Seiji Mizushima is one of those names that fans of the 2000s remember well. A key director of the decade, he is known for taking the reins of the first adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist, a Bones commission that required him to shape a dense story. His career includes Mobile Suit Gundam 00 and the original Shaman King, demonstrating a range that goes from family drama to space warfare.
The technique behind the large-scale drama 🎬
Mizushima is not a visual author with a unique stamp, but a craftsman who adapts his style to the project. In Fullmetal Alchemist (2003), he opted for a darker palette and close-up shots to enhance the anguish of the Elric brothers. In Gundam 00, he used cleaner animation and fluid combat choreography to sell the political scale. His direction of actors is solid, obtaining vocal performances that sustain the emotional weight of each scene without relying on exaggerated effects.
When you're tasked with adapting and something else comes out 🤔
The curious thing about Mizushima is that, when he ran out of Hiromu Arakawa's material for Fullmetal Alchemist, he decided to invent his own ending. The result was a conclusion that divided the audience: some love it for being daring, others hate it for being heretical. But hey, at least he avoided the mistake of adding fishing tournament filler. Sometimes, improvising on the fly works out... or at least generates an eternal debate in the forums.