How much time does the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime cover?

Question

I was always confused with something in the original (2003) Fullmetal Alchemist anime.

When Elric brothers have helped the Hughes' when Alicia was born, that happened around the same time when Edward have become a State Alchemist. If I know well, he was 12 in that time. It was in episode 6.

Most of the following episodes (Barry incident, the Chimaera, etc.) seems to cover a relatively short time. However, later it was mentioned that Ed is 14-15 years old. And also, I'm absolutely sure that it was true at the time when Hughes was murdered.

Which is the exact timeline order of the event in the episodes? First episode is obviously an introducing one, and second is the beginning of everything, and then?

Also, how is it possible that Edward looks totally the same in Episode 6 (where he was 12) and in Episode 50, for example (where he was 15)?

Answer 1

Please note: Much of this information does not apply to Brotherhood.

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The order of episodes goes something like this:

• Episode 1 flashback
  • Transmutation of Trisha
• Episode 28 flashbacks
  • Initial alchemy training under Izumi
  • Pre-automail for Edward
• Episodes 3 through 9
  • Barry the Chopper
  • Shou Tucker and Nina
  • Etc.
• Episodes 1, 2, and 10 through 51 (not counting flashbacks)
  • Main story
• The Conqueror of Shamballa

I have missed a few brief flashbacks here, but this is the general idea. You can use Edward's age, somewhat, as a marker of time passing. He is ~11 in the flashbacks of their mother, 12 during his State Alchemist qualification, and turns 15 prior to the main story (the incident in Lior, etc.). He is 18 during The Conqueror of Shamballa. (This is shown by 14-year-old Al reverting to being 10 years old, then aging to 13 when Eckhart starts breaking into Amestris. Since he is one year younger, and would be 17, Ed is about 18.)

Here is a handy chart for a full comprehensive view of the series (click to enlarge, or click here for the spreadsheet). Note that Edward does have a birthday in the main timeline, when he turns 16.

(Orange = pre-anime; yellow = flashbacks; green = anime series; blue = post-anime)

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To address your point about Ed's appearance: Edward doesn't actually look the same at 12 as he does at 15. At 12, his eyes are slightly larger and his face is a bit rounder, save for his chin, giving him an overall slightly younger and more innocent look. It's not generally noticeable in the more zoomed-out shots, but it's there. (Also remember that, to perpetuate the "shorty"/"chibi" jokes, he couldn't grow much, so all the changes are facially.)

(Left: 12-year-old Ed, episode 4, 6:45; Right: 15-year-old Ed, episode 10, 13:50)

Answer 2

The series starts three years after Ed became state alchemist. That means he was twelve when he became state alchemist and was around 15 or 16 when the manga/anime starts. At the end of the main story, he was 18 and twenty in the epilogue (when they start traveling around).

Here is a timeline for the 2003-anime: http://64supernintendo.deviantart.com/art/Fullmetal-Alchemist-anime-timeline-321323200