Atsushi Ohkubo is famously known for his work on Soul Eater, with the series becoming immensely popular among both anime and manga fans. His latest work, Fire Force, was also a massive success and has been highly regarded by fans.
However, this has inevitably led to both series being pitted against each other, with fans on both sides hotly debating which is better. Ultimately, both Soul Eater and Fire Force have striking similarities, but both of these works excel in different areas.
10 Soul Eater Impresses With Interesting Characters
This isn't to say that the characters in Fire Force are bad. In fact, there are many great characters in the Fire Force universe. However, when everyone is wearing the same firefighting uniforms, it can sometimes rob the character designs of individuality. Soul Eater is a lot smarter in this department, where both the characters and their looks are very distinct from one another. It's easy to tell at a glance who is who without even seeing a face, and in the case of Death the Kid, the attire can even be representative of their personality. Therefore, Soul Eater wins out in terms of having more interesting characters.
9 Fire Force Has A Complicated And Rich Plot
Both Fire Force and Soul Eater feature apocalyptic plots with entities that threaten to end the world, but Fire Force has a lot more nuance in this area. Soul Eater revolves around a single entity being awakened, while Fire Force concentrates on bringing together many different characters. It makes for a more engaging plot, because characters are sometimes unaware of their roles, and other times, don't cooperate. The simple idea that a collective of people has the power to bring forth a fiery catastrophe is way more fascinating than that of Soul Eater's sleeping giant.
8 Soul Eater Gets The Moment To Moment Story Beats Exactly Right
While the plot may be more gripping in Fire Force, the overall story and the individual story beats are executed better in Soul Eater. Because Fire Force juggles so many moving parts at the same time, the story can sometimes feel a bit messy, or even ambiguous. Soul Eater is simpler and certainly easier to follow, which gives it a slight advantage in this area. Of course, this is not to say that complicated stories are bad, but Soul Eater excels at this more linear format, while Fire Force can sometimes struggle to properly manage every story element that it attempts.
7 Fire Force Has Villains Who Are Far From Pushovers
Villains are way smarter in Fire Force, both in terms of intelligence and presence. Soul Eater mainly has the antagonists working from the shadows while they try to revive a supreme being.
In Fire Force, the villains are very proactive in their approach, often bringing the fight to the heroes. This makes them more compelling, and also more meaningful to the story. Of course, they still do hide in the shadows on occasion, but when they do come out to play, it always turns into a surprisingly close encounter.
6 Soul Eater Creates Strong Character Motivations For Audiences To Appreciate
Exploring a character's motivations can often be the most engaging part of a story. Strong motivations cause an audience to resonate with characters, and weak motivations are a huge detriment. Fire Force doesn't exactly sport strong motivations for its characters, with the main character Shinra in particular simply "wanting to become a hero." This is not particularly new for its readers or viewers, as it has been done plenty of times before. But in Soul Eater, goals are clearly defined and meaningful, often informed by a character's past. They feel both varied and original, and seeing these characters work their ways toward their respective goals is especially thrilling at times.
5 Fire Force Contains More Powerful And Dangerous Weapons
The writing in Fire Force allows for creative combat, showcasing many weapons that are featured in unique ways. Everything from pyrokinesis to flying metal fists is on display here, and all of the powers are a sight to behold. While the concept of people turning into weapons is pulled off well in Soul Eater, it doesn't really allow for much else. But when Fire Force features fights that involve cooling the natural expansion of the universe to slow down time, it becomes clear how much more thought was put into its battle systems and weapons. There are no limiters on the ways that characters choose to wield their weapons.
4 Soul Eater Has Many More Techniques To Master
While Fire Force relies heavily on individual mastery of various fire techniques, Soul Eater incorporates a buddy system that focuses on syncing souls together, which means that both meisters and weapons are required to evolve over the course of the story.
Not only are the techniques required for character growth, but they are also vital to the plot. This system demands more from the characters, and requires them to be skilled in implementing their special moves and techniques. Messing up in any context can cause severe damage to not only themselves but also their partners. In short, it means that there's more to gain and more to lose.
3 Fire Force Has Incredible Fights That Are Unrivaled
Make no mistake, the fights in Soul Eater are flashy and engaging. But the way the fights unfold and the way that they are portrayed is simply more refined in Fire Force. Ever since David Productions stepped up to the plate to animate this series, they've showcased just how much they can do with the fight scenes in this story, heightening the imaginative fights to another level. The crisp and smooth fight scenes carry a surprising yet satisfying weight behind them and are infinitely rewatchable. While the same might be said about Soul Eater, the moments of action both look and feel more polished in Fire Force.
2 Soul Eater Created Iconic Settings For Audiences To Enjoy
The stylized portrayal of Tokyo in Fire Force is neat, although not one that is particularly memorable. The fictional Death City in Soul Eater, however, feels extremely unique and iconic. Canonically located in Nevada of the USA, this town and the sheer exaggeration of buildings and structures, along with the dark and muted colors, gives off an eerie "Halloween Town" vibe that feels perfect. During the daytime, the town feels lived-in and bustling, and during the nighttime, it feels spooky and oppressive. This shifting of tone in a setting is not something that is seen often in anime or manga, but it works wonders for this story.
1 Fire Force Has Vastly Superior Set Pieces
This is something not many people would stop to consider, but the cast of both Fire Force and Soul Eater spend much of their time in a "main base of operations." In Soul Eater, the story is mainly confined to the Death Weapon Meister Academy, which has many enthralling quirks but can very easily become stale. After all, a school setting is something overdone to death in anime and manga. In Fire Force, the various fire stations spread throughout the world have a ton of personality, ranging from elaborate and luxurious cathedrals to humble Edo-inspired structures, and all of them are truly breathtaking in their own right.