Review of Devilman: Crybaby

Devilman Crybaby is a very rare type of show, one which sometimes sacrifices coherent narrative and character arcs in exchange for a broader, more emotional and thematic result, much like media that takes inspiration from the original material. Despite this, it is a creative tour de force, made by one of the most avant garde and creative minds in the industry. Deeply flawed, especially early on, but extremely rewarding. I'll start with the negatives, especially early on in the show. There are so many issues with how this story is retold, especially in the first half. I haven't read the original Devilman or the OVA, butI have a loose understanding of the plot, although my issues do not stem from the liberties taken with the changes to the source material. Although the first episode is one of the most immediately engaging and well written first episodes to an anime ever made, the show very quickly trips on its own feet, getting bogged down in rushed character arcs, such as the two devils which, while thematically are meant to force Akira to confront his violent actions, instead feel rushed and unimportant to the overall narrative. Another example of this would be Miko, a character who gets very little screentime until the second half of the show.

When the show transitions from the slower, more ambient scenes of the first half to the almost unsettlingly scary depiction of a society facing the end of the world, it becomes a much more interesting and compelling narrative, especially reflecting on current times. The story of a society angry and confused with the end of the world is a concept which resonates really well and is really fascinating to watch unfold, and the way it uses modern things not present in the original work such as the internet or live online broadcasts makes it feel like its own narrative.

All this being said, I love works which take incredible risk in its narrative, and a modern retelling of a 50 year old story as groundbreaking and influential as Go Nagai's Devilman with the style and eye for the narratively ambiguous and emotional as Masaaki Yuasa makes it an incredibly risky venture, equal parts rewarding and obscure. Where the show lacks in a coherent plot and strong side characters, it MORE than makes up for in its presentation, creativity, and the arcs of its main two characters, Akira and Ryo. Without getting into spoiler territory, Akira and Ryo are perfect classic foil characters, and carry the show heavily, especially in its second and third acts. The spectacle of the climax of the show is bombastic and explosive, and incredibly fascinating and thought-provoking.

I also gotta give composer Kensuke Ushio for composing one of the most exciting soundtracks to an anime, heightening almost every scene. Smells Blood, Night Hawk, Buddy, Ryo, and Devilman no Uta are absolute bangers, and the rest of the soundtrack slaps too.

Although Devilman Crybaby has many, many narrative and pacing issues, ultimately it is an incredibly unique and creative anime, and one which must be watched, even if it is to see what the limits of this medium could look like unrestrained. Overall I would give Devilman Crybaby a 9 out of 10, with an emphasis on looking at it as a broader picture rather than the character drama it sometimes seems to think it is.