Rating and impressions of episode 1 of the "Blue Exorcist" series

Rating and impressions of episode 1 of the "Blue Exorcist" series

"Blue Exorcist": A grand fantasy depicting the fate of a demon's illegitimate son and an exorcist

Blue Exorcist is a TV anime series based on the popular manga by Kazue Kato, which aired nationwide on MBS and TBS every Sunday at 5pm from April 17 to October 2, 2011. The 25-episode series tells the story of two brothers caught between the world of nothingness (Gehenna) and the world of matter (Asher).

story

■ Story

The older brother awakens as the illegitimate son of Satan. The younger brother grows stronger to protect his older brother. Can the two, caught between the world of nothingness (Gehenna) and the world of matter (Asher), resist their blood destiny as exorcists?

The story of Blue Exorcist revolves around the destiny of Okumura Rin, the illegitimate son of the demon Satan, and his twin brother Okumura Yukio. Though Rin is destined to be of demonic blood, he is saved by the sacrifice of his adoptive father Fujimoto Shiro and begins his path as an exorcist. Meanwhile, Yukio is a genius who makes use of his talent as a victim of demons, which he keeps secret from his brother, to become the youngest exorcist in history. Their growth and struggles are at the heart of the story.

Commentary

■Explanation

The long-awaited anime adaptation of Jump SQ.'s full-scale demon-exorcising fantasy!

"Blue Exorcist" is based on the manga by Kazue Kato, which is serialized in Shueisha's "Jump Square." As a full-scale demon-exorcising fantasy published by Jump SQ., it has been made into an anime, which many fans have been waiting for. While bringing out the best in the original work, the anime adds new appeal with its unique expressions.

cast

■Cast

・Rin Okumura/Nobuhiko Okamoto・Yukio Okumura/Jun Fukuyama・Shiemi Moriyama/Kana Hanazawa・Ryuji Katsuro/Kazuya Nakai・Renzo Shima/Koji Yusa・Konekomaru Miwa/Yuki Kaji・Izumo Kamiki/Eri Kitamura・Kuro/Aya Takagaki・Shura Higirigakure/Rina Sato・Arthur August Angel/Daisuke Ono・Igor Neigaus/Ryutaro Okiayu・Amaimon/Tetsuya Kakihara・Mephisto Pheles/Hiroshi Kamiya・Shiro Fujimoto/Keiji Fujiwara

The cast of Blue Exorcist is filled with a stellar cast of voice actors. Okamoto Nobuhiko, who plays the main character Okumura Rin, skillfully portrayed Rin's bright and warm personality, leaving a strong impression on viewers. Fukuyama Jun, who plays Okumura Yukio, carefully portrays the earnest and kindhearted character of Yukio. Other voice actors who give charming portrayals of each character, such as Hanazawa Kana, Yusa Koji, and Kamiya Hiroshi, also stand out.

Main Staff

■ Main staff

・Original story by Kazue Kato (serialized in Shueisha's Jump Square)
Director: Tensai Okamura Series Composition: Ryota Yamaguchi Character Design: Keigo Sasaki Design Works: Tomotaka Shibayama Art Setting: Yasumitsu Suetake Color Design: Nagisa Abe Director of Photography: Masaharu Okazaki CG Director: Ryuta Undo Editing: Masahiro Goto Music: Hiroyuki Sawano Production: A-1 Pictures
Produced by: "Blue Exorcist" Production Committee, MBS

A-1 Pictures produced Blue Exorcist, directed by Okamura Tensai, with series composition by Yamaguchi Ryota, character design by Sasaki Keigo, and music by Sawano Hiroyuki. The entire staff worked together to faithfully recreate the world of the original work while bringing out the unique charm of anime.

