Devilman: Crybaby

Story: The Story in Crybaby was very good, the pacing was solid throughout the entire story, it never felt like there was unnecessary dips, and it managed to push through to the end and conclude in a satisfying way, which many shows nowadays fail to do.

As someone who had never previously read Devilman or watched any adaptation, all of the twists that were present in the classic series were new to me, and most were well done, they are hard to predict until the show wants you to know or gives large hints, it does well at subverting your expectations.

9/10

Art: Art is something that ... I felt was not a high point in the series, it had solid animation and went for a very deliberate style, and did well in capturing the feel of the classic art style of Go Nagai, however doing something for the sake of homage is not necessarily always the best possible choice, I'm sure many will disagree with me here, but again I have no ties to original series.

7/10

Sound: I loved the music in this show, especially the Opening which is one of my favourites that I've heard in general, but beyond the music the sound effects and such were consistently good, but nothing really beyond just good.

7/10

Character: Easily the best part of Devilman Crybaby is the characters, every single character is so well done, everything is deliberate, everything is consistent, and interesting Akira is one of the best characters I've seen in a long time, he doesn't fall into any overarching category, he as a character is incredibly unique and his relationships with the other characters especially Miki and Ryo are just incredible.

10/10

Enjoyment: This series was really damn enjoyable the action was solid if a bit sparse but when it did happen, it was incredible, with the soundtrack and voice acting backing it up, the switch flipping at the end of episode one is when I knew I was going to love this series

9/10

Overall Rating: While I'd love to give this a 10, I didn't think everything was executed as well as it could have been, it's extremely close to a 10 but it's not quite there, some things did feel like they were passed over fairly quickly, and some aspects of the show did feel more standard than outstanding.

9/10

A wild Masaaki Yuasa appears! Yuasa uses adaptation of a classic! It’s super effective!


Where to begin. As many of you know Masaaki Yuasa is one of the current leading anime directors. Always pushing boundaries wherever he can. His previous works have all been pretty spectacular, so when I’ve heard about him adapting Devilman, a classic 70s manga that shaped the manga industry as a whole and inspired numerous artists, I was pretty excited. And now after watching the series I must say that the hype is well deserved.


First of all Devilman itself is far from flawless. The series is pretty dated, the humour is ... awkward to say the least, the characters are mostly bland and the story itself is filled with ridiculous plot devices and asspulls up the…well ass. So I was hoping that Yuasa is gonna “fix” the flaws of Devilman and modernize it. And he did it. The story’s core message and plot stays mostly the same. We get some new characters and some new twists here and there. The story indeed is modernized but it’s done naturally. There are some iffy moments here and there, some plot holes and out of nowhere stuff but nothing major.


Biggest positive about this adaptation is added depth to its characters. The manga’s characters were shallow, at times almost caricatures. Crybaby gives everybody several layers. Even Miki who in the original was sort of a “thing” for Akira to protect/depend upon works on her own well here. No awkward “you’re making me horny” phrases and no creepy chuckling. This in return adds a lot of emotional resonance between you and the cast. The manga left me mostly cold, but the anime moved me in a ways I was not expecting.


The biggest negative is sadly it’s pacing. Yuasa works fast and story needs to keep moving, plus the manga itself was very fast paced (especially towards the end), but Crybaby has very strange pacing issues. It stays still at times when characters are having important moments but blitzes through important battles and some important plot points. This could very well be intentional so I am not gonna knock it until I’ll re watch it to determine if it was indeed intentional.


The production is obviously godlike, if this is what Yuasa with good budget is, I want more. Animation is more on model so this is probably Yuasa at his normiest. But that hardly takes away from the fact that the CGI is virtually undetectable and very well blended. The colours serve purpose as always and dictate the tone and mood of the scenes well without being too overpowering. Yuasa also somehow gets even better at directing. Camera work in the early episodes feels very real and the movements add to the overall message that the scene dictates. The music is great (Kensuke Ushio can have my babies) from hard synths to organs. I was expecting rock/metal style of soundtrack but I am not mad at all. Oh and there’s some rapping. And it’s great!


And now for my final point…the 18+ stuff. Yes there is extreme gore. Yes there is nudity and sex. And I love it. But some people might not, so beware! There are guts flying everywhere, people getting their heads blown off and there are nips, asses and even 1 uncensored female crotch shot. But this stuff doesn’t serve purpose of being there just as fan service. It works together with the story and builds characterization and themes. Plus there are some pretty drastic scenes. Definitely not for the faint-hearted. If you are one of those people, avoid Devilman Crybaby at all costs!


Ps. for Yuasa - Boy if you don't chill with all the meta jokes

This will be my first review ever so i hope i can do this right :)

As a big Devilman fan, having read tons of manga, spinoffs, watching OVAs etc. I was waiting for a true adaptation of the manga. One that captures everything that the manga expresses.
And i have to say, i have never seen an adaptation of a manga more true than this one.
You have to think about the fact that this is an adaptation of a manga that was created back in 1973. So of course it can't be depicted exactly the same as in the manga.
Note: Please be aware that this ... Anime contains a lot of graphic content (blood, gore, sex ... a lot)

Story 9/10:
I don't even want to go too much into the story, because you get the gist by reading the synopsis. It's nothing too special but build up in a fantastic way with, in my opinion, a perfect ending.

Art 10/10:
If you liked "Ping Pong the Animation" or "Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei" then this anime will be the perfect treat for you, at least visually.
It uses a special artstyle that is kinda weird to look at first, but you get used to it very fast. It fits perfectly and is a good replacement of the old artstyle of the Devilman Manga.

Sound 10/10:
Sometimes theres music in animes you don't even notice and sometimes there is music in animes that hits you in the right spots. This is the latter. Kensuke Ushio did an amazing job capturing the right emotions and feelings with his music in the right time.

Character 9/10:
They did something here that i didn't expect, but it worked out perfectly.
They replaced some characters and gave them kinda new personalities, without changing the plot or the relationships between the main characters.
They made it much more modern. That is a good thing and made the story much more enjoyable.

Enjoyment 10/10:
I had so much fun watching this anime, even though i knew all the plottwists and everything, because Masaaki Yuasa just knows exactly what he had to do to revive the spirit of the Manga. There was no boring episodes or developements etc.. I was fully absorbed in the world of Devilman.

