Soul Eater is a popular anime and manga series that follows the exploits of Death Weapon Meister Academy students as they fight evil spirits and witches to maintain the balance of the world. Franken Stein, a gifted and quirky scientist who is also a talented meister, is one of the show’s most memorable characters. Stein is renowned for his calm demeanour, keen intellect, and signature weapon—a sizable screw that he can manipulate using his soul wavelength.
I delve into Stein’s physical appearance, personality, backstory, and relationships with other characters. From his signature glasses and black-and-white hair to his penchant for dissecting living creatures, there’s a lot to unpack with Franken Stein in this character break down.
- Full Name: Franken Stein
- Height: 190 cm
- Age: 30
- Anime: Soul Eater
- Features in episodes: All 51
Looks
Franken Stein is a tall and slender man and weighs around 68kg. He has short black hair. His eyes are dark and he has distinctive stitches that run down the sides of his head. His white hair is spiky and styled in a haphazard manner with a giant screw on his head that seems to go through the side of his head. His eyes are a bright green and often shown as crazed or maniacal. He is usually seen wearing a long white lab coat with a black undershirt. He pairs this with black pants, black boots, and a black belt with a silver buckle. His clothes have giant stitches on them that match with the scar on his face and the scars over the rest of his body. His clothing hides his lean muscular build.
Personality
Franken Stein is an intelligent and skilled weapons meister, with a strong sense of justice and loyalty. He is analytical, curious, and innovative, with a passion for science and experimentation. He struggles with mental instability, including OCD and schizophrenia. This can cause him to become erratic and unpredictable. While he is logical and detached at times, he does have a softer side.
He struggles to maintain stable relationships and can become distant from others as a result. He has a close working relationship with Spirit Albarn, whom he (one-sided) considers to be his best friend. He also forms a strong bond with his student (and Spirit’s daughter), Maka Albarn. Despite his cold demeanour, Stein shows genuine concern for his students’ well-being and goes to great lengths to protect them from danger. However, his obsession with his research and his lack of empathy for others can cause him to become indifferent towards their suffering. So as long as they are alive, great, but otherwise, meh, he is not too concerned.
He values order and structure, which is reflected in his approach to combat and his profession as a scientist. He is driven by his insatiable curiosity for knowledge, particularly in the field of science and the human soul. He is fascinated by the concept of madness and spends much of his time experimenting with ways to dissect, study and manipulate it. He constantly pushes the boundaries of his knowledge, regardless of the ethical implications.
He really struggles with his internal conflict between his thirst for knowledge and his moral conscience. This leaves him to question his own actions and the consequences they have on those around him.
Franken Stein’s Strengths & Weaknesses
Franken Stein, is a skilled meister who possesses several strengths. His most notable strength is his exceptional intelligence and the way in which he uses it. He is also incredibly skilled in close combat and has impressive physical abilities such as his strength and agility.
He also has some weaknesses that affect him in battle. One of his most significant weaknesses is his mental instability. This stems from his obsession with his desire to learn and understand. Which unfortunately means dissecting and experimenting with living beings – whether they consent, or not. This can lead him to become unpredictable and often uncontrollable. This makes him a liability for his comrades. Additionally, his mental state is somewhat fragile due to his past experiences, and he can become distracted or overwhelmed by his traumatic memories, affecting his performance in battle.
His role and backstory in Soul Eater
Soul Eater examined Franken Stein’s past, showing that he had started off as a talented surgeon who was an expert on the subject of anatomy. Yet, he developed an obsession with the idea of death and started doing experiments on living people to learn more about it. He became insane due to his fascination with dying and was ultimately expelled from the medical profession.
He eventually enrolled in the Death Weapon Meister School and graduated as a meister. During psychiatric testing, it was determined that he was highly susceptible to madness. A risk in the meister profession. Despite this, he persisted in working as a meister and teacher, demonstrating his commitment to the trade despite his battles with his inner demons.
He plays a critical role in the story as a teacher and ally to the main characters, Maka Albarn, Soul Evans, Black☆Star, Tsubaki Nakatsukasa and Death the Kid. He provides important insight throughout the series, and his knowledge of madness and science proves invaluable in their battles. His own struggle with madness also serves to explore the themes of the series that cover the nature of insanity, morality, and the human psyche.
He is voiced by:
- Takahiro Sakurai in the original Japanese (subbed) version
- Chuck Huber in the English (dubbed) version
Quote by Frankenstein
The quote, “That’s the thing about madness, it never goes away.” is said by Franken Stein in episode 18 of the anime and in chapter 20 of the manga. This particular quote is a reflection of Franken Stein’s own experiences and struggles with mental instability. As a character, Stein is often portrayed as someone who has a deep understanding of madness, both in himself and in others. He recognises the power and potential danger of madness, and this quote suggests he believes it is something that can never truly be conquered or overcome.
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