*Soul Eater* is a dark fantasy manga by Atsushi Ohkubo, which was serialized in *Monthly Shonen Gangan* and later adapted into a popular 51-episode anime series by studio BONES. The story follows students at the Death Weapon Meister Academy as they train to hunt down evil souls and prevent the rise of a new "Kishin," a god of madness.
The story is set in the fictional Death City, Nevada, home to the Death Weapon Meister Academy, or DWMA for short.
This unique school was founded by Lord Death to train humans with the ability to transform into weapons and the Meisters who wield them.
The ultimate goal for students is to create a "Death Scythe," a weapon worthy of being wielded by Lord Death himself.
To achieve this, a Weapon must consume the souls of 99 evil humans and one witch, in that specific order.
The academy's motto, frequently recited by its staff and students, is "A sound soul dwells within a sound mind and a sound body."
This principle guides their mission to maintain order and fight against the forces of madness.
Meisters and Weapons
Meisters and Weapons work in pairs, with the Meister wielding their partner in battle.
It's also possible for a single, skilled Meister to handle multiple Weapons at once.
Weapons were originally created by transforming humans, but over time, this ability became hereditary, forming entire lineages of Weapon families.
A Meister's role is to draw out their Weapon's full potential and collect the required souls to forge a Death Scythe.
A crucial element of their partnership is "Soul Resonance," a process where the Meister and Weapon synchronize their soul wavelengths.
This allows them to unleash powerful, signature special attacks that vary depending on the Weapon's form.
Weapons can also partially transform parts of their bodies, enabling some to fight effectively even without their Meister.
Interestingly, not all Weapons turn into conventional armaments; some can become objects like lamps or pots.
Skilled Meisters develop "Soul Perception," an ability to see and sense the souls of others, which is invaluable for tracking enemies.
However, a compatible soul wavelength is essential for a pair to work together; a mismatch can make a Weapon feel impossibly heavy or even cause burns upon contact.
Witches
Witches are powerful magic-users, exclusively female, who are led by their queen, the Grand Witch Mabaa.
They have been in conflict with Lord Death and his followers since long before the DWMA was even founded.
Many witches have an animal motif incorporated into their design, and some can even transform into their associated animal.
A major historical event involved the slaughter of witches in the eastern continent by Asura, one of Lord Death's former elite guards.
The story centers on three teams of students from the DWMA, each striving to create a Death Scythe.
These teams are led by the diligent Scythe-Meister Maka Albarn, the self-absorbed assassin Black☆Star, and the symmetry-obsessed son of Lord Death, Death the Kid.
They attend classes and carry out missions to collect the souls of evil humans, who are on the path to becoming monstrous beings known as Kishin.
Their journey is filled with intense battles, quirky adventures, and the constant challenge of synchronizing their souls with their Weapon partners.
As they progress, they uncover a sinister plot by the witch Medusa Gorgon, who has infiltrated the DWMA as the school nurse.
Medusa's goal is to revive the first and most powerful Kishin, Asura, who was sealed away by Lord Death centuries ago, threatening to plunge the world into madness.
DWMA (Death Weapon Meister Academy)
Main Students
The main protagonist of the series, Maka is a determined and serious-minded Scythe-Meister partnered with Soul Eater.
She's a top-tier honor student with exceptional Soul Perception but struggles with her physical combat skills, often relying on Soul's support.
Born to a human Meister and a Death Scythe father, she despises her dad for his constant womanizing, which led to her parents' divorce. In the anime, she inherits some of her father's Weapon abilities, allowing her to partially manifest scythe blades from her body.
Soul Eater Evans
Maka's partner, a laid-back and cool-headed boy who can transform into a demonic Scythe. He often calls himself Soul Eater, an alias he adopted.
Originally from a famous family of musicians, he gave up the piano after feeling overshadowed by his prodigy brother, Wes, and joined the DWMA.
After being infected with Black Blood during a fight, a mischievous little demon appears in his mind, tempting him with the power of madness. Soul is fiercely loyal to Maka and will do anything to protect her, even at the cost of his own life.
An incredibly loud and arrogant assassin-in-training, partnered with Tsubaki. He's the sole survivor of the Star Clan, a family of ninja assassins.
Despite his profession, he craves attention and declares himself the man who will surpass God, but his boastful nature is backed by immense talent and strength.
He's not the sharpest tool in the shed and fails most of his exams, but his physical prowess and direct soul wavelength attacks make him one of the strongest students at the DWMA.
Black☆Star's partner, a kind, gentle, and patient girl who can transform into multiple ninja weapons, including a chain scythe, shuriken, and ninja sword.
