The film lacks explicit depictions of same-sex intimacy or non-cisnormative identities. It focuses heavily on the central fraternal bond and alchemical plot, adhering to traditional heteronormative structures.

Female characters possess significant technical agency and authority. Winry Rockbell serves as a vital mechanical expert, while Riza Hawkeye operates within a disciplined military hierarchy, subverting submissive femininity tropes.

The setting uses a steampunk-inspired Western aesthetic. While the Ishvalan conflict serves as a metaphor for systemic marginalization, the film's runtime limits the depth of this exploration.

The narrative challenges institutional hierarchies by portraying the state military as a source of corruption. It deconstructs the concept of an infallible state through moral relativism.

The protagonists navigate significant physical impairments as foundational elements of their identity. The film focuses on the functional and psychological realities of their physical states rather than using them as mere devices.