Rabid fans of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime franchise are the sole audience for this collection of four disparate shorts featuring various characters from the series in a number of highly unlikely situations that often border on self-parody. In an unusual live-action effort, a giant statue of Alphonse makes its way across Tokyo to the Bones animation studio (its inability to get through the studio's front door is the short's weak punch line). Equally dull is a supposedly interactive video with Col. Roy Mustang directly addressing the viewer, who is recruited as the newest cast member for a mini-adventure. A little more fun can be found when the Fullmetal Alchemist cast turns up at a “chibi wrap party” for the franchise's Conqueror of Shamballa film (of course, this short is amusing only if you have prior knowledge of the characters' personality quirks—and therefore realize that they don't break character while supposedly socializing after hours). In the final offering, three youngsters—juvenile dead-ringers for the characters of Edward, Alphonse, and Winry—run about the streets of a city (passing a conveniently placed poster for Conqueror), get lost, are re-directed by a police officer, and wind up at the home of their grandfather, who literally has a surprise up his sleeve. Collecting four shorts (that could have been DVD extras on a series boxed set) on a dual-language disc, rated TV-PG, this is for completists only. Aud: P. (P. Hall)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium OVA Collection
(2009) 35 min. DVD: $14.98. Funimation (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 1-4210-1111-5. Volume 24, Issue 6
Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium OVA Collection
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