Virgin Soul is such a delicately well-crafted work that even its opening and ending themes wrap up the main themes of the story and portray them perfectly, as they consider the defining traits of Nina and Charioce, the main characters.
The sequences reflect everything that must be inferred and understood about the main characters while analyzing the episodes closely. For example, the only way to understand Charioce is through the symbols that surround him and his actions when he listens to what others have to tell him or when something related to Nina is at stake. He's a complex character with very definite theatrical aspects.
Among his many characteristics, Charioce is a hunter. His actions change when the Rag Demon is mentioned or when he faces an adversary worthy of being his opponent.
In the same branch, although Nina is a very expressive character and easy to understand and connect with, the only way to understand her emotional dilemmas is by paying attention to the things she does when she's in pain and feeling sad, things explained in detail in the analyses.
The following is an analysis of each of the opening and ending sequences, explained in detail, taking into account the visuals and lyrics of the songs, which are linked exclusively inspired by Charioce and Nina.
FIRST OPENING
- Title: LET iT END
- Artist: SiM
- Lyrics: MAH
- Song inspired by: Charioce
- Theme: Hunting
- Cross-cutting elements: Confrontation and heartbeats
- Characters in the sequence: Charioce, Nina, Azazel and Kaisar
- Composition: Nina is in the middle of the confrontation while Charioce, Kaisar, and Azazel fight. She doesn't belong to any side, but she gets involved in the battle in three different ways: the first, when she transforms into the Red Dragon; the second, when she sees that Azazel is in trouble and worries for his life; and the third when her heart doesn't stop beating for Charioce.The colors that compose the opening are red, black, and white, the colors that define a battle royale. It gives the idea that Charioce and Azazel are fighting for Nina.The opening illustrates, from beginning to end, a game of provocation and response in which Charioce is the ultimate winner because he's an innate hunter.
Why you're always talking like
“let it end, let it end, it's the only way to defend yourself”
but it looks to me like
you're gonna pretend that you're godsend
Don't speak my name, you're my gasoline
Don't speak, play the game, don't be so obscene
I see a red laserpoint in the middle of your chest
go get a bulletproof vest
You'll always be impressed only with yourself
“When I come around, it will be found
like a flash, without a sound
when I come around, it will be found
turn your lights down low”
“Let it end, let it end, let it end
let it end, let it end, let it end
Before it takes you over from the inside out
you should kill the pain
Let it end, let it end, let it end”
It's already ended
Don't speak my name, this is the source of pain
Don't speak, play the game again and again
I don't need you to understand
It's like you can never change your motherland
“Let it end, let it end, let it end
Let it end, let it end, let it end
Before it takes you over from the inside out
you should kill the pain
let it end, let it end, let it end”
Shut up, say nothing at all
“When I come around, it will be found
like a flash, without the sounds
When I come around, it will be found
turn your lights down low”
“Let it end, let it end, let it end
let it end, let it end, let it end
Before it takes you over from the inside out
you should kill the pain
Let it end, let it end, let it end”
It's already ended
Analysis: The first opening is inspired by Charioce, who has a keen hunting instinct, a trait strongly highlighted throughout the story, especially in episodes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
The opening mainly focuses on him and Azazel, with the latter provoking him and leading to a hunting game involving the Red Dragon — Nina— in their encounter.
Charioce has already won the battle even before it begins and addresses his enemy by asking him why he always asks him not to keep attacking him and acting like some saint who never provoked.
If someone utters his name to fight, he won't hesitate to respond. It's part of his hunting instinct and honor. Challenges are his great motivation and his gasoline. If someone backs down from his provocation, Charioce will consider that behavior indignifying because when called to fight, the right thing to do is to stand firm in the battle until the end and not give up halfway.
Charioce sees the weakness of those who challenge him immediately. He sees "the red laser point" of the weapon with which he aims at prey and warns his enemies that they better put on a bulletproof vest because, before him, they are defenseless. He has already beaten them because he has caught them off guard from the moment he sets his eyes on them, and that should be enough reason for them to be impressed by their own vulnerability.
His prey has no chance of escaping him. Charioce finds them before they even know he has hunted them. His targets are showy, and he, discreet and silent, the perfect predator. He advises his prey to be more careful and leave fewer traces to guide him to find them easily because they're as visible as a flash.
For Charioce, it's better for his prey to cede to the confrontation and death by fighting than to deal with the suffering of being a loser and live with it. He wants an opponent who will accept defeat with dignity once losing to him, but one who will fight to the end.
Once Charioce is provoked, he won't back down. Just speaking his name in battle is enough to get the game started. For him, it's all about the hunt, a game in which he always wins. He cannot change that aspect in him since it's his nature. That's why he defines it as an impossibility to change his motherland.
