#01 CHEERFUL.......................

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BEHOLD! Behold Major Alex Louis Armstrong in all his glory! A couple of characters manifest cheerfulness in the series, but none quite like this muscle man. His cheerfulness is always at its peak in the middle of a flex while paired with his iconic pink sparkles swirling around him. He rips off his shirt practically eeeeeeevery time he meets someone new, flexes in numerous poses, and sparkles while declaring his name and titles. He also enthusiastically demonstrates alchemy with boisterous glee - even mid battle - and is overall an incredibly kindhearted person. His character is often the comic relief, even in dire situations, in which Armstrong is depicted flexing his way through walls or offering aid to allies in over the top ways - sparkles and muscles breaking through tension with comic cheer. Of course, his magnificent mustache is also a source of sparkly joy.

#02 FRIGHTENING...................

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While this precise scene does not happen in the series, let's just leave this description with a 'if you know, you know'

Shou Tucker, the infamous Sewing-Life Alchemist, lives with his young daughter Nina and their big, lovable dog Alexander. Their story appears early in the series and marks one of the first major shifts in tone. It's an unforgettable and chilling turning point that many fans consider one of the most frightening moments in Fullmetal Alchemist - I know I do.

As a slightly chipper palate cleanser, daily zentangles helped me improve my line tracing and outlining on this one

Text Cut: you two :3

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Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

I'm not famliar with this series but I love learning about the characters through your blurbs I'm also camping out here for a bit while I adore you're masterpieces!

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Originally Posted by Suziella

Kath I always love seeing your doodles! I have heard of this series but never have watched it, and your doodles are super cute and really intriguing. It may be an add to the binge list...we shall seee

Thank you both so much

Hiiiiiiiighly recommend the series (and I believe Netflix has FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood). There are two versions of the anime, both start out pretty much the same but the original branches off eventually into its own story arc due to the manga still being published. The mangaka gave the studio permission to take their work and write their own conclusion, so the story goes, and both versions hold a special place in my head for sure worth a binge

*makes a fire and offers marshmallows*

#03 CUNNING...................

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Colonel Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, is is known for his sharp intellect and strategic thinking. Roy is incredibly skilled at reading people and using his charm to influence others to subtly guiding situations in his favor while maintaining control over his professional and personal relationships. He’s always thinking several steps ahead and hides his true motives behind a calm and charismatic exterior, exploiting his apparent lack of seriousness to mask his true ambitions and manipulate others without them realizing it. Like all great cunning characters, he operates in morally gray areas, aligning himself with groups while subtly undermining them, carefully navigating complex political landscapes for personal gain and to achieve his ultimate goals.

Roy Mustang is an incredibly ambitious man who sees both himself and his subordinates as pieces on a chessboard, with himself as the King. There’s a powerful speech he delivers that encapsulates this mindset, but it edges into spoiler territory regarding other characters and their roles in Mustang’s endgame. So, for now, you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Text Cut: fellow wallower in: WHY ARE HANDS SO HARD

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Originally Posted by Felixir

excited for your seektober prompts I have absolutely zero knowlegde of FMA but I am happy to be flying blind here regardless bc I love seeing your art. especially big fan of strong moustache man and revel in the shading going on there. prompt #2 got me in the feels somehow, and I really enjoy the portrait of Mustang Man (including the character description) but again with the shading, on the jacket and the chess piece. also. haaaaaands. excellent job on that hand.

I think...it could be right up your alley lots of morally grey characters and plenty of whimsical logic. I may even recommend the OG 2003 version for you first and then if you liked that to check out Brotherhood since it follows the manga.

Honestly...I think the chess piece may be my favorite thing colored thus far such a tiny element but the 3 (4?) grey shades really pulled through in the shading

#04 BETRAYAL................

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This will read as a spoiler but I promise it's not - quite literally the set up for the whole story and you either learn it in the literal first 30 seconds of the show in one version of the anime and certainly by the end of the first episode in both.

The story's co-protagonists, Edward and Alphonse Elric, are brothers who broke alchemy’s greatest taboo: human transmutation. Doing so in a desperate attempt to bring their mother back to life, the transmutation fails disastrously...resulting in Edward losing an arm and a leg, while Alphonse loses his entire body and Edward just barely manages to bind his little brother's soul to a suit of armor. To restore what they’ve lost, the brothers set out in search of the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary alchemical power said to not operation under the law of equivalent exchange and make the impossible possible.