I can fully recommend this anime. It was finally a true adaptation and made me so happy :)
I hope i could help and wish you guys a lot of fun :)

The (nearly) perfect adaptation.

This show is a love letter to Devilman, covered in blood and semen and delivered wrapped around a brick though someone's skull.

Reminiscent of the crudest of 90's OVA, half-way between a brutal gore-flick and pornography, Crybaby revels with self-indulgent ecstasy in the smut and violence of the original, ramping it up even higher, with brilliant production quality and several good reasons for its inclusion it is a feast for the eyes where tender introspection and character moments come between the most extreme abuses of the human form and this series' invention of the airborne-murder-rape.

It is hence in spirit extremely faithful to ... the original, it updates heavily in setting, elaborates on some ideas, includes new characters, cuts some bits out and overall is a much more focused piece, and were it not for the last episode, it would have been the perfect adaptation, anything I could have ever wanted, but alas, while even that episode is a thrilling and interesting one, it makes, with slight deviations from the manga, the only few changes that actually hurt it in comparison, and this is alteration of some of the final conversations, which undercut much of the show up to that point.

But aside from that one little blunder, it's nearly sheer perfection, it's pace is fast, it's gripping beyond belief(I have watched the entire series back to back while drooling and laughing maniacally) and overall one of the single most pleasant experiences I have had with any work of cinema.

I can't believe i live in a timeline, where this actually happened. Some crazy exces at Netflix threw a wad of cash to Yuasa, and asked him to do whatever he wanted, and in that, managed to adapt one of the seminal mangas, that inspired most major classic.

The influences of Devilman can not be understated, published in 1972, and later turned nto a water down tv anime, its been n inspiration on most modern authors.

from Hideki Ano, to Miura, every one of them have been touched by this story.

featuring what can ... only be described as the ultimate form of violence and bleakness, it looks to give an antiwar message, second to no other work of fiction.

Watch this, and you'll understand where Ano's mind was when he made End of Evangelion,
Its poetic, that Yuasa would then take all these classic works of animation, and would use them to fuel his own lysergic psycho sexual masterpiece.

10/10 watch and awe.

DEVILMAN crybaby is a brutal and brilliant masterpiece from Yuasa Masaaki, a visionary director who has worked an absolute miracle in this adaptation of Go Nagai's enduring series.

Here is an anime that is so boldly, exuberantly and gloriously itself that it holds nothing back and takes no prisoners. We become happy, eager victims of what becomes one of the most simultaneously celebratory and gut-wrenching experiences ever animated.

Full of blood, sex and violence, this isn't a series for the easily perturbed. From its first sincere and sadistic minutes, you'll know if you can stomach the rest of it. The entire breadth of this series will ... leave you feeling utterly wretched. Its deceptively simple story is painted with masterful strokes by Yuasa, who directs with such vibrancy and life, it's downright inspiring. If you're familiar with Mind Game, Kemonozume and Kaiba, DEVILMAN crybaby will feel especially familiar.

So vagueness and adulation aside, what's this series?

The short of it is that timid, optimistic, crybaby high-schooler Akira becomes a Devilman -- a half-human, half-demon hybrid that has a voracious appetite for food, women and fighting. Akira undergoes the typical power fantasy transformation of the mild-mannered loser who becomes attractive, bold and strong. But he's still a crybaby, after all is said and done. What lives inside him is a strong sense of wanting to do good, despite battling not only demons, but also his own newfound impulses and urges. There's of course that clear irony of a devil teaching others about love, sacrifice and humanity. But that's the type of show DEVILMAN crybaby is -- it takes all our assumptions and pounds them into dust.

The rest of the characters consist of Akira's best friend and resident sociopath, Ryo, and the sweet-tempered girl-next-door (well, they live in the same house), Miki. The remainder of cast is peppered with excellent and memorable supporting characters, including the pitiable Miko, and my favourite, Wamu, the leader of a group of Japanese rappers who act and serve as a Greek chorus, narrating the events of the series through their freestyling.

This hardly registers as a complaint, but if there was one notable shortcoming of this series is its breakneck pace. We hardly have time to breathe as it lunges forward through its story and character development. This works most of the time and it doesn't hurt the anime in any meaningful way. The creators trust us to figure things out and not have the obvious spelled out for us. For instance, Akira embraces his newfound power instantaneously -- his musings about his existence as a hybrid come later. And perhaps this was the intention. There's no time wasting here. Every second has a point. However, I can't help but imagine some of the emotional sucker punches that could have been had they spent a few more minutes expanding a story thread or a character arc.

As for the technical aspects, this anime is a wondrous assault on the senses. The animation and art style are superb, but of course, if you're familiar with Yuasa's work, you can freeze frame on certain moments and find some woefully and hilariously bad work. I consider it charming at this point and a marker that yeah, this is surely something he's had a hand in. The music utilises synth and it pulses, beating like a electric heart in time with the action on screen.

This is the type of anime that comes rarely -- one made with vision, purpose and meaning, and not churned out as a seasonal filler meant to sate the black hole of empty consumption that is the industry at present.

DEVILMAN crybaby is that desperate gulp of air a drowning soul craves.

This is such a fantastic anime. All the way around. Words aren’t enough as far as i’m concerned. I had written a breakdown for each episode but that wasnt adequate enough to describe it all. I needed more emotional feelings to describe this one. As Devilman Crybaby itself is a very emotional story.

The characters are some of the most well written characters ive ever seen. They are well rounded, smart, and human. The animation is simply is vibrant and fantastic and so aesthetically pleasing its crazy how much i loved the animation its stretches the standard for what an anime can do with its visuals ... for sure. The dub was amazing and really well done. Burns, McCarley, Vee, Leigh, Bosch, and Papenbrook all delivered some of their best work here.

I really feel like im not selling this enough, but please, please watch it.

**FULL SPOILERS THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH ONLY**

Akira’s struggle with his demon side is really interesting to see. Ryo’s descendant into being a non human and learning he’s actually Satan!!! That was crazy and i totally didnt see that coming. The metaphor that the track team represents is really good as it symbolizes humanity having to rely on each other and how we should help each other in this “relay race” we call life. Miki’s speech in episode 8 hit me so hard. Her saying to everyone that Akira has a big heart and how him crying is him crying for other people and not himself. How him crying is him shouldering that burden for others. That hit me really hard. Miko’s struggle to set herself apart from Miki and how she always felt inadequate in comparison is crazy relatable.

