From the animation and the needle drops, to the blood splattering and Dante's cockiness, Devil May Cry is one helluva awesome entry into the iconic franchise.
Devil May Cry Anime Review
I remember playing Devil May Cry at a friend's house when it first came out back in 2001. As a fan of Mortal Kombat, I was excited to play another game that promised some seriously wicked fighting. It did not disappoint. With a solid storyline, bad*ss main character, and some epic action sequences, it's no wonder the game became popular. Since then DMC has expanded to 5 main games, light novels, and manga with an anime series developed by Adi Shankar and Alex Lawson debuting April 3 on Netflix. Translating video games to TV shows has always proved to be a daunting task, but the latest offerings from The Last of Us to Fallout have proved it can be done if the right person(s) are at the helm.
Fortunately for DMC fans, Shankar and Lawson knew exactly what to do with Dante, Lady, and the rest of the roster. Not only do they fully embrace the carnage of the games – showing off a kill that would get you at least “sadistic” in the game within the first minute – but it also leans all the way into Dante's easygoing, irreverent attitude, while still hitting important emotional beats. From Dante's swagger and fighting style to the animation and needle drops, Devil May Cry is one helluva awesome entry into the franchise.
The show starts out with what is essentially a long cutscene to establish the rules and introduce the characters. Some of this may feel like a repeat for longtime fans but it allows newcomers to get up to speed quickly just like any good episode 1 of an anime. Devil May Cry takes place in a world similar to our own, the only difference is that demons live among us and only a select few individuals know of their existence. Those people are demon hunters, skilled fighters whose job it is to eliminate the threat of these evil forces. The best and most notorious among them is the self-assured, pizza-loving, ladies man Dante (Johnny Yong Bosch who actually voices Nero in the games). Despite his carefree attitude, Dante is more important to this battle to save humanity than he realizes. But when he becomes targeted by the monster White Rabbit (Hoon Lee) and DARKCOM (the shadow government organization), Dante learns he's not exactly human himself.
Unlike Castlevania which was primarily based on Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, Shankar has taken a different approach to his Devil May Cry anime. Playing with and contributing to the lore but not being beholden to it, DMC isn't based on a single game or even a specific light novel. Rather, the anime takes elements from across the entire franchise to create something that can stand on its own while also calling back to key moments and players. For example The White Rabbit never actually appeared in any of the games but originated in the manga adaptation of Devil May Cry 3, the same game that also brought Mary Arkham aka Lady (Scout Taylor-Compton) into the mix. The storyline might not follow any one game but it captures the essence of the characters and the tone of the source material to a tee.
As soon as the trailer dropped set to Papa Roach's Last Resort, we knew this show would be pretty amazing. Or at the very least the needle drops would be fire. That style of rock music instantly took us all back to those living room couches, furiously mashing buttons as we slaughtered demons. Devil May Cry captures the aesthetic of the world we were living in when the original game was released with easter eggs not only for the games themselves but also ones for the 90s/early 00s. From snarky one-liners about Skeletor to referencing films like The Matrix Reloaded, DMC proudly wears the golden age of millennials on its leather sleeves. Not to mention we also get a brand-new Evanescence song “Afterlife” which feels like a gift none of us dared to hope for.
Studio Mir has once again killed it with their level of detail and character design for some stunning visual storytelling. Both the human world and Makai (the demon realm) are meticulously crafted making it impossible to take it all in the first time around. I went back to watch the season a second time through and caught elements I completely missed before. Obviously the action is a mainstay in the games and the blood spraying, brain spattering, limb severing is very much a treat in the show. But even the slower moments, where the characters are allowed a minute to breathe and grow are something special. There is one episode in particular, one that doesn't follow the flow of the others, that is sure to have everyone talking. It takes us into the backstory of two key characters and it does so with varying animation styles and sparse dialogue. By the end of it questions are answered and a deeper understanding and relationship to these characters are developed.
Animation, visuals, and game-accurate music aside, Devil May Cry takes time to explore its characters, their motivations, and ask questions that the games never really concerned themselves with. The Netflix series explores the consequences of Sparda's rebellion in the demon realm and how the aftermath shaped the lives of the demons who both sided with him and against him. This is shown somewhat in Dante's arc as he learns to accept his bloodline and legacy but more so takes center stage in Lady's story. She is the character who ultimately changes the most in season 1 as she must face her own prejudices and decide if the “others” are really worth vilifying.
Lady is a somber, determined, and fierce character who despite some amazing comebacks generally plays everything as serious as a demon attack. She is the perfect contrast for Dante, who is more of a jokester even when his life is on the line. At one point he shows off his dance moves because apparently this Dante secretly loves Dance Dance Revolution. They make for great pair and their stories allow the audience to see the parallels between their stories. Taylor-Compton is great at bringing that ferocity to Lady without making her feel too stiff or boring. Bosch is clearly having fun playing another cool, bad*ss character (Dante reminds me of a more overconfident Ichigo). He chews the scenery, busts out some corny one-liners, all while looking effortlessly cool – even the demons can't help but notice it.
Lee is delightfully calculating, charming, and wicked all at once as the White Rabbit. This version of the character establishes him as a true threat to not only Dante but the human world as a whole. At first his character is a true theatrical villain, that would feel right at home in any video game. But once the mask slips, Lee takes his pain to new depths, leaving behind the cartoonish flair for a more tragic approach. Special mention goes to the posthumous performance of Kevin Conroy (the best Batman) as Vice President Baines. He brought an air of mystery and fascination to this character, even if you know who he is and what he is up to. In fact he is quite opposite from the game version, making him all the more chilling.
Verdict
Jackpot.
Adi Shankar and team have created one epic series with Devil May Cry. It was a smart move to take the iconic game and make it into an anime, as this formula allows for brilliant world-building, killer action, and deep character studies. Shankar understands this world and the lasting impact it has had on fans across the globe. By playing in the sandbox but making it his own, The Devil May Cry anime is one demon-slaughtering, bloody, devil of a good time for longtime fans and newcomers alike. All the pieces are in place for a second season that will take us into the ever-growing conflict between the humans and the demons, with another key player (who is hinted at in the beginning) brought into the action. Guns crossed that we get to return to this world with Shankar and crew soon.
Devil May Cry season 1 premiered April 3 on Netflix.
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