#100chapsofaoex

Everyone has that one show or book or story that's really special to them, and Blue Exorcist is mine. Maybe it was the cool story, maybe the unique and well-rounded characters, or maybe the perfect blend of action, comedy, and meaning put into the series, but for whatever reason, the whole thing just really stuck with me. After a lot of pushing from my friend, I decided to try to join Tumblr and get online to interact with the fandom.

Well, how I found Blue Exorcist isn’t a very interesting story: browsing through the anime selection on Netflix.

I was looking for a fandom in which to escape what was going on in my life and had watched/read a few other anime and manga, but none of them enraptured me like AnE! The plot, the characters, the art style! Everything was amazing, in my opinion.

So, after binge-watching it, I read the manga, and that was it.  The first season of the anime was a let down in the fact that the latter half was not canon, but the manga and second season more than made up for it once I found them. The manga is totally worth the read (and to buy, if you have the extra money! Support Kato!).That’s when I knew I’d found it: my new favorite fandom!  I was happily stuck.

Shortly after, I started dipping my toes in and started doing fan art and then fan fiction, much like I had for other fandoms ten years prior. It felt nice to have something creative spark in me after almost tens years of drought, so I’m grateful for the a lot of things that AnE/BE has brought into my life: new friends, wonderful art and stories, and my own creativity coming back!

I don’t hope for another 100 chapters, necessarily, but whatever amount allows the series to conclude in the awesome way it deserves! 

     I was into Ane back in 2011 but I didn't read the manga so i just moved onto other anime, but after S2 came i just jumped back in. When i went to read the manga i was amazed how much the story has grown into and learning about the worlds history, also how far future events were foreshadowed blows me away (especially how these chapters come out monthly) 

I’m absolutely sure that I could write a whole book about how much I love Ao no Exorcist but I will try to shorten it all, as much as I can. So, the first stage of my love for AnE began with the first season of the anime, but to be honest it was a transitional stage. Like, at this time I fell in love with Mephy and Angel (first time ) but then it fell into shadow. Later, it was probably anime again – but I really have a black hole here. I must admit that I don’t remember exactly under what circumstances I have drawn myself into the manga, but it happened and when it did, I had a feeling that it was and it will be my only, even obsessive love. So as soon as I started reading the next chapters, there was no turning back, I just couldn’t stop heh. I recently completed my AnE manga collection (in Polish, 20 volumes + Time Killers, now I’m waiting for 21 volume…and also recently I finished rereading all 20 volumes – like aaaaaaagh God, I JUST CAN’T READ 93 UP BECAUSE DAMN MY HEART T.T ). What can’t be missed  is that thanks to this huge love for AnE I found wonderful The Blue Knight forum, where after some time I also created an account. Really ... you don’t know how much I'm happy that I could join this fandom and meet so many intelligent and nice people who create a really nice atmosphere, genius theories and lead interesting discussions (I belong to people who prefer to read rather than write anything but I also try to have my contribution xd). Also here on Tumblr and in the AnE thread on redd.it

What do I love in AnE?

(By Blue-Exorcist-Muse aka HailsShard)

I've put this off long enough. It's time to get into it.

How I Got Into the Fandom

I think I first got into the fandom after seeing Blue Exorcist show up on my Netflix recommendations after watching Soul Eater, my gateway anime. I decided to roll my eyes and give it watch, finding it was far better than I thought it was going to be.

Then I drifted off, got caught up in my first fandom, toxicity and discourse ensued and I left, deciding I needed a better place to stay. After spending days alone with no activity, wandering around DeviantArt, FFN, and Tumblr at the young age of 14-15-ish, I remembered my fondness for Blue Exorcist and thought maybe I'd dip my toes in the water over there.

If fandoms were a lake, then Blue Exorcist was one of the clearest lakes I'd seen in awhile and when I took the plunge, I was refreshed to find endless bounds of creativity and compassion.

From then on, I had found my new niche.

What the Series Means to Me As a Whole

Blue Exorcist holds a special place in my heart, it's my niche, the place I come home to after exploring. Those I follow in the fandom are kind, discourse-free blogs who respect each other's opinions and I appreciate that more than anything.

The anime is gorgeous, it's animation is bouncy and flexible and colorful. It's got the edgiest premise in the history of ever and it turned the first five episodes into a slice of life comedy, then as the darkness and seriousness increased, it was too late to back out and I watched until the end.

When I found out there was a manga, I read, starting at the Kyoto Arc, and was more than pleased to find such beautiful bonds and wonderful development. The Illuminati Arc brought forth some even more terrifying experiences and God I was hooked from then.

This series has been my life boat in times of stress, it's the one thing I looked forward to in life, and it helped me get through school. Fo that, I owe the series a loyalty that could never be paid away.

Why Anime Only Fans Should Read the Manga

I think a better question would be: Why shouldn't you?

From the breathtaking visual art to the beautiful plot to the 3-dimensional characters, there's so much to choose from.

Without spoiling anything, I'll summarize. It provides background and gives each of the characters a beautiful arc. It contains the best character development seen since the beginning of storytelling.

It showcases Shiemi's strength and lets her shine.

It puts a spotlight on Konekomaru's intelligence and leadership abilities.

It pushes Ryūji's desire for self-improvement.

It provides Izumo with the wonderful tragic backstory we were all hoping for.

Same for goes for Shura.

It gives Renzō more of a reason to exist outside of "every anime needs a flirtatious playboy."

It lengthens Yukio's development in more than one way.

It tells how Rin fights his inner demons and grows stronger everyday.

And all of it hits painfully close to realistic and relatable. It's one of, if not THE MOST underrated and beautiful manga of all time. It deserves more attention.

(I hope I'm not to late)

I saw @aonotrashorcist create a campaign for the 100th chapter of Ao No Exorcist, so I wanted to make my submission for it ^^;;

Despite being kind of boring I really enjoy how I got into the series, because at the time, it didn’t seem like something I’d get really into. I was in high school (bout 6 years ago?), and usually at the beginning of the day my friends and I would hang out in the french classroom before class would start. I’m just sitting there waiting and all the sudden one of my friends comes up and was like “RACHEL!!!! I started this REALLY AWESOME manga last night, you HAVE to check it out!!!” She then proceeded to briefly give me the plot. I remember being really freaked out at first. I grew up catholic, so the concept of a series where the main character is the son of satan just kinda...spooked me I guess is the word? (even though i never really believed in hell or satan it was still a weird subject for me). I was really unsure about it, but I took her word and went for it anyways. She was WAY more religious than I ever was, so it couldn’t be THAT bad right? I couldn’t put it down after that! xD I remember spending most of my free time reading it. I even remember reading it before school one day and leaving off at the chapter where rin uses his flames to protect shiemi during the camp and spent ALL day just thinking “OMG BON SAW HIM DO THAT WTF”. My friend and I would argue over the characters, like which brother was better (i was for rin, she was for yukio xD though both are great in their own ways :-P). At the time there were only 27 chapters out, so seeing it come this far the way it has and it having been my favorite series of all time for this long has been kind of awesome xD I don’t think I’ve ever followed a series for so long, so it’s definitely a first!