**SPOILERS DONE**

This anime…….this anime…….this is one i’ll never forget. This is one i’ll think about for a long time and will reference for even longer still. Its themes of “What does it mean to be human?”, “What is justice?”, and “What is the right thing to do?” are so amazing really. I think this one just cracked my top 3 ever.

Devilman Crybaby is so damn good. You really cant afford to miss it. Now go! Run! Watch it!!

"Dear Enemy, all that makeup that you wear... will never hide, there's a devil under there." - Night Club, "Dear Enemy"

Devilman Crybaby- it's a difficult piece of work to truly encompass when you look at its legacy, and the inextricable legacy of its creator, Go Nagai. I could probably spend 10 hours talking about what all anime, creators, writers, and directors have been directly influenced by Nagai, Nagai's works, and creations, but I'm going to try and do it in 9.

A little background on Nagai before we get started: Go Nagai is to anime/manga what Ozzy Osbourne and King Diamond are to rock music. ... Go Nagai is to anime/manga what Gilgamesh is to literature. Go Nagai is to anime/manga what Metropolis is to film, and particularly scifi/special effects.
The guy has a career spanning five decades, many genres, and is credited for pioneering the Giant Robot genre with Mazinger Z, and also credited with creating the progenitor to modern hentai with Harenchi Gakuen, or "shameless school" in English. He would also later codify the magical girl genre with Cutie Honey, and singlehandedly launched the Shonen Jump magazine into popularity with the scandalous (at the time) Harenchi Gakuen. Literally millions of the fledgling Shonen Jump magazines jumped out of the nest of bookstores in Japan at the time to be flown through by readers of the day.

All of this before 1972, mind you. (Yes, i know Mazinger Z and Devilman were concurrent publications, hush.)

Cue June 11, 1972. Devilman Hits the shelf. Japan is wowed by the ultraviolence that Nagai becomes known for- but all is not senseless beatdowns and buckets of blood- for Devilman has a plot! And no, the plot wasn't just to sell a lot of comic books and make Nagai a rich man and household name, though those were unexpected positive externalities!

Skip to today, Devilman as an intellectual property has sold over 50 million copies, has nine novels, multiple anime and manga iterations, and a number of crossover appearances, not to mention its direct influence on the shonen genre as a whole, which we'll jump into now. Hideaki Anno has even cited Devilman as influence for Evangelion. That's how influential it is.

In 2018- Devilman is certainly a breath of fresh air. The landscape of anime is largely square, prefab, calculated risks created by corporations protecting their investments. Anime is an advertising machine, trying to get people to buy the producers' and publishers' newest manga acquisitions with "read the manga to find out what happens next!!!" endings. Anime is a niche market, we know this- but anime has seemingly stagnated in terms of creativity- lots of magical high schools, put upon protagonists with shaggy hair and no parents, etc. Rarely do you see studios or production companies take risks licensing old names like Devilman. This manga is from 1972, it's old enough to be any given manga artist today's dad!

Devilman was certainly a risk. Netflix fronted studio "Science Saru" the funds to create a 10 episode series based on the manga, and probably spent half the budget getting Masaaki Yuasa of Tatami Galaxy fame to direct the thing. Does it help that this anime was produced outside the normal avenues of production? Absolutely. I doubt this anime would have been made any other way.

For one- the best, and probably only way to adapt any of Go Nagai's works (remember that I said he's known for ultraviolence, as well has heavily sexual themes and content) is to do it AWAY from TV. Nagai himself has stated that when he wrote Devilman, he wrote it for adults, 18+, and so the controversy surrounding its depiction of violence, blood, guts, and sex didn't bother him, because it was always intended for adults to read, and not children. As anyone who's ever played an M rated video game online, we know that this is not necessarily the case, that only adults consume media made for adults, but in this case, Devilman got made because Netflix's producers aren't children.

So, we've got a lot of highly stylized sex, violence, and machspeed thanks to Yuasa's frenetic directing style, but where's the substance? Enter hero Akira Fudo, a put upon teen with shaggy hair. He does actually have parents, even if they're away, and amazingly, he doesn't attend a high school where everyone has magical powers. In fact, everyone seems refreshingly normal, except for his bsupremely intelligent, rich, scandinavian beaut of a best friend, Ryo. His powers are more like Batman, however.

Again with the shonen influences, you'd be hard-pressed to find more of (what are now) shonen tropes in a single show. Devilman was the progenitor to supernatural and religious horror in manga, introduced duality of man issues, inner struggles with literal demons, absorption of souls/powers, etc etc. I haven't seen every shonen series ever made, but I'd be willing to bet you could find some example of a shonen trope that was initiated by Devilman.


It's not a spoiler to say that Akira becomes possessed by a demon- otherwise how else would he become Debiruman? However, it would be criminal of me to disturb the plot for anyone else beyond this initial possession. Akira learns of other demons possessing people, and as a half man, half devil, he takes it upon himself to put and end to the malevolent presence.

The series really takes a turn just past halfway through, and though this adaptation certainly skips a lot of the manga in its pithy 10 episode run, I feel like the major points all hit home amid a sexy, violent, blood filled romp. Everything is highly stylized, but graphic and disturbing at points to where it doesn't become overplayed and complacent. As a viewer, I never felt like I expected XY outcomes, and at certain points, it subverts many expectations I had from watching countless other anime play out, turning them right on its head. Nietzsche himself would be impressed with this one, I think.

While the plot itself is breakneck in pace, and has some issues (such as Akira being given a phone early in the show, and his mother calls him, yet she would have had no way of knowing that he even had a phone, let alone the number to call), I think that many of these are caused by pure omission of manga details (cut for time), and by creating a modern day adaptation of a 45 year old manga, in a time when the internet and cell phones didn't exist. The importance of these creature comforts and connectivity we take for granted today are integral to the plot, and I assume were not present in the manga, because social media is an advent of the new age. The show also features some great dark, pulsating electronic music that fits the tone exceptionally well. Top marks for sound design.

