Anime Expo buzzed with excitement on Friday as fans of the Blue Exorcist franchise were treated to a thrilling surprise. The stage event unveiled a new trailer and key visual for “Ao no Exorcist: Yuki no Hate-hen,” known in English as Blue Exorcist: Beyond the Snow Saga. The reveal, accompanied by Reol’s electrifying opening theme song “Re Rescue,” left the audience eagerly anticipating what’s next.

The upcoming anime promises a return of the franchise’s creative legends: director Daisuke Yoshida, scriptwriter Toshiya Ono, character designer and chief animation director Yurie Oohigashi, and composers Kohta Yamamoto and Hiroyuki Sawano.

Fans can look forward to two cours (24 episodes) of excitement. Blue Exorcist: Beyond the Snow Saga premieres in October 2024, followed by Blue Exorcist: The Blue Night Saga in January 2025. Both parts will stream on Crunchyroll in the US. And it’s safe to assume that for us Malaysians, it will stay on Netflix.

This new saga continues the story from Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga, which premiered in Japan on January 6. Studio VOLN’s direction, along with Yoshida’s leadership, Ono’s scripts, Oohigashi’s character designs, and the dynamic music of Yamamoto and Sawano, created a spellbinding series. UVERworld’s opening theme “Eye’s Sentry” and Mulasaki-Ima’s ending theme “Gakky? Nisshi” (Class Diary) added to the enchantment.

Kazue Kato’s manga, launched in Jump SQ. in 2009, forms the basis of this epic tale. Despite a brief hiatus in 2021, it returned in May 2022 and now boasts over 25 million copies in circulation. Viz Media releases the manga in English, narrating the story of Rin Okumura, who discovers he is the son of the demon lord Satan. Determined to defeat his father, Rin joins True Cross Academy to become an exorcist, battling his demonic heritage while protecting humanity.

The Blue Exorcist saga has evolved over the years, from the 25-episode series in 2011 to the OAV “Blue Exorcist: Kuro Runs Away From Home” and the 2012 film. The 2017 “Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga” brought another wave of excitement with 12 episodes. The franchise also includes several novels and stage plays, captivating fans across various mediums.

With the new saga on the horizon, Blue Exorcist continues to be a force in the anime world, blending action, deep storytelling, and unforgettable characters. Stay tuned as the adventure unfolds!