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New Fullmetal Alchemist TV Anime to Premiere in April (Update 3)

The official website for the new Fullmetal Alchemist television anime series has launched with a short teaser video, and it has confirmed that the television series will launch in Japan in April. It also promised that new information will be provided in the January issue of Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine (where Hiromu Arakawa's original manga is still serialized) on December 12. The same issue will also include a poster with a key visual image.

The new Fullmetal Alchemist teaser trailer ran at the end of the episode of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season that aired in Japan on Sunday. The trailer says, "New training … a fullmetal artificial limb, a body of armor … the brothers' journey begins. Fullmetal Alchemist: April 2009 Training. In this palm, is there hope or despair?"

The new television anime series was confirmed on the wraparound jacket band of the 20th volume of Hiromu Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist manga in August. However, a document with leaked information about animators who worked at Bones had already mentioned the possibility of "Hagane 2" ("Iron/Fullmetal 2") in July. Viz Media published the 17th volume of the manga version in North America this October, while FUNimation Entertainment released both the first television series and its theatrical movie finale.

Update: Added expanded information and image.

Update 2: Additional background information added.

Update 3: The official website for the new Fullmetal Alchemist television anime series has replaced its teaser video with a new sequence that reads, "In this palm, is there … hope or despair? … The most powerful dark fantasy is here … Fullmetal Alchemist: Broadcast begins on the MBS/TBS network nationwide in April 2009."

Source: Moon Phase Comments

Image © Hiromu Arakawa/Fullmetal Alchemist Production Committee, MBS