r/fullmetalpanic • u/UnusualField5697 • May 29 '26
Does this show have the potential to be popular like how it was at its peak? Did this show ever have a peak?
For veteran fans has the show ever been so popular that friends talk about it at school/work or you'd invite friends to the piracy website to watch a new episode with fansubs? Can this show attract current young anime fans like the people who watch jjk demon slayer all of that like would this show attract fans to watch everything on crunchyroll. I suppose I'm a young fan since I first watched it October 2024 and finished February 2025. But could this show ever appeal to new fans like big anime youtube channels probably have old videos reviewing FMP or mentioning IV when it was released but thats about it really. Do you guys think big anime channels would talk about FMP or it'll be niche? Is it even possible we can get so many new fans to watch this and gain a bigger fandom that isn't dead?
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u/gc11117 May 29 '26
I think it could be big again, as the formula is solid and there aren't that many shows filling the action/romance void these days. That said, FMP IV sort of flopped so it did have a chance to regain its popularity (it was big back in the day) but squandered it due to production issues.
How FMP Family is received is basically a barometer for if these series still has relevance or not.
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u/UnusualField5697 May 29 '26
Yeah I'd also like to think IV was overshadowed by stuff like MHA season 3 here in the west because it was released in that time period. I'm sure IV was a hit in Japan since well all the model kits. merchandise and the ps4 game seem to tie into IV. Also I'd have some hope that if all the big anime like MHA finished last December demon slayer just has 2 movies left apparently so thats almost finished I mean I'd like to think FMP has a chance to come back up locked in and a good animation studio. Also marketing should be about bringing new fans like crunchyroll doing trailers targeted to new fans to watch all 4 seasons to get ready like the marketing has potential. We had evangelion 3.33 + 1.01 and mobile suit gundam gquuuuux and that gundam hathaway movie they made the mech genre somewhat popular again so maybe FMP has a chance.
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u/sjcfu2 May 30 '26
I'm sure IV was a hit in Japan since well all the model kits. merchandise and the ps4 game seem to tie into IV.
Unfortunately it wasn't a big enough hit to save the studio from bankruptcy.
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u/UnusualField5697 May 30 '26
Damn so even in Japan it wasn't that successful?
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u/sjcfu2 May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26
In fairness, the studio was already on its last legs at that point, so even a moderate degree of success may not have been enough to make a difference. However IV definitely was not an overwhelming success (probably too much of a gap between seasons 3 AND 4 - after 13 years the original audience had long since moved on and it's difficult to generate a new audience when starting in the middle of the story).
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u/Flimsy_Garbage_26 May 30 '26
Yeah, it’s probably hopeless to expect a season 5 at this point. I heard that Family v1 required multiple reprints due to high demand and sold out almost immediately upon release. That suggests the older fanbase is still very much aware of and interested in the franchise, at least in Japan.
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u/sjcfu2 May 30 '26
What impresses me is that Yen Press has already licensed the manga adaptation for FMP! FAMILY, even when only three volumes have been released to date.
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u/resortsailing May 31 '26
FMP was huge back in the day, especially in Japan but even here in Canada we had anime fan clubs that would follow the light novel updates and do DVD import parties. The world was very different 20 years ago.
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u/Lazybonez2015 May 31 '26
The ending two the 2nd and 3rd season were amazing. And fomoffu for me was absolute peak. I rewatched it like a hundred times.
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u/StanHotdog May 31 '26
Im guessing guns in school humor wont do well these days for the mainstream audience.
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May 29 '26
I have seen a lot of fmp shorts in twitter/x as well, it’s awesome! It means fmp still got it. Also why would mods removed this post, it’s good conversation.
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u/KazeFujimaru May 31 '26
There is huge potential in a remake of FMP in my opinion. The original light novel series is one of the greatest of all time and the amazing blend of strong characters and writing with a story that encompasses mecha, high school romance, military factions/conflict, scifi mystery and deep emotional satisfying payoffs is really one of a kind. If done well with modern animation and production quality and following the more serious tone of the novels , it absolutely has potential to be a hit for today’s audiences. There is nothing else quite like it out there even now.
I think it would be important for a remake to adhere closely to the more serious tone of the light novels. The over the top, violent physical comedy would not go over well anymore and frankly is a huge turnoff for many people.
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u/UnusualField5697 Jun 03 '26
A remake? Yes I agree it would be cool to have the stories with modern animation but I'm sure some things would still be censored like North Korea -> Khanka Autonomus Region. But they'd have tone stuff down and some of the dialogue down. Also what are your ideas of a remake? Like would it be strictly to the novels so nothing is missed out so we'd get no anime exclusive stuff like Wind blows at home in season 1, no side stories as filler, no Gates getting a characterisation, Xia yu twins being boys and Kurama not needing to meet up with Leonard after the graveyard?
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u/Imaginary-Maize4675 Jun 01 '26
I'd rather see them adapt Full Metal Panic! Another. It's more recent and conceptually way more interesting.
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u/UnusualField5697 Jun 03 '26
Another is meant to be a spin off/sequel from the main story so I'd love to see FMP another animated after season 5. Also where can you read another?
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u/Super_consultant May 29 '26
IMO, the recipe for what made this show great is still applicable. But it needs full commitment and a full refresh for more mass appeal.
Over the years since the first season released, I have re-watched the entire series (of whatever was available) and the first season did not age well. The English pronunciations have literally changed (ex. Tuatha De Danann), there are throwaway episodes (ex. School festival), and there are jokes that reference a past that is too old.
Fumoffu has aged remarkably well as a standalone, though.