Blue Exorcist

"Mephisto: But Rin, you have chosen a path full of thorns. A sad and painful fate awaits you... So much it will make you wish you had died here.

Rin: I don't care! I'm no longer human, but I'm not a demon either. I can only move forwards! I'll become an exorcist!"

Blue Exorcist, also known as Ao no Exorcist, is a Shonen Manga by Katou Kazue.

The story revolves around Okumura Rin, who starts out as a boy who is somewhat of a Delinquent and as such gets into fights. He is usually at odds with his adoptive father, Father Fujimoto Shirou. One day while Rin goes to a job interview that Fujimoto 'encouraged' (read 'encouraged' as 'threw objects at') him to check out, he starts seeing little black 'bugs' and runs into a group of kids he fought the other day. To his surprise, one of the kids is now a demon. Just as the demon is about to kill him, blue flames surround his body and burn his attacker. The demon realizes that Rin is the one he has been searching for: the son of Satan.

While Rin is in total shock and disbelief, Fujimoto Shiro comes and exorcises the demon. He then describes how demons come from a world called Gehenna and can cross into our world (Assiah) by possessing a vessel of sufficient strength. He takes Rin back to the house to give him a sword that seals his demon powers and see him off, but unfortunately, Rin thinks it's all bullcrap and accuses Shiro of throwing him out. Double unfortunately, Satan decides to come in and say hello. Rin saves himself, but Father Fujimoto dies in the process. After the funeral, he is confronted by Mephisto, a member of the True Cross Order and a friend of Shiro's, and demands to join the True Cross Order and become an Exorcist.

The series follows Rin's quest to become the strongest exorcist and to defeat Satan. Also sidetracks onto side characters, namely Okumura Yukio, Moriyama Shiemi, Kirigakure Shura, Suguro Bon, Shima Renzou, Miwa Konekomaru, Kamiki Izumo and Takara.

An anime adaptation has been airing since April 17, 2011. You can find it on Viz Anime, Crunchyroll (free simulcast) or Hulu. A movie has been green lit

Action comedy fantasy Shonen Manga with Multiple Demographic Appeal that Needs More Love.

This series provides examples of:
"Rin: ...when I become Paladin, I won't be dressing like a fashion reject.
 * Academy of Adventure
 * Adaptation Expansion: The first half of the anime, before it diverges onto an anime-original story.
 * Added Alliterative Appeal: Arthur August(e/o) Angel.
 * All Religions Are True: The series mostly focus on Christianity, mainly Roman Catholicism, but there have been demons inspired by Shintoism, Fatal Verses from Buddhist sutras (at least Zen Buddhism anyways), even Greco-Roman minor deities.
 * It was also said in the manga that almost all demons found in other religions are true, Satan just happens to be the lord of them all.
 * And the Adventure Continues: In the anime at least.
 * Animal Battle Aura: The hilarious Rin vs. Bon scenes in the anime have these. Rin is a golden tiger, Bon's a green-scaled Chinese dragon.
 * Animal Motifs: Konekomaru Miwa and Mamushi Hojo.
 * Anime Catholicism
 * Anti Anti Christ: Rin is a good-hearted guy who wants to KICK SATAN'S (read: daddy's) ASS.
 * As the Good Book Says: Certain Bible verses can be used to banish demons. The trick is knowing which Bible verse is required for which demon. One classmate, trapped by a ghoul, only knows that something from the Book of John can banish it. He recites the entire thing from memory, and it turns out it's the last line that banishes the ghoul.
 * Beach Episode: 11th episode of the anime, and chapter 35 in the manga.
 * Bedmate Reveal: After the battle with the Impure King,
 * BFS: Angel's sword isn't huge, but it's definitely the same thick "chopper"-type as Cloud and Allen's.
 * Big Damn Heroes: Suguro Tatsuma pulls off the beginning of one at the end of chapter 24..
 * Big Ol Eyebrows: Kamiki Izumo, causing her to get the nickname Eyebrows.
 * Big What: Bon in chapter 28 when told
 * Bishonen: Most of the male cast.
 * Bizarchitecture: The True Cross Academy.
 * The Impure/Defilement King (a demon in the Decay domain) takes the form of a giant city.
 * Body Horror: Demon mashou boils. And demonic possession/attacks. So much blood...
 * Then came Ch. 32.
 * Break the Haughty: When Izumo's confidence fails, her familiars try to kill her.
 * Bullying a Dragon: Rin was bullied and called a demon throughout his childhood due to his Super Strength and temper.
 * Break Them By Talking:  tries this on   Works for a while, but Koneko gets over it.
 * Calling the Old Man Out: Rin to Satan. Bon to his dad.
 * Cast of Snowflakes: Notably, the only characters who look alike are related (Rin and Yukio, Mephisto and Amaimon), and even then they're easy to tell apart.
 * Chekhov's Gunman: The Video Game Dude and Bunny Rabbit Puppet Kid.
 * Christmas Cake: Shura does not react well to those who suggest she is NOT eighteen.
 * Church Militant: The True Cross Order, combined with a Wizarding School.
 * Continuity Nod: In episode 19, Rin states how cooking is his only productive skill. Yukio mentions quietly how he said the exact same thing, which he did in the camping episode.
 * Cooking Duel: Rin and Ukobach have one in the anime after Rin inadvertently traipsed all over his territory (being the dorm kitchen).
 * Cooldown Hug: Fujimoto gives one to Rin in a childhood flashback when the latter goes berserk over another boy calling him a "demon" behind his back.
 * In chapter 26,
 * And in the anime,
 * Conspicuous CG: The Gehenna Gate and "Messiah" (read: atomic bomb mockup) in the anime.
 * Crossover Cosmology: Quite a bit of Buddhist and Shinto is mixed in as well.
 * Crouching Moron Hidden Badass:
 * Crystal Prison: In the anime,  when the
 * Custom Uniform: Angel has an extremely fancy uniform.

