Ao no Exorcist also features two ending sequences, the first one being a CG "journey" through a city that is accompanied by "Take Off" by South Korean boy band 2PM. In addition to this, the two introductory tracks, "Core Pride" by Uverworld (episodes 1 to 12), and "In My World" by Rookiez Is Punk'd (episode 13 onwards), are very typical rock songs that one might find at the beginning of any shounen anime. The strong shounen theme is prevalent in the two opening sequences, both of which are filled with action, posturing, and a smattering of angst. Unfortunately there are some noticeable occasions where the standard drops, and sadly these aren't limited to periods of frenetic activity. The characters move well, if at times a little unrealistically, and the majority of action scenes are fluid and well choreographed. There are also a few imaginative settings that make a nice contrast to the rather humdrum everyday scenery, and when everything comes together the overall effect can be colourful and slightly outrageous (in a good way).Īs for the animation, A-1 Pictures have done a decent job for the most part, even with the typical shounen posturing and theatrics. That said, there's a surprising degree of creativity in the supernatural elements of the series, and a few of the weird and wonderful concepts really steal the show. The majority of the character designs are very typically shounen in style (even down to the short, bald guy), but while the source material adds a degree of refinement to their composition, there are also a few inherent limitations. When it comes to looks, Ao no Exorcist is on surer footing, although a part of that is because this is a manga adaptation.
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In addition to this, only a part of the manga has made the transition to anime, and much like the first adaptation of Full Metal Alchemist, the latter portion of the series is completely original - and it shows (more on this in a bit) Although there are attempts to keep everything running smoothly, the underlying lack of creativity and complexity make this difficult to achieve.
The lacklustre narrative is filled with bland humour and pointless angst, and because of these factors, the series has a tendency to veer off track. Sadly, Ao no Exorcist also suffers from many of the problems that plague the shounen genre, partly because of the formulaic plot, but mainly because the series lacks the much of the depth needed to keep the story interesting. The second advantage is familiarity, and while it doesn't seem like an important factor, it does play a key role when it comes to enjoying this show. Overly complex details and anything truly thought provoking have been discarded, which is more than a little ironic as, in true shounen anime style, this simplistic approach is reflective of the content of the series. While this method is formulaic, it does have two advantages, the first being that the story becomes very easy to follow. The scene shifts to Rin, who has just punched a delinquent for shooting pigeons with a crossbow.īecause this is a shounen anime, the plot adopts the action oriented, fight-of-the-week format that is so common in the genre. The series opens with a group of priests who are frantically praying in unison, but one by one they are being killed by a mysterious blue fire. Together with his younger twin brother Yukio, they live in a small Christian monastery run by their father, Fujimoto Shiro, and several monks who have helped raise the two boys. lazy to be honest.Īdapted from the ongoing shounen manga by Kato Kazue, Ao no Exorcist follows the adventures of Okumura Rin, a boisterous teenager with superhuman strength and a problem controlling his temper. While there are tales out there that try to cast Satan in a different light (for example, DC Vertigo's "Lucifer"), most writers find it easier to go with the prevailing opinion - which is a bit. Whatever name is ascribed to this being, the idea of him being the enemy of all things good is so deeply ingrained in society, he is usually depicted as the epitome of darkness and evil. This World, Seducer, Accuser, Tormentor, Blasphemer" - Glen Duncan). In some cases this means another deity that works in opposition to all things good, but for Christianity, Islam and Judaism such things are viewed as the domain of Satan (or "Lucifer, Fallen Angel, Prince of Darkness, Bringer of Light, Ruler of Hell, Lord of the Flies, Father of Lies, Apostate Supreme, Tempter of Mankind, Bringer of the Apocalypse, Old Serpent, Prince of
One of the constants of many religions is the idea that sin and evil stem from a higher power. "Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!" - Anton LaVey