Original artwork, not a still
Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange.
— Fullmetal Alchemist · 2003
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
A rule that sounds like fair accounting becomes the series' central wound: the brothers paid for their mother with their bodies, and the show asks whether equal exchange is really the law of the world. Fans know the opening by heart and quote its first sentence as shorthand for no free lunches, in sacrifice, in grinding and in video-game loot. In English it exists in a few slightly different punctuations because the captions vary by episode.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Fullmetal AlchemistShow the scene
The opening narration of the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime, spoken by Alphonse Elric over the intro from the early episodes. It lays out alchemy's first rule: to obtain something, something of equal value must be lost. The series then shows what that rule cost the Elric brothers. Edward was eleven and Alphonse ten when they tried to bring their dead mother back to life. The attempt failed, costing Alphonse his whole body and Edward a leg, and Edward gave up an arm to bind his brother's soul to a suit of armour. Official English DVD captions for the first sixteen episodes carry the dub's wording.
Sources (3)
- Fullmetal Alchemist Wiki: Alchemyopening quote and noteReference checked
- Fullmetal Alchemist Wiki: Fullmetal Alchemist (2003 Anime)intro and PlotReference checked
- Fullmetal Alchemist Wiki: QuotesAlphonse ElricReference checked
Context reviewed