Once you get to the end though, like an episode of Arrested Development or Seinfeld, those little plot points from the beginning that didn't make much sense, or that side character that seemed unimportant come into focus and suddenly gain a lot of meaning. Things people say, actions people take, they all have a character and a role to play, and I would go so far as to say that no one in this show has a sweeping 180 of character for no reason, something that can't be said for anime. It all stays tightly wound until the ending, and what a shock it is.

*Disclamer* English is not my native language and I apologies for any grammar errors in this review.

Just finished binge the entire show on Netflix and thought it was very engaging and powerful.

I never read the manga or saw any of the original anime but did a quick search what it was about and have heard great things about the source material. Also I heard that Miura's Berserk had taking influence from the manga which made me even more interested.

The first few episodes was to me utter madness, there was a lot of gore, nudity and bright colors. It left me in shock but captivated ... me at the same time, reminiscent of the first time I read Berserk or like watching the music video Mihonichi Me! Me! Me! for the first time. I could not stop watching and jumped right to next episode as the previous ended.

Now to the rating.

Story: 8/10

The story spaning through the series is very interesting and engaging. It caught my interest right away and kept me engaged to the very end even with some hiccups along the way which was all based on pacing errors. The pacing was throughout a bit to fast for my taste and it seemed to me that the story would have felt less rushed with a couple of more episodes in there. But as I don't know the source material I can't say if there wasn't anymore material to work with. If that is the case it still isn't an excuse as this series still needs to stay on it's own two legs even if it has to deviate from the source material in doing so. That is the reason the story gets an 8 instead of a 9 or 10. The premiss and philosophical ideas and the ending would get a 10 from me if it weren't for the pacing.

Art: 9/10

The art felt a bit dated but I actually think they did that on purpose as the animations are really smooth and good overall. The design of the characters and locations where overall very good and pleasing to the eye, especially the demons. The work with extreme colors was really striking and made the more intense scenes even more engaging and fun to watch.

Sound: 8/10

The ost was outstanding and I really loved it. It had that 80ies feel to it and I caught myself thinking about Carpenter Brut. The only downside is that there weren't enough of it. The opening and closing was both also very enjoyable but got a bit old after a few episodes when you binged so I skipped them after a while. There was also a bit of rapping which I really enjoyed. When it comes to sound effects it didn't really stand out but it didn't annoy either so I guess they were decent. The voice actors did all a very good job (Japanese) and fit the characters to a tea.

Characters: 8/10

I don't want to go into the characters or the story too much as I feel like you'll enjoy it more if you know less. Overall the characters was all introduced in a good way but had some problems with more in depth development. This also boils down to the extremely fast pace the show had which hurt both the story and character development. Even though the show had this problem they showed enough and made me feel like I had a sense of everyone's purpose and values. It made me care for pretty much all the characters that were showed even the demons.

Enjoyment: 10/10

I for one could ignore the flaws I mentioned and I loved this anime. It's the in my opinion the best one I've seen in a long time. If it had a better pacing and more fleshed out story and characters it would easily be a 10/10 all around. It needed some more episodes!

Overall: 9/10

At first fresh out of finishing it I was very close to give this show a 10/10 disregarding it's faults. But after typing this review I've thought about it some more and feel like the pacing still is to big of a problem to give it a 10. It's an amazing anime with an amazing premiss but rushed. They still make it work wonderfully but not perfectly. I would still recommend it to everyone, especially to people that likes Parasyte: The Maxim and Berserk.

I really wish they would give Berserk to the guy's that made this one. I'd love a Black swordsman arc in this style (not as rushed though obviously).

Now I will go to bed and listen to Annihilation by A Perfect Circle on repeat while I cry myself to sleep. (You will understand after you finish the anime, cheers)

Just five days into 2018 and Masaaki Yuasa sets the tone for anime discussion for the rest of the goddamned year. Shine on you crazy, unfettered diamond.

I had no knowledge of Devilman going in. I knew nothing of the story, the characters, or its now-obvious impact on manga and anime. All I knew was this was a Yuasa joint, and that was enough to get me on board. For the first few episodes, I was wondering what drew someone like him to this Biblical-themed superhero/antihero story - boy, did that become clear later on.

On the tin, this is the story of an innocent, kind-hearted young ... man who fuses with a demon to become Devilman - the world's sole protector against a secret demonic horde. From the get-go, however, the show asks us to wonder if this is a world worth protecting - a place already corrupted by rampant poverty, discrimination, and hedonism. What starts as a battle between a good bad-guy and badder bad-guys ramps up to the ultimate battle of good and evil. There are revelations, if you catch my drift.

While some of these may be nothing new (even when Devilman was first published), the presentation of Crybaby gives it a very distinct personality. I can only imagine Yuasa fought back a raging art-boner when given Netflix's carte-blanche on content - this is a show that doesn't know the meaning of "holding back." On display: Tits, dicks, breasts, semen, vaginas, sex, gay and straight, drugs, blood orgies, bloodshed, massacres, and some of the most gruesome body horror this side of John Carpenter's The Thing. If you are squeamish, there is no censor to save you. The show revels in debauchery as much as its villainous demons.

However, given the themes and subject matter, this all feels entirely appropriate. Crybaby is still very focused on its characters, and this graphic content informs the world and the events that beset them. The show also (mostly) knows where and when to pull back; it doesn't need blood or sex to keep the viewer's attention. Track and field is a surprisingly prominent element, and a girl's envy-fueled determination to become the best mixed-relay runner manages to be one of the most compelling storylines.

The show makes you care about the characters and makes each of the tragedies that befall them hit like a motherfucker. Some scenes are damn near heartwrenching, aided by Yuasa's distinctly expressive animation. Even the villain's end is rather tragic - and perfectly fitting.

Crybaby is pretty openly cynical regarding human nature, but it doesn't descend into wallowing in nihilism. There's actually some heart, and maybe a few hints at hope here and there. The show makes an effort to be timely, and while we'll have to wait to see how many of these efforts hold up over the years, from where I stand it seems well done. It doesn't descend into partisan bickering or blame-naming, but current events weigh heavy on the setting and the overall message. Everyone has some guilt in our sad state of affairs - and everyone has a moral obligation to turn the other cheek. (This from a show where a guy wet dreams so hard he paints his ceiling with spunk.)

