FMA Behind the Scenes Interview 2: Alphonse Elric

Alrighty, our next cross-examination—I mean interview is with Alphonse Elric.

Al: Hi, Lily. Long time no see.

Lily: Hey, Al. You ready to start?

A: Yep!

L: I know you’re sitting on the couch across from me, but this is a written interview, so how often do you actually wear the armor?

A: Almost never. I only wear it during filming, and I have to use extensions to operate the arms and legs.

L: It is seven feet tall. Uh, Ed mentioned something during his interview about an incident while you were filming episode 38, With the River’s Flow. Will you please explain?

A: *laughs* Oh, that story. You know the scene when our characters are arguing and using alchemy on each other? Well, while we were filming, Nii-san accidentally created an explosive substance and managed to make this massive sink-hole in the center of the path. We narrowly evaded getting sucked down into it. That was some mess to clean up.

L: Wow, you’re not kidding. How do you handle the scenes where the head of the armor gets knocked off?

A: You can thank the special effects department for those little stunts.

L: Have you ever hit your head when the armor gets knocked over?

A: Oh yeah. They tried to plop a helmet on my head for a while in the beginning, but that didn’t work. The director decided that whenever there’s a scene like that to help me out of the armor and attach a microphone to it, so I can deliver my lines without getting a concussion.

L: What’s the story behind the cat?

A: I found a cat while someone else was shooting, picked it up, and asked Mom if I could keep it.

Ed: “Asked?” More like begged!

L: Ed, you had your turn yesterday. I might do a joint interview later. Key word: ‘later!’ Did you keep it?

A: No, but the makeup artist took him into custody and named him Fluffball.

L: ‘Paperclip?’ O-okay… So, there’s a cat namedFluffball and a dog whose name means Black Hurricane… Weird…

A: Yeah, but the makeup artist’s gentle, benevolent, and fantastic at their job. I mean, Tucker’s chimera costume and makeup were so convincing, Nina began flipping out.

L: Um, any similarities between you and your character?

A: We’re basically identical. The only difference is that I’m not attached to a seven-foot suit of armor.

L: I guess that’s it for now, I ran out of questions. ^_^’. Heh.

A: I’m needed in the next scene anyway.

L: Okay. I’ll do a joint interview with you and Ed eventually.