Despite being a dark series that has both Tear Jerker and Nightmare Fuel pages, the characters' hope and determination toward to achieve victory have lead to a lot of heartwarming moments, and so much that it became a first Anime/Manga series that needed a separate page for all the warm moments.
"Big brudder!" Actually, anything Nina does.
Ed's speech to Winry in chapter 48. Considering that this is Ed, who isn't known for his sensitivity, this had this troper grinning for hours because it was so goddamn sweet.
Ed: "NEXT TIME WE MAKE YOU CRY, IT'LL BE FROM TEARS OF HAPPINESS! AL AND I WILL REGAIN OUR BODIES AND MAKE YOU CRY TEARS OF HAPPINESS! DON'T YOU FORGET THAT!"
This exchange between Roy and Riza at Hughes' grave.
Roy: It's raining. Riza: *looks up at the sky* But it's sunny. Roy: No... *in tears* It's raining.
Riza: *notices the tears and smiles gently* You're right...it's raining.
When Winry finds out who killed her parents in the manga (Scar) and is confronted with him, she somewhat loses it, takes up a gun and points it at him. Scar tells Winry that she has all the right in the world to shoot him, but the minute she does that, she is his enemy. Edward is panicking, because this is Scar we're talking about, and you don't want to be his enemy. He yells at Winry to drop the gun, but she is frozen and instead, Scar leaps at her to take her down since she's this close to pulling the trigger... cue Ed jumping in front of her, protecting her with his body. After Scar takes off, Winry still can't let go of the gun, and Ed has to bend it from her fingers. Then he tells her: "Winry, do you remember when you saved a mother and her child in Rush Valley? Do you remember that you gave me these arm and leg so that can stand on my own again? Your hands are not for killing. They are the hands that save people's lives. So please... don't...."Winry promptly breaks down and cries in Ed's arms. Doubles as a Tear Jerker.
A small one in between this: When Edward leapt in front of Winry with his arms spread to protect her, Scar was reminded of a similar scene during the Ishbalan Civil War when his brother did the same for him. Because of that, he couldn't kill them at that moment.
In that case, this was continued several chapters later, when she finally meets Scar again. He's completely defenseless, injured by chimeras and has been captured by Briggs squads. He even states that Winry had every right to do everything she wants to him.Her response?She treats his wounds.
Winry: Mom and Dad saved his life once before, after all. There has to be a reason for that. Scar :...Does that mean you've forgiven me? Winry: Don't get me wrong. I don'tforgiveyour wanton murdering!
Which makes this more heartwarming, she hasn't forgiven him yet, but still chose the right thing to do rather than let hatred dictate her actions.
In the manga, Knox being reunited with his estranged family makes this troper's heart act funny.
Even the heartwarming moments given to the relatively minor supporting are absolutely great and absolutely tear-jerking (but in a good way). One of this troper's favorites is in chapter 63, when Knox is visited by his ex-wife and son, who reveals that he has been studying medicine in his father's footsteps. Knox is initially furious that his son would become a doctor like him, knowing what he did at Ishval. He son just forcefully tells him not to run away from his calling and tells Knox his wish for the two to save lives together. Knox's tears of happiness resulting from this are just, well, incredibly heartwarming.
Knox: "God, if you can hear me, please let this slide. Even a man like me deserves enough happiness to enjoy coffee with his family, right?"
There's the below line from ch. 95:
Riza: Please...Colonel...Don't go where I can't follow!!!!!
The whole of Riza's dialogue in that part is this, as is Roy's reaction. Also a Crowning Moment because in all of the anime and all of the manga, there has never been a kiss or any sort of declaration of coupledom for these two. But that moment, that exchange, makes it clearer than water anyway that they are indeed together and love each other.
On the theme of Riza and Roy, there's also this line from chapter 101:
Riza:"I won't die... I've... been ordered not to die, you see."
This one is a real life example between voice actor and seiyuu. Hard to imagine that Vic Mignogna has his share of flamers after watching this. Bonus points for the Crowning Moment of Funny near the end - Romi is requested to say the infamous "Dead sexy in a miniskirt" con line in Japanese!
Hohenheim, in the manga, revealing that he has spent his immortal lifespan getting to know EVERY one of the 500,000+ souls inside of him, treating them as partners rather than as an energy source. He also pioneered his own style of alchemy that avoids the use of soylent green, and gave up his chance at a normal life so that he could prevent a re-occurrence of what happened to them..
Maria Ross and Denny Brosh reunion in the manga. Especially when we know that up until this point, Brosch considered Mustang as a "heartless soldier who kills his crush for little reason, and uses the Fuhrer's wife as a hostage".
Ditto goes for when he hears her voice on the radio and realizes she's not dead.The look on his face is adorable.
Rose's "Ed... Get up, Ed! Get up! And move forward!" in episode 41 of the first anime.
Wrath reuniting with Izumi in death in the movie. The content look on his face as he walks into her open arms is so touching.
