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Beelzebub



Beelzebub is a 60-episode series which follows the antics of the high school delinquent Oga Tatsumi and a baby that came from a man floating downriver. His best friend Furuichi Takayuki could not believe that the kid is a son of the demon king sent to be trained in the human world and afterwards destroy it until he saw what the baby could do.

At the start of the series, Oga and Furuichi tried to find a new host for Baby Beel among the students at Ishiyama High. The school, notoriously known for its delinquents, is full of strong hosts who might be capable of withstanding Beel's powers. Beel grows fonder of Oga the longer they are together but it's becoming difficult for Oga to control the baby's temper. What's more, Oga has to deal with wet nurse Hildegarde and dimensional transfer demon Alaindelon. They instruct Oga how to take special care of the baby.




New characters are introduced during Oga's search for a new human parent. The prospect of getting rid of the baby seemed even more possible when Oga learns of the Touhoushinki, the four strongest students of Ishiyama.  The first member he meets, Hajime Kanzaki, seemed promising with his drop heel kick but Oga defeated him easily. Himekawa Tatsuya has more brains than Kanzaki and money besides but he was no match for Oga's strength as well. The choices left are Kunieda Aoi, the strongest female in Ishiyama, and Tojo Hidetora, rumored to be the strongest of the Touhoushinki. Meanwhile, Beel's admiration for Oga grows stronger with every opponent he defeats.


Oga and Baby Beel with the Touhoushinki

The series later shifts to new opponents when Ishiyama's strength was questioned when the strongest of the delinquents temporarily move to a new school and Beel's brother issues a challenge to his claim on the throne. Although the setting is a school, an overused setting in most recent series, the lead character is an unusual type. He is neither smart nor sympathetic and good-natured. Neither does he have a tragic back story that makes him a brooding, quiet type. Oga is boisterous, average at best, and usually tactless. Coupled with Beel's cuteness, they make a fun combo to watch.


Beel, Oga, and Furuichi

One of the strengths of the series is its unforgettable supporting cast. The humor is effective because the diverse characters sometimes clash or blend so well together. Their distinct personalities make them easy to love and remember. 

The fight scenes are as good as the comedy as well. I did not expect this from a gag anime but the individual and group fights are something to look forward to. Be it hand-to-hand combat, magic, or weapons-based (even hard court action), Beelzebub has plenty to offer. The story isn't lost as well even with so much goofing around and a lot of filler episodes. 

Just a couple of episodes into the series and I was hooked. I wish there were more. It was too good and too short. The characters are hilarious, the action scenes awesome, and the cliche looked fresh for a while. I definitely enjoyed every part of it, something I couldn't easily say for most anime even among my favorites.


The Zebul mark

Rating: 10 out of 10
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