Devil May Cry Review
Director: Seung Woo Han, So Young Park, Hong Ji-Young and Sun-Min Kim
Date Created: 2025-04-03 16:41
3.5
Devil May Cry Review: The latest animated adaptation of Capcom’s beloved game franchise was written by Alex Larsen and Adi Shankar and directed by Seung Woo Han, So Young Park, Hong Ji-Young and Sun-Min Kim. In addition to 8 episodes into the first season, the series has an excellent voice cast, with Johnny Yong Bosch playing the main character Dante, Scout Taylor-Compton playing Mary, and the legendary Kevin Conroy appearing in one of his last roles. With Shankar’s name attached to the project, who has been best known for Castlevania and Captain Laserhawk, the expectations were soaring for this action- and demon-hunting escapade.
Adapting video games is always a risky business. Some are excellent, and some are total duds. When Netflix announced it was making Devil May Cry, I felt both excitement and nervousness. Since I have never played this game, I came into this show with fresh eyes. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Did it have flaws? Also yes. Here’s my honest opinion.
Devil May Cry Review
The story centres on Dante, a half-demon bounty hunter with a snappy mouth and an even snappier sword, who gets caught up in a conspiracy that endangers both the human and demon realms. Along for the ride is Mary (a.k.a. Lady), a madwoman with a vendetta and a ridiculous amount of skill, plus a group of other characters, all of whom have injected more personality into the series.
If you have seen a few action animes, then you will see the plot coming a mile away. No great surprises, no deep twists. But the execution is why the story is enjoyable. The pacing is quick, and there’s not a boring minute. Dante’s cockiness and wise-ass jokes make for some verdant entertainment. The villain, White Rabbit, is also an interesting character in that he’s not just evil for the sake of evil; One episode even details his backstory, revealing his motivations. This renders him a more real person rather than just another “bad guy.”
Netflix’s Devil May Cry does get one thing right, and that is the animation. Studio MIR, known for The Legend of Korra, delivers some stunning visuals. The fight scenes come fast, stylish and brutal. Dante fights like a goddamn warrior, dodging enemy attacks, plugging foes with bullets, and slicing through demons with his sword. No demon could possibly stand a chance against his partner, Mary (or Lady), because more than demons, humans can strike back.
The character designs are pretty sweet too. Just like Dante in the games, he looks slick and sure of himself. They are terrifying, their creepy transformations making them even more frightening. Every frame of the show looks clean, creating one visually-treating pill for action anime fans.
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As enjoyable as the story is, I felt there could have been a little more characterisation for Dante. He’s undeniably cool, but we don’t learn much about his past or inner struggles. Perhaps in the next season, they will expand on more of his history.
The voice acting in this series is superb. Dante has a cocky, yet charming personality and Johnny Yong Bosch does a great job of capturing the character. Scout Taylor-Compton is also great as Mary. However, the most special performance in this show is by Kevin Conroy, who plays VP Banes. This is one of his last works before he died, and hearing his voice again is an emotional experience. He imbues each scene he’s in with gravity, even though his character isn’t central.
It had only 8 episodes, which made the show easy to watch, but at the same time, I thought they could have added more episodes to develop the story better. Some moments seemed a little rushed, and some characters felt underused. If they do another, I hope they slow down a bit and dig deeper into the world and its people.
Summing Up
The animated series Devil May Cry brings all the quirkiness, fun and style with action, perfect for those who enjoy a cool fight and a good animation. The premises are simple, but the thrilling battles and the mind-blowing soundtrack are worth it. And if a fan of the Devil May Cry games, you probably have strong feelings about how well it translates the story. But even if you’ve never played the games (as I have), it’s still entertaining as a goofy action anime.
Devil May Cry 2025 is now streaming on Netflix.
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