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.