Angel: You misunderstand. I had this outfit tailor-made"

"Yukio: What were his final moments like?
 * None of the main characters wears their uniform like the others. They use shirts, t-shirts, over the knee socks and wear ties or ribbons in their own way to stand out from the rest, according to their personality.
 * Curb Stomp Battle: Not as obvious in the manga, but the anime version of is a huge one in the former's favor. You can clearly see how the latter went from stomping the entire cast to barely keeping up the defensive. Also overlaps with No Holds Barred Beatdown.
 * Demonic Possession: Any demon's only way into Assiah.
 * Happens to Shiro Fujimoto. He is possessed by Satan until he kills himself to save Rin.
 * Happens to in the anime.
 * Demon Slaying: The exorcists.
 * Devil but No God: But there is a Bible.
 * Recited Christian scriptures assume there is a god. Recited Buddhist scriptures assume there was Buddha. Maybe it's all a matter of faith and all religions are true?
 * If Satan is the Ultimate Evil in the underworld, could there be a Uber-God who is the ultimate good?
 * Dying Moment of Awesome: Fujimoto's final scene, as pointed out in the second chapter:

Rin: He was awesome."

"Shiemi: You look like the older one!
 * Energy Absorption: If one uses an elemental attack on a demon of the same element, if the attack is not strong enough the demon will absorb it.
 * Face of a Thug: Rin and Bon. Bon's father was said to have one as well.
 * Mr. Fanservice: Rin and Yukio.
 * Face Heel Turn/Well Intentioned Extremist:
 * Familiar: Strong exorcists have 'em. Rin acquires Kuro/Blacky, Shiemi has Nii-chan.
 * Izumo has, not one, but two of 'em.
 * Fangs Are Evil: The demons have these, along with Pointy Ears.
 * Fantastic Racism:
 * Partially subverted too. It's not the fact that he is
 * Subverted again, at least in the matter of Bon.
 * Also subverted with Izumo and Shiemi.
 * Fantastic Rank System: The Exorcists have one. See the trope page for details.
 * A Father to His Men: Bon's dad. Whose name, for the record, is Suguro Tatsuma.
 * Fireball Eyeballs: Rin and Satan have these in various color pages.
 * Five Man Band:
 * The Hero: Rin.
 * The Lancer: Yukio.
 * The Big Guy: Bon.
 * The Smart Guy: Konekomaru and Bon, both being pretty knowledgeable.
 * The Chick/The Medic: Shiemi.
 * Token Evil Teammate: Izumo, not evil Per se, but she's mean.
 * The Mentor: Shura.
 * Team Pet: Blackie
 * and Renzou
 * Flaming Sword: Kurikara.
 * Foolish Sibling Responsible Sibling:

Yukio: Yes, it is easy to mistake.

Rin: *twitches*"

