the beginning of an adventure
When I was very young, I used to talk about an unknown melody, and sometimes I sang it vigorously, and I would improvise lyrics based on the mood at the time. I tried to identify the song with music software, but it didn't work, so it stayed with me for many years.
Until the evening a few days ago, when the melody engraved into the memory sounded melodiously, it had a name: "Rain", from "Fullmetal Alchemist FA".
"Steel" is a warm and bright work.
It has set a steady and steady tone from the very beginning: there is no eye-catching operation at the beginning, the conventional narrative technique runs through 64 episodes, and occasional interludes are used on appropriate occasions to supplement the world view setting and explain the motivations of the characters' behavior. There are no gorgeous characters, no shocking plots, and no thought-provoking lines to strengthen the audience's memory at some story turning points that are worth making a fuss about, just a few strokes, shallow artistic conception, and then quickly cut the mirror and turn on the scene. the next paragraph. Not sloppy, even a little cruel. It is also this bright rhythm that brings about the exquisite plot and characterization.
The positioning of "Fullmetal Alchemist FA" is very precise, and it has precise control over the script capacity. From the perspective of the world, "Steel" does not have a vast and epic sense. Although the complete world map is mentioned, the place where the story takes place is still concentrated in the eastern, northern and central parts of Amestris. "To a large extent, it is only the starting point of important roles, and it can only play the role of "cultural symbols". The author's layout is very wise, enriching the plot and portraying the characters within the framework of a controllable world, so each journey is meaningful and deeply rooted.
plot
Talk about the plot. The script of "Steel" is actually very serious: the conflict between goals and reality, involuntary sins, the choice between commitment and life... Many aspects of thinking are far beyond the scope of ordinary animation. " Serious" is always semantically linked to "boring", but this work constantly intersperses the main plot with funny moments. Rather than dispelling serious discussions, the moderate humor gives the audience a moment of respite. Time, in order to digest the literary drama of massive information, this may be one of the keys to "Steel"'s popularity and popularity.
The dilemma of inconsistencies caused by the blind pursuit of ingenuity in works abounds, but the refined settings of "Steel" have withstood the test of time. The causes of the core events all have more or less clues. As far as I am concerned, all the confusions arising from watching will find the answer in the following paragraphs, and even some minor settings, such as the refining shape of the protagonist's weapon, There is evidence.
People always hate being static, and works that mix different elements can always quickly attract the attention of the audience. This is why works on the theme of "other worlds" are always very popular regardless of their quality. But navigating a huge library of subjects with tight logic is no easy task, so the story of "Steel" always seems to revolve around familiar scenes and themes. Looking back on my viewing process, just when I was already a little tired of the narrative of the main story, "Northern Arc" instantly refreshed me: a new scene, the coexistence of coldness and warmth under the snow; Heroism, the cruel law of the jungle, but abiding by loyalty and bravery... I always hope to see the protagonist use a consistent life style to collide with completely different cultural groups in the works. There is no doubt that the story of the North is fully satisfied. my preference.
When talking about the plot of "Steel", it is necessary to talk about the final performance full of tension. In order to fully enjoy this work, I deliberately chose one night to watch the last few episodes together. Even though I had high expectations, I was still completely shocked. The sense of contrast brought to me at the end of the final battle made my brain almost shut down: I use the macro to show the small, and the vastness shows the vulnerability. The powerlessness of human beings under the sky and the earth is vividly expressed. The jumping of ants. God doesn't need words to turn mortal hopes into ridiculous struggles in an instant. The cohesion of the ethnic groups regardless of the past, the full cooperation between the enemy and our camp, the strong alliance of the two major armies in the Northeast... In the end, it was only a faint sigh in the mud.
However, the wonderful reversal has already been arranged in every corner of the work. If the despair of the penultimate episode made me give up thinking, then the performance of the protagonists of the last four episodes made me willingly surrender the tear glands: Counterattack, sacrifice, revealing the riddles of the world... The end of the journey is not a new departure.
Let's go back and look at the final answer to "Steel": the best way to get back the body is to offer the door of truth. I glanced at the barrage and found that many viewers were complaining that it was forcing a happy ending to the story, but is it true?
Alchemy, thought only as a tool for adventure stories, turned out to be the meaning of the journey itself; thought that it was the beginning of all sins, and the result was the key to redemption.
Sacrificing the possibility of exploring the truth to pay for the price of exploring the truth,
From start to finish, it's a circle.
One is all, all is one,
An equivalent exchange.
figure
Let's talk about the characters of "Steel". From my narrow literary point of view, the character creation in the works is really the pinnacle. As an animation work that focuses on bloody adventures, it is extremely difficult for me, as an audience, to not be disgusted by any of the characters.
