Fullmetal Alchemist fans accuse Mashle: Magic and Muscles’ manga of ripping off a famous scene from their favorite series.
Kodoani.com – According to Anime Senpai, the fans Fullmetal Alchemist believe the latest chapter of Mashle: Magic and Muscles took away a famous concept from their favorite series. The chapter in question is Chapter 149, in which Mash Burnedead is given another chance to live at the Gate of Truth. However, to return to the world of the living, Mash must give up his most treasured possession.
If this scenario sounds familiar, it’s because it resembles The Gate from Fullmetal Alchemist, also titled The Gate of Truth or The Portal. In Fullmetal Alchemist, The Gate is the ultimate source of knowledge about alchemy and existence itself. Whenever an alchemist tried to bypass the Law of Equivalence, such as performing Human Transmutation as Edward Elric and his brother Alphonse did, they would disrupt the balance of alchemy. They are pushed out of reality and taken to The Gate. Depending on the extent to which someone gives up in exchange for the equivalent – such as Ed losing his arms and legs or Al losing his entire body – a forbidden amount of knowledge from The Gate is implanted into the home proportional alchemy.
While that sounds like an obvious case of plagiarism, what’s missing from the scene is that Mashle: Magic and Muscles is a parody of action-adventure series like Fullmetal Alchemist. The visual similarity between The Gate of Truth and The Gate is intentional. When the portal asked Mash to give up his most precious thing, he assumed it was the cream cake in his pocket. Upon discovering it was his memories of his friends, Mash used his brute strength to rush out of the Gate of Truth. The manga presents everything in a humorous way.
Parody movies are not well received in Japan
While Mashle: Magic and Muscles may be a parody of Fullmetal Alchemist, the series could still be in the danger zone. Copying is not as protected in Japan as it is in the United States. An infamous example was when the first episode of the 2015 anime, Mr. Osomatsu received a ban from home media distribution and streaming services for copying many anime series such as Attack on Titan and Love Live!
The TV anime adaptation of Mashle: Magic and Muscles begins airing on April 7. The film’s premise is reminiscent of One-Punch Man, where Mash uses his muscular strength to prevail in a fight. The world is ruled by magic. Hajime Kōmoto is the author and illustrator of the series. Crunchyroll is broadcasting the anime.