Fullmetal Alchemist To Be Released on Blu-ray within the UK Next Year

UK Anime Distributor Anime Limited continues to bedazzle UK anime fans with it’s slew of new license announcements and today that continues with the confirmation that they will be releasing the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime series on both Blu-ray and DVD.

The original Fullmetal Alchemist series was previously released in ‘singular’ and ‘half-season sets’ on DVD several years ago by Revelation Films but has never seen a re-release in recent times due to the distributor backing-down on anime distribution. Now, with Anime Limited, fans will be able to relive the classic series in a re-vitalised form, beit a complete series DVD or Blu-ray set.

Specifics of the release have yet to be revealed; but I assume – just like with Eureka Seven, Selector Infected WIXOSS, Ping Pong The Animation and Buddy Complex – that it will use the same materials and assets seen on the American Blu-ray release by FUNimation. If so then we can expect both English and Japanese audio formats and a selection of bonus content from the DVD sets.

Unsure of what Fullmetal Alchemist is all about? Then check out this synopsis as provided by Anime Limited themselves:

After losing their mother, Alphonse and Edward Elric attempt to bring her back using the forbidden science of human alchemy. However, alchemy operates on the theory of equivalent trade, and breaking the human alchemy taboo carries a heavy price. Ed loses his leg, and Al loses his body. Ed is able to seal Al’s soul inside of a huge suit of armor, at the cost of his arm. Years later, Ed (now with two mechanical limbs) and Al (still trapped in the armor) leave their childhood home, each brother concerned with the other’s happiness. Ed, who has a natural talent and skill for alchemy, becomes nationally certified and is soon known everywhere as the “Fullmetal Alchemist.” 

Their true objective is to search for any information on the fabled Philosopher’s Stone, hoping it will allow them to regain their old bodies. All of their hopes rest with this mythical stone, which may not even exist at all. However, the brothers soon learn that they are not the only ones after the powerful stone.

Full details about this particular release will be revealed next year; but we do know that Anime Limited are planning an ‘Ultimate Edition’ release of the series; so it will be interesting to see what contents it will contain.