In "Steel", no character falls prey to the plot, no character is masked responsible for absorbing the audience's disgust. As the villain, the seven deadly sins are vivid and three-dimensional, with distinct characters and positions, and interpret the tragic feelings that touch people's hearts:
Lust burns in flames,
Gluttony is used by others to feed the stomach,
Idleness is devoted to the end of life,
Covetousness closes its eyes with contentment without regret;
Arrogant under the disguise of calm, in the fragile swaddling clothes, all I long for is love and care;
Anger abandons useless emotions, teased by the eclipse of fate, proudly announces the sustenance of a lifetime;
Jealousy is high above, looking down on the insignificance of the world, hypnotizing yourself with contemptuous eyes, conceit only stems from the inferiority and helplessness of life, not people;
Even Holmonks, the villain in a bottle, is deplorable, subverting a country just to have the freedom to explore the world.
In addition to the villain groups, there are also no instrumental passers-by in the protagonist camp of "Steel": Hughes who loves his country and his family, the chief officer who tears like rain, Fu Ye who "dies for the king", "The king who lives for the people" Yao Lin... The characters have obsessions, and the characters have souls.
In terms of character depiction, the genius of "Steel" is that it does not put the character's experience in front of the audience, but allows the audience to taste the character's attitude towards life, to reverse the character's past. This technique is extremely constructive for creating complex characters, such as the Elric family.
Brother Edward Elric is the core of the story. It was the first time I had such a profound understanding of what it means to be strong from an anime work: hearty and direct, melancholy never hangs on the face; the painful past occasionally stings the heart, but it does not. The law stabs the pace of progress; sticks to promises and principles, and diligently researches and works hard for the loved ones. Edward's strength is not cold, but is like a thick barrier, protecting his younger brother under him. It is precisely because of such a reliable older brother that Alphonse, who is so loved by the audience, was born. Such a character that combines almost all the advantages of masculinity is so vivid, I have to sigh again the excellence of "Steel".
If the elder brother represents firmness and perseverance, then the younger brother represents selflessness and forgiveness. At first, I thought that this huge armor was just a child who was not deep in the world under the wings of his brother, but as the plot continued to advance, Alphonse's valuable temperament was gradually shown: the bulky body could not feel the body temperature of life, the rigid steel helmet It made him lose the power to smile; the illusory wish list, how much longing and sadness were hidden; the night when he couldn't sleep, he was thinking heartbreakingly, but he still couldn't understand the taste of tears running down the corners of his mouth.
Who would have thought that this character with a strong tragic color is actually the warm responsibility of the whole article: in the face of a father who abandoned his family, how many people's hearts were touched by a crisp "father"; when a crisis came, he never cared about gains and losses, and used his own body Do what you can to protect the people around you; worry about not being able to help others, and fight to prevent any sacrifice. Alphonse's gentleness and tolerance are rational. He helps more people on the premise of adhering to the creed. Warmth is planted in the cold breastplate, and the hollow iron shell is filled with the light of hope.
The Elric brothers are excellent examples of character building, but the character that gave me the most emotion on the show was their father, Hohenheim. The attitude of forbearance and silence is the testimony of the world. The simple and honest behavior hides the heaviness of great sorrow and joy. Only a pot of strong wine can remind him that there is still warmth in the world. Hohenheim is a character with profound flaws. He is not a good husband and father, and he failed to balance the relationship between his family and his past grievances. He waited for four hundred years for an atonement, and he talked to the soul day and night. Failing to share a complete meal with his wife and children; kneeling in front of the deceased wife's tomb, finally not having to repent as always, but enjoying a moment of happiness; his heavy hands spread out in the soft grass with relief, no longer clenching grief, but I can't use them to hug the boy I'm proud of.
Epilogue
I like "Steel" because the story carries through with belief and awareness. Justice is always ambiguous and frivolous, and it is possible to paint a position of sanctity by taking the lead; truth always seems to punish human arrogance in the most ironic way. People's hopes are always crumbling, but in the end they can stand up because they are supported by the beliefs that people are born with - persistence and kindness.
I like these characters because they are human-like, but the design core is higher than mere mortals. We should not be biased against any form of cultural output, thinking that animation must have greater limitations because of its virtuality. On the contrary, unlike real characters, only anime characters can be "perfect". While the image is three-dimensional and full, it eliminates the inevitable embarrassment and filth in reality, and becomes a symbol that will always be bright in our hearts.
Humans are born alive and need idealism. It seems a childish thing to be motivated by virtual characters at this age, but for me, from now on, there will be a touch of gold and red firmness, and a pair of steel and iron warmth tells me:
Never give up.
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