Blue Exorcist, also known by its Japanese name Ao no Exorcist, is a new 25 episode anime based off the manga of the same name. Blue Exorcist is directed by Tensai Okamura (Evangelion, Soul Eater) and produced by A-1 Pictures.
Due to the fact the manga has been out for several years this review will contain mild spoilers.
Synopsis
Episode one starts with brief sequence of Vatican priests getting picked off by demons, who ignite into a fierce blue flame. It then cuts to the series' main character, Rin, finishing a street fight against a light haired boy and two of his friends. Later in the episode it is revealed that the light haired boy, a spoiled rich kid, was shooting pigeons with a crossbow before Rin intervened.
Rin
After this event we're introduced to Father Fujimoto (voiced by the great Keiji Fujiwara) an exorcist who runs an abby somewhere in Japan. The Father has raised Rin and his brother, Yukio, since they were young. Yukio, despite being the younger of the two, is more mature and heading off to study as a doctor. He patches up Rin's battle wounds and, along with other members of the abby, encourage and set Rin off to interview for a part time job.
Father Fujimoto
The position is at a local supermarket where he demonstrates his unnatural strength by lifting multiple boxes at once and accidentally ripping a faucet from its fittings. With an unexplained ability to cook a delicious meal from terrible ingredients the market's manager officially welcomes him on board. On his way home he encounters a young girl, seen with Fujimoto earlier in the day, chasing her wind swept scarf. Turns out the scarf is being pulled about by a small, monkey like demon. In all the commotion Rin saves the girl from a beer can calamity... which of course also results in him getting fired.
After a brief melancholy episode Rin awakes the next day to see little black creatures floating around the city. Walking outside to investigate he's confronted by the light haired kid from the other day. Not willing to back down from a fight he leaves the abby grounds despite Fathers' demand that he stay in.
Rin's initial attempts to diffuse the situation things quickly become heated, rather literally. The boy's form suddenly changes and Rins world with it. Soon follows a shocking revelation that will turn his world inside out.
Review
You like that last part? I think writing it gave me douche chills. I dug myself an awful hole with that summary and wasn't sure how to end it without spilling everything. Not that it should matter since the manga this series is based off of started two years ago. 'Spoilers', if you dare check them out, aren't difficult to find.
I really don't have anything bad to say about Blue Exorcist but I'm worried that my comments will come off harsher than they are intended to be.
I watched the first episode before doing any research into the series. My initial thought was that it seemed like rather run of the mill shonen content. A boy, too young for what's going on, with odd unexplained strength and a dark past/destiny. Finding that it ran in Jump Square was a "ooh, okay that makes sense," moment. There was also an odd air of familiarity that seemed natural when I found out the director was key in the making of Soul Eater. I'm guessing they share a lot of the same animation staff as well.
Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the opposite. I remember the Soul Eater series, ignoring the story diversions, as well crafted. Blue Exorcist is certainly no different. If the first episode is indicative of the rest of the series expect strong and consistent animation. To me, where I sit right now, it just comes off as boring. Though it's going to feel right at home for a lot of people.
The same thoughts carry to the ending and background music. The dramatic chorus music at the end was pretty average and subdued. The ending track is god awful pop music that doesn't seem to fit with the show in the least bit. The sequence itself, not bad on it's own right, features the cast doing a choreographed dance. It just doesn't make any fucking sense.
I will continue with the series for the time being, though with skepticism. I may just say, 'screw it,' and skip over to the manga instead. Which, oddly enough, I did with Soul Eater.
And, I'm sorry, but it's hard to watch a program with a priest and a young teen and not interpret every line in an inappropriate context.
