''Devilman Crybaby'' is a 2018 Japanese
original net animation
An original net animation (ONA), known in Japan as , is an anime that is directly released onto the Internet. ONAs may also have been aired on television if they were first directly released on the Internet. The name mirrors original video animati ...
(ONA) series based on
Go Nagai
, better known by the pen name , is a Japanese manga artist and a prolific author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and erotica. He made his professional debut in 1967 with ''Meakashi Polikichi'', but is best known for creating popular 1970s ...
's
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
series ''
Devilman
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. The manga focuses on a high school student named Akira Fudo who absorbs the powers of the demon called " Amon" with help of his friend Ryo Asuka in order to batt ...
''. The web
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
is directed by
Masaaki Yuasa
is a Japanese director, screenwriter, and animator affiliated with Science SARU, a Japanese animation studio which he co-founded with producer Eunyoung Choi in 2013. Yuasa previously served as president of Science SARU, but stepped down from th ...
, produced by
Aniplex
is a Japanese anime, music production and anime licensee company owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Established in September 1995, Aniplex has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime series, such as both ''Fullm ...
and
Dynamic Planning
is a licensing company owned by manga artist Go Nagai. It was established in 1974 as a sister company of Dynamic Productions.
Dynamic Planning is credited in all of Go Nagai's animated works since 1974 as the "planner" and/or "producer".
...
, animated by
Science SARU
Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...
, and released by
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
. Yuasa was offered the opportunity to create a ''Devilman'' project by Aniplex, and envisioned ''Devilman Crybaby''. Announced in 2017 to mark Nagai's 50th anniversary as a creator, ''Crybaby'' was made available for worldwide streaming on January 5, 2018 as a
Netflix original series
Netflix is an American global Internet streaming-on-demand media provider that has distributed a number of original streaming television shows, including original series, specials, miniseries, and documentaries and films. Netflix's original pro ...
.
The series updates the original 1970s setting to the 21st century but retains the basic premise of Nagai's manga, following
Akira Fudo
is a fictional superhero from Go Nagai's manga series '' Devilman''. A shy teenager living in Japan while his parents work abroad, Akira absorbs the powers of the devil Amon thanks to his friend Ryo Asuka. Then as the self-proclaimed title c ...
and his friend Ryo Asuka as they face an ancient race of demons that seek to destroy humanity. Believing the only way to defeat the demons is to obtain their powers, Ryo proposes that Akira unite with a demon; in doing so Akira transforms into the titular Devilman, gaining the powers of a demon but retaining the soul of a human. The
anti-war
An anti-war movement (also ''antiwar'') is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term anti-war can also refer to pa ...
themes of the original ''Devilman'' are re-interpreted as a metaphor for
bigotry
Discrimination is the act of making unjustified distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong. People may be discriminated on the basis of race, gender, age, rel ...
, in which manipulation and paranoia are discussed using the allegory of the demons as "
the other
In phenomenology, the terms the Other and the Constitutive Other identify the other human being, in their differences from the Self, as being a cumulative, constituting factor in the self-image of a person; as acknowledgement of being real; h ...
". The anime's themes of puberty, sexuality, sex, love, and
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is a ...
identity were explored in critics' analysis of the work, along with a debate over whether the series' perspective and ending are
nihilistic
Nihilism (; ) is a philosophy, or family of views within philosophy, that rejects generally accepted or fundamental aspects of human existence, such as objective truth, knowledge, morality, values, or meaning of life, meaning. The term was pop ...
.
Fans were divided in their response to Yuasa's take on Nagai's work, though the series' announcement and release were among the most widely discussed among anime series released in 2018; the series also spawned several
memes. Its viewership numbers are unknown as Netflix does not disclose these figures, though many journalists described the series as a hit. Critics assessed ''Crybaby'' favorably, with some calling it a "masterpiece," the best Netflix anime, and one of the best anime of the year overall and the decade. Although the response to its graphic content and ending were divided, its animation, soundtrack, characterization, openly LGBT characters, and faithfulness to the original manga were praised.
Plot
High school student
Akira Fudo
is a fictional superhero from Go Nagai's manga series '' Devilman''. A shy teenager living in Japan while his parents work abroad, Akira absorbs the powers of the devil Amon thanks to his friend Ryo Asuka. Then as the self-proclaimed title c ...
lives with his only friend and longtime crush Miki Makimura, her brother Taro, and her parents Noel and Akiko. When Akira attempts to defend Miki from a gang led by rapper Wamu, he is rescued by his childhood friend Ryo Asuka. Ryo tells Akira that his recent expedition to the
Amazon rainforest
The Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or ; es, Selva amazónica, , or usually ; french: Forêt amazonienne; nl, Amazoneregenwoud. In English, the names are sometimes capitalized further, as Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Forest, or Amazon Jungle. ...
revealed the existence of demons, but that the world's governments are suppressing this information. Planning to expose the demons, Ryo takes Akira to an underground
nightclub
A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music.