Enough gushing. Crybaby is rather messy, and not just in its art style/animation (which can be rather inconsistent, and requires the viewer to be on board). The pacing is relentless, carrying the viewer through at breakneck speed. So much is jam packed into 10 episodes, and some story elements feel a little glossed over or undeveloped as a result. Sometimes events just HAPPEN; for example, a certain character's home explodes, and then in the next episode he is totally fine and the culprit is explained away with a single line. Without having read the manga, I assume some of these things made more sense there and just weren't given enough time to breathe here. Crybaby seems like it could've benefited from another episode or two.

Also, while I am all for gore and violence and whatnot in my anime, Crybaby sometimes rides a line between what's appropriate and what's gratuitous in its more dramatic scenes. Major character deaths are sometimes over the top in presentation, which almost undermines their impact. It mostly didn't bother me, but I could imagine other viewers not being so charitable.

For a more granular point, the rules of this setting are, at times, unclear. How exactly does one become possessed by a demon? There's an answer given, but it's obviously dubious and there's nothing else for us to go on. It doesn't break the plot or anything, but it's still a bit confusing.

Finally, one character's arc stands as an exception to my general gushing. I don't want to spoil anything, but his defection to the ranks of the bad guys feels random, and he is dispatched so quickly that there's no impact. I guess I lost what the arc of his character was going for; his sudden change of heart muddies the water. Maybe it was there for some allegorical purpose, or it's better explained in the manga, but it ultimately underwhelmed me, especially when so many of the other characters' arcs are so captivating.

These flaws are mostly surface blemishes. Despite my ignorance regarding the manga, Crybaby feels like this manages the delicate balance of honoring the original while doing its own thing. This is a Yuasa work through and through, but his passion for the material shines. It's not my favorite Yuasa show, but it's one I very much enjoyed.

Netflix should also be applauded for funding something so bold and uncompromising. It's an experiment I sincerely hope pays off for them - and, perhaps, encourages other studios to branch out.

Or maybe they'll learn the wrong lesson and pump out a vile, sex-laden version of Astro Boy. Either way, we win.

Devilman Crybaby is a truly brilliant anime that should be viewed by anyone as it is truly a work of art and a shining example of wonderful storytelling. The series is available on Netflix right now and deserves your full attention as potentially the best anime of this winter 2018 season, had this been released last year this would have easily been my anime of the year. Written by Ichiro Okouchi and directed by Masaaki Yuasa based on the legendary and influential source material of Go Nagai, Devilman easily meets and exceeds the expectations that one would have for an anime with such talented individuals ... involved. This show is not for the faint of heart as it has very graphic violent and sexual content that is used to tell the very tragic story. Devilman is meticulously well crafted in every aspect that allows it to stand out above the rest of the anime this season as a true masterpiece that excels at what it does.

Devilman pulls the viewer in by the neck and doesn’t let go as it sprints to the finish line while somehow ever feeling rushed. The pacing of the show is one of its strongest points as Devilman only has 10 perfectly and energetically paced episodes that never fell as though they are dragging and have a solid momentum that increases and never lets up as the show progresses. Every episode feels like a necessary progression to the story with no filler whatsoever as all side stories and subplots are substantial to the main plot of the anime and each episode fits seamlessly with one another because of how well the pacing is. The spirited pace of Devilman Crybaby encourages binge viewing as the anime feels like a wonderful four-hour movie that is well focused on telling its story. The incredibly deliberate pace allows the wonderful story of Devilman Crybaby to truly shine.

The story telling is spectacular in Devilman Crybaby as the anime is very well focused with an appropriate scale to allow its story to excel and flourish. The story is relatively simple but wonderfully told with incredible direction, animation, voice acting, music, and writing that all allow the anime to engage the viewer in the vivid world and story of Devilman Crybaby. The anime takes bold risks with its source material, such as its modernization, while keeping the core iconic story and tragedy intact. Every minute of this anime felt satisfying and necessary and the conclusion to the anime is a cut above most others as it appropriately ties up all character and story arcs in a way that is true to the themes of Devilman and is sure to satisfy viewers. The final two episodes of Devilman Crybaby are some of the best anime I have ever seen with how well it concludes the story and how well the main characters and their motivations are explored. Tone and atmosphere are used well throughout the anime to enhance the storytelling. Overall the story of Devilman Crybaby takes the viewer for a ride on an emotional rollercoaster that only increases in speed right to the last second as the tragic story unfolds. The anime expertly executes its emotional gut punches incredibly and precisely with the thoughtful use of stylish animation and music to complement the wonderful writing.

The animation and music in Devilman Crybaby is stellar and breathtaking as the visuals are stylishly vivid and the energetic and hyped music complements the pacing and art style perfectly. The music for Devilman Crybaby is a blend of techno synths, pop, and electronic tracks that are wonderfully appropriate for the tone of the anime and help elevate the scenes with the amazing soundtrack. The breathtaking visuals for the anime truly stand out as the demon designs looks very unique and awe inspiring. The visuals of the anime are incredibly stylishly animated and each frame looks stunning. The anime is made hypnotic by the energetic pace, soundtrack, and animation that all combine to give the anime a unique hypnotic style that instantly grabs your attention from start to finish. In my opinion the soundtrack and how well it’s implemented into the storytelling of Devilman Crybaby is some of the best that I have heard in any anime and truly enhances the viewing experience of the anime.

The characters and writing in Devilman Crybaby are very well done and every character is well written and has a character arc that progresses with the anime and each character’s arc is satisfactorily tied up by the end of the anime. The main character is Akira Fudo, the writing for his character is very well done and his character arc and motivations are dealt with and tied up very well in the anime. The other main character is Akira’s childhood friend Ryou, an incredibly complex and well defined character whose initially confusing character arc reveals itself as the story progresses and intricate character motivations make his character truly stand out. Ryou’s character is perhaps the most intriguing and complex character in the anime and his tragic arc is very well executed. The side characters such as Akira’s surrogate family, the Makimuras, and the other side characters such as the rappers all have their own character arcs and motivations that are tied up in a satisfactory way by the anime’s conclusion. All characters are very well voiced. Each character feels unique and are driven by differing and sometimes conflicting motivations that tie into the main story and theme of Devilman Crybaby.