Furthermore, he doesn't want the prey to tell him what to do or beg him to end their suffering by taking their lives. Charioce just wants an opponent who is up to his standards, so he tells them to shut up and not say anything to him.
Interestingly, in the animation, Charioce smiles and enjoys the challenge. And when it looks like he's been cornered and all is lost, he comes out undefeated just the same, smiling to the end.
Another element to note is that Nina's heart beats while he and Azazel fight, giving its last beats once Charioce's eye is focused, highlighting Nina's excitement at seeing him and the one he feels at being challenged and because of the Red Dragon.
Not to be left out either, Kaisar is part of the animation. Kaisar tries to stop Azazel before Charioce is the one to finish him off. He intervenes because he's the king's shield and the one who believes in peace between species, a belief he defends until the last episode.
FIRST ENDING
- Title: Haikei Goodbye Sayonara (拝啓グッバイさようなら)
- Artist: DAOKO (だをこ)
- Lyrics: Tabo Koichi, Taku Ionue and DAOKO
- Song inspired by: Nina
- Theme: Changes
- Cross-cutting elements: Happiness (bananas and apples) and love.
- Characters in the sequence: Nina, Hamsa, Rocky, Piyo-Piyo, Favaro, Azazel, Sofiel, Rita, Bacchus, Hipogriff, Mugaro, Kaisar, and Chris/Charioce.
- Composition: Nina starts the game in the Dragonfolk Village and heads towards the royal capital of Anatae.
On her way, she hunts for small bounties and bumps into the characters she meets as she spends more time in the capital.
The sequence is rich in color and very friendly. Nina greets her friends and blushes when she sees Kaisar and Chris/Charioce, transforming into the Red Dragon when she sees the latter because he's the one who steals her heart.
As she transforms upon seeing him, she loses the game because she has lost control over her body.
大丈夫大丈夫
いつもの呪文唱えて
大渋滞大渋滞
言葉と心が正反対
デフォルト
絵の具の端から端まで
混ぜ合わせたカラー
のボクだから
壊れそうで
壊れやしない
溢れそうで
溢れもしない
半端モンのボクだから
大したものにはなれないや
おまじない ただのおまじない
助けてくれるなんておおまちがい
おまじない ただのおまじない
縋っていたんだ
今日でおわりにしよう
なんとなく生きてきた昨日まで
今日でおわりにしよう
なんとなく吸う息の根を止めて
拝啓グッバイさようなら
昨日のボクは殺した
拝啓 グッバイさようなら
あたらしい朝がくる
ボクのために
大丈夫大丈夫
間違ってないはずだけど
大問題大問題
何がふつうがわかんない
無感動 不感症
飽きたらポイされ
吐き溜まりの街で
生きなくちゃ
幸せは
前借りなんだ
散らかって
いたとしても
とりとめないのがボクだから
誰かのようにはなれないや
おまじない ただのおまじない
救ってくれるなんておおまちがい
おまじない ただのおまじない
願っていたんだ
今日でおわりにしよう
なんとなく生きてきた昨日まで
今日でおわりにしよう
なんとなく吸う息の根を止めて
今日でおわりにしよう
なんとなく生きてきた昨日まで
今日でおわりにしよう
なんとなく吐く息の根を止めて
拝啓グッバイさようなら
昨日のボクは殺した
拝啓 グッバイさようなら
あたらしい朝がくる
拝啓グッバイさようなら
昨日のボクは彼方へ
拝啓 グッバイさようなら
あたらしい朝とボク
ここにいるよ
Analysis: Nina's song is inspired by her always telling herself and others that she's fine when she's not always so, so she'll stop pretending. She'll leave that self-talk in the past and live honestly according to how she truly feels.
Her words arise from her great optimism. Nina always writes letters to her mom to tell her she's doing well and getting by in the city. However, she hides her suffering and sorrow from her mother so that she doesn't worry.
In the same way, Nina always appears happy in front of everyone so as not to be a burden, which leads her to accumulate so many emotions that it's as if the bright colors that define her end mixing to form a messy one.
Every time she lies to herself, something is soon to break inside her, so she must end up hurting herself that way.
Her magic words "I'm fine" only cause a contradiction in her heart, which asks her to be more honest with herself and that she's not unbreakable.
Nina understands that she doesn't have to keep living that way and that letting her emotions flow will lead her to be a new person, so she "kills" her dear past self to give life to her new self.
This song relates, in particular, to Nina from episode 8 onwards, when she's taken prisoner, and especially episode 11. Nina pretends to be okay when she learns that Chris is Charioce, but she isn't. There's a dilemma in her heart, and she can't stop thinking about him, something especially highlighted in episode 14.
Then, there's another Nina to highlight, the one in episodes 16, 19, 20, and 21, a Nina who can no longer fool herself and must accept that she has to let out those emotions that eat her up inside. Her heart breaks, and her friend Mugaro dies, causing her great sadness that she lets out when she can't take it anymore.