Nightclubs gener ...
; he attacks its patrons with a broken bottle, causing demons to appear. Ryo films the demons massacring the humans but is attacked and pinned by a demon. Akira's will overpowers Amon, a powerful demon who tries to possess him, transforming him into Amon's demon form and allowing him to slaughter the demons.
Ryo and Akira fight several demons including Amon's lover Silene, her associate Kaim, and the sadistic Jinmen who is responsible for the deaths of Akira's parents. Akira and Ryo's friendship becomes strained over time due to Ryo's extreme actions to protect Akira's secret. Ryo eventually reveals on television that track star Moyuru Koda is a demon. The revelation of the existence of demons triggers a global panic, leading humanity to turn on itself while the demons begin possessing humans on a large scale. Disgusted by Ryo's apathy toward the chaos he has caused, Akira, alongside Koda and fellow devilman Miki "Miko" Kuroda, begin trying to find other Devilmen. As Tokyo descends into chaos, Miki's family fall victim to the police and are buried by Akira outside the city.
Confused by his own actions, Ryo returns to the Amazon rainforest. After returning, Ryo lies about the origin of demons during a worldwide broadcast and shows footage of Akira transforming into Devilman, and the world descends into mass violence and
genocide
Genocide is the intentional destruction of a people—usually defined as an ethnic, national, racial, or religious group—in whole or in part. Raphael Lemkin coined the term in 1944, combining the Greek word (, "race, people") with the Latin ...
. After talking to social media to defend Akira, Miki and her friends are violently murdered by a paranoid mob who believes them to be demons. Akira kills the mob in retribution after witnessing them maniacally parading around with the dismembered bodies of his friends on sticks. Akira soon confronts Ryo, who reveals he is the fallen angel
Satan
Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as Devil in Christianity, the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an non-physical entity, entity in the Abrahamic religions ...
. Satan discovered the demons living on Earth after being cast out of Heaven, and though his body and the demons were destroyed by God, their souls endured their physical destruction. Having reincarnated as Ryo, Satan explains that he intends to exterminate humanity for defiling the world; he made Akira a Devilman to allow him to survive in the world to come, and to thank him for being by his side when he was human. Akira refuses to join Satan's cause and gathers the other Devilmen to fight Satan's army, but is defeated. With humanity, the demons, and the Devilmen obliterated and the Earth a devastated ruin, Satan reminisces with Akira until he realizes Akira has already died. Having killed the only person he ever loved, Satan becomes devastated and overwhelmed with grief. He tearfully cradles Akira's lifeless body as an army of angels descends, who destroy and reform the Earth.
Cast and characters
Production and release
Development and staff
''Devilman Crybaby'' is based on Go Nagai's manga ''Devilman''. It was produced as a
Netflix original series
Netflix is an American global Internet streaming-on-demand media provider that has distributed a number of original streaming television shows, including original series, specials, miniseries, and documentaries and films. Netflix's original pro ...
by
Aniplex
is a Japanese anime, music production and anime licensee company owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Established in September 1995, Aniplex has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime series, such as both ''Fullm ...
and Nagai's
Dynamic Planning
is a licensing company owned by manga artist Go Nagai. It was established in 1974 as a sister company of Dynamic Productions.
Dynamic Planning is credited in all of Go Nagai's animated works since 1974 as the "planner" and/or "producer".
...
, and animated by
Masaaki Yuasa
is a Japanese director, screenwriter, and animator affiliated with Science SARU, a Japanese animation studio which he co-founded with producer Eunyoung Choi in 2013. Yuasa previously served as president of Science SARU, but stepped down from th ...
's studio
Science SARU
Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...
.
Yuasa directed the anime,
Ichirō Ōkouchi
is a Japanese screenwriter and novelist. He is a graduate of Waseda University, School of Human Sciences.
Ōkouchi is best known for collaborating with director Gorō Taniguchi for composing the story and script of the Sunrise original producti ...
wrote the script and
Eunyoung Choi
Eunyoung Choi () is a South Korean studio executive, producer, director and animator. She is the President and CEO of Science SARU, a Japanese animation studio which she co-founded with Masaaki Yuasa in 2013, and has served as producer of the ...
served as the animation producer.
[ ]Ayumi Kurashima
is a Japanese freelance animator. She was originally part of Daizō Production.
She has worked as a key animator, animation director and character designer on several works. She has recently worked on numerous Bones works.
