The world of alchemy through the Elric brothers' adventures

I have been indulging in the Japanese anime Fullmetal Alchemist series this Chinese New Year break. An unusual activity for me but most addictive now that I am getting into the story as each episode gets played.

Who would have thought that such a simple story line could be so interesting ...

The story goes like this ...

Two boys, barely in the teens, discovered alchemy, after their father mysteriously disappeared. Edward and Alphonse Elric accessed their father Hofhenheim's study, read the letters he wrote to his fellow alchemist friends and combed through his alchemy books. They began to draw the transmutation circle and transform things into other things that they desired. 

Their mother smiled each time her boys come up with something using alchemy because it reminded her of her husband,  their father, who used to create flowers for her. Those were good memories.

After a short while, their mother passed away while they were barely teens. In their depth of sorrow, the boys tried human transmutation to bring their mother back to life. They desperately missed her smile. 

People cannot gain anything without sacrificing something.

You must present something of equal value to gain something.

This is the principle of equivalent trade in alchemy.

We believe that was the truth of our world when we were young.

And so they tried bringing their mother back to life, but failed tragically. What ensued was a body-less, younger brother Alphonse (probably about 11 years old at that time) and a handicapped Edward. With only one good arm and one good leg, Edward - the more gifted in alchemy of the two - only managed to bind Alphonse's soul to a metal armor that was lying in their father's study. 

The next day, Alphonse - now with his strong metal body and frame, carried his badly injured older brother to their neighbor's home, where Winry - their childhood friend and her grandmother stayed. They performed surgery on Edward and provided him with a auto-mail (metal/robotic) limbs, so the latter could pursue alchemy to become a State Alchemist.

And so the great adventures began as they set out on a journey to learn how they can restore their bodies to the original state ... more so for Alphonse who was no longer able to feel the warmth of his own brother's embrace and was soon forgetting what it was like to even have a normal body. 

Oh ... and after 51 episodes, which by the way will take me a long time to get through (what with Chinese New Year public holidays ending today), I am pleased to know that there is a sequel to the first series called Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

I hope the sequels are as engaging as the first.

If you, like me, enjoy Japanese anime, then be sure to also checkout my other favorite Howl's Moving Castle. 

The struggles within ... a critic

I was reminded of my role as a dance critic recently and how difficult it was for me to write a negative review of a ballet production that was directed and choreographed by those with whom I used to dance.

Interestingly, after I submitted my review, a character player in the ballet Carmen, also submitted a review with a different perspective -- an insider's review sprinkled with behind-the-scenes insights of the ballet so that audiences could better appreciate the "blood, sweat and tears" that were poured into making the evening of ballet possible.

*****

During this very hot Chinese New Year, I find myself lazing in front of the TV and my MacBook indulging in my favorite past time activity - running a movie marathon of all my favorites downloaded days on end since subscribing to a movie download service.

Ratatouille ranks among the top five on my list of favorite cartoons and animated films along with Howl's Moving Castle, Avatar, The Spiderwick Chronicles, and Kung Fu Panda.

I think these were all well-made and anyone watching them would find themselves immersed in a different world, even if only for a little while, to be allowed to consider and explore the new and unexpected.

More than that, they appeal to the human compassion that I hope resides in each one of us - defending the less fortunate in society and having the courage to embrace those who are different but in many ways, geniuses in their own rights.

Or perhaps, those who have been chosen for such a time as this ... as Mr Edward Magorium (played by actor Dustin Hoffman) said in Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium movie, "Your life is an occasion. Rise to it!"

*****

As I was saying about Ratatouille, THE food critic Anton Ego's words struck a nerve ...

In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read.

But the bitter truth that we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things ... the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something ... and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. 

The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends. 

Last night, I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking, is a gross understatement -- they have rocked me to my core.

In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto: "Everyone can cook". But I realize only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.

It is difficult to imagine more humble origins that those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau's, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest Chef in France. 

I will be returning to Gusteau's soon, hungry for more.

*****

For me, it was neither fun nor easy to critique a ballet produced by those whom I used to dance with and the few whom I respect as among the best ballet instructors in our nation. 

As Asia Dance Channel editor advised, while we are not in the business of destroying other's careers, we are obligated to tell the truth, as we see it.

What I have come to recognize are these two truths from Ego's words: 

... the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so ...

... Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere ...

So, don't take a critic's words too seriously but rise up to the occasion when the time comes around again.

As a lover of dance, I continue to hope that I will one day discover and defend the new - that which is worth risking one's life/career for ...  and witness that a great artist can indeed come from anywhere ... even from a place as unexpected as Malaysia!