Overall, Devilman Crybaby is a worthy contender for anime of the year despite the year only just beginning and is most certainly worthy of your time and attention. The story, characters, animation and music are all exceptional and complement each other to make Devilman Crybaby a truly great anime that I believe is deserving of a 10/10 as it does what it sets out to do remarkably and precisely. The entire anime is only ten episodes and on Netflix so please give the anime a shot as I believe that it deserves it, once you start watching the four hours will fly by before you know it. 2018 is already proving to be a great year for anime and anime fans. Thank you for reading this far and thank you very much for your time.

I had never seen anything related to Devilman prior to this anime but when I saw the trailers and the fact that Yuasa was directing it, I was already on board. So I actually watched the entirety of it in one sitting, it was that good, I couldn't stop until I had finished all of it.
So, let's get into the other segments of the review.

The premise of the show essentially boils down to Akira Fudo - a shy boy with a kind heart becoming Devilman with the guidance of his friend Ryou Asuka, to protect humanity from the rise of the demons

The overall execution is ... fantastic, Devilman: Crybaby does it's share of social criticism, the humans' cowardly nature of being unable to accept anything different from them because they don't feel safe from the unknown and always resorting to hostility in result and the recurring theme of keeping your love/faith in humanity despite their flawed nature to eventually get your existence across to them.
The main portion of the themes it covers was handled with superb quality but some of the
more non-essential tid bits were skimmed over.

The show also really likes to play with your heart strings, especially at the latter half of the story.

The story's pacing is fast but it doesn't feel rushed at all through out the majority of the show's run., it never stops for a single second to waste your time with pointless dialogue, it always gets straight to the point, making it more enjoyable to binge.

The characters are all enjoyable, mainly due to their over exaggerated behavior and interesting personality. Essentially the only character with any semblance of a ''journey'' was Akira and to an extent Miko, the other characters all served as cogs that move Akira forward.

Of course, the art is fantastic, it's Yuasa we're talking about here.
He brought his usual style into Devilman, which made it a blast to watch.
The extremely vibrant use of colors that's actually used to portray a dark gritty setting is
aesthetically pleasing and makes for some really unique scenery.

It's largely debated whether this is Yuasa's best or worst looking show to date (kinda funny seeing as how Devilman itself is extremely divisive in it's contents as well)
but for me it worked, way too well in fact.

The characters all look iconic, mainly due to the fact that they're just modern redesigns of already iconic characters and because the art style sets them apart from any other character no matter what.

So what kind of soundtrack does this extremely gritty, gory, violent anime have? Metal? Rock?
Nope.
SYNTHWAVE!!!!! (A modernization of the 80s Neon synthesized disco songs)
And it works great with every single scene, the aesthetic meshes so well with the OST that the chances you will be bobbing your head to the music while watching through out the whole anime are extremely high.

It does also have some really touching and hype inducing orchestrated tracks like "Crybaby" and "D.V.M.N" which do not feel out of place with the synthwave that's present in so many scenes and only add up to the many emotions the show's soundtrack will make you go through.


As a whole, Devilman: Crybaby is a fanastic anime and proves that a great concept is timeless with it's straightforward dive into the issues of the social construct and other themes, all complimented by it's amazing and unique art style and schlocky nature.

[SPOILER WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD]

"Devilman Crybaby" is a psychedelic exploration of human nature, love, and the age-old philosophical debate surrounding morality and the ambiguous nature of good and evil. Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, the series brings to life the iconic characters from Go Nagai's original work in the 70s, while also adding its own unique twists and interpretations.

The characters of Akira and Ryo serve as powerful symbols, each embodying contrasting worldviews that propel the narrative of the series. Akira Fudo, the protagonist, starts as a compassionate and gentle soul. His empathy and kindness are evident in his relationships and interactions with others. However, his transformation into ... Devilman brings forth a spiraling internal conflict. The merging with a demon granted him both power and exposure to the brutal realities of the world. Akira's struggle to retain his humanity while embracing his newfound abilities forms the emotional core of the story. On the other hand, Ryo Asuka’s nihilistic beliefs and cynicism drive him to challenge conventional notions of morality. His character embodies a dark, manipulative force that seeks to tip over societal norms and expose the underlying darkness within humanity. Throughout the series, Ryo's actions blur the lines between right and wrong, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature. The dynamic between Akira and Ryo serves as a narrative climax, highlighting the complexities of moral decision-making. As Akira grapples with the consequences of his actions as Devilman, Ryo's influence constantly tests his convictions and beliefs. This tension leads to countless moments of introspection and self-discovery for both characters. Moreover, DMCB masterfully uses its dark, visceral imagery and intense storytelling to depict the harsh realities of a world besieged by demons and human malice. Themes of prejudice, violence, and existential dread permeate the narrative, mirroring contemporary societal issues and adding layers of social commentary to the overarching philosophical discourse.

When first going into this hashing of “Devilman” the thing that always pinned down my interest was the director's creative liberties. Yuasa AGAIN shines through with his interpretation of the classic story. With the addition of new characters like Miku and the incorporation of the Baton/track aspect, which significantly contributes to the interconnected themes of the series. These elements allow for the story to no longer come off as dated while continuing to bring fresh perspectives to the story's core themes of identity, belonging, and sacrifice. Miku's character serves as a pivotal addition to the narrative, offering a glimpse into the ordinary lives affected by the supernatural events unfolding in the series. Her presence humanizes the story, providing a relatable perspective for viewers and highlighting the impact of the supernatural on everyday individuals. Miku's relationship with her friends and her struggles with personal challenges add layers to the overarching theme of identity, as she grapples with her sense of self amidst chaotic circumstances. The Baton/track aspect introduces a metaphorical layer to the series, symbolizing the interconnectedness of the characters' fates and the cyclical nature of their struggles. The track becomes a symbol of the journey each character undertakes, with hurdles and obstacles mirroring their internal conflicts and external challenges. Thus adding depth to the storytelling and reinforcing the themes of perseverance, determination, and the quest for self-discovery. This modernized approach to “Devilman” enhanced the viewing experience in my opinion, allowing for a more accessible exploration of the themes and character dynamics while giving us a peek into the creative genius of Yuasa’s mind.