Chapter 101, page 29, third panel. It's amazing what you can say with just four words and a hug. Riza's expression on the following page qualifies as well.
Episode 27 of Brotherhood ended up being nothing more than a huge recap episode. However, it gave Hohenheim some fantastic development, and one incredibly heartwarming scene where he dreams of Trisha and all those important to him.
Episode 38 of Brotherhood. 19:12 to 21:12. The most heartwarming 2 minutes ever. Buccaneer's big ass grin helps a lot.
It's even better for this troper in the manga, when he says something along the lines of "Thanks for showing us soldiers some pity." and Olivier smiles and says "I don't know what you're talking about."
Episode 39 of Brotherhood. Zampano and Jerso being happy and excited about the possiblities of them getting back to their bodies, while reminiscing about their families really made me feel warm inside.
Episode 51 of Brotherhood. Heinkel is seriously hurt and Alphonse is trying to drag him away while being cornered by Pride and Kimbley. It's heartwarming when Heinkel almost begs to be left behind so Al can get away, but Al says he will not leave him because he and Ed had made a promise of "not losing anyone anymore". Then it gets another moment of heartwarming when Heinkel reveals he has the Philosopher's Stone Kimbley had lost back in Briggs. Alphonse is hesitant in using the stone made of human lives, even if using it meant recovering his real body...
Heinkel:Then...in that case...don't use it for yourself..! Use it to save this world! These people... Let them fight as well!
Made even better in Brotherhood, where they skipped the usual opening sequence. The scene where everybody gets revived happens about halfway through the episode. The last soul to find its way back to its body falls down into a baby's carriage, the baby starts crying, and the opening theme kicks in.
Minor, but Hohenheim being supported by his sons as he tries to push back Father's attack in the manga.
Don't forget the souls of Xerxes cheering Hohenheim on and helping to save a nation they never even met.
This troper had one watching episode 52 of Brotherhood when Olivier trips back on rubble and Sloth charges forward, finally able to catch her. Right when it looks like she's going to be smashed and killed, Alex jumps in the way and blocks the attack. Given how Olivier generally acts towards her brother, seeing him jump in the way of the attack to save his sister, and her reaction to this, is both a Crowning Moment of Awesome and this for this troper.
In chapter 107, Al is completely wrecked from Father's attack, his blood-seal almost destroyed. Ed's automail has been ruined and is pinned down with Father about to kill him, so Al sacrifices his soul to restore his brother's arm. Finally reunited with his body at the Gate, he tells Truth that he knows his brother will come back for him.
In the manga, Greed admitting to Ling after the latter calls him out on it that all he really wanted was neither to rule the world nor the power of God, but to have friends really got to this troper.
Ling: Greed, this is what you desperately wanted, isn't it? Greed: Yeah, you're right. This is what I wanted. I wanted the chance to have friends like these.
In the manga, everyone cheering Ed on as he beats seven different kinds of unholy hell out of Father.
This page of chapter 107. Take a look at some of the hands around the edges... Hughes, Buccaneer, Havoc, even Kimbley, all joining in with the fighters.
Ed: EQUIVALENT EXCHANGE!! Winry: What? Ed: I'll give you half of my life...so give me half of yours!! beatEd blushes furiously Winry: … You...idiot! Equivalent exchange? That's nonsense! Ed: Wh-what'd you say? Winry: Why ask for half of my life? I'll give you all of it!
Chapter 108 again: Ed sacrifices his own Gate in exchange for Al, meaning he can no longer perform alchemy. But Ed tells the Truth he doesn't mind giving it up, since he'll still have his friends to support him.
"You've done it! That's the right answer! Good job, You've beat me! Go ahead, Take hun hine! The back door's right over there! Goodbye, Edward Elric!" in a combined Voice of the Legion of both Elric Brothers - a borderline So Proud of You speech coming from The Truth, who's obviously overjoyed and proud that someone managed to understand the ultimate life lesson.
And the big Ed/Al/Winry reunion hug when they return to Resembool.
This troper was really hit by Lanfan seeing Doctor Knox and recalling how he didn't want to see children fighting. She immediately asks Ling not to feud with the other families, and it's such a beautiful, subtle turn-around for her character. I think it's the first time she's expressed a desire for anything that didn't have to do with the well being of Ling or the rest of her own clan. Ling's immediate agreement tugged my heartstrings too.
I think Scar's happy ending is the most heartwarming thing I've ever read. From a man who has lost his name to a man who doesn't need one.
Don't forget Mrs. Bradley deciding to once again raise Selim and having the stones to stand up to all who tried to dissuade her. And she appears to be raising him right. Not only an adorable moment, but possibly the quietest, gentlest Crowning Moment of Awesome in the entire series.
And the second anime went and added more of this than even the manga had, via an extension of a scene with Roy. In the manga, he wasn't really doing much when Dr. Marcoh came to see him about using a Philosopher's Stone to restore his eyesight. In Brotherhood, he was studying up on administrative trivia so he could help the Ishbalans rebuild. And when Marcoh made his offer, his reply was basically, "Sure, but only if you treat someone else with it first." Cut to Havoc answering the phone: "What?! You want me to come to Central?!" An adorable Call Back if ever there was one.
