Summary

• The endings of 'Fullmetal Alchemist' manga and Brotherhood anime differ in details, but both stay true to the story's themes and key events.
• Edward sacrifices his alchemy to save Al; Mustang's actions differ slightly in the manga and anime endings.
• Both versions feature strong conclusions with similar events; recommended to experience both to appreciate the differences.

Fullmetal Alchemist is widely renowned as one of the greatest anime and manga ever made, and its ending is densely packed, making it easy to miss certain details in the onslaught of information. The endings of the Brotherhood anime and the manga are also slightly different, making it a bit difficult to be absolutely certain of what's happened.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was being produced at the same time that the manga was ending, and the manga's final chapter was not yet released when the final episodes of the anime were being made. The Brotherhood episodes are based upon the storyboards for the final chapter instead, making for some minor but still noteworthy differences in how the two play out. Which version is "canon" is mostly up to the individual fan, but the two are so similar that it hardly matters which ending is preferred. Here are the details on how the manga and anime ended, and what was different between them.

How Fullmetal Alchemist's Manga Ends

Edward Surrenders His Alchemy to Save His Brother

Chapter 108 of Fullmetal Alchemist opens with Edward still bravely battling against Father. As a last-ditch effort, Father tries to steal Greed-Ling's philosopher stone, and succeeds in ripping it out of his body, leaving Ling devoid of Greed. Greed, however, decides to use his ultimate shield to sabotage Father, converting his body into carbon's weakest form, graphite, instead of its strongest. Ed punches a hole in Father's now-weakened chest, allowing the souls of the citizens of Xerxes to escape. Father is then dragged into the realm of Truth, where he's told he will return to the other side of the gate. Father protests, but is powerless to stop it.

The story turns to Alphonse, who was already down as a result of sacrificing his soul for Ed's sake. Both Ling and Hohenheim offer their philosopher stones to revive Al, but Ed has a different idea. Ed conducts his human transmutation and offers Truth the greatest thing he can: his ability to use Alchemy. Pleased with this turn of events, Truth accepts, and turns over Alphonse--his real body and all.

Mustang's people put out a cover story, explaining that the highest ranked officers had attempted a dangerous Alchemy experiment, and that Mustang and Armstrong were able to put an end to it before anyone was hurt. In a field hospital, Mustang is approached by Dr. Marcoh, who offers to fix his blindness if Mustang will help re-establish the nation of Ishval. Mustang gladly accepts, hoping to finally repay the people of Ishval for all their suffering.

Various other characters are given endings as well; Ling tells Lan Fan he won't punish the other families when he becomes emperor, to Mei's great relief. Pinako, Winry's grandmother, finds Hohenheim at Trisha's grave, having ed away at long last. Scar, recovering in a hospital, is approached about aiding in the Ishval restoration as well, which he agrees to. Ed and Al return home; Al eventually decides to head to Xing to learn Alkahestry, while Ed and Winry confess their feelings for one another and get married, and are shown to eventually have two children together.

How Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's Ending Differs from the Manga

A Few Key Differences Change Brotherhood's Ending

The basic events of the manga's ending do all occur in Brotherhood; it's mostly in the details where there are significant differences. The scene between Dr. Marcoh and Roy Mustang plays out differently in the anime, for example. In Brotherhood, Roy Mustang has the idea of restoring Ishval himself, rather than have it proposed to him by Marcoh. Roy Mustang agrees to have his sight restored, but insists Marcoh use the stone on Havoc first. In the manga, Havoc is shown to still be in physical therapy in the final s, but in the anime, he's healed thanks to Mustang's insistence.

Riza Hawkeye's dog, Black Hayate, is shown to have puppies in the epilogue of the series, while the dog's picture is buried but still visible in the manga. In the manga, the final page shows photos of the cast several years after the story ends; the picture with Edward, Winry, and their children has Al and Mei in it in the manga, while in the anime, Paninya and Garfiel are also present, suggesting that they've maintained a strong relationship with Winry over the years. It also seems to imply that Al might develop a relationship with Mei, and likely spent time with her during his visit to Xing.

Two of the chimeras, Jerso and Zampano, are shown in the manga to be learning Alchemy from Alphonse, and accompany him on his trip to Xing as bodyguards. They're hoping to find a way to use Alchemy to restore their own bodies to being fully human, but are only at the theoretical stage at this point. In the Brotherhood anime, there's no mention of these two learning Alchemy, although they are still comitted to returning their bodies to normal.

The Themes of Fullmetal Alchemist's Ending Explained

Ed and Father's Final Fates are Foils to Each Other

One of the big themes of the final chapter of Fullmetal Alchemist is the idea of Alchemy as power. Father sought dominion over all, and stole power wherever he could. However, Edward willingly sacrifices his access to this power in order to revive Al. It's the ultimate example of selfishness and selflessness, showing the true difference between hero and villain clearly. Ed tells Truth that he has no need for this power, because he has others that he can rely upon, something which Truth seems to gleefully approve of. Like many shonen manga, the power of friendship seems to be the ultimate force in Fullmetal Alchemist's ending.

While Fullmetal Alchemist's manga and the Brotherhood anime have some differences between the endings, both are overwhelmingly similar. Still, for those who want the fullest experience, it can't hurt to experience both, and to take in the differences between them to enjoy each story's take on the ending. Fullmetal Alchemist, in either form, has an extremely strong ending that stays true to the story's themes, and that's more than a lot of anime and manga receive.