Soul Taker

[daliinn]

I saw a couple episodes of this anime on tech tv last summer. I thuoght the animation was great but there was one problem, i didn't know what the hell was going on. If anyone has seen this could they clue me in to what its about? Or maybe just some thuoghts on the show itself

[Princess_of_Hell]

"Nurse-Witch" Komugi-chan is in it.

[oDin01]

i didn't know what the hell was going on.
Join the rest of us. The show was great on the eye candy the rest of the show has a lot to be desired. Komugi is the highlight of the show that's the only thing you need to know.

[Aaron_b]

"Kyosuke's normal life shatters with the knife's sharp entry into his heart. Why did mom do it? As he recovers, his body reveals a dangerous secret proving his past is a lie! Kyosuke searches for Runa, the sister he never knew, and the truth about his ability to transform into the powerful Soultaker! But, Kirihara Heavy Industries and mutants from the mysterious Hospital will prevent Kyosuke from learning anything with as much violence as possible!" --Geneon Ent. (http://www.geneonanimation.com/titles.php?series_id=27)

That's the official word... In any case, Soultaker started off a bit weird for myself, as I’m sure just like most others that have seen it, I was unaccustomed to the lighting and camera angles used in the animation. I found it a bit uninteresting and oftentimes bothersome during the first two episodes... but by the third episode I actually got used to the technique, and figured to "give it a try" anyway. With the series over, I was very used to the dark directorial approach Soultaker had used to expose its characters and the color of each one of their souls as well.

The series is actually quite good around the middle, whereas we have some very interesting characters with very undisclosed motives going about either hunting down someone or searching for someone. I liked Soultaker, excluding the ending though. Considering that the series is less than fifteen episodes in length one would think that the story would be tightly woven and quite compact, but the threads of plot continuity unravels significantly. Action sequences are rushed and the dialogue worsens as well. Even though the quality of the animation is rather unkown due to its uniqueness I think that it's a bit overshadowed by the dive this series too after episode eight or nine. For being an anime focusing on the darkness of a person's soul it softens up more than I would like. I'd say more, but it would easily turn into a rant...

[Evan]

I've watch it and it's has great visuals and sound
The op songs is nice too :rolleyes:
But I'm kinda ? in the story because the subbed was in spanish when I download it.....

[Tenkoy]

Definately a show that values style above substance. The art was unbelievably beautiful, but that's just it. The storyline just didn't seem to grip me. It was as if they tried to capture Lain's essence, but just failed terribly.

It didn't help how hillariously sad it was hearing Kyosuke yell out "SOOOUL CRUSSHER!!" Any thought provoking ideas would instantly be killed with such a badly funny line. Of course, I am thinking about the dub in this point.

[Strider_Lee]

I saw a couple episodes of this anime on tech tv last summer. I thuoght the animation was great but there was one problem, i didn't know what the hell was going on. If anyone has seen this could they clue me in to what its about? Or maybe just some thuoghts on the show itself

Main character: Kyosuke Date (aka, SoulTaker) gets stabbed and dies, but he is then somehow revived (receiving the mutation power of SoulTaker, something he did not expect nor want at first). He hears that he has a twin sister, Runa, from resonating with Maya(one of her multi-personas/personalities that takes a form of a unique human being with their own traits... a "Flicker") through telepathy.

Through out the story, there are three main groups; Kyosuke's group (Kyosuke with a guy Shiro Mibu), the Hospital Organization (that has most of the mutants which Kyosuke has to fight. They are a villain group... which later turns neutral), and the Kirihara Group (or the company who is basically controlling the world, one of the villain groups).

Kyosuke's group is basically out to find Runa and runs into all of her personas (the Flickers) along the way while trying to protect them as Kyosuke tries to find himself as well as info about his past, family, and the other groups. Kyosuke, as well as the Hospital Organization and the Kirihara Group, are out to search for Runa, but why???

Alright, here goes a long explaination. The reason everyone is searching for Runa is because... she is the Ultimate Mutant Alien. She is the only mutant who can breed a certain type of alien species, a lone male alien that looks a lot like Soultaker. If anyone remembers about the whole talk of the Beta Applicon, it was he that spreaded it around, which is why there are so many mutants around. What started the whole thing was that he was able to get to earth and give the an advanced form of the Beta Applicon to Kyosuke's grandfather, who in turn gave it to all of the people (including Vincent, Kyo's dad) that was on the colony he was stationed on (Kyosuke's home/birthplace). Daigo (Kyosuke's grandfather) in turn gave it to his daughter because she was on her death bed. In her lay Ryosuke and Runa, both receiving the Beta Applicon and thus becoming pure aliens/human hybrids (with the more dominant alien genes).

