Movies / Animé and Toons

Blue Exorcist Volume 1


By Chris Zimmerman
October 14, 2011 - 07:37

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When a series bases its topic with the occult, typically it tends to focus on the more horrific aspects of the genre. While Blue Exorcist is also guilty of this at times, its roots are steeped in the shonen genre, packing in humor and action to offshoot the more disturbing aspects associated with demonic possession and Satan.

Blue Exorcist follows the story of Rin Okumura, a troubled teen who always seems to find himself in a spot of trouble. He slacks off at school and is constantly getting into fights. To top it off, Rin has a difficult time holding on to a job. On the opposite end of the spectrum is his twin brother Yukio. He studies diligently, is well behaved, and is successful at everything. Both are raised in a church by Father Fujimoto, a world class exorcist and the only man capable of holding off Satan himself.

One day when the church is attacked, Rin finds himself engulfed in blue flames. The attack takes its toll on the brothers, costing Father Fujimoto his life and revealing Rin’s true lineage as the son of Satan. To avoid him becoming an enemy to the world, Father Fujimoto’s friend and fellow exorcist Mephisto Pheles enrolls Rin in True Cross Academy to train him to become an exorcist with his teacher being none other than Yukio. While at the academy, Rin is forced to keep his powers to his self, trying to fit in among the other students who all have their own reasons for wanting to become exorcists.

Based on a manga of the same name, the series is quick to exhibit its shonen roots. Rin is the picture perfect example of a shonen hero, being brash and quick to fight; however as the series progresses, his motivations reflect a greater desire to protect the people he loves. Fujimoto’s death weighs heavily on him even though he doesn’t always show it. No matter how goofy his antics might appear, his personality continues to mature in the face of the challenges he faces, drawing influence from the lessons Fujimoto taught him.

Likewise, the episodic pacing of the series sticks to the mold of shonen anime. Each episode introduces a new character and establishes a conflict between them and Rin before expanding on their back story and having them join forces to exorcise demons. Hints of an overarching plot are sprinkled throughout the episodes, with allusions made to Mephisto sharing connections to both Satan and Rin.

Slick animation courtesy of A-1 Pictures makes the series easy on the eyes. The settings influenced by European architecture are technical wonders, using muted colors that lighten in conjunction with Rin’s brightening personality. The action scenes are a fast paced mix of mismatched CGI and flashy moves that ring true to the genre.

Aniplex manages to cram 7 episodes on the disc and a decent smattering of bonus features. There are the usual smattering of trailers and textless openings and closings, coupled with a collection of humorous shorts that run around a minute apiece. Also included is a double sided poster. The release contains only the Japanese soundtrack, which is a shame given Aniplex’s stellar dub of Durarara!!

Blue Exorcist doesn’t break the mold, rather it looks to follow the shonen formula right down to the earliest established tropes. Despite this though, the series is a blast. Even though it’s formulaic and has almost no originality to call its own, the premise is interesting and the characters are fun to watch. Even though the episodes here function mainly to establish the cast, there are brief glimpse of a broader storyline waiting in the wings that will entice viewers back.

B+


Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12

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