Blue Exorcist

Blue Exorcist
File:Ao no Exorcist.jpg The cover of Ao no Exorcist volume 1 as published by Shueisha
青の祓魔師 (Ao no Ekusoshisuto)
Genre	Action, Supernatural, Comedy
Manga
Written by	Kazue Katou
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	Viz Media
Magazine	Jump Square
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	April 2009 – present
Volumes	6
Anime television series
Directed by	Tensai Okamura
Produced by	Hiro Maruyama
Written by	Ryōta Yamaguchi
Music by	Hiroyuki Sawano
Studio	A-1 Pictures
Original network	TBS, MBS
Original run	April 17, 2011 – present
Episodes	19 (21 announced)

Blue Exorcist, also referred to as Ao no Exorcist (青の祓魔師（エクソシスト）, Ao no Ekusoshisuto), is a manga written and illustrated by Kazue Kato. The manga has been serialized in Jump Square magazine by Shueisha since April 2009, with individual chapters collected into six tankōbon volumes as of April 4, 2011. The one-shot of the manga was first featured in the September 2008 issue of Jump Square and was titled Miyamauguisu House Case (深山鶯邸事件, Miyamauguisu-tei Jiken). As of July 4, 2011, 26 chapters have been released in Japan.

Viz Media has licensed the manga for North American production, with the first volume released in April 5, 2011 and the fifth volume scheduled for release in December 6, 2011. Blue Exorcist has also been released in the Shonen Jump Advanced magazine starting April 5, 2011. The North American book distributor Simon & Schuster listed the first volume of Kazue Katō's Blue Exorcist manga for release by Viz Media this April 2011.

Plot

The story revolves arround Rin Okumura, a teenager posessing abnormal strength and endurance who was raised by Father Shiro Fujimoto along his younger twin brother Yukio. Soon after Yukio departs to study at the prestigious True Cross Academy, Rin learns that both he and his brother are sons of Satan, though Yukio did not inherit the demon blood. Witnessing Shiro dying to protect him, Rin ends up doing what his guardian asked him to never do, draw the demon-slaying blade Kurikara that restrains his demonic powers, from its scabbard. From that moment on, Rin not only gains permanent demonic features like fangs, pointed ears and a tail, but also the power to ignite himself into blue flames that can destroy anything it touches.

On Shiro's funeral, Rin has an encounter with Mephisto Pheles, who agrees to his wish to become an Exorcist like his guardian to take revenge on Satan. He enrolls at the True Cross Academy, which is actually the Japanese branch of an international organization dedicated to protect the human realm, Assiah, from demons and other creatures from the demon realm, Gehenna. Rin takes part on the special Exorcist course only known by a few and much to his surprise, he finds that his brother Yukio is already a veteran Exorcist and will be one of his teachers.

Characters

Main characters

Rin Okumura (奥村 燐, Okumura Rin)

Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto

The fifteen-year-old protagonist of the story, Rin is the son of Satan born from a human woman and is the inheritor of Satan's powers. His powers were sealed at birth into the demon-slaying blade Kurikara, or Koumaken, by Shiro Fujimoto, allowing him to live a normal human life for about 15 years. Rin became aware of his true identity after Kurikara could no longer seal the blue flames he inherited from Satan, setting off a chain of events that led to the death of his guardian, Father and Exorcist Fujimoto Shiro, at the hands of Satan, who attempted to drag Rin back to the demon realm. Exorcist Mephisto Pheles confronted Rin after Shiro's funeral with several exorcists, giving Rin the option to kill them all or die. Rin instead demanded to become an exorcist, an idea that amused Mephisto. Rin was then enrolled personally by Mephisto into the True Cross Academy Exorcist School, where he has since been pursuing his goal to become a Paladin and to defeat Satan. He is currently an Exwire and attempting to gain the title of Meister as a "Knight".

Rin can access the power he has inherited from Satan through drawing Kurikara. The sheath acts as a portal to Gehenna (the demon world) which, when the blade is drawn, returns Rin to his demon form. While in his human form, Rin exhibits a number of physical traits that are signs of his demonic nature, such as sharp canines, slightly pointed ears, and a black, fur-tufted tail (which he keeps hidden in his shirt). In his demon form, Rin has blue flames that float above his head, long elf-like ears, and glowing blue eyes. In both forms Rin can control incredibly destructive bright blue flames, the trademark sign of anything related to Satan. However, when he draws Kurikara, the magnitude of the flames dramatically increases and often leads to Rin being "consumed" by his own flames and losing his mind. Rin also has a Cat Sith, Kuro, who was initially Father Fujimoto's, as his familiar. Rin has been shown to have a talent for cooking, notably due to the fact that he had started cooking at a young age.

