From the moment you hear the first strains of Soul Eater’s opening theme song, “Resonance,” you know you are in for something special. FUNimation’s release of the first thirteen episodes of the fifty-two episode series from BONES expertly mixes kinetic fight scenes with a wonderful sense of comedic timing and solid character drama.  Top all that off with a slick animation style and a fantastic soundtrack, and the show quickly becomes a real a treat for anime fans looking for something new and exciting.

The series begins with a three-episode prologue that introduces the three main characters and their partners.  Each of these characters are students at the DWMA, a school that trains folk to hunt “kishin” and consume their corrupted souls in an effort to eventually become what beings known as “Death Scythes”.  All this really means is that they work for the Grim Reaper and are really, really good at killing really powerful bad guys.  The bad guys, in this case, being humans who have become monstrous beings capable of devouring the souls of others.  If left unchecked, these creatures have the potential to become dark gods which means it is up the students of the DWMA to stop them.   

Of the seven major characters in the series, the two that the story follows most often are Maka and Soul.  Their relationship as a “meister” and “weapon” duo forms the primary core of the show with most major events being told from their point of view.  Once the show gets past the first three prologue episodes, the overall storyline begins to emerge and is continuously enhanced with new supporting characters and villains constantly being layered on to create an ever-expanding array of side stories and subplots. 

Overall, the show is very involving with only a few filler episodes showing up to interrupt the progression of the main storyline with the worst example being the first Excalibur episode.  Although that particular episode is so far off the beaten path as to have practically no relation at all to the rest of the series, at least it was pretty funny.    Despite the occasional less-than-stellar filler episode, the worst thing I can say about Soul Eater: Part One is that it’s not on Blu-ray yet (dammit!).  Although the DVD transfer is fairly solid throughout, with a fantastic anime like this, Blu-ray would just make this show even more epic than it already is.

Bottom line:

Soul Eater: Part One is a fantastic investment if you enjoyed FLCL, Fullmetal Alchemist or similar shows along those lines.  With its perfect blend of high-octane action mixed with deep personal drama and solid comedic timing, Soul Eater just keeps getting better every time I watch it.  I highly recommended you give this anime series a try.  I am certain you will be hooked before you know it.

Final score: 5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by:  Laughncat 1

Description:  Soul Eater: Part One – Episodes 1-13 (released by FUNimation)

Purchase:  Amazon / Right Stuf

I’m in your house, stealing your dango.

Much like the Dining Set (Set A) I reviewed a several weeks ago; this Guestroom Set (Set B) is another example of stellar artisanship from Phat! Company.   If anything, the Guestroom Set is even more intricate than the Dining Set due to the inclusion of shelves for displaying items and a revolving wall panel that can flip back and forth to display different writing on each side.  With numerous accessories and lots of display options, the Guestroom Set is more about customizing the setting you’re looking for rather than just filling in empty spaces.

If you are a fan of the ZOIDS series, there’s a lot to love about Kaiyodo’s Blade Liger release.  Sporting an insane amount of detail and a huge number of joints for maximum poseability, the Blade Liger is a collector’s dream come true.  Sadly, that dream also comes with a steeper than usual price tag attached.

Do you enjoy playing with your toys? Have you ever wished you had a place where you could pose your horde of Nendoroids in a variety of different situations using items scaled down to their size? If so, Phat! has you covered with their line of Nendoroid Playsets. My newest acquisition, the Japanese Life themed dining set, is the perfect item for anyone who has ever wanted to play house with their toys, but didn’t want to be seen in the dollhouse section of their local Hobby Lobby.

As a kid growing up on the Navajo Reservation, I watched a lot of westerns. My grandpa absolutely LOVED ‘em, much to my grandmother’s dismay most of the time, and I clearly remember many a night spent watching such classics as The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly as well as lesser know fare like A Town Called Hell. Strong and rugged, the heroes in these old movies were often times as hard as the iron in their guns and as harsh as the relentless sun burning down on them.

With the release of Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar San Diego has written a love letter to this ygone era that attempts to capture the romance surrounding this chaotic time in American history. At the heart of this endeavor is John Marston, a character that perfectly melds such iconically rough-hewn cinematic heroes like Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and Charles Bronson. Masterfully voiced by Rob Wiethoff, it’s John Marston’s story: his goals, his beliefs, his desires, and his journey that makes Red Dead Redemption such a memorable and compelling experience.