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Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (2005) movie poster

Timeline

Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (2005) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2005 · 105 mins · Japanese
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Directed by
Seiji Mizushima
Starring
Michiko Neya, Shun Oguri, Rie Kugimiya, Nana Mizuki, Rikiya Koyama, Keiji Fujiwara

Set in 1923 Munich, two years after Edward Elric was pulled into our world, he and Alphonse Heiderich—a young man who resembles his brother—study rocketry while Edward, stripped of alchemy, searches for a way home. When he helps a troubled gypsy girl, a chain of events threatens both worlds. Meanwhile, in his own world, Alphonse delves deeper into alchemical mysteries to reunite with his older brother.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa
  6. 6 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (2005) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Arrival on a parallel Earth (1923)

    Edward Elric and Alphonse are torn from their homeworld when Edward regains his arm and their souls collide with the Gate of Alchemy. They stumble into a parallel Earth where science rules and alchemy no longer answers to them. The brothers realize their new limbs feel strange in a world that moves to different rules.

    When
    1923
    Where
    Parallel Earth
  2. Two years later in Munich: a new ally

    In Munich the two years forward see Alfons Heiderich become Edward's closest ally in a second mission to find a way home. Alfons is an engineer whose brilliance and optimism fuel their border-pushing experiments in propulsion and daylight science. Edward wrestles with haunting memories as he adapts to this strange world.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Munich, Parallel Earth
  3. Edward saves Noah from sale

    Edward rescues a persecuted Romani woman named Noah from being sold, drawing him into a new orbit. Noah reminds him of Rosé and her presence sparks visions of a life from his past that he cannot fully place. Noah moves into their circle, becoming a catalyst for Edward's inner conflicts.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Munich
  4. Fritz Lang recruits for a dragon hunt

    Fritz Lang, a visionary film director, persuades Edward to join him in a dangerous pursuit to find a dragon that will inspire a new film. The quest threads noir and fantasy as Lang's cinematic temperament meets alchemical stakes. The pursuit leads them toward a confrontation with forces beyond their control.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Munich
  5. Dragon Envy revealed and subdued

    The dragon proves to be a homunculus named Envy, and the chase spirals into a broader struggle. Envy launches attacks but is subdued by agents of the Thule Society, hinting at a larger conspiratorial plot. The encounter widens the war between factions seeking power across worlds.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Munich region
  6. Thule Society reveals its blueprint

    The Thule Society, led by Karl Haushofer and Dietlinde Eckhart, views the Gate as a blueprint for utopia and seizes Edward and Hohenheim to pry it open. They weaponize Envy and manipulate events to push a portal into Edward's world. Armored soldiers slip through the Gate and wreak havoc as Liore descends into chaos.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Munich and Liore (parallel Earth)
  7. Alphonse digs toward the underground city

    Alphonse fights through danger to reach the underground city beneath Central and to reopen the Gate using the scraps of his soul and the power of his armor. The effort strains his resolve as he fights to preserve his brother's chance to return home. His actions set the stage for a precarious counterstrike against Eckhart's plans.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Underground city beneath Central
  8. Wrath guides Alphonse and the Gate is near

    Wrath, one of the homunculi, leads Alphonse toward the underground world to reclaim the Gate. Wrath endures a fatal wound that forces a brutal transmutation. Alphonse fuses Wrath and Gluttony into raw material to pry open the Gate, a sacrifice that redoubles the price of power.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Underground world
  9. Noah's mind-reading and Eckhart's plan exposed

    Noah's mind-reading gifts are exploited by Eckhart to reveal steps to harness the Gate's power. Edward learns from Lang that Eckhart plans to weaponize the technologies of his world to empower Hitler's revolution. In the chaos, Hohenheim and Envy are transformed together, and Alphonse completes a daring transmutation of Gluttony and Wrath to bolster their efforts.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Munich / parallel world
  10. Alfons sacrifices to send Edward home

    Alfons launches Edward in a rocket-powered plane in a last-ditch bid to return to his world and close the rift. Alfons is killed in the effort, but his sacrifice buys Edward crucial time to confront Eckhart. Edward reunites with his world through Winry's automail, a tangible reminder of home.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Munich
  11. Climactic battle and Gate sealed

    In a two-front confrontation, Eckhart is battled in both worlds as Alphonse unleashes a flood of armors to immobilize her. Eckhart's monstrous Gate-born form is finally ended when a Maes Hughes-like officer destroys her in the new world. Edward chooses to seal the Gate from the other side, acknowledging that his return may be lost, while Alphonse stays by his brother's side.

    When
    c. 1925
    Where
    Munich and parallel Earth
  12. Aftermath: departure and a fragile peace

    With Alfons mourned, the Elric brothers depart Munich determined to destroy the weapons fueling violence, and to build a safer future. Noah parts ways as the memory of a nearly bridged world lingers and they press on toward a new home. They remain bound by blood and fire, choosing to protect peace and endure whatever comes beyond the gates.