Yukio Okumura (奥村 雪男, Okumura Yukio)

Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama

Rin's younger twin brother. When it was discovered that the woman impregnated by Satan was going to have twins, it was believed that Satan's powers would be split between them. Due to the weakness of Yukio's body, however, he did not inherit any of Satan's powers, thus being born fully human with the full extent of Satan's powers going to Rin. Yukio did, however, receive a spirit wound at birth from his brother, which allowed him to be aware of demons for as long as he can remember. Yukio secretly trained to become an Exorcist from the age of seven in order to protect Rin (through the help of Fujimoto). While both Yukio and Rin are in their first year at True Cross Academy, Yukio is already an instructor at the Exorcist cram school teaching Anti-Demon Pharmacology to Rin's class.

It is often stated that Yukio is a genius, having already acquired the title "Meister" in both the Dragoon and Doctor class, while ordinarily most people would aim for Meister in only one class (both are still fully qualified exorcists). He is currently ranked a Middle First class exorcist. Even though he and Rin argue a lot, Yukio truly cares about his brother. Fearing Rin will be consumed by his demonic nature, Yukio often berates him for his impulsive actions and reckless attitude.

Mephisto Pheles (メフィスト・フェレス, Mefisuto Feresu)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya

Mephisto is the Chairman of True Cross Academy's Japanese branch. He is portrayed as a man with more money than sense but is very cheap when it comes to spending on others. After Fujimoto's death, he was ordered to kill Rin but instead accepted Rin's proposal of becoming an Exorcist and enrolled him into True Cross Academy. Mephisto is a powerful exorcist (holds a Meister in Honorary Knight, was able to subdue Amaimon while holding a berserk Rin off) and claims that he desires to "bring peace to both Assiah and Gehenna". Despite having served the True Cross for at least two centuries, elements of the Order still consider him suspicious.

It has been heavily implied that Mephisto is the son of Satan along with his brother, the Earth King, Amaimon and in episode 15, he referred to Rin as his little brother. He possesses the unique and peculiar ability of transforming into a small dog and conjure a giant cuckoo clock. He goes by the name Johann Faust the Fifth in public, a further pun on the play Faust.

Ryuji Suguro (勝呂 竜士, Suguro Ryūji)

Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai

Ryuji (nicknamed "Bon") is a stubborn and hot-tempered individual. Despite his delinquent appearance (blonde streak in his naturally black hair, piercings) and attitude, he is very hardworking and the best student in class. Ryuji is the heir to the Cursed Temple in Kyoto. Because of the destruction of the temple in the Blue Night and his anger towards his father Tatsuma Suguro, he swears he will defeat Satan (a goal he claims Rin stole from him) and rebuild his Temple. When Rin's identity was revealed, he refused to speak with him at all. After a confrontation with his father and Rin, Ryuji and his classmates helped Rin escape impending execution and he reconciled with him, claiming that he only blames Rin for not trusting his friends with his secret. Ryuji is currently an Exwire, and trying to achieve Meister in both Aria and Dragoon.

Shiemi Moriyama (杜山 しえみ, Moriyama Shiemi)

Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa

Shiemi is the daughter of the woman who runs an Exorcist-only shop. She is kind and has an abiding love of gardening, but often lacks confidence in herself. Before the series, Shiemi never went out of her home and tended to the garden with her grandmother. After her grandmother died, Rin and Yukio exorcised the demon that was leeching her life force and she decided to become an Exorcist.

Shiemi is close to Yukio and Rin, and on amicable terms with Ryuji, Konekomaru, and Renzo. She was devastated when she discovered Rin and Yukio hid that they were sons of Satan, taking it to mean that she was not trustworthy. However on the Kyoto mission, she reconciled with Rin when he was imprisoned and joined with his other friends to help him escape. She is also friends with Izumo despite how Izumo initially used her. Shiemi has the talent to become a Tamer and can summon a reliable Greenman spirit that can produce healing herbs and barriers. She is currently an Exwire.