She comes from a long line of Demon Weapons and possesses a special ability to absorb the souls of others.
Her calm and supportive nature is the perfect counterbalance to Black☆Star's explosive personality, and she's often the one to rein him in.
The son of Lord Death himself, a powerful Meister who wields the twin pistols, Liz and Patty Thompson.
He is a prodigy in every sense, but he's completely obsessed with symmetry, which he considers the ultimate form of beauty.
This obsession is his greatest weakness; he'll break down if his shoelaces are uneven and is tormented by the asymmetrical three white stripes in his hair. His catchphrases include, "This is garbage, I'm so depressed, I could die."
The older of the two Thompson sisters, who serves as one of Death the Kid's twin pistols. She's the more mature and level-headed of the pair.
Though generally brave, she's terrified of ghosts and anything paranormal, claiming she'd rather the world end than encounter a ghost.
Before meeting Kid, she and her sister were street thugs in Brooklyn, but now she's a loyal partner and often acts as the "straight man" to Kid and Patty's antics.
Patricia "Patty" Thompson
The younger Thompson sister, who is cheerful, naive, and child-like. Her unpredictable and sometimes nonsensical behavior belies her incredible strength.
She possesses surprising physical power, even outmatching some Meisters in hand-to-hand combat, and her sunny disposition can even snap Kid out of his depressive fits.
Despite her goofy nature, she shares a deep bond with her sister and Kid, completing their perfectly symmetrical trio.
Other Students
A brilliant and serious honor student who is a Spear-Meister, constantly competing with Maka for the top academic spot.
He sports a bizarre hairstyle, with a shaved head and two upright spikes of hair, which he claims represents his intelligence and power but is mostly seen as weird.
He is hopelessly in love with his classmate Kim Diehl, who finds him and his hair "creepy," but his devotion to her is unwavering.
Ox's partner, a Demon Lightning-Spear who can generate electricity on his own. He's almost always seen wearing a visor.
Initially as serious as Ox, Harvar later reveals a colder, more ruthless side, prioritizing his Meister's safety above all else.
A hot-blooded Pot-Meister who fights with the twin weapons Pot of Fire and Pot of Thunder, which he wears as gloves.
He's one of the top three combat-oriented students at the DWMA, alongside Black☆Star and Kid. He is a "Utility Meister" who can synchronize with almost any weapon.
A Lantern-Meister who seems obsessed with money, often telling Ox she'll consider dating him if he becomes rich.
She's secretly a witch with healing magic, a power that isolated her from other witches, leading her to hide at the DWMA. Her magic is based on the tanuki (raccoon dog), an animal associated with regeneration.
Kim's partner, a Demon Lamp who is fiercely loyal to her friend. She has known Kim's secret for a long time and supports her unconditionally.
A notoriously wimpy Meister who is often pushed around by other students.
Tired of being a pushover, he becomes the partner of the legendary (and incredibly annoying) holy sword, Excalibur, gaining immense power but at the cost of his sanity.
Lord Death and the Death Scythes
Lord Death
The headmaster of the DWMA and Death the Kid's father, a powerful and ancient being who founded the academy to maintain order.
He sealed the first Kishin, Asura, beneath Death City and is now bound to the city to keep the seal in place.
He once wore a terrifying skull mask but switched to a more cartoonish one because he kept making children cry. Despite his goofy demeanor, he is a wise and caring leader.
Maka's father and Lord Death's current Death Scythe. He was formerly partnered with Dr. Stein and Maka's mother.
He is a notorious womanizer, which led to his divorce and a strained relationship with his daughter, who he adores but constantly disappoints.
Despite his personal failings, he is an incredibly powerful Weapon, capable of bringing out the best in any Meister who wields him.
The Death Scythe in charge of Oceania, whose weapon form is a powerful hammer that can transform into a tonfa.
She has terrible luck with men because she tends to be overly clingy, to the point where she once considered marrying a toilet because "it would accept all of her." She has a "healing wavelength" that can calm madness.
The Death Scythe in charge of East Asia, a serious and responsible woman whose weapon form is a crossbow.
Nicknamed the "King of the Class Reps," she has an incredible "clairvoyance" ability that allows her to survey vast areas with pinpoint accuracy.
Justin Law
The Death Scythe for Europe, and the youngest to ever achieve the rank at age 13 without a Meister. He transforms into a guillotine.
He is a devout priest who worships Lord Death but is always listening to loud music through his earbuds, forcing him to use lip-reading to communicate.
Later, it's revealed his faith is a front, as he has fallen to madness and secretly worships the Kishin Asura.
