To fully appreciate what's going on, you may want to be knowledgeable with either the manga or the anime since the film wouldn't do the introductory work for the characters and world. Speaking of which, the film really brought the world of Blue Exorcist to life. In the anime, they only showed some parts of the academy and town but the movie showcased a tour on a larger scale. Because it's set during festival time, the academy and city surrounding it are full of lights and color. It's definitely amazing during the scenes that took place at night. Everything was so well detailed that it gave me a bigger grasp of what the world of Blue Exorcist is.
The film's story may not be considered as original or groundbreaking, but it's still well executed and tugs my heart strings with its message. The film-only characters are also well done, though one is more well-rounded than the other due to who takes the most priority with the movie's themes. The characters are also fun to watch and the film confirms to me that Rin definitely has a heart of gold.
As I mentioned previously, the artwork of this film is so well done and beautiful. The animation is great as expected for Blue Exorcist and the OST is great.
Watch the anime or read the manga first, but definitely don't miss out on this film. It's a great addition to Blue Exorcist and you won't regret it.