Izumo Kamiki (神木 出雲, Kamiki Izumo)

Voiced by: Eri Kitamura

Izumo is easily one of the best students and she's aware of it. She has a tsundere attitude and is offensive towards everyone except Paku (her childhood friend, since she was the only one in her old school who would talk to her). Very prideful and often difficult to talk to, Izumo does care about her fellow Exwires and was the first of Rin's classmates to accept Rin after his identity as Satan's son was revealed. Izumo's reason for becoming an exorcist is still unknown, but connected to an incident that happened when she was a child. Izumo is attempting to achieve a Meister in Tamer, and can summon two Byakko (foxes) to fight for her.

Konekomaru Miwa (三輪 子猫丸, Miwa Konekomaru)

Voiced by: Yūki Kaji

Konekomaru is a timid but brilliant individual, able to come up with complex strategies in a short window of time. He is very loyal to Ryuji and Renzou, since they grew up together at the same Temple in Kyoto. He is kind to everyone and the last to reconcile with Rin after discovering Rin's identity as Satan's son, seeing Rin's true good intentions. He is an orphan and the surviving head of the Miwa family. He plans to achieve the Meister in Aria.

Renzo Shima (志摩 廉造, Shima Renzō)

Voiced by: Kōji Yusa

Renzo is a very carefree yet fearful character. He's very loyal to Bon and Konekomaru, since both grew up with him at the Cursed Temple in Kyoto. Renzo is the second of the cast who accepts Rin after discovering his identity, finding ignoring Rin to be troublesome. He is infatuated with Izumo, obsessed with women but afraid of bugs. His hair is naturally black, but he dyed it pink (to the chagrin of his father). Renzo carries a K'rik (Khakkhara) staff to fight like his two brothers and plans to achieve the Meister in Aria.

Shura Kirigakure (霧隠 シュラ, Kirigakure Shura)

Voiced by: Rina Satō

Kirigakure Shura is an Upper First Class Exorcist and Rin's mentor. She trained under the guidance of Fujimoto Shiro to obtain the title "Meister" in Knight and can draw a demon sword from a symbol above her chest when she states, "Devour the Seven Princesses, slay the Serpent". Her sword skills allow her to fight on par with upper level demons like Amaimon. Frequently chipper and obnoxious, Shura is carefree about her job, as she drinks alcohol in excess and oversleeps. She appears to harbor a dark past, as she claimed Shiro "came and rescued" her.

Disguised under a hood as Yamada, one of Rin's classmates, Shura revealed herself when Amaimon attacked Rin, saving Rin from Amaimon's attack before taking him into custody. A Senior Inspector, Shura had orders to investigate the Japanese Branch and eliminate anything she discovered related to Satan. She also held a grudge against Shiro (who asked her to teach Rin how to use Koumaken) for "casting her aside". Shura intended to dispose of "her master's mess", Rin, after verifying that Rin was Satan's son, but Rin convinced her he would become a Paladin and prove Shiro was right to let him live.

Shura decided to teach Rin how to control his powers in accordance with Shiro's wishes, leading to a bond akin to an older sister-younger brother relationship between them. Yukio and Shura are also familiar with each other since Shiro trained both of them. Shura nicknamed Yukio "scaredy cat four-eyes".

Minor Characters

Shiro Fujimoto (藤本 獅郎, Fujimoto Shirō)

Voiced by: Keiji Fujiwara

Shiro Fujimoto was a priest at the Southern Cross Monastery, a Paladin in the True Cross Order (the title awarded to the strongest exorcist), Shura Kirigakure's mentor, and Okumura Rin and Okumura Yukio's foster father. He was qualified as an Aria, Dragoon, Knight and Doctor, and had a cat sith familiar, which he called Kuro. Shiro was a man dedicated to his duties and was considered the strongest exorcist. He stole the demon-slaying sword Kurikara, or Koumaken, from the Cursed Temple in Kyoto under orders. Shiro and Mephisto ultimately used the sword to seal the demon heart of the son of Satan and Yuri Egin. Shiro then adopted Yuri Egin's children, Yukio (who did not inherit Satan's power) and Rin (full inheritor of Satan's powers).

Shiro was thought to be the only man in the world able to sustain possession by Satan himself and thus Satan was constantly after his body. He fought off Satan's attempts at possessing his body through sheer willpower, but after receiving a mental shock from Rin accusing him of "playing father" and not caring, Satan took over his body. After Satan summoned the Gehenna's Gate to retrieve Rin, Shiro regained control of his body temporarily and committed suicide in order to stop Satan.