One of the most striking aspects of the show is the stark contrast between Ryo's distorted perception of love and Akira's genuine and altruistic love for others. Ryo's version of love is characterized by his insecurities and beliefs, which are heavily influenced by his hazy past and his transformation into Satan. His love is tainted by a sense of superiority and a desire for control, leading him to manipulate situations and people to achieve his goals. Ryo's love is possessive and destructive, driven by a warped sense of righteousness and a misguided belief that his actions are justified for the greater good. Contrary to Ryo, Akira's love is portrayed as pure, selfless, and empathetic. He cares deeply for his friends and is willing to sacrifice himself to protect them, embodying the essence of unconditional love. Akira's love transcends boundaries, breaking down barriers of fear and prejudice. His ability to love wholeheartedly is the main source of his strength.Additionally, DMCB doesn't shy away from exploring the darker aspects of love, highlighting how it can be used as a weapon of manipulation and destruction. Ryo's twisted love ultimately leads to tragic consequences, highlighting the dangers of unchecked desires and misguided intentions.

The final moments of DMCB are one of my favorite moments in fiction, a communal pool of the series' themes, displayed for all by Akira's decision to sacrifice himself for the greater good showcased his resolve, empathy and compassion, highlighting his understanding of the interconnectedness of all beings and his willingness to take responsibility for their actions. Whereas Ryo, who experiences a moment of clarity and remorse, he realizes the extent of his actions and the pain he has caused. It is as Ryo witnesses Akira's selfless sacrifice and the devastation it brings, that he is confronted with the reality of his choices. The tears he sheds are tears of remorse and regret. It's a moment of profound vulnerability and self-awareness, as Ryo comes to terms with the pain he has caused and the lives he has shattered. It humanizes him in a way, representing a breaking down of his emotional barriers, allowing him to confront the depth of his own suffering and the suffering he has inflicted on others. It's a powerful visual representation of his internal struggle and his journey towards understanding the true meaning of love, empathy, and sacrifice. Ryo's tears also serve as a thematic conclusion to the series. They highlight the overarching message of the potential for change and redemption (even in the literal DEVIL), a reminder that no one is beyond redemption and that genuine remorse and a desire for atonement can pave the way for personal growth and transformation but will still not be accepted with open arms (as seen by God's retaliation). In Yuasa’s retelling of “Devilman,” he takes us on a visual rollercoaster of human nature, love, and morality, proving that even demons and devils can shed a tear or two...but don't expect divine forgiveness anytime soon!

Rating: 9/10

This is not an anime for the faint of heart. I don't think I'm strong myself, but I can handle it well, and I can say that even for the time of the original material, which was released from 1972 to 1973, then before and from that time itself the whole world did not give children the knowledge; education to become civilized people; and not even a good preparation not only academically but also personally that would make them become more HUMAN people...

As for other details besides the message it wants to convey, as I mentioned above, since it's Netflix, they must have spent a ... lot of money, so things like the number of frames seemed higher than that of an ordinary Japanese anime (despite the lack of quality in most of the frames, the number still covered that and made it interesting), as well as the effort they asked of the music composer when creating so many songs for several different scenarios, leaving the anime with a different perception in each episode.

Especially the last two episodes were emotional in many ways...
I wish there were more scenes like those in the last two episodes, but the author's message and thoughts wouldn't have been fully conveyed if there were, so I think the script was really well done as well.

If you're thinking of watching it, I recommend that you prepare yourself and watch it with an open mind, not getting carried away by what's happening, but rather watching it with an open mind and understanding the feelings and ideas conveyed throughout the anime.

Thanks for reading this far, and have a good marathon! ✨✨

As a big fan of the original manga I was glad to see how much of a great adaptation Crybaby is of the original story, it has all the core themes and elements of the devilman story and it adapts most of them in a way that hasn't been seen before in the devilman franchise while being really faitful to the original manga.

You can feel the despair, the love, the violence, the cruelty, it's all there, it's Devilman on it's purest essence.

Not to mention Yuasa's beautiful directing and the excellent OST this adaptation has, overall it's a very enjoyable take on the original manga that ... manages to make an excellent unique and modern take on the message the original manga presented

As far as characters go i think most of them are great, specially Miki, seeing how little of a character she had in the original manga while here in Crybaby she's easily the most likeable character, i really loved her role here and it makes the post credit scene in episode 9 brutally sad, Ryo and Akira are pretty accurate to their manga selves, tho i felt Akira wasn't as heroic as he was in the manga, however it works and you can truly feel he's the heroic demon with a human heart he's meant to be.
There were some characters i didn't like, those being Miko and Koda, Koda was a dumb pointless character that i literally could never care about no matter how much i tried, this anime original fellow always felt like he didn't belong there, Miko was sorta similar, however she was a much more interesting character, yet her character never really went anywhere, she felt like wasted potential, i wish we had gotten to see more interactions with this character but they just didn't happen, even if i liked her scene at the end of episode 9 i didn't enjoy this character at all.

When it comes to changes to the story i enjoyed most of it as it stays faithful to the events in the original manga, some events happen in different order and some events change location and context whoever they mantain the original message.
But there were some changes i didn't enjoy: i didn't like the way demons finally came into contact with humans in this adaptation with the whole marathon competition thing, it felt kinda rushed, i didn't like the Jinmen fight either, the context was better with it involving Akira's parents, but the fight itself was really bad, and i think that's pretty much it.
I loved a lot of scenes they added, like Akira defending the humans in episode 9 and the entire final episode which is a masterpiece on it's own showing us a fight that was skipped in the manga and i'm really amazed to have seen in this adaptation.

Crybaby is really a beautiful adaptation and a strong contender for AOTY being only 1 week into this year, it's THAT good, really worth checking out, it gets a strong 9 from me.

Dove into this series without knowing anything about it. So let's just say the heavy sexual themes did stun me a bit. But letting the sex and the gore aside, I got to see a very very convincing, touching and heartwarming message come through. The plot for Devilman:Crybaby encompasses the trope I love in shows -- two sides; two perspectives, each with their own reasons, their own "justice" and the conflict. How the main character slowly learns more about both sides, and then trying to end it all by urging people to have more humanity, through the power of love. Sounds cliche, but the symbolism ... in the show, truly ties everything together well and delivers the message in a strong, convincing way.