SECOND OPENING
- Title: Walk This Way
- Artist: THE BEAT GARDEN
- Lyrics: U
- Composers: WolfJunk・U.M.E.D.Y.
- Song inspired by: Charioce
- Theme: Destiny
- Cross-cutting elements: Confrontation and acceptance of destiny.
- Characters in the sequence: Nina, Charioce, Nina's dad, Favaro, Kaisar, El/Mugaro, Jeanne D'Arc, Sofiel, Azazel, Lucifer, Rita, Rocky, Dias, Alessand, Bacchus, and Hamsa.
- Composition: Nina and Charioce have a special focus, as well as the flames and the sword, both elements that respectively represent them. This opening focuses on the confrontation of gods and demons against humans and also on camaraderie. Most important, however, are the feelings of Charioce, Nina, and Rita. Charioce for being the one who suffers for having harmed Nina, Nina for being the one who has to change the fate of her beloved, and Rita, who suffers in the rain because Kaisar eventually dies shielding Charioce.
Nina runs against the clock without stopping in the middle of the confrontation in the hope of reaching Charioce before it's too late.
They are the same
And lose themselves
Cuz there are lots of roads to go
気がつけば荒れていく道が
I wanna walk straight ahead
一つ夢をまた転ばせる
大抵はもう叶う前に壊れた
But walk this way
Get out of my way
Depends on the way you think it
諦めた心は映す
未来・希望・絶望・不安も同じに
覚悟したあの日の自分に
嘘をつく今の現実
蹴飛ばすくらいに
Go your way, don't you?
But walk this way
Get out of my way
But walk this way
Walk this way
There are the same
And lose themselves
Cuz there are lots of roads to go
足が竦んで止まりそうな現在
Even if the lights surrounding me
怖いって閉じた目は暗い
瞼の裏に理想の未来はない
But walk this way
Get out of my way
Depends on the way you think it
奮い立つ心は映す
願い・期待・失望・後悔も同じに
They don't realize (that) they can make it
夢みたいな事が起こるのは
夢の中だけじゃない
Believe in you
But walk this way
Get out of my way
But walk this way
Walk this way
Analysis: Charioce and Nina are equals, soul mates, and tend to get carried away, but their paths become increasingly difficult. Especially Charioce's, on whom the song focuses.
As Charioce gets closer to fulfilling his big goal, he loses things along the way, dreams that were born since he met Nina and wishes he could live.
Charioce regrets going down a path that takes him away from Nina, a path that no one should stand in the way of, a path he decided to go down before Nina gave his life a new meaning.
Depending on how he looks at it, things like hope and the future are the same as despair and insecurity for him. His decision to sacrifice himself by killing Bahamut will bring a hopeful world and a peaceful future for mankind. But at the same time, they fill him with despair and insecurity because he has had to do things he regrets and has not wanted to do, such as ordering to kill the Red Dragon against his will in episode 17 and breaking Nina's heart in episode 19.
Charioce has doubted his convictions since Nina came into his life and gave him a new meaning. He's at a turning point, as he can't take a step back even though he'd like to cross a different path. Because of this, everyone must get out of his way. No one can stop him because even he can't head towards another destination.
Then, the second part of the song shows the path he always walked was one that's described as being able to lead to a dream place. Shutting his eyes, he couldn't see it even though it was bright, but as he began to believe in himself, he realized that this path led him to a better place than he thought. It's a path where Nina forgives him and won't allow him to die. This path appears after he had believed that desires, expectations, disappointment, and regret all meant the same thing and nothing made sense anymore.
During the opening sequence, Nina and Charioce are shown as equals, side by side. In turn, they represent paths that are the same yet different but come together at one point to create an ideal one and the one that determines Charioce and Nina's union. Both with great determination and, at the same time, fight and suffer for their causes: Charioce for not being able to be with Nina and having to face and accept his fate, and Nina going against all odds to save Charioce from death.
Charioce sheds tears in the sequence because not only does he break Nina's heart, but he comes to think that she has died because of him, and he cannot forgive himself for what he did.
SECOND ENDING
- Title: Cinderella Step
- Artist: DAOKO (だをこ)
- Lyrics: DAOKO (だをこ)
- Song inspired by: Nina
- Theme: Love
- Cross-cutting elements: Fairytale love (Cinderella)
- Characters in the sequence: Nina, Charioce, Kaisar, Favaro, El/Mugaro, Azazel, Bacchus, Hamsa, Rocky, and Rita.
- Composition: The second ending is inspired by Cinderella.
Nina dreams of going to the ball at the royal palace, but she can't because she's a commoner who, moreover, transforms into the Red Dragon as soon as she sees a handsome man.
