Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Bones Inc. delivered a masterclass in shounen adaptation with this 2009 series. Holding a massive 9.1 score, the 64-episode run follows two young brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who pay a terrible physical price for attempting a forbidden alchemic ritual to bring their mother back to life. Seeking a way to restore their bodies, they join the state military as alchemists, hunting for a legendary artifact. What sets the story apart is how it balances wild action and imaginative alchemy with grounded, somber anti-war themes. Set in a sprawling alternative world that mixes early 20th-century aesthetics with magical science, the narrative meticulously ties together political corruption, human cost, and family bonds. The pacing rarely stumbles across its lengthy run, bringing the Elrics' journey to a universally praised close.