Next, the animation. Honestly, you can see the director's style, but, not the best animation. Lots of scenes the characters looked floppy, but well that was entertaining to watch. Still, the unique style made it pretty refreshing to watch. As for the music, while I'm upset that "Devilman no Uta" wasn't the official OP, the opening was very "Netflix", and the animation visuals aren't that bad, I have no problem. Definitely would check out the OSTs when released.

This show has made me curious in Nagai Go's other works, and if time allows it, I will be reading Devilman or even watching the older series.

I liked it, even if some choices (especially in the final part) did not convince me.

"Rejuvenating" operation has succeeded fully; setting the series in our days (or so) was a good idea and they did it well.

The only negative note to me is the duration, in my opinion they should have made it last longer.
I know that the starting manga is not that long, but during the vision it seemed to me that the events followed one another way too quickly and as a consequence the characters did not have time to develop properly.

Animation and drawings are top notch , the music ... pushes for good and it is "sick" at the right point.

Maybe I do suggest to read the original manga first as it is more "complete"

Brilliant if I may say especially the last 2 episodes.This show managed to display at its finest how a world filled with demons/devils would look like. The use of the subtle details has also a big contribution in displaying the madness from the devils world or the peace and relaxing days from the human world.Warning this show has a lot of violence and sexual content and its not for any weak heart so you have been warned for those who want to watch it.

The way it made a contrast between the madness from the world of devils and the mundane life of humans is one ... of this show strongest points. The message sent is also strong about humans who are no different from demons at all, they hate and kill each other, their selfish and care for their own person and their carnal desires are no different from a beast. But despite all of that in a world filled with despair and chaos a little drop of kindness and compassion still exists and this anime did a great job at portraying that.

The mc is also something to stand out in this show. He is neither a human or a devil but instead he is a bit of both sides a Devilman. The fact that he sherds tears each time a person is sad or died proves that despite his devil appearence he still maintains his human heart intact (emotions).
One of the things I found interesting in this show is the yellow color for the devil's blood. Probably being part of Yuasa's visual vocabulary to sent a message I don't know either but it had a meaning in the overall image.

The other characters are really interesting and it was a great trip to watch their growth in this anime. One thing worth mentioning is the clash of ideals and beliefs between Akira and Ryou across the series and the final result of their settlement.

My favorite stuff is from the last two episodes , the subtle change of the flowers who wither as the person who took care of them changes bit by bit , the flashbacks during the last fight , the relay race to pass on the baton to the next person and finally the ending scene were we have two moons instead of one. Brilliant as expected from a director as Yuasa. Check it out you won't regret wasting your time.

I have never watched the original Devilman series, nor was I ever a fan of it... til now. Slightly a lie because I did watch the three OVAs which allowed me to understand more clearly on some points of this anime that may seem a little unclear to those first time watchers. I have never reviewed a series before, but I saw that the score for this anime was around 7.89 and I thought to myself, "No this cannot be?!?" So I'm here to convince you that it was at the very least an amazingly enjoyable series.

First off, the story was very good so I ... give it an 8. Are you confused at why I did not give it a perfect score? Well here is why. The modernistic setting and plot points are most certainly intriguing and downright creates an exciting world, but after the first few episodes, around episode 5-8 I believe, it starts to get confusing. There are certain points of the series that you must have at least watched the OVAs or maybe read up on a little on the wiki t in order to understand, such as who Ryo is, who exactly was the demon Amon, and etc.
The most detrimental thing the anime did was its attempting to converge as many of the important plot points from the original work into the most concise form it can accommodate. Thus, it creates confusion within some of the audience due to the pacing issues that arose and the removal of certain points that would have made the transitioning more smooth. If I was to watch this series with no prior background knowledge, I would most likely be confused and maybe put off. Luckily I did have some knowledge so I'm all good, though I can't say much about the first time watchers of the Devilman series. And that is the main reason why this is not a perfect score, though that is still no reason to purged this anime from its rightful spot of a higher rating. You don't need to know every single detail from the original series to find this anime enjoyable.

Second, the art was spectacular in my opinion 9. Being a unique art style, there were of course funny moments with the art that looked weird, a good weird that made me feel more enjoyment. :)

The Characters were simply outstanding, though I still rate it a 9. Could have still used more fine tuning, but each character was lovable, relatable, and most importantly, human-like. I think Ryo could have used more screen time to accommodate more character development on his part.
The most marvelous prospect about theses characters was that they felt like actual human beings. The way they talk, their movement, emotions, goals, relationships, beliefs and morals, make them truly feel as if they were real, as it they were really alive, though this may be because the underlying themes of the anime hits very close to home, but I am not uncomfortable with that. These characters aren't just characters created straight out of a template, they were given characteristics that make them appealing. Especially those dudes that did the rapping, if you really don't want to give this anime a shot at least look up the rapping guys, they're really skilled. There are other reviews that go more in depth on the character analysis so check them out, otherwise this would take longer to type. But seriously, if these characters weren't appealing, I would have dropped this series faster than when Obama dropped his mic.

To sum it all up, I personally found this anime very enjoyable 10. The personally rating I gave it was a 9 because I am trying to raise its score the most I can hahaha.

Also, I would like to say that no story is absolute perfection. There will always be something to improve on, such as pacing, but that does not change the fact that I enjoyed the wild ride that the anime is.

Story: 9
Art: 7
Sound: 9
Character: 9
Enjoyment: 9

I don't normally write reviews and I doubt I will write more of them and I am not going to go into detail about anything, I'll just let the numbers speak for that.

I really believe this series is a must watch. I saw it was Netflix that was publishing this series exclusively on their site so I had worries that it would be terrible. But honestly, it was far from bad, It was very good! The story, the sound and the characters was great throughout the whole thing. The only exception was episode 1, it felt rushed and the ... art was kinda off putting. After that tho, the art got on a solid track and stayed on it until the very end, the pacing as well. But that could just be because I was not used to it at first.

My first ever review, but I didn't want to "review" it because I really want people to watch it themselves. It might be terrible to some, but to me, it left an impression which makes me want to tell other people about it even tho it isn't a 10/10.