First, I'll tell you why I was so reluctant to try this series. When I first read the plot, I was completely uninterested. I don't really like series that are too long, since they tend to get really repetitive, lose pace and plot, and I lose my patience. I honestly thought Soul Eater was one of those series like Naruto or Bleach that has a solid, simple plot and then just goes on and on and on. No, I did not want to even try this. But under cliche, typical circumstances, I collapsed-- I got bored. I watched it.
And boy, was I thrilled.
Story~
Yes yes, it sounds so cliche. A bunch of random kids want to be powerful so they attempt to "level up" their weapons to get there. This is the main plot of the series, and it's centered on this. Or... So you thought. Later on, it takes a twist. And I don't mean that some random guy comes out of nowhere and tries to take over everything. No. The plot is well thought out and very enthralling, and actually becomes more and more unique as it progresses. Everything in Soul Eater is interesting, entertaining, and very fun to watch. And no, there aren't a lot of episodes like I thought there would be. I never got bored or impatient with the episodes. There are fillers, but they're mostly fun, and they're only in the first part of the series. After that, they stick to the intense plot.
Art~
Soul Eater's art really caught my eye. Not only is it unique and very cartoon-ish, but it's fun and gothic-looking when it needs to be. When it needs to be bright and happy, it is... which... doesn't happen too much. It isn't a depressing series but it does a good job of balancing the two. The movement is very good, and each scene is fluid and fun to watch. The camera angles can be sort of unique sometimes, which really helps add to the mood.
Sound~
Soul Eater has a wide variety of soundtracks. Each one improves the scene and the mood you're supposed to feel. Some of them weren't oh-so-memorable, while others were. But the opening theme songs? Actually, those were really dang memorable if you ask me. They're catchy, awesome, and the animation is brilliant. Anyway, onto voice acting (which... I've totally neglected in my other reviews...) The Japanese is always the one for me. They do great work with their roles, and each character is delivered perfectly. But the dub... It's average-ish. Some voices stand out a thousand times more than others, either because they're good or just plain awful. No offense, but Crona and Medusa's voices in the dub are... almost painful to listen to. But that's just me. If you're a dub freak, watch the dub. If you prefer Japanese, by all means, please watch the Japanese version...
Character~
Ah, the characters. Each one is unique. Though they do have their own cliche attributes, there's much more than what you see on the surface. Much more. Maka may seem like a smart bookworm, but she's strong, determined, and kind. (Though she does haveher moments, like the rest of us.) Soul seems like the cool, sort of unsociable type, but he's actually a really fun character and has a ton of soft spots. There are a ton more characters than that of course, but why don't you watch Soul Eater yourself? Anyway, they're really all enthralling, and all the side characters are fun, and the main ones are just amazing.
All in all, Soul Eater is something I could recommend to almost anyone. Again, it's a matter of taste (just like any other anime on the whole planet) but I think it's really worth your while. This was actually the fourth anime I ever watched, and at that time I deemed it the most unique. It really is a treat to watch.