However, the truth behind the Philosopher’s Stone is far murkier than the brothers could have ever imagined. What they discover is not just unsettling, but a complete and utter betrayal of everything Elric believe in.

This one also turned my fingers red...betrayed by my own markers - the audacity.

Text Cut: Jooooooel

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Originally Posted by Charely Potter

Your art style forever amazes and inspires me the betrayal one really cuts deep

Thank you for your kind words! The characters in Fullmetal Alchemist have such much more varied physiques than other manga and anime I usually draw inspiration from - the others being body types that are more traditionally 'feminine' with the looooooong legs and tiny waists - so it is especially fun and challenging exploring new body types and structure.

#05 KINDNESS.............

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Took five days, but finally one of the protagonists has made their appearance Alphonse Elric, the younger of the Elric Brothers, is unconditional in his kindness and a soul that truly has no limits to its gentleness. Despite everything he endures (and it is A LOT - his soul being bound to a suit of armor is just the tip of the iceberg). Al consistently meets the world with empathy and compassion. He comforts others in their grief, protects small animals and children without hesitation, and always believes there is a way to help rather than harm. His wide-eyed innocence, bordering pure naivety at times, reminds me of deer early in the morning when their grazing is interrupted...which then made me think about classic Bambi image of Bambu with a butterfly balanced the fawn's nose - which gave inspiration for the pose ... the butterfly looks more like the Life is Strange butterfly but that's fine

May be the first time I am genuinely pleased with how all the swish swish swishing for the grass came out. There are four different shades of green in use and I think I once again have zentangle practice to thank for the precision and delicate touch of of the chisel tips.

#06 FLIRTATIOUS..........

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With a name like Lust, it doesn't take much to piece together why she is THE character to embody the theme 'flirtatious'. I personally prefer her characterization in the 2003 anime compared to Brotherhood's, but in all versions she embodies the allure of control disguised as charm. Lust moves through every scene like a whisper of temptation. There is precision in everything she does, from the way she tilts her head when assessing a threat to the cold elegance of her extended claws - her chosen weapon that pierce through everything.

I was especially excited to experiment with a more unusual skintone - an ashy red-grey color - along with the never ending struggle that it is to shade with black

#07 HAUNTED...............

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For this prompt, haunted, I was immediately reminded of Father who is haunted by his imperfections and seeks to become.

Major spoilers for the series ahead, so I will put the rest under a tag.

Text Cut: spoilers for FullMetal Alchemist Brotherhood ahead

Father is the source from which all the Homunculi were born. Much like a starfish can regenerate from a single fragment, Father divides pieces of himself to create his "children," each one embodying a part of himself he views as flaws that prevented him from becoming a superior being.

His god complex drove him to create the Seven Homunculi—manifestations of the Seven Deadly Sins—by purging those emotions from his own being. In doing so, he sought perfection through division, tearing away pieces of the Philosopher’s Stone that composed his body to form smaller, flawed reflections of himself. Where a starfish’s regeneration is an act of survival, his is one of pride and control.

Text Cut: the kindness so ardently appreciated at this time ;__;

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoe

I've definitely heard of Fullmetal Alchemist, but I will admit I have no clue what's going on. Luckily, I don't need the context to appreciate your masterpieces!

Your latest art drops are really resonating with me. The Colonel is exuding pure cunning energy, and I can practically feel the betrayal oozing from that stone. Alphonse with the butterfly is downright precious, and Lust... let's just say the allure is undeniable (and those nails, wow). As for Father, I don't know why, but his look is totally giving me Geralt from The Witcher vibes.

It is an GEM of an anime/manga, honestly. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it until rewatching with my dad and the kiddos over the summer.

your words are getting me all emotional

and, you know, I SEE the Geralt personality...less so, but absolutely see where they vibe in aesthetic.

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Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

Ive never seen Fullmetal Alchemist but I do love your art. Also getting Eiji Rasting vibes from that cunning one. And while we're at it, Derf or Nyle vibes on the Kindness one

Eiji WISHES he could be Roy Mustang not literally, but that boy thinks he is so clever but my beloved Flame Alchemist would easily run circles around him Nyle, for sure, definitely Nyle is the one that is more Alphonse like.

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Originally Posted by Suziella

WOW Kath! These are so amazing! I really love your backstories about all the characters too. It's really making me want to watch the show now. Awesome job, my love!

