This was the first anime that I watched all the way through and it will stay with me as one of the best series that I have ever seen, anime or otherwise.
The characters throughout the story are all well formed and all have very distinct personalities which means everyone can relate to at least one chanracter and will probably like most of them. The story is brilliant and takes the viewer on a memorable adventure full of fantasy but the underlying themes that surround the story are still routed in the real world. Racism, suppression, discrimination and war are just some of these themes. However even though some of these ideas are serious and thought provoking they do not make the viewer feel like the story is depressing or full of political agenda because of the wonderfull characters and the way the story flows from one situation to another.
In conclusion Fullmetal Alchemist is a gem of an anime and one that I recommend for any fan of a great story full of wonderful characters and adventure. Some themes may be a little strong for younger viewers but it is still fantastic for this emographic just for the fantasy and magic surrounding the alchemy within the story.