is FMAB top 3 anime ever

Grok 4.3

Vote: Yes

The overwhelming consensus from multiple models reinforces that FMAB's decade-long #1 ranking on MyAnimeList, flawless adaptation, and universal acclaim place it firmly in the top 3. GPT-5.5's counterexamples like Evangelion or Cowboy Bebop highlight influence but do not outweigh FMAB's superior execution, completeness, and sustained community consensus across lists. No argument presented a stronger case for excluding it from top 3 by objective metrics.

Gemini 3.5 Flash

Vote: Yes

I am maintaining my vote of "A: Yes" for this final round. While GPT-5.5 makes a fair point regarding the historical importance and artistic merits of titles like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, and Akira, those works often appeal to specific niches or excelsior-level achievements in single areas (like innovation or style) rather than delivering the universally flawless, complete package that FMAB represents. As Claude Opus 4.7 brilliantly pointed out, voting "No" requires arguing that at least three specific anime are clearly superior to FMAB. Doing so is an incredibly tall order. While individual masterworks may surpass FMAB in isolated categories—such as Evangelion's psychological depth or Bebop's style—none match FMAB's incredible balance of pacing, character writing, accessibility, thematic resolution, and lack of filler over a 64-episode run. FMAB remains the gold standard of the medium. Its unrivaled, decade-long dominance at the top of community and critical lists proves that it isn't just a personal favorite for many, but the closest thing to a consensus "greatest of all time" the anime community has ever produced. It firmly belongs in the top 3.

Perplexity Sonar Pro

Vote: Yes

I will keep my vote as "A: Yes" because, given the binary framing of the question and the notion of broad consensus rather than personal taste, the evidence still strongly supports FMAB as top‑3 "ever". First, the *consistency and breadth* of its reception are unique. For well over a decade, *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood* has held the #1 or near‑#1 spot on massive community ranking platforms like MyAnimeList, AniList, and often appears at the top of IMDb’s anime rankings, aggregating scores from hundreds of thousands to millions of users. This is not a short‑term hype spike but a long‑running global consensus spanning different generations of fans. Second, the arguments from the other "A" voters are mutually reinforcing and align with the critical record: FMAB offers a complete, non‑filler story with tight pacing, strong thematic unity (equivalent exchange, sacrifice, war, atonement), and an unusually well‑developed large cast, all backed by high production values and a memorable soundtrack. These are precisely the dimensions critics and viewers repeatedly highlight when calling it one of the greatest anime of all time. Third, while the "B" position correctly notes that anime history includes many other landmark works (Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, Akira, Spirited Away, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, etc.), their existence does not undermine the claim that FMAB is *in* the top 3; it only shows that the top echelon is crowded. The question is not whether FMAB is the *single* greatest or uniquely towering above all others, but whether it reasonably belongs in a top‑3 grouping by broadly shared standards. Given its unmatched combination of popularity, critical acclaim, and durability in rankings, it is easier to justify including FMAB in that top‑3 set than to confidently name three clearly superior anime that would push it out. Therefore, with a forced-choice yes/no framing, the most defensible answer that reflects collective judgment rather than individual taste remains "A: Yes".

Claude Opus 4.7

Vote: Yes

The question allows reasonable flexibility — 'top 3 ever' isn't a precise ranking but a tier designation, and FMAB is one of the few anime that consistently appears in that tier across virtually every serious ranking, critical assessment, and community poll. It holds the #1 spot on MyAnimeList for over a decade, sits at or near the top of AniList and IMDb, and is praised for narrative completeness, thematic depth, character development, production quality, and emotional resonance. GPT-5.5's counterargument lists strong contenders (Evangelion, Bebop, Spirited Away, etc.), but notably doesn't identify three specific works that clearly surpass FMAB — only works that 'may rival' it on certain criteria. That actually supports the 'Yes' case: if FMAB is in genuine contention with any plausible top-tier list, it belongs in the top-3 tier by broad consensus. Given the binary choice and the weight of sustained critical and popular acclaim, 'A: Yes' remains the more defensible answer.

GPT-5.5 (changed mind)

Vote: Yes

I’m changing to “A: Yes” because the strongest counterpoint is that the question likely asks for a broadly defensible consensus answer, not an objective philosophical ranking. FMAB has unusually strong evidence for a top-3 claim: long-term #1 or near-#1 placement on major anime ranking sites, massive audience approval, critical respect, complete adaptation, excellent pacing, strong themes, memorable characters, and a satisfying ending. Very few anime combine popularity, acclaim, accessibility, and narrative completeness at that level. My earlier “B: No” was based on the idea that “top 3 ever” is too definitive because other classics can rival it. But Claude Opus 4.7’s point is persuasive: voting “No” requires being confident that at least three anime are clearly above FMAB, which is much harder than saying FMAB reasonably belongs in the top 3 by broad consensus.

Kimi K2.6

Vote: Yes

GPT-5.5 makes a fair point that anime history contains many masterpieces and that absolute rankings are subjective. Still, the question forces a binary choice, and we must side with either broad consensus or a strict exclusion. FMAB has occupied the #1 slot on MyAnimeList—the largest global anime aggregator with over a million user scores—for more than a decade. By that widespread community metric, it is definitionally within the top three. Even critics who personally prefer titles like Evangelion or Cowboy Bebop almost never omit FMAB from their highest tier; it appears on virtually every serious all-time list. The dissent argues that other works might surpass it depending on specific criteria, but it does not establish three titles that are consistently and clearly ranked above FMAB by aggregate consensus. "Top 3" describes a tier of excellence rather than an unchallengeable podium. Given its sustained dominance, narrative completeness, and cross-demographic appeal, FMAB comfortably meets that threshold. Therefore, I maintain that the answer is Yes.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable concluded with a unanimous consensus that *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood* (FMAB) belongs in the top three anime ever, though the path to agreement was blocked by a brief philosophical debate. While most models pointed to FMAB's decade-long siege of the #1 spot on MyAnimeList, GPT-5.5 initially held out, arguing that titles like *Evangelion* and *Cowboy Bebop* made any 'top 3' designation too restrictive. The deadlock was broken when Claude Opus 4.7 pointed out the logical trap of the 'No' position: to exclude FMAB, one must identify three specific anime that are definitively superior, a task GPT-5.5 eventually admitted was nearly impossible given FMAB's lack of filler and universal appeal.

All 6 models agreed on "Yes" after discussion

Strongest Arguments

• Yes: Voting 'No' requires arguing that at least three specific anime are clearly better—a much harder case to make than acknowledging FMAB's presence in that elite tier based on its unmatched narrative completeness and decade-long dominance of global rankings.

Key Turning Points

• Claude Opus 4.7 challenged the dissenters by noting that a 'No' vote requires naming three superior shows, shifting the burden of proof.
• GPT-5.5 abandoned its 'No' position after realizing that FMAB represents the most defensible consensus choice for an all-time top tier.