"Rin: But why the hell does a school cafeteria need first-class food?
 * Gainaxing: Shiemi in the anime while wearing the True Cross Academy uniform. The guys don't miss seeing it at all.
 * It's no wonder once Shura comes in, she is the next to sport gainaxing.
 * Gecko Ending: In the anime.  Suffice to say, it is quite fitting that one of the characters present quotes the Book of Revelation.
 * Good Thing You Can Heal/Healing Factor:
 * Gratuitous German: Aside from Mephisto's Eins Zwei Drei, the manga has now "Das stärkste Gefängnis".
 * Gratuitous Polish:  in episode 20. Not only is it written incorrectly, but also one of characters translates it as
 * Half Human Hybrid: Rin of course.
 * Hannibal Lecture: To Yukio, from an exorcist who turned to the dark side.
 * Heal It With Fire:
 * He Who Fights Monsters: The trope-naming passage is quoted in reference to . Further noted that this is a problem for most Exorcists who could become demons because of their inner hatred or repressed feelings.
 * Holy Burns Evil: Holy water does this to demons. It hurts Rin as well, but not as much.
 * Hot for Student: Yukio to Shiemi. Though really they're about the same age.
 * Hot Mom: Bon's mom.
 * Hot Teacher: Yukio, at least to Shiemi.
 * Hypocritical Humour: Mephisto, in episode 6.
 * Hot Teacher: Yukio, at least to Shiemi.
 * Hypocritical Humour: Mephisto, in episode 6.

Mephisto: Food is culture! Experiencing the highest-end food will make your lives fuller! (opens a cup of instant ramen and eats it)"

"Rin: My wounds have always healed quickly. And now I really am a monster."
 * But then again, there is a bit of Fridge Brilliance in that. Mephisto Pre-Fridge Brilliance, the scene is still an example though.
 * I Am a Monster: Rin says a variation of this in episode 9.

"Mephisto: "The way I see it, you have two options. You can either be killed by us, or you can kill us and run away. Or, of course, you could just kill yourself, and save us the trouble, so that's three options you have. So, which one do you choose?"
 * And then word for word in chapter 26
 * Japanese Christian
 * Katanas Are Just Better: Justified in Rin's case, as said katana seals his demon powers.
 * Kick the Dog: In episode two, Satan possesses (which has some unsettling side-effects) and promptly tosses the terrified kid into the gate to Gehena.
 * Lawful Stupid: In the anime, Angel tries to kill Rin right after the kid saved the day by
 * In episode 20, Angel also stops Mephisto (with a firetruck) from saving several student hostages because he's under suspicion for performing acts forbidden by the Vatican. What, the moron couldn't give him another minute?
 * Limp and Livid: Satan in Fujimoto's body, especially when he unleashes his disconcerting Evil Laugh.
 * Love Triangle: Both Rin and Yukio have a crush on Shiemi. Shiemi is completely unaware of this but cares for both of them greatly.
 * Marshmallow Hell: A half-example. In chapter 10 Shura clutches Rin's head under her arm, giving him a faceful of her left boob. The other male students were envious.
 * Meaningful Name: The new Paladin is called Arthur Angel.
 * Shura means 'carnage/bloodshed'.
 * Mamushi means 'pit viper' in Japanese.
 * Ko NEKO maru.
 * Mega Neko: Kuro, Rin's demonically adorable familiar. In Sleep Mode Size he's a Head Pet.
 * More Hero Than Thou: What the other students think Rin is playing up when he appears to be taking unnecessary risks by fighting alone ("Don't forget you have friends!") when he's actually hiding his demonic powers, especially from the guy who has a blood feud against Satan. Having everyone think that he either doesn't trust them or that he's being a glory-hound is really annoying to Rin.
 * Multi-Denominational Team: In addition to Catholic priests, there are Buddhist monks and Shinto mikos. Shiemi could count as a shaman/apothecary.
 * Ms. Fanservice: Shura's everyday appearance in a nutshell.
 * Names to Run Away From Really Fast: Mephisto Pheles. What does that sound like?
 * Occult Blue Eyes: Rin Okumura has these (does fit the demonic type, being the son of Satan and all).
 * Older Than They Look: Toudou got younger after
 * Onee Sama: Houjou Mamushi to her sibs.
 * Our Demons Are Different: They have elf ears and tails.
 * Except the ones that are foxes, ghoulish-sewn-together-bodies, cats, plant... things, anthropomorphic phoenixes, and giant fungus buildings.
 * Overtook the Manga: At the time the anime aired only 30+ chapters of the manga were even out.
 * Playing With Fire: Rin's flame. Though he can't control it. (He's working on it.)
 * Power Limiter: Rin's katana is a limiter to his demonic power. When sheathed the only things that remain are slightly pointy ears and a tail. When he takes it out--all hell breaks loose around him. Quite literally.
 * Posthumous Character: Fujimoto Shiro, who adopted and raised Rin, is later developed to be, not only in the church of badass preachers, but THE Badass Preacher.
 * Primal Stance: Rin in his first confrontation with Amaimon.
 * Powers Via Possession: Konekomaru gains these briefly when he
 * Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Bon's female cousins have snake tattoos to go with their serpent familiars, not to mention Hellish Pupils. And they certainly act like a bunch of smug snakes to their other relatives.
 * As of ep 16 in the anime adaption they've given Amaimon an alternate, more demonic form which has some lizard aspects to it.
 * Restraining Bolt: The ring on Rin's tail seems to serve as one: when Shura begins to recite certain verses, it quickly drains him of his power.
 * Revenge By Proxy: Negaiuz, a survivor of the "Blue Night" in which Satan went on a killing spree, took it upon himself to try to kill Rin, the son of Satan.
 * attempted to do this to Rin in a filler while  Ultimately, though, he realizes that killing Rin won't bring back his parents, so he gives it up.
 * Screw the Rules I'm Doing What's Right:
 * Also when Shura orders Rin's classmates to
 * Sealed Evil in A Can: The Eyes of the Impure King, an ancient demon so powerful that just these two eyeballs expel a flood of miasma.
 * Shoot the Hostage: When Shiemi is drained by a pansy demon, it uses her body as a shield. Yukio pulls out his gun, and the demon taunts he wouldn't shoot Shiemi. He does. The pansy demon freaks out and flees. Rin is reasonably pissed off, but Shiemi is fine in the end. Yukio reveals to Rin that he used red dye bullets, having no intention of harming Shiemi at all.
 * Shotguns Are Just Better: Rin's dad uses one in episode two. To fight a hoard of demons. And does pretty well.
 * Shout Out: In episode 19 of the anime, Paku and Izumo go to Magnaria.
 * gg subs included a disclaimer for episode 24, stating: "NOTICE - Kids! Bringing about Armageddon can be dangerous. Do not attempt it at home."
 * Stab the Scorpion: When confronted by his human brother about his existence, Rin draws his sword and charges... to kill a demon behind him. "I am not low enough to fight my own brother."
 * Super Strength: How about headbutting a giant cat-demon into submission?
 * Stripperific: Shura could count as this. Kind of justified because she needs to have free access to her tattoos when she has to take something from their dimensional pockets... but not much.
 * Take a Third Option: Subverted initially when Rin first meets Mephisto. He offers that Rin either kill or be killed, and later jokingly adds that Rin could always kill himself too. Rin declines, and demands to be an Exorcist instead.
 * Stab the Scorpion: When confronted by his human brother about his existence, Rin draws his sword and charges... to kill a demon behind him. "I am not low enough to fight my own brother."
 * Super Strength: How about headbutting a giant cat-demon into submission?
 * Stripperific: Shura could count as this. Kind of justified because she needs to have free access to her tattoos when she has to take something from their dimensional pockets... but not much.
 * Take a Third Option: Subverted initially when Rin first meets Mephisto. He offers that Rin either kill or be killed, and later jokingly adds that Rin could always kill himself too. Rin declines, and demands to be an Exorcist instead.

