Blue Exorcist, also known as Ao no Exorcist, is a shōnen manga written and illustrated by Kazue Kato. A 25-episode animated television series adaptation produced by A-1 Pictures aired between April 17, 2011, and October 2, 2011. An animated film was also released in December 2012, and various derivative products have seen the light of day. A second season of 12 episodes, still produced by A-1 Pictures, is broadcast between January and March 2017. After seven years, the third season premiered in January 2024, and in light of that, we have decided to bring you the complete watch order for the Blue Exorcist anime series.
Editor’s Note: This post is regularly updated to provide you with the latest content and streaming updates related to the Blue Exorcist anime series – Shimane Illuminati Saga, Season 3 concluded in March 2024. The last update was in April 2024 with episode 12 titled Hidden True Feelings.
How many Blue Exorcist seasons and episodes are there?
As of the time of writing, Blue Exorcist has a total of three seasons, 3 OVAs, and one anime movie. The seasons comprise 49 episodes in total, and if you add the three OVAs to that, you’ll get 52 episodes in total, plus an anime movie, which means there are 49 individual Blue Exorcist episodes you have to watch. A third season recently concluded.
Blue Exorcist watch order at a glance
In this section, we are going to bring you the complete list of Blue Exorcist works by their respective release orders. As we have said, the Blue Exorcist anime series consists of two completed anime seasons, one upcoming anime season, three OVA episodes, and one movie, and here is what it looks like:
- Blue Exorcist, Season 1 (anime, 2011)
- “Runaway Kuro” (OVA, 2011)
- Blue Exorcist: The Movie (anime movie, 2012)
- Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga, Season 2 (anime, 2017)
- “Snake and Poison” (OVA, 2017)
- “Spy Game” (OVA, 2017)
- Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga, Season 3 (anime, 2024)
Do you need to watch Blue Exorcist in a specific order?
The watch order of Blue Exorcist is somewhat specific. Namely, the original anime had a total of 25 episodes, but only the first 17 ones were canon; after episode 18, the content is anime-only and is not considered to be canon, and this includes the OVA, as well as the 2012 anime movie (which is partially based on a spin-off one-shot manga). The second season is once again canon, and we assume that the third season will be completely canon as well. So, if you want to watch only the canon works, stop with Episode 17 of the first season and continue with the second season, but if you want to watch everything – well, then just follow the release order as depicted above.
What is the best way to watch Blue Exorcist?
The best way to watch Blue Exorcist is by following the release order, as it is the simplest way to do it; of course, you have to keep in mind that not everything is canon, as we have said in the previous section. Nevertheless, the release date order coincides with the chronology of the anime series, even if you disregard the filler content. This way, you will be able to immerse yourself in the world, get familiar with the characters, and follow the story correctly. The chronological release of all Blue Exorcist anime segments likewise follows the manga material, so if you’re interested in additional info or simply want to get to know the material up-front, we suggest you check it out.
Blue Exorcist watch order by release date
1. Blue Exorcist, Season 1 (2011) + OVA 1
No. | Episode Title | Air Date |
---|---|---|
1 | “The Devil Resides in Human Souls” Transcription: “Akuma wa Hito no Kokoro ni Sumu” (Japanese:悪魔は人の心に棲む) | April17,2011 |
2 | “Gehenna Gate” Transcription: “Gehena Gēto” (Japanese:虚無界の門) | April24,2011 |
3 | “Brothers” Transcription: “Ani to Otōto” (Japanese:兄と弟) | May1,2011 |
4 | “Garden of Amahara” Transcription: “Amahara no Niwa” (Japanese:天空の庭) | May8,2011 |
5 | “A Boy From the Cursed Temple” Transcription: “Tatari-dera no Ko” (Japanese:祟り寺の子) | May15,2011 |
6 | “The Phantom Chef” Transcription: “Maboroshi no Ryōrinin” (Japanese:まぼろしの料理人) | May22,2011 |
7 | “A Flock of Plovers” Transcription: “Tomochidori” (Japanese:友千鳥) | May29,2011 |
8 | “Now a Certain Man Was Sick…” Transcription: “Koko ni Yameru Mono Ari” (Japanese:此に病める者あり) | June5,2011 |
9 | “Memories” Transcription: “Omoide” (Japanese:おもいで) | June12,2011 |
10 | “Black Cat” Transcription: “Ketto Shī” (Japanese:黒猫) | June19,2011 |
11 | “Demon of the Deep Seas” Transcription: “Shinkai no Akuma” (Japanese:深海の悪魔) | June26,2011 |
12 | “A Game of Tag” Transcription: “Onigokko” (Japanese:鬼事) | July3,2011 |
13 | “Proof” Transcription: “Shōmei” (Japanese:証明) | July10,2011 |
14 | “A Fun Camping Trip” Transcription: “Tanoshii Kyanpu” (Japanese:愉しいキャンプ) | July17,2011 |
15 | “Act of Kindness” Transcription: “Yasashii Koto” (Japanese:やさしい事) | July24,2011 |
16 | “The Wager” Transcription: “Kake” (Japanese:賭) | July31,2011 |
17 | “Temptation” Transcription: “Yūwaku” (Japanese:誘惑) | August7,2011 |
18 | “Gale” Transcription: “Gufū” (Japanese:颶風) | August14,2011 |
19 | “An Ordinary Day” Transcription: “Nandemonai Hi” (Japanese:なんでもない日) | August21,2011 |
20 | “Mask” Transcription: “Kamen” (Japanese:假面) | August28,2011 |
21 | “The Secret Garden” Transcription: “Himitsu no Hanazono” (Japanese:秘密の花園) | September4,2011 |
22 | “Demon Hunting” Transcription: “Akuma-Gari” (Japanese:悪魔狩り) | September11,2011 |
23 | “Truth” Transcription: “Shinjitsu” (Japanese:真実) | September18,2011 |
24 | “Satan’s Spawn” Transcription: “Satan no Ko” (Japanese:魔神の落胤) | September25,2011 |
25 | “Stop, Time” Transcription: “Toki yo Tomare” (Japanese:時よ止まれ) | October2,2011 |
OVA | “Runaway Kuro” Transcription: “Kuro no Iede” (Japanese:クロの家出) | October26,2011 (DVD/Blu-Ray Only) |
2. Blue Exorcist: The Movie (2012)
Blue Exorcist: The Movie was released on December 28, 2012, and was set after the anime-only original arc that the first season ended with. The movie itself is technically not canon, but it is not a complete filler either, as it is based on a spin-off one-shot manga that is part of the main Blue Exorcist lore, but since it’s not a direct adaptation, we cannot consider the movie to be completely canon. But, it should be watched between Seasons 1 and 2 without a doubt.
3. Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga, Season 2 (2017) + OVA 2 and 3
No. | Episode Title | Air Date |
---|---|---|
26 | “Small Beginnings” Transcription: “Kōshi Ranshō” (Japanese:嚆矢濫觴) | January7,2017 |
27 | “Strange Bedfellows” Transcription: “Goetsu Doushū” (Japanese:呉越同舟) | January14,2017 |
28 | “Suspicion Will Raise Bogies” Transcription: “Gishinanki” (Japanese:疑心暗鬼) | January21,2017 |
29 | “Act of Treachery” Transcription: “Haishin Kigi” (Japanese:背信棄義) | January28,2017 |
30 | “Mysterious Connections” Transcription: “Aienkien” (Japanese:合縁奇縁) | February4,2017 |
31 | “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” Transcription: “Menrihōshin” (Japanese:綿裏包針) | February11,2017 |
32 | “Like a Fire Burning Bright” Transcription: “Kienbanjō” (Japanese:気炎万丈) | February18,2017 |
33 | “From Father to Son” Transcription: “Fushi Sōden” (Japanese:父子相伝) | February25,2017 |
34 | “Through Thick and Thin” Transcription: “Setchūshōhaku” (Japanese:雪中松柏) | March4,2017 |
35 | “Unbowed and Unbroken” Transcription: “Futōfukutsu” (Japanese:不撓不屈) | March11,2017 |
36 | “Shine Bright as the Sun” Transcription: “Kōkisanzen” (Japanese:光輝燦然) | March18,2017 |
37 | “Candid and Open” Transcription: “Kyoshintankai” (Japanese:虚心坦懐) | March25,2017 |
OVA2 | “Snake and Poison” Transcription: “Hebi to Doku” (Japanese:蛇と毒) | April4,2017(DVD) |
OVA3 | “Spy Game” Transcription: “Supai Gēmu” (Japanese:スパイ・ゲーム) | October4,2017(DVD) |
4. Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga, Season 3 (2024)
No. | Episode Title | Air Date |
---|---|---|
38 | “The World’s Astir” Transcription: “Zawameku Sekai” (Japanese:ざわめく世界) | January7,2024 |
39 | “Where Secrets Are” Transcription: “Himitsu no Arika” (Japanese: 秘密の在り処) | January 14, 2024 |
40 | “True Cross Academy Festival” Transliteration: “Seijūji Gakuen-Sai” (Japanese: 正十字学園祭) | January 21, 2024 |
41 | “Insider” Transliteration: “Naitsū-sha” (Japanese: 内通者) | January 28, 2024 |
42 | “Destiny” Transliteration: “Unmei” (Japanese: 運命) | February 4, 2024 |
43 | “I Can’t Rely on Anyone” Transliteration: “Mō Dare mo Tayorenai” (Japanese: もう誰も頼れない) | February 11, 2024 |
44 | “Hesitation” Transliteration: “Mayoi” (Japanese: 迷い) | February 18, 2024 |
45 | “Determination” Transliteration: “Kakugo” (Japanese: 覚悟) | February 25, 2024 |
46 | “Help Me” Transliteration: “Tasukete” (Japanese: 助けて) | March 3, 2024 |
47 | “Friends” Transliteration: “Nakama” (Japanese: 仲間) | March 10, 2024 |
48 | “Pink Spider” Transliteration: “Pinku Supaidā” (Japanese: ピンクスパイダー) | March 17, 2024 |
49 | “Hidden True Feelings” Transliteration: “Kakusareta Hon’ne” (Japanese: 隠された本音) | March 24, 2024 |
Where to watch the Blue Exorcist anime?
The only place where you can watch Blue Exorcist regularly is Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll offers the series regularly through simulcast, but you’ll have to watch it in Japanese, with English subtitles. Other streaming services do offer Blue Exorcist as well, but the episodes are not updated regularly, so you won’t be able to watch the latest ones. Also, remember that Crunchyroll does not offer Blue Exorcist episodes in every region of the world.
Will there be more Blue Exorcist anime?
As of the time of writing, there are three seasons of the show. Season 4 has been confirmed soon after the third season concluded and we can expect new episodes to air sometime in Fall.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!
Liked this article? Join us on Reddit for the latest Marvel & DC news!