There’s little more satisfying than finding a fantasy series to dive headfirst into. Except perhaps finding a fantasy shōnen series. There are certainly plenty of options out there, including Atsushi Ohkubo’s Fire Force. This story hit hard, and with the anime conclusion just around the corner, this has us looking at another story that just so happens to be set in the same world. Soul Eater walked so that Fire Force could run, or perhaps it’s the other way around. Most importantly, Soul Eater’s anime is famous among fans for not following the manga. Years later, we’re still waiting for it to get the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood treatment.
Soul Eater tells the tale of weapon meisters and their weapons, all following the orders of the Shinigami known as Death. It’s one of those stories that’s easy to get caught up in, thanks to the compelling characters, high-stakes battles, and comic relief; there’s something for everyone in this series. Unfortunately, the anime’s conclusion was not at all in keeping with how the manga went, so fans who have only ever seen the series didn’t get to see the planned ending. Even though it’s been years since the series concluded, we’re still holding out hope for a remake.
The World of Soul Eater
The story is set in a fictional version of Death City, Nevada. More importantly, there’s the school within the city, the Death Weapon Meister Academy (Shinigami Buki Shokunin Senmon Gakkō), or “DWMA” for short. With Lord Death at the helm, students at DWMA train to become powerful meisters (warriors who wield weapons) or demon weapons. The latter can literally transform into weapons, making it a pretty unique concept all around.
That brings us to the protagonists of the story, the students of the DWMA: weapon meisters in training, Maka Albarn and Black Star, as well as Death the Kid. Then there are their partners, who can conveniently turn into weapons: Soul Eater, Tsubaki Nakatsukasa. Liz and Patty Thompson. Later arcs introduce other students, filling out the student body and making the world feel more vibrant.
In this world, some evil humans and witches can threaten the world as we know it. The students, in addition to passing their studies (easier said than done), have to prepare themselves and their weapons for what is to come. Naturally, several complications arise along the way, and we won’t spoil every twist and turn by listing them out here.
Where the Anime Deviates
It isn’t unheard of for an anime to go off the rails, taking a completely different direction from the manga. This usually happens when the anime catches up (and then surpasses) the manga’s run. Fullmetal Alchemist is probably the most famous example, and the fans were fortunate enough to get Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood to make up for it.
Soul Eater’s anime likewise went off the rails, especially when it comes to handling the final battle with Asura. The drastic changes in this fight had long-lasting effects, both in the anime and in the manga. It’s easy to see how those differences snowballed, resulting in a very different ending for anime fans.
Notably, Soul Eater’s anime wrapped up long before the manga concluded. So it’s missing major sections of the plot, from twists to character arcs and far beyond. While the series nailed the tone, aesthetic, and the earlier parts of the story, there is still so much untapped potential left for Soul Eater.
The Potential for a Return
Even though Soul Eater has been concluded for years, fans are not giving up hope for a remake. The finale of Fire Force may add extra fuel to the fire (pun intended), as fans go looking for more content from the same creator. Plus, the final season should reveal how Soul Eater and Fire Force exist in the same universe. Fire Force fans who have never considered Soul Eater will hopefully become curious and check out the connected story, adding to the sales and hype of a beloved series. Even if the original Soul Eater doesn’t get a remake (right away), the powers that be may opt to adapt its spin-off series, Soul Eater Not!
Truthfully, there have been rumors for years about a Soul Eater reboot. We’d like to say that these rumors are true, but they largely seem to be fueled by wishful thinking. We can hardly blame the fandom for feeling this way, and perhaps enough talk of a reboot will make it a reality. It’s happened before, so why not for Soul Eater?
The manga sales are still going strong for Soul Eaterand one can hope that each new sale is a reminder that fans want to see how the story actually ends. With enough reminders, we may just get the reboot treatment we’re all hoping to see.
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