Main Characters

■ Main Characters

・Okumura Rin A 15-year-old boy who is destined to be the illegitimate son of Satan. Although he has a violent side, he has a bright and warm personality. He is targeted by demons, but is saved by the sacrifice of his adoptive father, Shiro. In order to avenge Shiro and prove his existence, he aspires to become an exorcist.
Yukio Okumura is Rin's twin brother. He has a serious and kind personality, and his goal for the future is to become a doctor. Although he keeps it a secret from his brother, he is a genius with a talent for exorcism, and is the youngest exorcist in history. His abilities are gradually revealed at the exorcism school.
Shiemi Moriyama is a girl who works at the exorcism clothing store, Exorcist Shop, which Yukio favors. She loves taking care of flowers and plants, and has a very airheaded personality! Behind her gentle appearance lies a dark past...
Mephisto Pheles: A mysterious man who calls himself Shiro Fujimoto's best friend. He is an honorary knight of the True Cross Knights, and guides Rin on the path to becoming an exorcist. In public, he also serves as the chairman of the True Cross Academy. He is known for his flashy clown-like clothing.
・Foster father of Shiroren Fujimoto and Yukio. He is a priest at the Southern Cross Monastery, but also works as an exorcist. He is possessed by a demon, but takes his own life to protect Rin.

Each of the main characters in Blue Exorcist has their own unique charm. The protagonist, Okumura Rin, is burdened with the fate of being the illegitimate son of a demon, but his bright and warm personality attracts those around him. Meanwhile, his twin brother, Okumura Yukio, is earnest and kind-hearted, but he uses his talent as a victim of demons to become an exorcist. Characters such as Moriyama Shiemi, Mephisto Pheles, and Fujimoto Shiro also add depth to the story.

subtitle

■Subtitle

Episode 1: The Devil Lives in the Heart of a Man Episode 2: The Gate of the Gehenna Gate Episode 3: Older Brother and Younger Brother Episode 4: The Garden of Amahara Episode 5: The Child of the Sacred Temple Episode 6: The Phantom Chef Episode 7: My Friend Chidori Episode 8: There is a Sick Person Here Episode 9: Memories Episode 10: The Black Cat (Cait Sith)
・Episode 11/Demon of the Deep Sea ・Episode 12/Tag
Episode 13/Proof Episode 14/Fun Camp Episode 15/Kindness Episode 16/Bet Episode 17/Temptation Episode 18/Hurricane (Gufu)
Episode 19: An Ordinary Day Episode 20: Mask Episode 21: The Secret Garden Episode 22: Demon Hunt Episode 23: Truth Episode 24: Satan's Fallen Son Episode 25: Stop Time

The subtitles of each episode of Blue Exorcist symbolize the development of the story. Starting with episode 1, "Devils Live in People's Hearts," to episode 25, "Stop Time," the brothers' growth and battles are depicted. Each episode has a different theme and episode, drawing the viewer in.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Blue Exorcist" is a work that maximizes the charm of the original work while adding new charm with the unique expression of anime. In particular, the story that depicts the bond and growth of the brothers, and the battle as exorcists deeply moves the audience. In addition, thanks to the power of the gorgeous voice actors and staff, the charm of the characters and the world view are deeply depicted.

This is a work that I would especially recommend to those who like fantasy and action. The story, which depicts the fate of the brothers and their battles as exorcists, has the power to draw viewers in. The character growth and bonds are also fascinating, making it a work worth watching. Please give it a watch.

Additional Information

The original manga of "Blue Exorcist" is currently being serialized in Shueisha's "Jump Square" and is still supported by many fans. In addition, following the success of the anime series, a sequel, "Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Impure King Arc", was broadcast in 2017. This sequel continues to entertain fans by depicting the brothers' growth and new battles.

Furthermore, Blue Exorcist has been expanded into various media mixes such as games and novels. In particular, the games allow fans to enjoy the worldview of the original work, which is a delight for fans. The novels also delve deeply into the inner lives and backgrounds of the characters, allowing readers to discover new charms that cannot be seen in the original work or anime.

"Blue Exorcist" is a grand fantasy work that depicts the fate of two brothers and their battles as exorcists. This work brings out the best of the original work while adding new appeal with the unique expressions of anime, and is especially recommended for those who like fantasy and action. Please give it a watch.

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