Japanese FMA 01 Title: "He Who Would Challenge the Sun"
American FMA 01 Title: "To Challenge the Sun"
Japanese Airdate: October 04, 2003
American Airdate: November 07, 2004
Important Characters: Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, Winry Rockbell, Pinako Rockbell, Rose, Minister Cornello
Important Locations: Reesembool Village, Liore City
Synopsis: As children, brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric used the clandestine science of Alchemy to try the unthinkable- resurrect their
dead mother. They failed, unleashing an alchemic reaction that ripped their bodies apart. Four years later, Ed and Al are combing the country for a
rumored stone that could amplify their alchemy and bring their bodies back to normal. And it appears they may have found it-in a strangely prosperous
desert village where a priest controls the citizens with miracles and promissed resurrections.
Change of Dialogue
The explanation of Alchemy in the begining is pretty much the same in both languages. Only difference is that Ed's explaining it in the English version
when it was Al who explained it in the Japanese version.
Name Change
Small thing, but the avatar refered to as Leto is pronounced Leeto in the English version for some reason.
Side Note
Notice how one of the beverage stands has the name "DORINK." It's basically "DRINK" in English, but it's rather funny to see the Japanese actually spelling
out how they sound the word out.
Change of Dialogue
The last two men to speak after Al fixes the radio had something quite different to say:
Japanese Dialogue: "Alchemists?" "Then it wasn't a miracle?" "I've never heard of any alchemists around these parts."
English Dialogue: "Elrics? Not familiar." "We don't have any alchemists in these parts." "I fix things for a living, though. Let me know if you need a job."
The reason for the change is beyond my guess.
Change of Dialogue
The last man to speak after everyone assumes Al is the Fullmetal Alchemist originally asked if he was really that famous. For some reason in the English
dub, they he asks if Al would be willing to go to his daughter's birthday party. No such daughter was brought up in the original.
Change of Dialogue
Sadly, Ed's exaggeration wasn't exactly used in the English version.
Japanese Dialogue: "Who are you calling a bean spout, too tiny to even notice!?"
English Dialogue: "Shorty? Can a shorty do this?! What else you wanna call me? A half-pint bean-sprout midget? I'm still growing, you back-water desert
idiots!"
Change of Dialogue
Ed's talk with Rose was abit different. Originally, he went on about how religion was useless and how praying and waiting has no chance of bringing
someone back to life. He also goes on to saying how Alchemists are scientists and how they have no need in believing in an uncertain thing such as God
and how it's ironic that they are the closest thing to being God. In the dub, Ed makes it sound like science will find a way of reviving people and is encouraging
her to drop religion and go for Alchemy. It's all wrong there considering he later on warns her of the effects of trespassing into God's territory.
Side Note
Ed seemed more forceful about getting the Stone in the dub. Originally, when he had the determined glare on his face, he mentioned that they were looking
for it. In the dub, he says to Al how it's finally theirs.
Change of Dialogue
After beating the oversized bird, the chimera leaps at Ed and we hear him scream, yet when the camera pans to him, he's alright and seems to know
what he's doing. Such was not the case in the original. The chimera simply leapt at him and all we hear was the sound of it biting. No scream or anything.
Also, Ed seems to be straining while carrying the chimera with just his right arm. I didn't mind this since it made more sense since, Auto-Mail or not, it'd be
a bitch trying to lift something like that with just one arm.
Change of Dialogue
An even more serious dialouge change. As Ed's ripping off his coat, he's explaining the following to Rose:
Japanese Dialogue: "This is the body of one who performs a human transmutation...of one who encroaches upon God or whoever's territory...This is what happens to such transgressor!"
English Dialogue: "Don't look away, Rose. You need to see what happens when you try to bring a human back to life. When you cross into God's territory, or whatever the hell it is. Is this what you
want?! Look!"
Note how his mouth was closed by the time he finally tosses his coat aside. Yet in the dub, Ed is still talking when his mouth is closed. And is it just me, or has the dub been throwing swears every left
and right? Seems like they brought the YuYu Hakusho writers in since the dub of that seems to have much more swearing than the original.
Side Note
After Cornello states that Ed's limbs were taken to the other side, Rose recalls what Ed told her back in front of the shrine. In the dub, Ed repeats himself rather than Rose recalling it as a memory.
Music Change
For those wondering, the original version DID have the opening as the ending but only for this episode. Since [adult swim] will be playing Ready Steady Go as the opening for the whole series
(there are originally four opening in total), we heard that played instead of the first opening Melissa. At least they kept the whole opening scene from Melissa the same. Remember, this will be
ONLY for the [adult swim] run. So when you get the DVDs, the openings will be as they were in the Japanese version. And for some reason, FUNimation credited Ready Steady Go as
Ready Set Go. Don't see how they could mess that up since we hear "Let's get started Ready Steady Go!" in the lyrics. o_O
Final Thoughts
The dub wasn't too bad at all. The only problem was the amount of changes in dialogue, but the majority of them weren't that important. Considering Ed's missing leg and pool of blood was shown, I don't think
we'll have to worry about any blood cuts or edits later on. There were absolutely no edits or cuts either, so that's a great way to start off the first episode in the US. Here's to hoping things stay this way.
Another problem would be Al's voice was too low. It wasn't the voice actor himself, but rather the volume of his voice compared to the background music since his voice was drowned out by the music,
especially during the "Next Episode" preview. Other than that, no other complaints here.
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