You should! Both the 2003 and 2009 anime versions are great. 2009 is closer to the manga and ventures more into typical shonen vibes (mean 'boys' anime and there is more fighting and action) whereas the 2003 version has more drama and psychological twist and turns. Both are different enough to watch both and still enjoy though and neither are all that long

#08 RECKLESSNESS...................

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Solf J. Kimblee, also known as the Crimson Alchemist, is a former State Alchemist (now war criminal) and easily the most reckless of characters in the series and THAT is saying something. Oftentimes we frame recklessness through a heroic lens, but Kimblee is the complete opposite of that - or if there is a state of being that conveys more than the opposite, he is that. His psychopathic enjoyment of destruction, complete and total disregard for collateral damage (and allies), and hi nihilistic belief in the inherent worthlessness of life fuels his twisted perception of his alchemical abilities are which are designed to create explosive effects by putting his palms together and utilizing the transmutation arrays tattooed on his palms.

#09 LOYALTY..............

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When it really comes down to it, Fullmetal Alchemist is the story of two brothers bound by loyalty and a shared promise to reclaim their original bodies, no matter the cost. Amidst the series’ darker turns, moments of comic relief are a breath of fresh air. Armstrong, as previously mentioned, serves as one source of this lightness...but so does the brothers and their devotion for one another. I wanted to capture that unshakable closeness between Edward and Alphonse here, in which they are quite literally stuck together with Alphonse accidentally squishing Edward under the weight of his heavy (but hollow) armor. Despite the chaos, the Elric brothers are always in each other’s corner. Their loyalty isn’t just solemn or serious—it’s lived-in, affectionate, and full of humor, the kind that endures through every trial and tumble.

Text Cut: *SQUISH*

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Originally Posted by WhittyBitty

Kath, you never cease to amaze me with your art skills. Love your work, it’s amazing! I’d formulate more thoughts if I wasn’t so sick. But yeah, it’s great. Also think I need to check out this series at some point.

#10 CHAINS.................

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Prisoner Number 48 and Prisoner Number 66 were once death-row inmates. As 'disposable' criminals, they were condemned, executed in name only, and then revived through cruel experiments that stripped them of their bodies, tethered their souls inside armor - their autonomy chained. The real horror is in that binding, in being forced into roles they didn’t choose, forced to guard the secrets that were supposed to stay buried and swept under the rug. There are lots of characters chained to things in Fullmetal Alchemist, but Number 48 and Number 66 feel like the strongest representation of this both thematically and literally as their suits of armor also contain chains in their design.

I really...tried to draw them in their non-chibi forms but the amount of detail quickly became overwhelming to me so I went the chibi route to make their designs a little more simple and manageable

Text Cut: :3

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Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Here for all the aesthetics I'm particularly a big fan of the 'Flirtatious' {my brain simply jumped to Edward Scissorhands xD} and 'Chains' prompts. The story for 'betrayal' though...

*in Arnold's/Terminator's voice* I'll be back to shower more love!

All aesthetic praise goes to the one and only Hiromu Arakawa. Her source material is so rich and I just do what I can to capture that vibe

It IS a very Edward Scissorhands pose...if only Lust had even an ounce of the same innocence

#11 GLASSES.........................

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When it comes to glasses, there really is only one character from Fullmetal Alchemist that comes to mind: Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes. Seriously, you can’t think of Hughes without picturing the gleam of his glasses mid-lecture or mid-laugh ... or mid-showing someone pictures of his family, particularly his daughter. Yes, that little quirk from Charles Hollingberry was very much inspired by this character - easily the one from the Fullmetal Alchemist universe that I warmed to the quickest. It’s impossible not to love him, honestly, which any fan will tell you is so deep an affection that it stings. His humor and big heart make him a rare light in Fullmetal Alchemist, a reminder of what’s worth fighting for and is the source of motivation and drive for several characters in the series overall.

#12 WITCH HUNT...........

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First, a moment of silence for YR212 Milk White. You were a fabulous base for skin tones and shall be missed

I should probably should have waited to draw another Roy Mustang, but my eyes landing on 'witch hunt' immediately conjured up this scene and...well...any excuse to draw the man's abs s good enough for me Also very well timed - if you know, you KNOW.