Amaimon (アマイモン, Amaimon)

Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara

One of the Eight Demon Kings, "King of the Earth" and another son of Satan. Amaimon has vast control over the land, e.g. being able to create earthquakes. He is eccentric and hates being laughed at or ignored. Unlike his father and elder brother Mephisto Pheles, Amaimon initially had little interest in Rin, instead wishing to tour Japan upon arrival, but quickly became obsessed with his younger half-brother after fighting him. Amaimon mentioned he has a cousin who has an interest in the occult and even goes on to say that she would be happy if he brought her a human eye. His name is derived from the demon Amaymon.

Igor Neuhaus (イゴール・ネイガウス, Igōru Neigaus)

Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu

An Upper First Class Exorcist as well as lecturer in the Academy, who obtained the titles of Tamer, Doctor and Aria. He wears an eyepatch over his left eye, and has Aria incantations and magic circles tattooed on both arms. He had a run-in with Satan when he was younger, which robbed him of his family and the sight in his left eye, which is why he holds immense hatred for Satan and demons that are related to Satan. Yet ironically, he is extremely loyal to Mephisto, willing to listen to his every command, which is why he stopped his attacks on Rin prior to the latter becoming an Exorcist.

Arthur Auguste Angel (アーサー・オーギュスト・エンジェル, Āsā Ōgyusuto Enjeru)

Voiced by: Daisuke Ono

The newly appointed Paladin. He was ordered by the Grigori to interrogate Mephisto and captured Rin as evidence. Arthur is a respected exorcist with dubious ethics, as said by Shura to be like a saint on the outside but really a devil inside. He uses the sentient demon sword Caliburn. When speaking, Caliburn shows extreme affection towards him and talks like a love-struck teenage girl. His name is a reference to King Arthur and his sword Excalibur.

Media

Manga

See also: List of Blue Exorcist chapters

The chapters of the Blue Exorcist manga series are written and illustrated by Kazue Kato and have been serialized by Shueisha in the monthly manga magazine Jump Square since April 2009. As of July 2011, the serial chapters were collected into six tankōbon, with the first volume released on August 4, 2009, and the sixth volume released on April 4, 2011. As of July 4, 2011, 26 chapters have been released.

Viz Media has licensed the manga for the North American production. With the first volume released in April 5, 2011 and the fifth volume scheduled for release in December 6, 2011. Blue Exorcist has also been released in the Shonen Jump Advance magazine starting April 5, 2011.

The series is also licensed in France by Kazé Manga, with the first volume released on May 27, 2010.

Production

Inspired by a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Kato tried to work the angle of brothers fighting monsters into a story. She eventually decided on making the story about demons and exorcists, thus conceiving Blue Exorcist. Due to exorcists being the main idea of the story, the manga features a lot of biblical references. In an interview with Anime News Network, Kato said, "I should not run away from these references if I'm working in the Exorcist genre."

Anime

See also: List of Blue Exorcist episodes

An anime adaption for the manga was announced on November 27, 2010 on Shueisha's Jump Square official website. The anime will be produced by A-1 Pictures with Hitoshi Okamura as the producer. Originally the series was scheduled to air on April 10, 2011 on MBS, however due to the March 11 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami the series' broadcast was delayed until April 17, 2011.

Four pieces of theme music are used for the episodes: two opening themes and two ending themes. The opening theme for the first 12 episodes is "Core Pride" by Japanese rock band Uverworld, while the opening theme from episode 13 onwards is "In My World" by Japanese rock band ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D. The ending theme for the first 12 episodes is "Take Off" by South Korean boy band 2PM, while the ending theme from episode 13 onwards is "Wired Life" by Japanese singer Meisa Kuroki.

Aniplex announced they will simulcast the series in North America through video sites Hulu, Crunchyroll, and Anime News Network starting on April 20, 2011. Aniplex of America will release Blue Exorcist on DVD in four sets, starting by releasing the first DVD on October 18th 2011.

Reception

Leroy Douresseaux felt the first volume had potential, enjoying the comedy in the work and the characters and their interactions, recommending it to teen readers.

Arthur Schwartz also felt that the characters had a great development within a short time, and praised the series for taking such approach on exorcism, recommending it to readers of all ages.

External links

• Ao no Exorcist at Shueisha Template:Ja icon
• Official Website Template:Ja icon
• Official English Website Template:En icon
• Blue Exorcist (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Blue Exorcist (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia