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 Soul Eater

Soul Eater is nothing if not bombastic. In Death City, Death Weapon Meister Academy, led by Lord Death himself (a surprisingly goofy and caring character), trains young weapon and wielder (aka meister) duos. The goal of the Academy is to create a "death scythe," a powerful weapon to fight against evil. The catch is that the weapons are not just items. They are human weapon hybrids. The two primary protagonists are the demon scythe Soul Eater Evans and his meister Maka Albarn. Maka is straight-laced while Soul is concerned primarily with coolness. Despite these differences, they make a strong duo and eventually come to take on the threat of overwhelming madness that has the potential to consume their world. If this sounds over the top, it is because it is. The show pulls no punches and never takes itself too seriously even if it does broach serious topics. It is incredibly enjoyable even with its flaws.

As I watched this show when I was younger, it introduced me to some cultural fixtures of Japan that were then unknown to me. The character Lord Death is also called Shinigami, and his position as a guide for the students reflects the role of shinigami in Japanese mythology as helpers and monsters. The heavy use of torii gate imagery is also used in the show to depict when the characters are entering divine spaces and facing powers beyond their comprehension. These two simple things sparked my interest in Shintoism and led me to a deeper understanding of one of Japan's major religions and cultural facets.