Rin: "Make me one of you. Make me an Exorcist."

Mephisto: "Okay. Let's say that Satan's son could be an Exorcist. What would you do?"

Rin: "KICK SATAN'S ASS!""

"Mephisto: It's the birth of a blue exorcist... whose self-imposed fate is to kill his own comrades."
 * Tastes Like Friendship: How Shirou (and later Rin) tamed Blacky--with special wine.
 * Tears of Blood: It happens to the people Satan tries to possess, especially on the Blue Night sixteen years ago..
 * Technicolor Fire: The main character wields vivid blue fire, which in the series is the trademark of Satan. The title represents this, of course.
 * Title Drop: From Chapter 33, summing up Rin's mission after he's demonstrated it by :


 * True Companions: Rin and his classmates.
 * Even moreso in the anime, where so far,.
 * Tsundere: Kamiki Izumo.
 * Rin is a milder male version.
 * Suguro Ryuji is too, but only towards Rin, who he can't stand and has a hard time showing gratitude for honestly. He's relatively nice to everyone else.
 * Use Your Head: As mentioned above, this is how he got his familiar.
 * Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Nobody seems the least big concerned about Rin's fangs or ears. Mephisto did say that they could be 'explained away', but we're never shown how. Even some people don't bat an eyelid at the fact that Rin has a tail, and he even has little flames when he gets agitated in a couple of panels.
 * Subverted, since Juuzou and Tatsuma did notice Rin's tail, and just didn't comment on it. The Myou Dha people also remarked that they saw a flash when Rin punched Bon and some of the flames got out. Izumo remarked there's quite a few Half Human Hybrid Demons in the world; and many of them are Exorcists. It's simply that Rin's father is Satan that scares everyone.
 * What Do You Mean Its Not Awesome: The cooking battle between Rin and Ukobach.
 * What the Hell Hero:
 * Words Can Break My Bones: Most demons have a line in the scriptures that exorcises or binds them, as demonstrated by Suguro Ryuji and the Bible.
 * Zettai Ryouiki: Part of the girl's uniform, but notable on Shiemi, Kamiki, and Shura.