(CR) Blue Exorcist - Shimane Illuminati Saga

[Stark700]

A new TV anime for Blue Exorcist got announced today from Jump Festa. Airing date is unknown so far though

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/aoex_anime/statu...71301602586625

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Blue Exorcist lives !

Can't wait to see the gang back in anime form! I'm guessing they'll adapt Izumo's arc with this new season .

[Guardian Enzo]

I gotta say that Kyoto thing kind of bored me silly. Hopefully this season is more engaging.

[FlareKnight]

Every time I kind of forget about this franchise it gets a new season. It's kind of fun . Will certainly look forward to this.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

I gotta say that Kyoto thing kind of bored me silly. Hopefully this season is more engaging.

Just speaking from personal POV, but if they adapt the stuff I think they're going to adapt, it gets pretty heartrending, tense, and exciting .

[Mad Pierrot]

I hope if they adapt the prom, the director will give it a fast pacing. I remember getting bored when reading it besides due to its monthly serialization.

The manga seems to be in the middle of its climax.

[Stark700]

Winter 2024

Title is: Blue Exorcist - Shimane Illuminati Saga

https://www.ao-ex.com/news/

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Really excited to see the gang back and what they'll be adapting this season .

[Stark700]

Short PV of the OP song theme

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Stark700

Short PV of the OP song theme

It wouldn't be Blue Exorcist without Uverworld .

[Stark700]

New PV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6onAQbQgGA

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Spoiler:

It's kind of surreal to have Blue Exorcist back with Rin sounding the most subdued and focused he's ever been in the show, but okay. Also I totally forgot that the Exewires actually attend normal high school on top of their exorcist cram school .

I love how the Kyoto arc was so many years ago that even Rin forgot he was under the threat of execution back then .

Rin might have found a normal friend! Even if he also has a demon problem. He's less lucky with the ladies as he gets a "love letter" from his dear older brother Mephisto, and not even "Dad" Bon can give him advice on what to do with that .

Ah Izumo, as delightfully tsundere as ever. At this point it's a turn on for Shima !

Shura! But no bouncing boobs? Well, it's still early in the season .

Is Yukio avoiding his medical checkup because he doesn't want them to discover the Satan's Fire in his eyes? Rin and Kuro know something's up with him .

Fine dining with Mephisto! Rin actually looks pretty handsome in a suit. And Mephisto gives him enough credit to reveal that he's Samael, King of Time, even though everyone but him knew it by this point. But he doesn't want Rin to get cocky just because he happened to beat the Impure King, he wants his little brother to be more self-aware as a demon .

I should've known Rin's first solution to the portrait problem would be to cut it up...but it really gave Konekomaru a chance to step up and take charge of the group, calling out all their individual issues and bringing them together for a plan! Never has bad eyesight and the team nerd come through so well! Heck, without his glasses Konekomaru looks like a completely different person !

That's a Blue Exorcist team finisher if ever there was one .

Well, maybe Rin and Godiin won't become friends, but Rin at least has his exewire friend group .

Tomokazu Seki as Lightning! Seems like he and Angel have a bit of an odd couple dynamic and Angel is out to prove his Paladin rep so he's not outdone by Rin. Wonder what was up with that woman though ?

Would it really be Blue Exorcist without an Uverworld OP ?

[Cloudedmind]

Was it just me, or did this episode seem a bit all over the place. It felt like it just jumped from scene to scene with little breathing room.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Cloudedmind

Was it just me, or did this episode seem a bit all over the place. It felt like it just jumped from scene to scene with little breathing room.

Spoiler:

They kind of breezed through a few chapters. The whole job Mephisto gave them involved actually investigating several school mysteries and not just the painting.

[Frontier]

A new Uverworld Blue Exorcist OP with the promise of more drama with the Okumura brothers and their Exewire friends but also plenty of Rin slicing things up Blue Exorcist style and palling around with his buds .

Yukio gets de-briefed on Todo though he's concerned about what the Knights of the True Cross suspect of him...especially when he's suspicious enough of himself and the Blue Fire of Satan that appeared in his eye. But hey, Angel likes him more than Rin, so there's that. Though Angel and Shura argue like the Okumura brothers .

Yukio also knows how to rile his brother up when it comes to women, though Rin would be plenty jealous if he knew Yukio was getting some private one-on-one tutor time with Shiemi and how much she's enjoying it...Yukio has had a lot of questions about his life, Father Fujimoto, and how others plan to use him and his brother, but Shiemi has been the one thing to brighten up his life, even if he doesn't look deeper into their relationship than that .

Remember when Mephisto played with PSP's ?

Investigating a ghost in a girls' restroom? Sign Shima up! Though now it's time for the girls to take the lead, even if Izumo is still wary of Shiemi...but it's mostly because she knows she owes Shiemi and it's hard for her to open up to people that aren't Paku, especially with whatever her goal is

Count on Shiemi to just casually ask a ghost if it's in a stall....and it's a collection of every mean-spirited comment you'd hear from women in the privacy of a restroom. Though while the demon is horrifying, the bathroom is majestic! Does the boys one look that good ?

