Beelzebub plot recap, spoiler-light
The anime Beelzebub follows Tatsumi Oga, a notorious delinquent at Ishiyama High, whose life changes forever when he fishes a baby out of a river. This infant is revealed to be Beel, the son of the Great Demon Lord, and Tatsumi finds himself bound to the child by a supernatural contract overseen by the demon maid Hilda. In an attempt to rid himself of this unwanted responsibility, Tatsumi seeks out the Tōhōshinki, the four strongest fighters at his school.
Along the way, he crosses paths with Aoi Kunieda, the leader of the Red Tails gang who develops complicated feelings for him, and battles various threats including the MK5 assassins. Tatsumi faces Hidetora Tojo in a fierce beach duel, and after Beel suffers from a mysterious illness linked to suppressed power, Tatsumi teams up with the Tōhōshinki to defeat Tojo in a rematch. The resulting supernatural fallout completely destroys Ishiyama High, forcing the delinquent students to transfer to the elite Saint Ishiyama academy, where Tatsumi and his allies must navigate a completely different social environment.
What happens at the end of Beelzebub?
Key takeaways
- Tatsumi Oga's journey concludes after intense battles and supernatural training under Zenjirō Saotome.
- The destruction of Ishiyama High leads to a temporary transfer to Saint Ishiyama, where Tatsumi defeats the elite Six Knights.
- One reading of the conclusion suggests Tatsumi's perpetual cycle of babysitting and fighting is destined to continue indefinitely.
- The story ends with Tatsumi returning from the demon world carrying yet another mysterious infant.
Following the destruction of Ishiyama High, the students are forced to transfer to Saint Ishiyama. Here, Tatsumi and his peers face discrimination from the institution's elite faction known as the Six Knights. The conflict culminates in a high-stakes volleyball match, where Tatsumi's team defeats the Six Knights, effectively ending the discrimination against the Ishiyama delinquents.
Although Tatsumi displays blatant supernatural abilities during the match, the school president, who is secretly a demon in disguise, manages to cover up the incident to prevent widespread panic. Shortly after, a new teacher named Zenjirō Saotome arrives at the school. Saotome effortlessly subdues both Tatsumi and Tojo, proving his immense power.
When a group of demons launches an attack on Tatsumi's inner circle, Saotome steps in, reveals his true identity as a Spellmaster, and easily repels the attackers. Recognizing Tatsumi's raw potential and the ongoing threats from powerful human-demon contractors, Saotome takes Tatsumi under his wing and puts him through rigorous training. Tatsumi successfully defeats these formidable contractors using his newly refined abilities.
In the closing scenes of the anime, Tatsumi makes a dramatic return trip from the demon world. The final image of the story shows Tatsumi carrying another mysterious infant, signaling that his chaotic life of involuntary babysitting and supernatural brawling is far from over, leaving his ultimate fate open-ended as the cycle begins anew.
What does the ending of Beelzebub mean?
One reading of the themes in Beelzebub is that responsibility cannot be easily escaped, no matter how much a person resists it. Tatsumi starts out as a selfish delinquent purely motivated by ridding himself of Beel, but he gradually develops a begrudging sense of duty and loyalty toward those around him, including his friends and the demon infant himself. Another interpretation is that the narrative parodies traditional shonen tropes of heroic destiny by treating world-ending demonic powers as an annoying domestic inconvenience rather than a grand calling.
The resolution highlights how growth often comes through unexpected burdens, as Tatsumi's chaotic trials at Ishiyama and Saint Ishiyama transform him into someone capable of protecting both human and demon realms alike. The final scene, featuring a brand-new infant, subverts any sense of a permanent, happily-ever-after conclusion. Instead, it suggests that life's absurd challenges are cyclical, and while Tatsumi has grown stronger, his fundamental dynamic remains unchanged. Ultimately, the story celebrates resilience, found family, and finding humor in the most ridiculous circumstances.
- Beelzebub7.5 / 10
- Mob Psycho 1008.4 / 10
- Bungo Stray Dogs 48.4 / 10
- SPY x FAMILY8.3 / 10
- DAN DA DAN8.3 / 10
Average audience ratings from the source database. Click a title to read its ending explained.
Beelzebub ending FAQ
Who is the baby that Tatsumi finds?
The baby is Beel, the son of the Great Demon Lord, who is sent to the human world to be raised by a human delinquent.
Why does a seal appear on Tatsumi's hand?
The seal is a supernatural mark confirming Tatsumi's contract with Beel, and it grows in complexity based on Tatsumi's malevolence and combat.
What happens to Ishiyama High?
Ishiyama High is completely destroyed during the intense rematch battle between Tatsumi and Hidetora Tojo after Beel's suppressed power is unleashed.
Does Aoi Kunieda figure out her feelings for Tatsumi?
Aoi frequently misunderstands Tatsumi's blunt nature, often believing he has romantic intentions or is married to Hilda, which causes her a great deal of confusion.
How does the anime end?
The anime concludes with Tatsumi returning from the demon world after completing training and defeating contractors, only to find himself holding another mysterious infant.
