The Anime Order 
Watch order
Fullmetal Alchemist Watch Order
The Fullmetal Alchemist franchise runs to six entries — two TV series, two films and two OVAs and specials — spanning 2003 to 2011, 124 episodes in all. The order below is a recommended viewing order rather than broadcast order — the reasoning is set out directly beneath. Filler turns up in two of them, the heaviest being Fullmetal Alchemist at 52.9%.
- Entries6
- Episodes115
- TV series2
- Films2
Why this order
There are two Fullmetal Alchemist series and they are not sequels. Both adapt the same manga from the beginning. The 2003 series caught up with a manga that was still being written and invented its own ending from roughly episode 26 onward; Brotherhood, made six years later once the manga was nearly finished, adapts the author's actual story from start to end.
Watch Brotherhood. It is the complete work, it is better animated, and it is what people mean when they recommend Fullmetal Alchemist. Its early episodes move quickly through material the 2003 series covered at length, which is often mistaken for Brotherhood assuming you have seen the older show — it does not. Nothing is missing; it is simply paced for readers who already know the setup, and it stands alone completely.
The 2003 series is worth watching afterwards, as an alternative telling rather than a lesser one. Its second half is a genuinely different story with a bleaker tone, and Conqueror of Shamballa is its ending — that film resolves the 2003 continuity and makes no sense after Brotherhood, whose ending it contradicts. The Sacred Star of Milos is a side story set inside Brotherhood's world and matters to nothing.
The order
| # | Title | Type | Year | Episodes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Start here Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 1.6% filler — see what to skip Watch on Hulu Crunchyroll +3 | TV | 2009 | 64 |
| 2 |  | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood OVA Collection Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Mihousou Episode | OVA | 2009 | 4 |
| 3 |  | Fullmetal Alchemist The other adaptation Hagane no Renkinjutsushi 52.9% filler — see what to skip Watch on Netflix iQ +2 | TV | 2003 | 51 |
| 4 |  | Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa Ends the 2003 story Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Shamballa wo Yuku Mono Watch on Crunchyroll Bilibili TV | MOVIE | 2005 | 1 |
| 5 |  | Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium OVA Collection Side story Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: PREMIUM COLLECTION | OVA | 2006 | 3 |
| 6 |  | Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos Side story Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Milos no Seinaru Hoshi Watch on Bilibili | MOVIE | 2011 | 1 |
Where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist
No single service carries all of it — the most any one has is 2 of the 6 entries. Each link goes to the earliest entry that service carries, so you start at the beginning rather than wherever its search drops you.
These links open in a new tab.
Streaming destinations as listed by AniList, checked September 26, 2026. Catalogues differ by country and change often — check the service for your own region.
Filler in Fullmetal Alchemist
2 series in this franchise have their own filler list.
Where to start
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009) is the earliest entry. "In order for something to be obtained, something of equal value must be lost." Alchemy is bound by this Law of Equivalent Exchange—something the young brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric only realize after attempting human transmutation: the one forbidden act of alchemy. They pay a terrible price for their…
What to watch after Fullmetal Alchemist
3,707 people who watched Fullmetal Alchemist recommend Hunter x Hunter as the next thing — more than any other title. These are votes cast by viewers on AniList, not genre matches:
More like this
Fullmetal Alchemist is filed under 5 genres on this site. Each one lists every other franchise that shares it, with its watch order and filler figures.
Franchises sharing the most genres with Fullmetal Alchemist — a rough match by subject, not the vote-ranked suggestions above.
Frequently asked
How many episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist are there?
Fullmetal Alchemist has 115 episodes across 2 TV series, plus 2 films, which are counted separately.
How many Fullmetal Alchemist entries are there?
6 in total: 2 TV series, 2 films, and 2 OVAs and specials.
What order should I watch Fullmetal Alchemist in?
Follow the recommended order on this page, which is not the same as broadcast order. The reasoning for it is set out above the table, and you can switch the table to release order if you would rather see air dates.
Do I need to watch the Fullmetal Alchemist films and OVAs?
Most films and OVAs in a long-running franchise are side stories that sit outside the main continuity. They can be watched at any point, or skipped entirely, without losing the thread of the main series.
Last refreshed August 13, 2026