Man, poor Izumo. Uke and Mike barely respect her, they don't even sub her chant any more, and she needs Shiemi to feed her Familiars for them to do anything, but at least she manages to save Shiemi from being strangled .

I was wondering why they weren't showing the guys...and it's because they've all turned into girls! Honestly girl Shima, Konekomaru, and Rin weren't half-bad but girl Yukio is quite the looker. Can't blame the girls for laughing at Bon though .

A man-made Gehenna gate? Mephisto's sealed it up, but that it even exists is concerning in and of itself. Especially if it means the Illuminatti are making their move. And Todo is greeting their leader, a bed-ridden Kouki Uchiyama !

The ED is really cute! Featuring the gangs' daily adventures, the guys hanging out, the girls shopping, Yukio lecturing Rin as he cooks with the cook spirit from season 1! All very stylized and adorable .

Next week: School Festival episode !

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They've just introduced the Illuminati and they already have more spies in the True Cross Knights, including the Japanese branch. And Shura has to ferret them out .

But first it's school festival time! And Rin and Shima are hyped! Well, aside from the fact that neither of them can get dates. And Suguro and Izumo probably could but they just don't care because they're focused on their studies. Kids trying to live out their youth have it tough .

They really thought they had a chance with Paku. Good on her for getting a date! And good on the guy for getting to see her in that dress. Actually, even Konekomaru got a date and she's a smoking babe !

Shura looks good in the True Cross Academy school uniform .

To be honest Takara's seemed shady as the least developed kid and the one who always talks through his puppet .

Shiemi transferring to the day school and immediately palling up with Paku and Izumo was great. She and Paku get along so well and Izumo has to deal with how great her bestie and Shiemi Moriyama get along...they may as well just be a trio of gal pals at this point .

Welp, Rin, Shima, and Suguro are all now zombies...though Suguro is one over actually rejecting a girl and breaking her heart, which feels a little unfair. It shows how considerate Bon is, but still .

Of course the moment he realizes Shiemi goes to their day school now, Rin thinks he has a chance...so of course Shiemi wants to ask out Yukio because she's worried about him. So not only does Rin think Shiemi chose Yukio over him but he has to reckon with whatever is really going on with his little brother .

The look on Yukio's face when he realizes Rin was going to ask Shiemi about it...and then his shock when Shiemi asks HIM out and he's inconvenienced he has to turn her down. And then of course Shura teases him about it. Poor guy's got a lot on his mind .

Shura spotted a wild Mephisto cockroach! And he will broker no interference from her

Shiemi is not only a surprisingly scary ghost but a bit of a dense heartbreaker! Good thing Paku is there to make her realize what Rin really wanted and clue her into the little love triangle she's unknowingly involved in even if she deflects about it .

I've always liked Rin and Izumo's dynamic though, even if Izumo is repulsed by both him and Shiemi for how sincere and honest they are when she doesn't really trust anyone. But that's probably part of her backstory .

The moment Rin actually asks Shiemi out and it seems like she's realized she has genuine feelings for him...and then he drags her away so they can dance with Yukio, think that's what she wanted. And in a way it was, as the trio of them adorably dance in a merry-go-round together and Shiemi is happy that they're together and get to give Yukio a break, though she also on some level seems to realize what she feels for Rin is love. Good for you Rin .

Izumo came through! And she looks amazing in that maid outfit !

What does Takara want with Izumo? And wait..."Tsukuro Kamiki?" That's Izumo's last name !?

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What is Takara? A "coordinator?" So what, this whole time he's been orchestrating things behind the scenes? And how is Izumo related to Tsukumo? Whoever Tsukumo is, she's obviously really important to Izumo .

Dang, Lightning does not mess around! Find an Illuminati member, totally upend his plan, then threaten his wife and child to make him talk .

Well, points for letting us see Shura in that dress! And unsurprisingly she puts her pass in her cleavage .

So Takara's gimmick is summoning souped up version of toys? Mike and Uke definitely were not prepared to fight a giant Mecha .

Shima actually came through for Izumo! Sure she apparently doesn't remember his name but actually saving her and get to hold her legs while she rests on your shoulder is pretty nice .

Shima could summon this Yamanataka demon the whole time!? It's surprisingly powerful and fierce. Didn't think Shima had it in him. Turns out there's a lot we didn't know about Shima .

What is Nemu's deal? It seems like the puppet is some separate consciousness that keeps the main body asleep for it's own sake .

Things were going so well and then Shima just had to go and stab Izumo...poor girl. Because, yeah, Shima WAS the spy this whole time, even if he plays it off. Has he been playing everyone from day one for real? What is he after? Why is he doing this ?

I'll give Lucifer this much, he knows how to make an entrance with those Seraphim appearing everywhere and the beam of light that he shines down upon...fitting for Mephisto's older brother and yet another half-sibling to the Okumura's. But unlike them, his goal is to revive Satan and fuse Assiah and Gehenna, and they need Izumo for their plans .

Figures Mephisto wouldn't be game for that plan, he loves watching humans struggle, it makes life more entertaining .

