Like the music genre that is J-Pop and the comic book-like manga, anime is high on the list of Japanese favorites that seem to startle, confuse and occasionally amuse the majority of North America.

Undoubtedly, though, there are many die-hard anime fans in this country, and these are the folks who eagerly await the opportunity to see such works as “Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos,” a full-length feature adaptation of the franchise whose manga sold 50 million copies worldwide, and whose animated 64-episode series became a Cartoon Network/ Adult Swim hit.

In what must surely be a must-see for local anime-aniacs, the film will screen for one week, starting today in the Screening Room Cinema Cafe (3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst) and Screens (5445 Transit Road, Clarence). And interestingly, it’s a rather nice introduction to this wild and wooly world.

It’s the kind of thing that begins with a line like this: “All is of one, and one is in all.” Hmm. Line two is no less batty: “The alchemist who openeth the doorway findeth a true nightmare.”

Our heroes are the Elric brothers, Ed and Al, and both are “alchemists.” Oh, and Al looks like a cross between Iron Man’s first rusty suit and the Tin Man.

Backstory is crucial here. The brothers have each suffered major physical damage: Ed lost an arm and a leg, while Ed’s soul was sealed in a giant suit of armor. (This occurred long ago in the “Fullmetal” series, but is explained with a succinct flashback.)

While the Elric boys are not exactly fascinating, this brief tableau involving an attempt at bringing their deceased mother back to life was quite compelling — enough so that one might be longing for that film, instead of “The Sacred Star of Milos.”

But “Milos” is what we’ve got, a tale in which Ed and Al must journey to Table City with another alchemist named Julia to find a rogue villain. In the process, they find themselves smack dab in the middle of a rebellion in the slums of Milos Valley. Trust me, it makes more sense on screen.

It all ends with a wild fight scene and a bit of self-sacrifice not too dissimilar to the end of the tangentially related (and god-awful) “Matrix Revolutions.” This story ends, but of course, the Elric boys’ quest continues.

While anime fandom does help, of course, I’m not sure prior knowledge is a prerequisite. Sci-fifilms like “Blade Runner” exist in compatible worlds, visually and metaphorically. As the lasting success of 1988’s cyberpunk classic “Akira” proves, crossover success is possible.

Yes, it requires a major suspension of disbelief. But like much anime, it has a certain charm — strange characters, occasional slapstick, fantastical worlds — that just may swing a curious novice.

On paper, then, “Fullmetal Alchemist” is the epitome of the fans-only flick, yet those curious about anime should not fear. The action is strong, the music overly dramatic and the plot wacky, and that’s just fine.

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FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILO

2 1/2 stars

VOICES OF: Romi Park, Rie Kugimiya, Maaya Sakamoto, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Shin-ichiro Miki

DIRECTOR: Kazuya Murata

RUNNING TIME: 110 minutes

RATING: Unrated, but PG-13 equivalent for violence.

THE LOWDOWN: A fugitive alchemist leads brothers into the middle of a rising rebellion in this full-length anime film.