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Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi) is an action/adventure manga series with fantasy elements by Arakawa Hiromu. It was published monthly from 2001 through 2010 and collected into 27 volumes (later republished into 18 volumes). There were also many spin-offs of the series:

• From 2003-2004, a 51-episode anime series aired in Japan, and there was a movie sequel in 2005.
• From 2009-2010, a second, separate anime series, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, aired that followed the manga more closely than the first series. There was also a movie released in 2011.
• Ten light novels based on the manga, written by Inoue Makoto and illustrated by Arakawa.
• Three Japanese live-action movies were made, one in 2017 and two in 2022.
• Multiple CD dramas based on the manga.
• Multiple video games based on the two anime series.

Fullmetal Alchemist is set in the fictional country of Amestris, which is based loosely on Europe during the Industrial Revolution. However, Amestris is a military-run state, and in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, alchemy is a real science. The main law of alchemy is "equivalent exchange" - something can only be created (or "transmuted") from something of equal value. The story follows two brothers, Edward ("Ed") Elric and Alphonse ("Al") Elric, in their search for the Philosopher's Stone. The Philosopher's Stone allows its user to transmute freely, without being bound by the laws of alchemy.

As children, Ed and Al attempted to perform human transmutation, a forbidden act, in order to resurrect their dead mother. The transmutation, however, failed, and during the process, Ed lost his left leg and Al lost his entire body. In a desperate attempt to save Al, Ed sacrificed his right arm to bind Al's soul to a suit of armor.

The two now need the Philosopher's Stone in order to regain their true bodies. To achieve their goals, Ed becomes a State Alchemist, which means he is also a member of the State Military. At times, his status as a State Alchemist comes into conflict with his personal goals. There are, of course, many other obstacles in the brothers' path; most notable are the Homunculi, deadly creatures who resemble humans and who have their own connection to the Philosopher's Stone.

Although the story of Fullmetal Alchemist can be quite dark, there is also plent of comedy and comic relief.

The first anime series aired before the manga was completed. Thus, while the first half is very similar to the manga, with a few anime-only adventures and some other differences, the second half diverges wildly from the manga, and the two are ultimately extremely different in story. (Arakawa actually requested that the anime series be different from the manga.) The second anime series is based much more on the manga, though there are still some changes.