Works Anime television ...
was the character designer, while Kiyotaka Oshiyama was responsible specifically for the demon's design.[ Although Yuasa was a fan of the original ''Devilman'', it was a project he never imagined he would work on. It was Aniplex with whom he collaborated on '' Ping Pong the Animation'' (2014), that suggested a ''Devilman'' adaptation.] Yuasa did ''Crybaby'' aware that Nagai was probably restrained in the depiction of its sexual and violent content by having ''Devilman'' published in a '' shōnen'' (young males) magazine. The director commented that Nagai's later works were "even more extreme" and so he created ''Crybaby'' with the mindset of "If Nagai-sensei could have done as he pleased, he'd have gone this far".[ Yuasa also expressed his desire in creating a sequel to ''Crybaby'', saying that if he did, he could explore the "different settings and ways of telling the story".
]
Setting
''Crybaby'' updates the 1970s scenario of Nagai's manga on which it is based to a 21st-century setting.[ While the manga featured delinquents who bullied Akira, the anime uses rappers as substitutes for them.][ Because of that, some episodes feature extended rap sequences performed by professional rappers.][ These rap performances function as a type of narrator throughout the series.] The director said he made this change because he believes "rappers are the people who speak what's on their minds today".[ It features commentaries done through rapid text messages and social media to explore humans' reaction to demons.][ Yuasa commented that the technologies and social media's popularity made the 21st-century situation very close to the ''Devilman'' manga's violent scenario, as "people are a lot more connected, for good and bad".][ On the bad side, he cited people getting shot over a video game, police brutality towards African-Americans, the rise of nationalism in politics, and problems being blamed on foreigners.][ On the good side, he mentioned people ]coming out
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of ...
as LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is a ...
through social media and a greater "acceptance of different opinions and lifestyles".[ The series takes place in a universe in which the 1970s ''Devilman'' TV series exists,][ its theme song appears as a child's ringtone,][ and the bedroom of one of the children is filled with ''Devilman'' anime objects.]
Release and merchandise
The series was first announced in March 2017 to celebrate Nagai's 50th anniversary as a creator.[ In August, its first trailer was released on ]Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
Japan's YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
channel and it was revealed that the anime would have ten episodes. All episodes were released exclusively on Netflix on January 5, 2018, in 90 countries or territories. The series was made available in 23 subtitled languages and seven spoken languages; the dubbed languages include English, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, standard Spanish, and Castilian Spanish. On May 30, 2018, Aniplex Japan released the complete series on Blu-ray Disc as part of a "complete box". An exhibit of the series called ''Sabbath Shibuya'' was held at Japanese music store chain Tower Records
Tower Records is an international retail franchise and online music store that was formerly based in Sacramento, California, United States. From 1960 until 2006, Tower operated retail stores in the United States, which closed when Tower Records ...
between May and June 2018.[ Japanese clothing brand Beams produced ''Devilman Crybaby''-inspired street fashion, while Aniplex released polystone statues based on the anime.][
]
Music
Kensuke Ushio
is a Japanese composer, rock and EBM musician who performs under the moniker ''Agraph''.
He is a member of Japanese rock band Lama. Together with Lama, he released two full-length studio records: ''New!'' in 2011 and ''Modanica'' a year lat ...
composed ''Devilman Crybaby'' music.[ The anime features "Man Human" by ]Denki Groove
is a Japanese music group founded in 1989. It consists of Takkyu Ishino and Pierre Taki.
History
Denki Groove was founded in 1989 by Takkyu Ishino and Pierre Taki, both of whom are natives of Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture.
The group's major-lab ...
as its opening theme, while Takkyū to Tabibito performs a special ending theme song "Konya Dake" (lit. "Tonight Only") only for episode nine. ''Crybaby'' also features a remix of the theme song for the 1970s anime, "Devilman no Uta", in a version performed by Queen Bee
A queen bee is typically an adult, mated female (gyne) that lives in a colony or hive of honey bees. With fully developed reproductive organs, the queen is usually the mother of most, if not all, of the bees in the beehive. Queens are developed ...
's Avu-chan as an insert song. The rapper Ken the 390
, AKA Ken the 390 (''Ken za Sankyūmaru''), is a Japanese hip hop and R&B singer/rapper and voice actor who is an artist of the Rhythm Zone label owned by the Avex Group.
Life and career
In 1999, Ken the 390 helped in founding the Da.Me.Reco ...
