Fullmetal Alchemist Author Thought It Would Be 'Canceled'

In a recently resurfaced interview, Hiromu Arakawa, the author and illustrator of the manga "Fullmetal Alchemist," confessed that she never believed that her acclaimed dark fantasy series would make it past the second volume. This revelation has captured the attention of fans, who have relived this interview from a few years ago and that has once again occupied the number one spot in Febri.

Arakawa, who grew up in a rural environment within a farming family, shared in the interview how his first interests in manga and illustration began at an early age. As the conversation delves into her professional career, the author reveals a startling truth: she had no confidence that "Fullmetal Alchemist" would survive beyond its first two volumes. At the time of its release, Square Enix-owned Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine used to cancel a series if its sales were low after the publication of two volumes.

"The first chapter was published in color, but after that I didn't receive any more color pages," Arakawa said. "I thought, 'Oh, so it's not popular,' and I was relieved (laughs). In the Monthly Shonen Gangan, they cancel the series after two volumes if it's unsuccessful, so I considered that possibility as well. I thought if it didn't work, I'd just say 'next, next, next.' So when I heard the number of copies of the first volume, I thought, 'It's definitely not going to sell.' I talked to my editor and said, 'If it doesn't sell, we're going to tour the north together to promote it' (laughs)."

However, fate had other plans for "Fullmetal Alchemist". The series became one of Square Enix's most successful franchises, selling over 80 million volumes worldwide by July 6, 2021. The manga ran for nine years, from July 12, 2001 to June 11, 2010, and culminated in a total of 27 volumes.

"Fullmetal Alchemist" not only left an indelible mark on the manga world, but also inspired two successful anime adaptations, both produced by renowned animation studio BONES. The first adaptation, "Fullmetal Alchemist" (2003–2004), deviated from the source material when it reached the chapters that Arakawa was still writing, leading to an original ending. The second adaptation, "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" (2009–2010), was a more faithful version of the manga, although it faced criticism in its first episodes for having summarized parts that had already been covered in the 2003 series to get to the unadapted material faster.

The success of "Fullmetal Alchemist" is a testament to Hiromu Arakawa's talent and ability to create a story that resonated deeply with readers and viewers around the world. Although initially the author had doubts about the future of her work, the work not only exceeded those expectations, but also established itself as one of the most beloved and respected series in the history of manga and anime.

Source: Febri