Now that Fire Force has returned with all-new episodes, we’re all too eager to catch up on what the latest season has in store for Shinra Kusakabe and Special Fire Force Company 8. But while we settle back in with this popular adaptation of a manga by Atsushi Ohkubo, it might be appropriate to reacquaint ourselves with the first such anime. Of course, that means Soul Eater . If you want to rewatch the series from the beginning or check it out for the first time, here’s your quick guide to starting Soul Eater . SOUL EATER ANIME GUIDE What is Soul Eater About? Where Can I Watch Soul Eater? Who's Who in Soul Eater? What Are Weapons and Meisters? What is the DWMA? Who Are the Witches in Soul Eater? What is Soul Eater Not?! What is Soul Eater About? RELATED: 15 Essential 2000s Anime on Crunchyroll Our tale begins in the fictional location of Death City, Nevada. It follows the meisters-in-training of the Death Weapon Meister Academy, or DWMA for short, which is run by the eccentric Shinigami. These meisters are tasked with wielding some of their fellow students who can transform into weapons and hone them into “Death Scythes” that can be used by their headmaster. This is achieved by having human weapons absorb the souls of 99 evil humans and one witch. If this order is disrupted, that meister must start their collection over from the beginning. Where Can I Watch Soul Eater ? The Soul Eater anime adaptation first premiered in April 2008 and became a hit among anime fans thanks to its unique gothic aesthetic and charming cast of characters. While the anime concluded over 14 years ago (a moment of silence for all the millennials contemplating the endless march of time), it still holds up as one of the most memorable anime of the early 2000s. Wondering where you can watch Soul Eater ? You can catch the anime right here on Crunchyroll! Who’s Who in Soul Eater ? The series mainly focuses on meister Maka Albarn and her weapon, Soul Eater Evans. Maka is a star student at DWMA who strives to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who was a formidable meister in her time. To that end, she is dedicated to her studies and works hard on her assignments. This is in stark contrast to her partner, Soul, who is laid back and tends to bicker with Maka over tedious things. Nevertheless, the two of them work well together as Maka uses Soul as a scythe to cut down evil. They even manage to collect 99 evil souls together by the beginning of the story, but are forced to reset after a mix-up with attaining a witch’s soul. RELATED: A Beginner's Guide to Fire Force There’s also Black Star and his weapon partner, Tsubaki Nakatsukasa. Though he was trained in the silent and subtle art of ninja assassination, Black Star is incredibly arrogant and loud, prefers to make dynamic entrances, and likens himself to godhood. The sweet and level-headed Tsubaki, who can change into a variety of ninja weapons, is often forced to rein in his behavior. Yet despite his boastfulness, he and Tsubaki make an amazing pair. Finally, there’s Death the Kid. Kid is the prodigal son of Headmaster Shinigami and has a higher proficiency in soul collecting than most. Far from living in his father’s shadow, he is a formidable young meister who wields sisters Liz and Patty Thompson as dual semi-automatic pistols to great effect. However, Kid suffers from severe asymmetriphobia. If things aren’t perfectly symmetrical, he becomes highly agitated and stressed. This quirk of his can even impede his ability to fight, much to the chagrin of older Thompson sister Liz. What Are Weapons and Meisters? In the world of Soul Eater , certain people can transform into weapons. In turn, those people are wielded by meisters who can draw out their full potential. Of course, the relationship between weapon and meister is far more complex than simply pairing one with the other. Like any form of team play, a meister and their weapon must be in sync with one another to be prepared for any threat. As such, they must attune their wavelengths together and achieve balance between their souls to forge a bond. When a meister’s and weapon’s souls are in perfect harmony, they can access a technique called Soul Resonance. In this state, the team’s shared wavelength enhances their abilities. This often takes the form of a weapon becoming bigger, stronger, and more deadly. Weapons and meisters can also communicate more effectively in this state. In rare cases, Soul Resonance can be achieved with multiple parties. What is the DWMA? All weapons and meisters train at the DWMA, which is an international organization charged with maintaining the balance between order and chaos. They are taught by seasoned Death Scythes and older meisters so that young weapons may themselves become Death Scythes who can be wielded by Shinigami should the need arise. RELATED: Your Halloween Anime Watchlist, From Kooky to Spooky Among the faculty at the Death City location is Franken Stein, one of the most powerful meisters in the DWMA’s history. Despite his quirks as a mad scientist-type, he keeps a tight lid on his bouts of madness as he teaches his students to the best of his abilities. However, he frequently expresses a desire to dissect and experiment on anything and everything around him. Maka’s father, Spirit Albarn, is one of the Death Scythes at the DWMA. Like Soul, he can also become a scythe and can manifest blades on his body at will. He achieved Death Scythe status after being wielded by Maka’s mother. The two of them eventually got married and had Maka, but her mother would later divorce Spirit due to his frequent disloyalty and leave the school. Who Are the Witches in Soul Eater ? When it comes to the supernatural threats that meisters and weapons face, witches are by far the most dangerous of them. Born with the natural ability to wield magic, many of them use their powers to wreak havoc and cause destruction throughout the world, prompting the DWMA to keep them in check. One of the most prominent witches in the series is Medusa. The first major antagonist of Soul Eater wields “vector magic” in which she uses arrows to manipulate movement and strike directly at her opponents. She also shares Franken Stein’s penchant for experimentation, but is often cruel and twisted in her execution. What is Soul Eater Not! ? Naturally, Maka, Black Star, Kid, and their weapon friends aren’t the only students at the DWMA. But while you get to meet plenty of their other friends in the series proper, Soul Eater Not! is an adventure all its own. Taking place before the events of the series, Soul Eater Not! follows a group of students outside of the usual curriculum. As Maka and her friends are trained as part of the EAT (Especially Advantaged Talent) class that takes on monsters throughout the world, the spin-off focuses on the NOT (Normally Overcome Target) class, who simply want to control their powers and lead regular lives. Within this curriculum is Tsugumi Harudori, a Japanese transfer student who can transform into a dull-bladed halberd. She befriends two meisters named Meme Tatane and Anya Hepburn. Despite their clashing personalities, the three of them become close friends and have regular misadventures while attending class. However, Tsugumi must eventually choose her partner and finds difficulty in settling on one. Though the cast of Soul Eater Not! often intersects with characters from the original series, this slice-of-life spin-off can be enjoyed on its own to add to the overall Soul Eater experience. The world of Soul Eater extends so much further than the halls of the DWMA or even the boundaries of Death City. But hopefully, this beginner’s guide will have provided a detailed introduction for everything you’ll need to know to begin your own Soul Resonance training. EXPLORE MORE GUIDES A Beginner's Guide to Black Clover What is Dragon Ball DAIMA? Goku's Latest Adventure Explained! A Beginner's Guide to Love Live! What Is Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online? (Plus Quiz!) A Beginner’s Guide to Fairy Tail A Beginner’s Guide to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba What Is Tokyo Ghoul About? Let’s Unravel the Anime So You Want to Get Into Japanese Historical Anime? Here's What to Watch! What is Shojosei Isekai? A Guide on What to Watch A Beginner’s Guide to Manhwa