In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, “witch hunts” lie at the heart of some of the series' heaviest themes and becomes a powerful metaphor for vengeance, obsession, and the weight of grief. I have always felt this the most poignant in Roy Mustang’s character arc... though I also admit I have a huge bias *ahem* About a third-ish into the story, he becomes consumed by an almost single minded pursuit of revenge, turning the Flame Alchemist into a man fueled by the fire of righteous grief. It isn't, obviously, about hunting witches - though he is after a single individual - but about confronting the demons born of loss and the danger of letting the flames of justice burn you from the inside out.

Honestly, I don't do THE moment he is able to enact his vengeance justice - though I AM pretty darn happy with how the lighting came out. And skin tone shading *ahem* yes, shading.

#13 UNREQUITED LOVE.....

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Some loves are simply not meant to be. All milk ever wanted was to help Edward Elric grow tall and strong... but the young alchemist wanted none of it. Truly a tragic tale of unrequited love for the ages.

One of his quirks his his height, specifically his reaction to being called short or even something her perceives as being a comment about his short stature causes his temper to flare instantly and is a consistent running gag throughout the series - especially with his younger brother's soul occupying a suit of armor that towers over him. Most people encourage him to drink his milk, which turned his agenda against milk into petty stubbornness and childlike pride. Of course, this isn't really about the milk or his height per say, but rather about Edward's pride, frustration, and his desperate desire to be seen as grown up and capable.

RIP to the white paper for the milk. When I went to erase my pencil sketches...the lineart SMEARED something horrible and not even paint pens could fix the mess. Makes the milk look like it curdled or something - truly horrifying stuff. My son actually had the original version of this as fan art on his phone and sent it to me ages ago as a laugh, so full credit for the concept goes to that artist… whose linework did not meet the same tragic fate.

#14 WISDOM...........

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In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, there exists a mysterious and powerful concept known as the Door of Truth: a metaphysical gateway that alchemists may encounter when performing a certain kind of forbidden transmutation. Crossing that threshold grants them a glimpse of the universe’s ultimate knowledge, but it comes at a terrible cost. Because of this, only a handful of individuals ever experience this.

Each alchemist’s Door is unique, reflecting their inner self and relationship with knowledge. For this piece, I chose to depict Edward Elric’s, the first Door we as viewers are introduced to and the one that remains most familiar throughout the series. His is adorned with an interpretation of the Sephirothic Tree of Life, a symbol rooted in ancient mysticism that represents the divine structure of wisdom, creation, and understanding... all which are essentially the path toward enlightenment. In Fullmetal Alchemist, the Door of Truth mirrors that same pursuit: humanity’s relentless and the often perilous desire to grasp the infinite and uncover what lies beyond mortal comprehension.

Things have been difficult lately and I found myself not in the mood for color so much this week. So I leaned into my multiliners and a limited time frame in order to attempt to resist the urge to overthink every line. Working with ink is always nerve wracking for me, but I decided to embrace the imperfections and let stray or messy pen strokes become part of the final image. I did sketch a few faint pencil guides to start... but after that it was mostly all or nothing in black ink.

#15 CRUSH....................

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As previously shared (and not a spoiler since it is in the opening ish moments of the series!), Edward Elric loses his arm and leg after a tragic attempt at a forbidden form of alchemy. To replace them, he’s fitted with automail which is a highly advanced mechanical prosthetic made of metal and powered by intricate engineering and nerve connections. These become a defining part of who he is, even earning him his State Alchemist title: The Fullmetal Alchemist. Oh hey, that's the title of the show

Of course, Ed’s recklessness and tendency to throw himself headfirst into danger mean that his automail doesn’t always stay intact. It’s strong, but not indestructible... and it has been smashed, dented, and completely destroyed more than once.

The prompt 'crush' actually came from Moaning Myrtle’s list and, weeeeeeeeeeell, the word has quite a different intention in that context. My interpretation takes the word a bit more literally. One of the many devastating moments early in the series is when Edward’s automail is crushed during a violent encounter. Without giving too much away, the event is shocking, both physically and emotionally, leaving Ed utterly crushed in spirit as well. It’s one of those pivotal moments that strips away his bravado and reminds both him and the audience just how fragile even 'Fullmetal' can be.

As with my previous piece, I went with multiliner only...and this time I didn't use any pencil before laying down the ink. In its own quiet, unique way...this one may be my favorite thus far, even in its simplicity.