Staff
The most powerful Meister to ever graduate from the DWMA and a former partner of Spirit Albarn. He now works as a teacher.
A mad scientist obsessed with dissection, he sees everything and everyone as a potential experiment, even himself. A large screw juts out of his head, which he occasionally turns.
Despite his sadistic and eccentric nature, he is a brilliant teacher and a formidable fighter who can match his soul wavelength to any weapon.
A three-star Meister and teacher at the DWMA, who was killed and brought back to life as a zombie by Dr. Stein.
He's a master of stealth and underground combat, often proclaiming, "That's the kind of man I was," when referring to his former life. He feels down that students these days don't know how to act around a zombie.
Joe Buttataki (B.J.)
An internal affairs investigator for the DWMA with the ability to detect lies by sensing the vibrations in a person's soul.
He was investigating a potential traitor within the academy before he was murdered by Justin Law.
Witches
Medusa's Faction
A snake-themed witch and one of the main antagonists, who infiltrated the DWMA as the school nurse.
She is a master manipulator and brilliant scientist who created the Black Blood and is the mother of Crona.
Her primary goal is to revive the Kishin Asura to study the evolution of madness, and she is willing to sacrifice anyone, including her own child, to achieve it.
Medusa's child, a shy and timid individual whose gender is left ambiguous. Crona's blood was replaced with "Black Blood," a substance that is also the Demon Sword Weapon, Ragnarok.
Due to years of abuse and isolation, Crona is socially awkward and has trouble interacting with others, often saying, "I don't know how to deal with..."
After befriending Maka, Crona begins to open up, but is manipulated by Medusa into becoming a spy, leading to a tragic and destructive path.
The Demon Sword fused with Crona's body, a crude and brutish being who constantly bullies Crona.
He emerges from Crona's back and acts as both a weapon and a tormentor, though he shrinks in size when the souls he's consumed are confiscated.
An immortal werewolf known as the "Man with the Magic Eye." He was imprisoned for 200 years after stealing the Grand Witch's left eye.
He joins Medusa's group out of a sense of obligation after she helps him escape. He is clumsy and prone to silly mistakes, but his spatial and ice magic make him a powerful foe.
A frog-themed witch who is forced to serve Medusa after Medusa plants magical snakes inside her body that will kill her if she disobeys.
She can transform into a frog and uses tadpole-shaped bombs in combat. Despite being a reluctant ally, she sometimes seems to enjoy the destructive missions.
Arachnophobia
The eldest of the three Gorgon sisters and the leader of the organization Arachnophobia. She is a spider-themed witch.
800 years ago, she faked her death to escape Lord Death by scattering her body into countless spiders, which formed a global spy network.
She returns to challenge the DWMA and plans to merge with the Kishin to become a being of pure madness.
Arachne's loyal and dapper butler, who has served her for over 800 years.
He is a small, elderly man who can revert to more powerful forms from his past, each representing a different point in his long life.
A master swordsman of the "Infinite One-Sword Style" and the bodyguard of the young witch Angela.
He possesses a soul said to be worth 99 evil human souls combined and is a man of honor, dedicated to protecting children. He joins Arachnophobia to ensure Angela's safety.
A very young and weak chameleon witch under Mifune's protection. Her magic is still developing, so she can't become fully invisible.
Kishin
The first Kishin and the ultimate embodiment of fear and madness. He was once the strongest member of Lord Death's elite guard.
Paranoid and terrified of everything, he sought power to quell his fear by consuming human souls and even his own Weapon partner, transforming him into a Kishin.
He was sealed by Lord Death, but his eventual revival threatens to drive the entire world insane.
The ghost captain of a phantom ship who worships the Kishin and collects souls for him. He is easily defeated when his hat is knocked off, revealing his bald head.
Other Characters
A cat with immense magical power who is mistaken for a witch by Maka and Soul.
After they take one of her nine souls, she moves in with them and works at a local cabaret club. She loves to flirt with Soul and uses pumpkin-themed magic in fights.
A legendary holy sword that grants its wielder incredible power, but is so unbelievably annoying that no one can stand to use it.
To partner with him, one must follow a list of 1000 absurd rules, including a five-hour daily storytelling session. His catchphrase is "FOOL!"
Death Weapon Meister Academy (DWMA)
An academy located in Death City, Nevada, founded by Lord Death. Its purpose is to train Weapons and Meisters to combat evil and prevent the creation of Kishin.
Soul Resonance
The synchronization of soul wavelengths between a Meister and a Weapon. This allows them to unleash powerful special abilities, such as Maka's "Witch-Hunter" slash.
