemist, the mining town story etc. I don't know how these are handled in manga, but I liked watching 2003 first and then 2009.
Sai
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-09T19:14:51.043Z
what about the live action netflix feature film?
ziggurism
CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-12-29T14:28:55.427Z
2020-01-06T04:39:24.677Z
2020-06-17T09:17:53.303Z
senshin
<p>I have been recommended to watch <em>Full Metal Alchemist</em>. However, the person who recommended this series to me can't remember the correct order. After googling it, I'm confused as many people have posted different orders.</p>

<p>So what is the correct watching order of Fullmetal Alchemist?</p>

<fullmetal-alchemist-series><fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood><fullmetal-alchemist-2003>
What is the correct watching order of Fullmetal Alchemist?
# What is the correct watching order of Fullmetal Alchemist?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-12-29
I have been recommended to watch *Full Metal Alchemist*. However, the person who recommended this series to me can't remember the correct order. After googling it, I'm confused as many people have posted different orders.

So what is the correct watching order of Fullmetal Alchemist?
**Tags:** fullmetal-alchemist-series fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood fullmetal-alchemist-2003
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2014-12-29. Score: 17 | Accepted answer
# The two continuities

As you may know, there are essentially two versions of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime - the 2003 version, called simply "Fullmetal Alchemist", and the 2009 version, called "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood". The 2003 version deviates from the manga part-way through, while the 2009 version sticks to the manga all the way to the end. For more details, see [What's the difference between the FMA and FMA Brotherhood series?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/q/55/1908).

These two versions are unrelated to each other in the sense that it's not the case that one is a sequel to the other, or anything like that. They're just two separate continuities that happen to start in the same place.

This being the case, it's up to you which one you want to watch first. Some people believe you should watch the 2003 version and then the 2009 version; some people believe the opposite; and yet others believe that you should only watch one and not the other. All these positions have their merits and demerits; perhaps the most typical order is 2003 followed by 2009, if only because that's the order in which they were made.

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Within each continuity there are multiple entries. There *is* a specific order in which these entries within a single continuity should be watched.

# Within the 2003 continuity

You should watch in the following order:

1. *Fullmetal Alchemist* (the 51-episode 2003 TV series)
2. *Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa* (a 2005 movie)

*The Conqueror of Shamballa* is a sequel to the 2003 TV series, so it makes no sense to watch it at any time before finishing the show.

There is also something in the 2003 continuity called *Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection*. I have never managed to locate a copy of this, but it probably makes the most sense to watch it only after you've completed the 2003 TV series.

# Within the 2009 continuity

You should watch in the following order:

1. *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood* (the 64-episode 2009 TV series)
2. *Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos* (a 2011 movie)

Unlike *The Conqueror of Shamballa*, *The Sacred Star of Milos* isn't a sequel - rather, it's a side-story taking place somewhere around episode 20 of *Brotherhood*. You could, in principle, watch it at any time after episode 24 of *Brotherhood*, but I would recommend leaving it until the end of the series anyway.

There are also four half-episode-length specials that accompany *Brotherhood*. You should watch these after you have finished *Brotherhood*.
> **Comments:**
> **username_2** (2020-02-09): One thing that I felt after watching both the shows is that 2009 series relies on 2003's character development (?) to some extent. How Ed made it as state alchemist, the mining town story etc. I don't know how these are handled in manga, but I liked watching 2003 first and then 2009.  
> **username_3** (2020-10-09): what about the live action netflix feature film?  
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