    When
    Post-1925
    Where
    Munich

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:47

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Timeline questions answered

Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (2005): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Edward and Alphonse end up in the parallel world?

When Edward finally regained his arm after the series events, his and Alphonse's souls collided with the Gate of Alchemy during the transmutation. This collision tore them from their homeworld and deposited them on a parallel Earth in 1923 where alchemy no longer worked and science ruled instead. Their newly rebuilt limbs felt unfamiliar in a world that operated under completely different natural laws.

  • gate of alchemy
  • parallel world
  • Edward Elric
  • Alphonse
  • transmutation
Q2

Who is Alfons Heiderich and why does he look like Alphonse?

Alfons Heiderich was a brilliant, idealistic engineer in 1925 Munich who became Edward's closest ally in the quest to find a way home. He bore a striking physical resemblance to Alphonse, which created a meaningful bond with Edward. Alfons and Edward worked together pushing the boundaries of rocketry and flight technology, with Alfons ultimately sacrificing his life to launch Edward back through the Gate.

Foreshadowing: The resemblance is never explicitly explained in the film, but it creates a poignant parallel as Edward forms a new bond while separated from his brother.

  • Alfons Heiderich
  • Alphonse
  • Munich
  • rocket
  • sacrifice
Q3

What was the Thule Society's plan?

The Thule Society, led by Karl Haushofer and Dietlinde Eckhart, viewed the Gate between worlds as a blueprint for power and wanted to use it to create a utopia they called Shamballa. They imprisoned Hohenheim and weaponized the homunculus Envy to pry open a portal into Edward's world. Their soldiers used armor and technology from the alchemical world to attack Liore, and they planned to equip Adolf Hitler's revolution with these powerful weapons.

  • Thule Society
  • Shamballa
  • Hitler
  • Karl Haushofer
  • Dietlinde Eckhart
  • homunculus
Q4

Why did Edward choose to seal the Gate?

Edward chose to seal the Gate from the other side to prevent the Thule Society's weapons and soldiers from crossing between worlds and causing further destruction. While sealing it meant sacrificing his own chance to return home to Amestris, it was necessary to stop Eckhart's plans and protect both worlds from the cataclysmic threat. His brother Alphonse chose to stay with him rather than return alone.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Edward struggles with the burden of responsibility for his brother's fate, making this sacrifice consistent with his character arc.

  • seal gate
  • Edward
  • Alphonse
  • sacrifice
  • Eckhart
  • return home
Q5

How did Alphonse help Edward from the other side?

While Edward was in the parallel world, Alphonse in Amestris fought through danger to reach the underground city beneath Central. He attempted to reopen the Gate using the scraps of his soul and his armor's power. With Wrath's help, Alphonse transmute fused Wrath and Gluttony into raw material to pry open the Gate, creating the pathway Edward needed to return and confront Eckhart.

Foreshadowing: Wrath's fatal wound and willingness to help Alphonse sets up this crucial sacrifice that enables the final confrontation.

  • Alphonse
  • Gate
  • Central
  • underground city
  • Wrath
  • Gluttony
  • homunculi
Q6

Why did Alphonse transmute Wrath and what happened to him?

Wrath, one of the homunculi who campaign against humans, guided Alphonse toward the underground world to reclaim the Gate but received a fatal wound in the process. To save his brother and pry open the Gate, Alphonse was forced to transmute and fuse Wrath and Gluttony into raw material. This brutal transmutation allowed the Gate to be reopened but came at great cost to Alphonse's already depleted soul.

Foreshadowing: Wrath's presence throughout the series as a complex antagonist who ultimately chooses to help the Elrics makes his sacrifice meaningful.

  • Wrath
  • Alphonse
  • transmutation
  • Gluttony
  • homunculus
  • Gate
Q7

How did Alfons die and why was his sacrifice important?

Alfons was killed when he launched Edward in a rocket-powered plane for the final attempt to return to their world and close the rift. Despite knowing the extreme danger, Alfons proceeded with the launch, giving Edward the crucial time needed to reach the Gate and confront Eckhart. His death was a direct sacrifice that made Edward's success possible, leaving Edward with Winry's automail as a tangible reminder of home and the bonds he was fighting to protect.

  • Alfons Heiderich
  • death
  • rocket plane
  • sacrifice
  • Edward
  • Munich
Q8

Who is Noah and how is she connected to Rose?

Noah was a Romani woman Edward rescued from being sold in Munich. She reminded Edward of Rosé, a character from his past, and her presence stirred visions of his former life. Noah possessed mind-reading gifts which the Thule Society attempted to exploit to learn the steps to harness the Gate's power. Her connection to Edward was largely emotional and symbolic, representing his longing for home and the people he left behind.

