Toonamiis going through another schedule change, and it includes both the return of theBlue Exorcistanime and the premiere ofMashle: Magic and Muscles. Even with the advent of streaming, Toonami has remained an iconic part of anime culture in the West, with many anime premiering there before anywhere else, such as the recentUzumakiadaptation and the upcomingLazarusanime from Shinichiro Watanabe.
While not as big as it once was, Toonami remains a big part of anime culture, and it’s about to get even bigger. At the Adult Swim panel at New York Comic Con 2024, it was announced that withDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibaseason 4 andRick and Morty: The Animeending,Toonami will be adding bothBlue ExorcistandMashle: Magic and Musclesto their lineup from November 2024, onward. Both anime have garnered much praise as both established and modern hits, so their joining Toonami’s lineup will be nothing but a boon for the block.
Why Blue Exorcist Is Still A Great Addition To Toonami’s Lineup
Originally Aired On Toonami February-August 2014
Blue Exorcistreturns to Toonami for the first time since it first aired over a decade ago, and it’s just as great an addition now as it was then.Toonami animeare known for having great action and entertaining casts of characters from start to finish, and sure enough,Blue Exorcist’s fantasy action and strong character writing hit all the classic beats of a typical Toonami anime. The long gap between seasons has left the series tragically underrated, but with its return to Toonami andBlue Exorcistseason 4 currently airing, that’s bound to change soon.
One odd aspect ofBlue Exorcist’s return, however, is where Toonami is starting with it. WhileBlue Exorcistis in its fourth season,Toonami will airBlue Exorciststarting from season 1, despite season 1 already airing on Toonami over a decade ago. The decision was likely made so anyone who hasn’t seenBlue Exorcistin that time won’t be lost, but it’s a bit of a weird decision, regardless, and hopefully, the following seasons will also air on Toonami to justify the decision.
Why Mashle: Magic & Muscles Is Perfect For Toonami
Mashle: Magic and Muscleshasn’t been on Toonami before, but it’s a great fit for it, nonetheless.Mashle: Magic and Muscleshas become a major hit thanks to its great action and stellar comedy writing, especially season 2, so it’s sure to hit every niche that people typically associate with Toonami. BothBlue ExorcistandMashle: Magic and Musclesare some of the best fantasy anime a person can watch, and with them joiningToonami, even more people are bound to see why that is.
Blue Exorcist
Cast
Blue Exorcist is an anime series that follows Rin Okumura, a teenager discovering he is the son of Satan. Determined to challenge his demonic heritage, Rin enrolls at True Cross Academy to become an exorcist and protect the world from demonic forces. The show explores themes of identity, family, and the battle between good and evil with a mix of action and supernatural elements.
