The Fullmetal Alchemist feature film, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa, picks up two years after the last episode of the TV series left off. Alphonse Elric attempted to sacrifice himself to save his brother Edward Elric from certain doom, transporting Ed to the year 1923, post World-War I Munich, Earth. He lives with Alphonse Heiderich, an engineer with a striking resemblance to his brother Al. The Alphonse from "our" world works for the Thule Society, a group of Nazi's who plan to cross dimensions to Shambala (Ed and Al's home world) to assist them in obtaining weaponry to help them to victory in the ongoing war. On the plane of existence where the series took place, Al tries to right his wrongs and return his brother to their world with a combination of science and alchemy.

The Conqueror of Shamballa is able to be watched as a stand alone film although viewers who haven't watched the series may struggle to understand who's who. One way to combat this is to go and get the series as well!



Not unlike Neon Genesis Evangelion's The End of Evangelion, Conqueror of Shamballa ties the series up into a nice little bow, which is nice as the series kinda left things hanging in limbo ala Dragon Ball Z and Neon Genesis Evangelion. It also touches base as to what your favourite characters have been up to since the series end.

The film in itself provides a moving score and production values superior to that of the series. As usual, Studio Bones continues to delight with some of the sharpest and most aesthetically appealing art I have seen in a long time.

The DVD itself comes as a one disc standard edition or a 2 disc special ultra super kawaii edition. Of course any anime fan worth their salt would own the 2 disc set and no less.

Go get Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa at the Comic Shop now!!!