In 2001, the world saw the Devil May Cry game, and since then, Dante’s name has become almost a saint among fans of stylish slashers. Years pass, the franchise is periodically updated, fans never tire of arguing which part is better, and Netflix, with its animation department and an unquenchable love for adaptations, decides to make a Dante-style move — shoot at all of them at once. And so we got «Devil May Cry» — a new anime that looks like a gift for fans, but at the same time tries not to get lost in the endless stream of adaptations, where most — this «watched with their phones on».
Devil May Cry
Genre anime, fantasy, action
Creator Adi Shankar
Starring Johnny Yong, Hong Li, Kevin Conroy, and others.
Premiere April 3, 2025, Netflix
The Devil May Cry anime throws you right into the fray: against the familiar backdrop of hellish invasions, demonic backstage intrigues, and equally demonic costumes, Dante returns as a stylized private investigator/hunter of otherworldly abominations.
If you were expecting a slow introduction, a bit of lore, and getting to know the characters, you’re in for a treat. The pace here is as if the director was trying to squeeze all the parts of the game into one season, and still leave room for the signature gags. Because of this, the narrative sometimes feels like a fan edit on YouTube: cool, dynamic, but everything is racing like a crazy Dante’s bike — without rearview mirrors.
The plot is a mix between a conditionally original story and events known to gamers. There are new faces, Virgil, and the old familiar Lady, who adds even more frantic drive. But, just like in games, emotions are not the main thing here. This is not a series where viewers will cry over the fate of the characters — the most you’ll get out of it is «ohhh, cool job» or «and here would be even more music!». And that’s fine.
«Devil May Cry» does not try to be something deeper than it is. And that’s exactly why you want to respect it: an honest product that doesn’t pretend to be an arthouse when in fact it’s more interested in swinging a sword for three minutes without editing.
As for the characters — I want a little more. Virgil appears too late, and he doesn’t have enough screen time to leave the same mark as in the games. The other — characters are either mentioned in passing or are just functions, not heroes. And this is probably the only thing the series could take from the games: every minor character had their moment. Here, they don’t. But this is a problem that can be fixed in the next seasons if Netflix decides to renew the show (and judging by the hype — there is a chance).
The antagonist, the mysterious and charismatic White Rabbit, deserves special attention. His character is a mixture of manic theatrics and cold calculation that we rarely see in anime adaptations of video games.
He’s not just a typical «evil dude with powers» — his scenes are constructed with a clear sense of style and anxiety. There is something of the classic joker archetype in him — he brings chaos, but not mindlessly, but as if according to his script, where everyone else is just a puppet. His character immediately catches the eye, and what’s nice is that he’s not killed off in the first two episodes, as is often the case.
The White Rabbit — is not just «the main enemy», but the perfect antithesis of Dante: where one acts with pleasure and indifference, the other — acts with care and brutal methodology. And although the final battle could have been bigger, the overall impression of him is of a mighty character with motivation and character.
Visually, anime has its own character. Animation by Studio MIR — is smooth, clean, emotional, and not too «redrawn». There is no feeling of sterility, which is often a sin of new CGI anime, but a sense of the artist’s hand, a lively style.
Dante — is a separate thrill: he looks gorgeous, with the same signature indifference in his eyes and a light undertone: «I don’t really care, but I’m going to save the world because I’m bored». His movements are precise, his posture is relaxed, and in the moments of action — it’s just a ballet with weapons. Sometimes you want to pause just to watch his cloak flutter as he moves.