Unlike the first anime series, Brotherhood follows the storyline as written by Hiromu Arakawa down to the exact kanji.  The action sequences are well scripted and this version does not shy away from bloody scenes.  The emotions illustrated on each of the characters faces are a true testament to the skill of Ms. Arakawa and the series animators. 

If you have not seen the first series or read the manga, have no fear.  Brotherhood goes all the way back to the beginning and retells the story of the two brothers, Ed and Al Elric and their journey into alchemy, the tragic loss of their mother, and their subsequent breaking of taboo in trying to bring her back.  The story is heart-warming, funny, and speaks volume about human behavior.  But more than anything, this is a coming of age story about two brothers who make a lot of dumb mistakes along the way but always manage to carry on.  Although the setting for Brotherhood is fantastical, there are a lot of elements relatable to everyday life and one cannot help but love the characters.

That said, there are differences between the original Fullmetal Alchemist and Brotherhood.  The first series starts out much darker in tone, showing in detail the sin the brothers committed to warrant the heavy price they ultimately paid.  The soundtrack for that series is phenomenal, perfectly accenting the mood and drama of the brothers setting off from their hometown, particularly the song Bratya by Michiru Ōshima.  Whereas the soundtrack of Brotherhood adds nothing to the story and is at times, nonexistent.  In addition, the remake only summarizes the early events, showing quick flashes and clips of the events that transpired.  The new series does offer up new details, but as for the actual deed itself, not much is shown.  Brotherhood is also lighter in mood and in tone.  While it showcases the wide range of emotions Hiromu Arakawa is able to capture and illustrate, at times, this tends to make the series a bit choppy.  One scene can be totally silly and melodramatic and the next, dark and brooding.  This often leaves the viewer uncertain of what to feel. 

Overall Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is a very good sequel.  While as a series it is enjoyable to watch, it does not really work as a remake.  The original series give a better rendition of the brothers’ compelling back story.  Whereas the director of the original Fullmetal Alchemist, Seiji Mizushima, had to come up with an explanation different from the manga, as Hiromu Arakawa had not finished her story at the time of the first series’ release, Brotherhood suffers from no such setback.  Yasuhiro Irie, the director of Brotherhood, provides a more comprehensive account that flows better with what has already been provided.  Fans of the manga will love this new Fullmetal Alchemist.

Details:  At the time of this article, only 21 episodes had been released in Japan.  Brotherhood is licensed by FUNimation Entertainment and the subtitled version is available on their website.