Shima really is skilled enough to block off Rin! But he also makes an interesting point...they've been fighting demons for so long, are they prepared to fight humans ?

Dang, poor Suguro (and Konekomaru), watching one of his closest friends betray them like that. Especially hearing him call Shima "Renzo"

Lucifer just couldn't leave without blowing everything up and carrying out a mass attack on the True Cross Order, huh? And that leaves the organization in such a dissaray that the only ones left to save Izumo are our favorite Exwire's. But count on Rin to not only be committed to saving Izumo but also still believing in Shima .

[FlareKnight]

Wow. That was an easy bit of kidnapping. I get Mephisto standing by. He's a bit of a jerk and he did have a reasonable excuse to hold up in this case. But what the heck was everyone else doing !? I know Izumo isn't the most friendly person, but shouldn't someone have been trying to prevent her kidnapping here ? Rin's the only one that bothers to try and do anything.

I give half a point to Bon who...tried to talk to Shima. Kinda. Even Yukio was all "let's see how this goes." Until Mephisto reminded him that he's supposed to be important he was standing around looking dumbfounded! Much better to have to walk into the Illuminati's home to rescue her instead of...trying to stop it now.

This is a weird way to start a rescue arc. No one really tried to prevent the initial kidnapping and even until the end of the episode no one really had any real reaction to Izumo being kidnapped at all. I get Shima going traitor was itself shocking...but barely anyone was even reacting to that.

Props to Rin for having a pulse! I think this shows the importance of considering circumstances when adapting. Having everyone stand around like idiots can work in a manga since you can somewhat keep them out of frame or people will read so quickly it won't stand out. But when you see it in motion and how much time it takes for the Illuminati to get out of there...it's just weird to have Shiemi and everyone just standing there silently for about 5 minutes.

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Originally Posted by FlareKnight

Wow. That was an easy bit of kidnapping. I get Mephisto standing by. He's a bit of a jerk and he did have a reasonable excuse to hold up in this case. But what the heck was everyone else doing !? I know Izumo isn't the most friendly person, but shouldn't someone have been trying to prevent her kidnapping here ? Rin's the only one that bothers to try and do anything.

I give half a point to Bon who...tried to talk to Shima. Kinda. Even Yukio was all "let's see how this goes." Until Mephisto reminded him that he's supposed to be important he was standing around looking dumbfounded! Much better to have to walk into the Illuminati's home to rescue her instead of...trying to stop it now.

This is a weird way to start a rescue arc. No one really tried to prevent the initial kidnapping and even until the end of the episode no one really had any real reaction to Izumo being kidnapped at all. I get Shima going traitor was itself shocking...but barely anyone was even reacting to that.

Props to Rin for having a pulse! I think this shows the importance of considering circumstances when adapting. Having everyone stand around like idiots can work in a manga since you can somewhat keep them out of frame or people will read so quickly it won't stand out. But when you see it in motion and how much time it takes for the Illuminati to get out of there...it's just weird to have Shiemi and everyone just standing there silently for about 5 minutes.

Everyone was thrown off by Shima's betrayal and Lucifer's epic entrance .

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Wait, is that Sayaka Ohara as Izumo's mom!? She looks like the spitting image of Izumo, just wayyyy more childish...and Izumo doesn't seem to have anything but hate for her mother. But she doesn't feel that way to her younger sister Tsukumo, who she utterly cherishes .

Dang, Shima was part of the Illuminati from day one? He was always supposed to monitor Izumo, that's why he was so doggedly interested in her? And it was all because of his frustrations with his family and role? Todo even recruited him! Jeez .

So, Izumo's been kidnapped, Shima's a traitor, the Illuminati have made their move, and the world is in chaos with the Knights of the True Cross Order scrambling to keep things together...but also here's Rin on a plane for the first time, barely being able to stay awake for a minute, and Shiemi's grassburgers she thinks are edible .

Shura and Izumo both look good in medical outfits that show off their legs. Though Shura is understandably perturbed about Shima being the traitor, Takara having been Mephisto's spy, and him just sending the kids off on their own to deal with the Illuminati. Not that she has enough strength to do anything about it

They finally have a lead to Izumo and it's back in her hometown which is also...an Inari themed theme park!? Not where you'd expect from Izumo, though the people who live there seem happy...but is it also being run by the Illuminati? But hey, the food is good !

Jeez, is that Izumo's mom? She's...seen better days. She seems like a shell of a woman, desperately pleading with her daughter to save her, but what happened? And who is this slimy, creepy, scientist guy Gedoin (voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama) who knows Izumo and seems obsessed with their family? It seems like Izumo was also trying to become an exorcist so she could fulfill some kind of objective of transferring a demon from her mother to herself? So Tsukumo wouldn't have to .

Shima kind of had that slap coming. Though Izumo can't help but chastise herself knowing she was never able to truly open herself up to everyone, even though she thought of them as comrades despite that .

What is Takara!? Dude can summon Mike using an Inari puppet! And now it seems like we're going to find out Izumo's backstory. It doesn't seem like a nice one .