To make her dream come true, Nina offers prayers to the gods for help. In response, a fairy godmother appears and grants her wish, turning her into a princess and casting a spell on her so that she won't turn into a dragon until twelve o'clock. Plus, so that Nina can get to the palace, the godmother turns a pumpkin into a UFO.
Nina makes it to the ball and ends up dancing with King Charioce XVII, with whom she has immediate chemistry. They dance and enjoy the party, but time passes, and suddenly it's midnight, and Nina turns into the Red Dragon. Charioce triggers her transformation, and she can do nothing to stop it, as the spell that was helping her has been broken.
Nina flies out of the palace in tears, leaving behind one of her glass slippers which Charioce picks up.
Charioce eventually finds Nina and tells her that everything is fine and that he has her slipper.
Nina is embarrassed, but Charioce doesn't care that she's a dragon because, as pointed out in the analyses, Charioce is attracted to her dragon form as well since he has dragon ancestry as well.
Charioce and Nina end-up spending the night together on the moon, as they're in love (read reference in the analysis of episode 17).
Shararanla Shararanla…
yeah
Shararanla Shararanla…
Cinderella step
最低なきみのことを
どうしようもなく愛しているよ
待っていた間も
ずっとずっとずっと想ってた
泡沫のアベック 欠けている同士
ちょうどひとつになれた なれたよ
哀しみの果ての箱庭
ねぇ 心臓の声 聴こえる？
嗚呼「あの頃のように」だなんて
もう感じられないよ だけどさ
今しか想えない想えない想えない気持ちがある
きみと逃避行
行きたいの ダンシング
おとぎ話みたいだね
一度切りと言わないで ダーリン
わたしも同じ方舟で
Shararanla Shararanla…
yeah
Shararanla Shararanla…
Cinderella step
最低なきみの嘘を
根拠もなく信じていたよ
門限は午前0時
平気 平気 帰れるよ
ひどい世界も愛せるように
きみというひと好きになったよ
仕舞い込んでた色が咲いては
きれいで泣けてくる
過去にしたくなんかないよ
あの日あの時鳴ってた鼓動は
まさに今も美しいままで
いつでも思い出せるんだ
「あの頃のふたり」だなんて
戻れないことはわかってる
今なら飾らない飾らない飾らない形となる
きみと逃避行
逃げたいよ ダンシング
透明共犯者でしょう
秘密にしよう いつまでも ダーリン
わたしは多く望まない
きみと逃避行
連れてって ダンシング
おとぎ話みたいにね
一緒にいよう いれるだけ ダーリン
ハッピーエンドふたりなら
きみと逃避行
行きたいの ダンシング
おとぎ話みたいだね
一度きりと言わないで ダーリン
わたしも同じ方舟で
Shararanla Shararanla…
yeah
Shararanla Shararanla…
Cinderella step
Analysis: This song describes how Nina and Charioce feel when dancing, and how they felt before and after the ball at the royal palace in episode 19.
Nina loves Charioce, even though he's a terrible man who breaks her heart right after the waltz. At that moment, Charioce tells her that they can never dance again because he doesn't want to tell her that it's because he's dying and his life will end once he kills Bahamut. He'd rather lie to her and tell her that his promises of love were an illusion rather than the sad truth.
Nina wants to dance with him again and doesn't understand why he's so cold to her when they both know they were born to dance with each other. She wants to be with him, to feel what he feels when they dance, and lose herself in the feeling of being in love.
Nina describes everything as if it had been a spell that ends at midnight. Everything was beautiful until that moment. Charioce is the king and Nina is his queen. She's the only woman in the world with whom he is himself and dances. But now that their hearts have been broken, they'll never be the same again as they were before midnight. Still, whatever happened, they'll always feel the same as long as they dance again. There's a happy ending waiting for them because they are soul mates who truly love each other.
This ending combines elements from episode 3 and episode 19. Nina flies in a UFO to Charioce's palace.
The title of the third episode alludes to Spielberg's movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And, just as the protagonist's life changes forever after seeing a UFO, Nina and Charioce's lives are completely changed when they meet.
In episode 19, Nina goes to the royal palace and dances with Charioce, a happy moment for both of them, and the point at which the magic they had been living fades once they go to the balcony and Charioce breaks his beloved's heart.
The merging of events with those of Cinderella results in a version in which Charioce doesn't mind Nina turning into the Red Dragon at midnight. On the contrary, he follows her to return her glass slipper and ends up spending the night with her in his dragon form, a form that Charioce is also attracted to. He loves Nina no matter her form, even if it causes her embarrassment that he sees her transformed into the Red Dragon as she flies out of the palace once the spell that kept her in human form ends.
Charioce flies with her to the moon, and they stay there until Nina returns to her human form to fit him with the slipper she left in the palace.
Nina wears a yellow dress in this ending and not blue as in episode 19. This is an important detail as yellow symbolizes happiness and not sacrifice as blue in Virgin Soul's universe.
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