Movies / Animé and Toons

Blue Exorcist Vol. 2

By Chris Zimmerman
April 1, 2012 - 22:42

The second collection of Blue Exorcist presents its own unique set of challenges, introducing new characters and conflicts that shake up the status quo, and gives young Rin new obstacles to overcome as he continues to prove himself an unlikely hero in the eyes of his teachers and peers.

The first couple episodes serve to conclude the group’s detention, delivering all the demonic intensity and frenzied battles expected of any good shonen series. Yet it’s the growth of the personalities and the increasing efforts of unity between the group that concerns this offering of episodes. The personalities of each character are thoroughly defined, making for one of the stronger casts in a shonen series. The intricacies and complexities that make each character unique help to differentiate Blue Exorcist from the rest of the pack. As a result, the shift in focus from character to character feels natural. When the show turns its attention from Rin to Izumo, there is a genuine interest in seeing the cast grow and gel together.

From there, the series moves into introductory mode, bringing in two new characters to fill in as supports for Rin. First up is Kuro the cat, a demonic entity that takes the form of a cat and was once a partner to Rin’s adopted father. The episode is a tear jerker, and stabs at the heart when the two mourn over their loss.

Next up, the disc closes on a two-parter in which Rin’s darker aspects are explored. What starts out as a standard mission turns into a chaotic battle, wherein Rin is forced into demon mode to combat one of Mephisto’s conspirators. The fight is a dazzling one, filled with loud explosions and seizure inducing lighting that sprawls across an entire theme park. It’s around this time that the newest addition to the cast makes her presence known in the form of Shura, the resident well endowed and ill attired gift to the fans. Her attitude is actually even more juvenile than the students she is brought in to teach, but her constant goading of Rin adds a fun new wrinkle to the group.

Aniplex releases the series in another chunk of episodes that has its share of ups and downs. The production of the disc itself is pleasant and a reversible cover in a clear see-through case. The on-disc extras are a nice smattering of comical episode previews, short comedy segments, and an unaired episode focusing on Kuro. A poster is also included, though it is folded, which may hinder some from hanging it on their walls.

Blue Exorcist continues to be a break from the standard shonen tale. While the action is the usual brilliance associated with the genre, the characters are disengaged from what a shonen support cast is typically defined as. Though these releases are slow and can be a bit pricey for the handful of episodes they include, Blue Exorcist is more than worth the price.

B+

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12