So, Runa in the female counter part of the alien species that was needed, but due to certain circumstances, she became the main head villain (the big turn-around plot-twister of the story). With the last male of the alien species holding out, he was able to produce a female counter part in order to preserve his species, but would in turn destroy mankind in order to start life anew on earth. Daigo learned of this, hence the separation of the twins to hide them from getting killed/examined by the Hospital Organization/Kirihara Group (they were once one group) by their mother in order to protect the children. Runa "died" in Tsubaki's hand (the twins' biological mother) so that she could protect Runa from the Hosptial/Kirihara group by activating her mutation, but Runa thought she was killed in cold blood for being a nusince. Instead of activating her mutation, she separated herself into a whole lotta different personas (making all those Flickers) in order to hide herself and come up with a scheme to kill off all the humans (she does not trust humans anymore because of her "alien" genetics telling her so, but mainly due to her misunderstanding of why her mother killed her). Her true self later found the last male alien and she killed him. She later set off a whole scenario in order to find a counterpart suitable for her (thinking of preserving/starting an alien species and not human)... Kyosuke (Runa: "Kyosuke is just like me, he's an alien as well, and I can love him because I can understand what he is because he's just like me." This is true, but Kyosuke is humane, whereas Runa is not).

So the whole time Kyosuke is searching for Runa, he was developing more into the male alien that Runa was trying to create in order to breed. Runa also caused the Hospital and Kirihara to separate from each other considering that she was now manipulating everyone (except Vincent and his loyal followers) by impersonating the once male alien and heavily manipulating Yui Kirihara (the Vice President of Kirihara Group).

So basically, Kyosuke is developing more into becoming the all powerful Soultaker by accepting his power while trying to stay humane. He does what he thinks is right in order to preserve his human side (by saving Runa and the Flickers and his friends along for the ride).

Well, I'm tired and I can't think of anymore to say right now. If there are any other questions, just ask. I understood the show for what it is, but it was still confusing the first time I watched.

[daliinn]

Considering that the series is less than fifteen episodes in length one would think that the story would be tightly woven and quite compact

was there only 15? i thuoght i saw more than that.

[DrWho2002]

The series is only 13 eps long. Now if you're counting Nurse Witch Komugi-chan as part of it, well, I guess that would make you think that.

[Kyuven]

Nurse Witch Komugi and Soul Taker have about as much to do with each other as the various Tenchi sagas.

anyway, the final choice presented to Kyosuke really tore at me
SHE threatened mankind with annihilation, SHE manipulated and killed Yui Kirihara, as well as the male alien (and who knows who else). They say her only crime was being born, but obviously they overlook murder and attempted genocide, as well as manipulation. Really, the final objective turned out to be "sealing" Runa within Kyosuke and recreating all the flickers. Of course, Shiro's line about Runa being "innocent" was complete BS.
It was visually a great show and had a lot going for it right before the last 2-3 episodes (much like Hellsing and NGE, which i saw around the same time) when it just got really stretched and/or just plain stupid

[Red-Winged Angel]

the beginning: i cant believe no one understood it....*sigh*
the middle: missed it... i say bits and peices of it
the end: never saw...wanted to...but couldnt..

[Zu Ra]

This show is critically acclaimed and at times considered an anime master peice . But for me it was a totall letdown I didnot like it one bit , too twisted to suit my reckoning . Though the art and animation is top notch indeed .

[shadowplay]

Soul Taker is amazing, but the story is definately not the main focus of the show (and well, why should it be). Though storyline is pretty simple and easy to follow once you get used to Akiyuki's direction/editing.
Also ST is in a way hommage to 70's shows like Devilman and Casshan (therefore all the cheesiness and camp stuff), aswell as modern day otaku/moe fetishes, basically it was never meant to be overly serious anime, it's only people's own fault if they're seeing it that way and get disappointed. As for it's art direction and direction overall there are still very few shows up to this day that can match up to ST.

[Zu Ra]

Also ST is in a way hommage to 70's shows like Devilman and Casshan

Not trying to flame here I am a big fan of Go Nagai watched almost all his anime Devil Man Violent jack and Mazzinger series . Devilman is korny not due to its plot but due to chracterisation of a super hero .

He has continued and repeatedly used these stereotypes for Superheroes like

- Damsel In Distress

- The Hero always using his truimp card only in the very end

- The villians having lil or no logic for his/her actions

Its korny coz its from 72 and well at that time it was a diffrent scenario regarding structure of general society . Leaving the Villians ( similarities) but they are one dimensional in ST . Actually the best villians I have come across are from Devil Man .

[Red-Winged Angel]

I agree with Shadowplay, tho because I just finished watching most of ST (I got my friend to finally lend it to me YES!) The show is more about the art then the story. I believe that the story is quite amusing... but I have to say that it is a bit twisted. Anyways in the end just look at it in a whole and I say that it is great. yet i need to finish the last few episodes...*sigh*

[Forbin]

I agree with Shadowplay, tho because I just finished watching most of ST (I got my friend to finally lend it to me YES!) The show is more about the art then the story. I believe that the story is quite amusing... but I have to say that it is a bit twisted. Anyways in the end just look at it in a whole and I say that it is great. yet i need to finish the last few episodes...*sigh*

Don't do it! It was a terrible ending.

[Yorae_paladin1]

Nurse Witch Komugi and Soul Taker have about as much to do with each other as the various Tenchi sagas.

anyway, the final choice presented to Kyosuke really tore at me
SHE threatened mankind with annihilation, SHE manipulated and killed Yui Kirihara, as well as the male alien (and who knows who else). They say her only crime was being born, but obviously they overlook murder and attempted genocide, as well as manipulation. Really, the final objective turned out to be "sealing" Runa within Kyosuke and recreating all the flickers. Of course, Shiro's line about Runa being "innocent" was complete BS.
It was visually a great show and had a lot going for it right before the last 2-3 episodes (much like Hellsing and NGE, which i saw around the same time) when it just got really stretched and/or just plain stupid

I agree runa got off easy. considering what she was going to do

yeah the line of runa being innocent was complete BS indeed. as well Kyosukes line of them being humans and his really dumb comparison of how humans and aliens are the same. Calling a diclonius from elfen lied human is actually pretty accurate to the point of being the truth since they were born from pure humans however calling kyosuke human or any of those mutants human is iffy considering inside them they have the genes of a completely different species and in runa and kyosuke those foreign genes are more dominant making them much less human than other mutants. Hope he meant it figuritively cause if he meant it literally he is dumb.

[Red-Winged Angel]

Don't do it! It was a terrible ending.

Really?...damn well why is it such a bad ending I mean what really happened b/c if none of you can tell me why it is so bad then i will have to watch them. I mean yeah, Runa isnt innocent but yet you have to think, she is more alien then human and also she is more of a child with a body of an adult. Her mind was molded by her mother killing her: so the child thinks that all humans are bad. She didnt understand why her mother did it while Kyosake was able to find out himself.


I agree runa got off easy. considering what she was going to do

yeah the line of runa being innocent was complete BS indeed. as well Kyosukes line of them being humans and his really dumb comparison of how humans and aliens are the same. Calling a diclonius from elfen lied human is actually pretty accurate to the point of being the truth since they were born from pure humans however calling kyosuke human or any of those mutants human is iffy considering inside them they have the genes of a completely different species and in runa and kyosuke those foreign genes are more dominant making them much less human than other mutants. Hope he meant it figuritively cause if he meant it literally he is dumb.

[Forbin]

Really?...damn well why is it such a bad ending I mean what really happened b/c if none of you can tell me why it is so bad then i will have to watch them. I mean yeah, Runa isnt innocent but yet you have to think, she is more alien then human and also she is more of a child with a body of an adult. Her mind was molded by her mother killing her: so the child thinks that all humans are bad. She didnt understand why her mother did it while Kyosake was able to find out himself.

Well it's the Lets Pull something out of our Ass completely unrelated to how the show was going for 20 episodes to finish it. It's like Watching Star Ocean and finding out Claude is really the bad guy.

[Red-Winged Angel]

Really....damn that must suck. Anyways: I think i will follow your advice *sigh* that sounds like it must be realy bad. I feel sorrow you that have seen it then but to be honest: I still love the series

[Forbin]

No worries....LOTS of animes have Pull out of the Ass endings but Soultaker's was so lame that it just wrecked the meaning of the earlier episodes.

BTW, don't watch the last episode of Ikki Tousen. :)

[Red-Winged Angel]

Thanks for the warning anyways: how did runa become adult anyways i know it had to do with the Soul Anubis...?