Though the Hollywood studios are taking a short breather before unleashing their next raft of family-oriented CG feature films, there’s still big-screen animation to be sought ths weekend with FUNimation Films’ limited North American release of Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Shanbara o Yuku Mono). Released in Japan in July of 2005, the feature-length extension of the popular anime television series won the Animation of the Year award at the Tokyo Int’l Anime Fair.
Set two years after the events of the TV show’s last episode, the movie finds the otherworldly Edward Elric living in 1920s Munich, Germany. Stripped of his alchemical powers, he studies rocketry and searches for a way to return to his parallel home world while a conspiracy threatens to bring harm to both worlds.
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie is directed by Seiji Mizushima, who also directed the series and other anime shows including Shaman King and Dai-Guard. The English-language version is directed by Mike McFarland, who also voices the role of Lieutenant Havoc.
To view the theatrical trailer, show times and additional information on the film, go to www.fullmetalalchemist.com. The DVD is slated to hit North American retail outlets on Sept. 12.
Leave a Reply