Otaku! Soul Eater

Finally finished all 51 episodes of Soul Eater! Not to say I didn't enjoy it, it was a rather good show. There were certain drawbacks and some aspects that did not quite reach my standard, but I give it a decent 7.75/10 (just because I feel 7 is too low and 8 is pushing it). To me, it rests happily beside Pandora Hearts in ranking, far below the all-around winners, Code Geass and Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, both perfect 10s.

Before I start the review, I'd like to point out that it took me 6 months to finish this series. I lazily stretched out the first 10 or so episodes over a couple of months, then took a break (which lasted for 3 months) and picked it up again where I left off. Due to this, I forgot some of the key points presented in the first few episodes, which were crucial to the development of the characters as well as the plot line. As a result, my overall view of the anime was negatively impacted, and I regretted having to lower the potentially high rating because of my own error. So really, Soul Eater is better than I see it to be, if watched in one chunk!

 

Plot Development

The storyline was alright, quite simple in layout, and easy to follow. There were not many dramatic twists and turns, and it was relatively predictable, which was a slight disappointment. Another drawback was that the entire story seemed to build up to the final battle, and other conflicts throughout the story were not given enough emphasis. The ending was abrupt and left a feeling of slight dissatisfaction.

On a brighter note, many paths were taken by the writer to explore the general ideas of power, fear, and bravery, so these aspects were underlined fairly often in diverse situations.

 

Evoluiton of Character

The anime focused on 4-5 main groups of characters, presenting a holistic view of the entire situation; but none of them were explored at length. Because of this, I was not allowed time to understand each individual player as much as I wanted to, as the creators barely scratched the surface of everyone's inner selves. The viewer was not let into the characters' past, and so couldn't see them grow throughout the series.

Nearly all the characters were likable in their own way, and were entertaining to watch. The villians were underdeveloped, which provided for an almost entirely black-and-white aspect of the conflict. We have all been told that all people are a little good and a little evil, but Soul Eater's villains did not have a shred of the "good" quality, making them two-dimensional characters.

To say that the characters were original would be a joke, but for every un-original, there was a quirky one to keep the balance. The chemistry between characters was unusual, from hate you/love you rivalry to creepy sexual tension.

Fun Factor

This was the make-or-break for this anime, and I'm glad to say it made it. There were some utterly hilarious scenes and a few humorous fillers. Despite the seriousness of many situations, there were often sprinkles of fun, which made the show highly enjoyable to watch. In addition to being able to make me laugh, it also tugged on my emotions, and was engaging.

Animation and Sound

The animation looks like something ripped right out of a Tim Burton movie. The unnatural angles, dark colour palette, and odd scenery fit perfectly with the horror themed series. As far as animation goes, there were certain issues with the sometimes overly-dramatic angles which meant a few instances with still-frame posing, where the action was just not fluid enough.

Physical character design kept close to the theme, with each main protagonist embodying the three staples of goth style: Maka and her plaid skirt, dark greatcoat, and tie; BlackStar with his zippers and steel-toed shoes; and Death the Kid in a plain black suit.

Maintaining contact with the gothic visuals, the soundtrack largely consisted of rock pieces. Where pianos and strings would normally take place, guitars fit the mood to a "T". Voice animations were nothing extraordinary, although some supporting characters brought texture and humor to the otherwise simple lines.

 

I feel like I've picked the anime apart completely... Overall, I thought it was a quite well-developed action show, with a real sense of urgency and contagious eeriness. Although it borrows heavily from other works, its execution creates a unique and entertaining series.