Foreshadowing: Edward's attraction to Noah stems from her resemblance to Rosé, grounding his character in past trauma and loss.

  • Noah
  • Rose
  • Romani
  • Edward
  • mind reading
  • Munich
Q9

What happened to Hohenheim in the film?

Hohenheim, Edward and Alphonse's father, was imprisoned by the Thule Society and used as a catalyst to help pry open the portal between worlds. During the chaotic climax, Hohenheim and the homunculus Envy were transmuted together as part of the Gate-opening process. His fate was tied directly to the Society's attempt to create their Shamballa utopia, though the exact details of his ultimate outcome are left somewhat ambiguous in the film's chaos.

  • Hohenheim
  • father
  • Thule Society
  • Envy
  • transmutation
  • Gate
Q10

What is the significance of Winry's automail in the ending?

After Edward returns through the Gate and reunites with his world, he receives fresh automail from Winry Rockbell. This gift serves as a powerful emotional anchor, reminding Edward of his true home, his connections, and the personal relationships that define him. The automail represents both his past and his identity as the Fullmetal Alchemist, grounding him as he chooses to stay in his original world with his brother.

  • Winry
  • automail
  • Edward
  • return home
  • Fullmetal Alchemist
Q11

Why was Fritz Lang hunting the dragon?

Fritz Lang, the famous Jewish film director in 1925 Munich, persuaded Edward to join him in hunting a dragon that would serve as inspiration for a new film. The dragon turned out to be the homunculus Envy in disguise. This pursuit led Edward into confrontation with the Thule Society's agents who subdued Envy, revealing the larger conspiracy at play. Lang also warned Edward about Eckhart's plan to arm Hitler, adding urgency to the mission.

  • Fritz Lang
  • Envy
  • dragon
  • film
  • Munich
  • Thule Society
Q12

Why did the Thule Society want to empower Hitler?

The Thule Society planned to use the weapons and technology from Edward's alchemical world to empower Adolf Hitler's rising political movement. They believed that controlling the interdimensional Gateway would give them unprecedented power to reshape reality according to their utopian vision. Edward learned of this plan from Fritz Lang, which added a historical dimension to the conflict and intensified the urgency to stop them.

  • Hitler
  • Thule Society
  • weapons
  • Eckhart
  • historical
  • Munich
Q13

What happened to Liore during the attack?

The Thule Society hurled armored soldiers through the Gate, and these mutated, zombie-like forces arrived in Liore, throwing the city into chaos. The attack forced both the Amestris military and the Elrics into a desperate counterstrike. This assault was part of the Society's larger plan to create conflict and demonstrate the power they could wield through the Gateway.

  • Liore
  • armored soldiers
  • Gate
  • attack
  • chaos
  • Amestris

Movie threads

More Movies Like Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Alternate Reality Thrillers similar to Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa

Urgent chases across parallel worlds to prevent catastrophic collapse. If you liked the interdimensional race against time in Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie, you'll find more movies like it here. These films feature high-stakes adventures across parallel worlds, blending tense action with the emotional weight of protecting multiple realities from destruction.

  • urgent
  • tense
  • high-stakes
  • epic
  • melancholic
  • anxious
  • Tone: tense, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically revolves around a portal or gateway connecting two distinct worlds. A protagonist, often displaced, must navigate the unfamiliar rules and dangers of a new reality while a looming threat—be it a tyrannical regime, a cataclysmic event, or a scientific disaster—escalates in both. The climax often involves a grand, sacrificial choice to seal the dimensional rift and save both worlds, usually at a great personal cost.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared core premise of interdimensional conflict, a fast and urgent pace driven by an impending disaster, and a tone that balances high-concept wonder with tense, high-stakes suspense. They explore the heavy emotional and moral consequences of tampering with reality itself.

Movies about exile and found family like Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa

Stories of displacement where a new home is forged through sacrifice. For viewers moved by the Elric brothers' exile and their bittersweet new beginning in Fullmetal Alchemist, this section finds similar emotionally heavy stories. These films explore themes of profound loss, displacement, and the difficult but hopeful process of building a new life and family far from home.

  • melancholic
  • nostalgic
  • sacrificial
  • hopeful
  • heavy
  • oppressive
  • Tone: melancholic, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters who have lost their original home through circumstance, choice, or catastrophe. Their arc is one of grief and alienation, often set against a backdrop of political or social strife. The central conflict is internal—coming to terms with their loss—and external—surviving in a new environment. The resolution is bittersweet; they cannot return home, but they find purpose and connection by protecting their new world and the people they've come to care for.

Why they belong together: These movies share a heavy emotional weight centered on themes of exile, nostalgia, and sacrifice. They are united by a melancholic yet ultimately hopeful tone, where victory is tempered by permanent loss, and the protagonist's new family becomes their anchor in a world they never asked for.

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Every angle

Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (2005) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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