Pretty much the entire post-series gaiden chapter. Al gets sent his old body, and decides to have it melted down so that it can help people. Not only does he have them make it into the best automail Winry can create, he also uses what's left over to make a little gardening tool for Pinako so she doesn't hurt her back pulling weeds, and he finds a nest full of baby birds living in his helmet.
A very interesting Meta Example: At Anime Weekend Atlanta 2010, one of the panels had Voice Actors Vic Mignogna, Travis Willingham, and Laura Bailey behind a curtain, and several of the characters each of them had played on screen (one of whom was Vic Migogna as Edward Elric). You were allowed to come up and ask a character a question, and the voice actor would answer it as that character. One fan asked Ed (Vic) if he could sing 'Happy Birthday' for her. After he was done, Tohru (Fruits Basket) compliments Ed on his singing voice, then says, "I think you're the perfect height." The whole auditorium went Awwwww. A video of the panel can be seen here.
Al tells worried, insecure Sheska that her love for books and her photographic memory actually make her a great person.
"You really think he'll come back for you?" "He will! I know it!" *sniff*
And, in the manga, Greed actually performing a Heroic Sacrifice! His first and last selfless act.
Alternate interpretation: it was his greatest act of greed: stealing the honor of killing the Big Bad from The Hero.
Not quite... Greed was only able to lay a path for Father to get killed. Turning Father into charcoal wasn't gonna actually do him in, SOMEONE ELSE had to do the final honors. Ultimately... Ed released the souls powering Father and Truth finished Father off when he sealed the little gas ball back into the Door.
Speaking of Greed, his final words acknowledging Ling and Ed as his friends, and saying that he, in contrast to the sin he represents, 'got everything he could want' was touching... though it was simultaneously a big Tear Jerker because of it.
In the last chapter, when Hohenheim tells Ed to use his life as material to get Alphonse back, and the conversation that follows.
Hohenheim: Edward. Use my life...to get Alphonse back. I have just enough left for one." Ed: You idiot... I can't do that!! It's our own fault that we lost our bodies!! We've said over and over that we wouldn't use other people's lives to get Al back!! Why should you sacrifice your life anyway!? Hohenheim: Because I'm your father. It's not about necessity or reason. You two mean more to me than anything. I want you to be happy. You tried to revive Trisha because you were lonely. What happened to you is partly my fault for leaving you alone. I'm sorry. I have lived long enough. Let me be a father to you in the end.
And immediately after that exchange, Ed's refusal of Hohenheim's offer, in which he finally calls him "Father".
Heck, can we just say the entirety of the last chapter qualifies as one?
"Old man...we'll walk him down the path to Hell together." "Yes...thank you..."
The final Brotherhood episode with Ed and Al walking home together. Made even cuter by how adorable the grown-up Al is.
And after that when Winry hears them coming, she goes to welcome them and hears Al laugh and say: "That tickles!" when Den licks him. The dazed look on Winry's face, the tranquility of the moment...
The Kids OAV. "In 2005, Edward Elric will be 100 years old...somewhere in our world..."
Towards the end of Brotherhood, May Chang finds a Philosopher's Stone, the thing she's in the country to find in the first place. She starts to run for it, but Roy pleading with the dying Riza to open her eyes catches her notice and she decides to save the woman instead, declaring her "more important."
In the manga when Trisha tells Hohenheim that she loves him despite being a 400-year-old soul jar who inadvertently caused the death of Xerxes' entire population (half of the souls of which are now contained in his body) before a photographer takes a family photo (the one that kept being shown throughout the series). Then comes the reveal of why Hohenheim's face has been obscured in said photo every time it's shown. He's crying. Obviously we're not the only ones who were touched by what Trisha said.
In a scene exclusive to the penultimate episode of Brotherhood, after the final battle is over and done with, Armstrong walks right up to Hohenheim and personally gives him a very well-deserved "thank you" on behalf of the entire country for all the work he and his boys did to save it.
When May is introduced, we learn that she's heard of the Fullmetal Alchemist and imagines him as a tall, brave, and noble guy who will help her save her clan. When she actually meets Edward and finds that he's nothing like she imagined, she's devastated and insults him. During a later conversation with Alphonse, she misconstrues a few of his comments into thinking that his real body is like her daydreams about Ed and quickly latches on to him. Several chapters later, Al finally regains his real body, and it's an emaciated wreck that can barely support him. May's response? She glomps him, crying with relief and joy.
Episode 18 of Brotherhood (or chapter 41). After a series of things going bad: Hughes died, King Bradley is really a villain, Ed and Al blame themselves for Hughes' death, and now Mustang went crazy with revenge and killed Ross. So it was a nice moment where we finally catch a break from the depression and get so see that Mustang actually had a Xanatos Gambit to have Ross Faking the Dead.