Kishin
Beings born from souls that have deviated from the path of humanity. They are powerful entities that spread a wavelength of "Madness," causing chaos and insanity across the world. The first and most powerful Kishin is Asura.
Death Scythe
A Weapon that has consumed 99 Kishin-egg souls and one witch's soul. They become the personal weapons of Lord Death and are dispatched to handle major threats around the globe.
Witches
A race of powerful magic-users, almost exclusively female, who have been at war with the DWMA for centuries. They are often associated with animals and use verbal incantations for their spells.
Black Blood
A fluid created by Medusa that induces madness and enhances a person's abilities. It can be used to harden the body for defense or create weapons for offense. Crona is the first successful subject infused with it.
Book of Eibon
A magical tome created by the great sorcerer Eibon. It contains immense knowledge and pocket dimensions based on the Seven Deadly Sins. The book itself is a powerful artifact sought by many.
Great Old Ones
A group of eight powerful beings, including Lord Death and Asura, who represent fundamental concepts like Order, Knowledge, and Fear. They once worked together to maintain the world's balance.
Spartoi
An elite unit of DWMA students formed after the battle against Arachnophobia. The members include the main trio of teams: Maka and Soul, Black☆Star and Tsubaki, and Death the Kid with Liz and Patty.
The *Soul Eater* anime was selected as a recommended work by the jury of the 12th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2008 in the Animation Division.
As of March 2020, the *Soul Eater* series had sold over 19.6 million copies worldwide, demonstrating its significant global popularity.
The anime adaptation was well-received for its unique art style, fluid animation by Studio BONES, and memorable soundtrack.
The series has also had several crossover illustrations with other BONES properties like *Ouran High School Host Club*, *Eureka Seven*, and *Fullmetal Alchemist*, which were featured in the anime's late-night broadcasts.
A spin-off manga titled *Soul Eater Not!*, also by Atsushi Ohkubo, was serialized from 2011 to 2014 and received its own anime adaptation.
The series has also inspired several video games, drama CDs, and a wide range of merchandise.
Opening Themes
- "resonance" by T.M.Revolution (Episodes 1–30)
- "PAPERMOON" by Tommy heavenly6 (Episodes 31–50)
- "Counter Identity" by UNISON SQUARE GARDEN (Repeat Show 1st Cour)
- "Ai ga Hoshii yo" by Shion Tsuji (Repeat Show 2nd Cour)
Ending Themes
- "I Wanna Be" by STANCE PUNKS (Episodes 1–13, 51)
- "Style." by Kana Nishino (Episodes 14–26)
- "Bakusou Yume Uta" by Diggy-MO' (Episodes 27–39)
- "STRENGTH." by abingdon boys school (Episodes 40–50)
- "Ao no Kaori" by Yui Makino (Repeat Show 1st Cour)
- "Northern Lights" by HOW MERRY MARRY (Repeat Show 2nd Cour)
Manga
The original manga was written and illustrated by Atsushi Ohkubo. It ran in Square Enix's *Monthly Shonen Gangan* magazine from May 2004 to August 2013, totaling 25 volumes. A 17-volume "Perfect Edition" was later released between 2019 and 2020.
Video Games
- *Soul Eater: Monotone Princess* (Wii): An action-adventure game released in 2008.
- *Soul Eater: Medusa's Plot* (Nintendo DS): An action game released in 2008.
- *Soul Eater: Battle Resonance* (PS2, PSP): A 3D fighting game released in 2009.
Web Radio
An internet radio show titled *SOULEATER RADIO: DWMA Resonance Broadcasting Station* aired from 2008 to 2009.
It was split into two alternating programs: "Maka side," hosted by Chiaki Omigawa (Maka), and "Soul side," hosted by Kōki Uchiyama (Soul).
The anime adaptation was produced by Studio BONES, directed by Takuya Igarashi, with series composition by Akatsuki Yamatoya.
It aired on TV Tokyo in Japan from April 2008 to March 2009 for 51 episodes.
A unique feature of its broadcast was the "Soul Eater Late Show," a late-night rebroadcast that included extra omake footage not seen in the original evening slot.
While the first 36 episodes followed the manga's plot, the story diverged into an anime-original conclusion due to catching up with the source material.
*Soul Eater* was creator Atsushi Ohkubo's second serialized manga series, following *B.Ichi*.
The series began as three separate one-shots published in 2003 in *Gangan Powered* and *Monthly Gangan Wing*.
These prototypes introduced the main characters and world, and were later included in the first volume of the manga. The official serialization began in *Monthly Shonen Gangan* in 2004.
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