, who also dubbed the character Wamu in the Japanese version, was the supervisor of the rap sequences in the series.[ Its two-disc, 48-track original soundtrack was released on January 10, 2018, by Aniplex.][ The complete box also included a ''Devilman Crybaby Freestyle Rap All Tracks'' CD.][
]
Themes and analysis
''Devilman Crybaby'' is based on ''Devilman'', whose main objective, according to Nagai, was to be an anti-war story.[ As such, ''Crybaby'' is a depiction of how humans can be as violent and cruel as the so-called demons.] Heather Alexandra of Kotaku
''Kotaku'' is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier.
History
...
wrote that demons are the ones doing violent actions at the start, but that humans replicate their behavior as the story progresses.[ Many critics said the persecution of demons in human disguise was a metaphor for ]bigotry
Discrimination is the act of making unjustified distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong. People may be discriminated on the basis of race, gender, age, rel ...
;[ for example, Megan Farokmanseh of '']The Verge
''The Verge'' is an American technology news website operated by Vox Media, publishing news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, consumer electronics news, and podcasts.
The website launched on November 1, 2011, and uses Vox Media' ...
'' commented the series is an allegory "about the cost of persecuting those we don't understand" and attacking people perceived as different.[ Alexandra stated the panic people create about demons is analogous to the actions of ]homophobia
Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitude (psychology), attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, h ...
, transphobia
Transphobia is a collection of ideas and phenomena that encompass a range of negative attitudes, feelings, or actions towards transgender people or transness in general. Transphobia can include fear, aversion, hatred, violence or anger tow ...
, racism
Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...
, or other moments people "see ther Ther may refer to:
*''Thér.'', taxonomic author abbreviation of Irénée Thériot (1859–1947), French bryologist
* Agroha Mound, archaeological site in Agroha, Hisar district, India
*Therapy
*Therapeutic drugs
See also
*''Ther Thiruvizha
''T ...
people as the 'other
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
'".[ Mike Toole of '']Anime News Network
Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and oth ...
'' commented the anime depicts how fast people will be able to other "suspicious or abnormal" people in order to protect their own groups. The ''Decider
Decider is both a real word and a "Bushism". It may refer to:
* ''Decider'' (website), a pop culture website operated by the ''New York Post''
*'' Bill Maher: The Decider'', a stand-up comedy special
* Decider (Turing machine), a Turing machine th ...
''s Eric Thurm said the mass violence reflects the anti-war narrative and that the series' "political message" is a reflection on "humanity's tendency toward paranoia and willingness to turn on others".[
Brittany Vincent wrote for ]Syfy.com
Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. La ...
that the series leads to an "inevitable existential crisis
In psychology and psychotherapy, existential crises are inner conflicts characterized by the impression that life lacks meaning. Some authors also emphasize confusion about one's personal identity in their definition. Existential crises are acc ...
", while Bloody Disgusting
Bloody Disgusting is an American multi-media company, which began as a horror genre-focused news site/website specializing in information services that covered various horror medias, including: film, television, video games, comics, and music. ...
's Michael Pementel highlighted its "existential and emotional elements".[ Alexandra said the series endeavors to reflect on many philosophical questions, including on goodness, on debauchery, and on being human.][ ]GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
's Kallie Plagge described it as a meditation on the meaning of being human,[ while Lynzee Loveridge of ''Anime News Network'' wrote it questions whether or not there is a line that separates humanity from monstrosity.][ Rob Salkowitz of '']Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...
'' wrote it also explores religion and the frality of social institutions. Pementel also discussed the role of manipulation on starting the frenzy of violence among the population.[ Toole commented that ''Crybaby'' discusses the proliferation of ]urban legends
An urban legend (sometimes contemporary legend, modern legend, urban myth, or urban tale) is a genre of folklore comprising stories or fallacious claims circulated as true, especially as having happened to a "friend of a friend" or a family m ...
and the difficulty people have to deal with "societal upheaval".[ ''Anime News Networks Rose Bridges highlighted the role of mass media and technology in the anime as they should supposedly unite but instead facilitate "judgmental impulses".][ She also commented it reflected on how this judgment may devastate people internally, which is symbolized by the demons' emergence from the inside of people's bodies.][
''Devilman Crybaby'' was also interpreted as an allegory for puberty, especially male adolescence.][ Toole commented that the physical and mental changes Akira goes through after obtaining Devilman's powers represent metaphorically the anxiety during puberty.][ Vincent stated it was a story about "self-discovery, and coming to terms with yourself",][ while Allegra Frank of ]Polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two toge ...
said the series shows "a real love for young people".[ Nick Creamer of ''Anime News Network'' called it a tale "about the chaos of puberty, about struggles with sexual identity and unrequited love".][ James Beckett, also commented for ''Anime News Network'', that it reflects on how young people deal with sex, love, and self-identity, and how it affects their "sense of worth".][ ''Anime News Networks Jacob Chapman said it features stories of people "learning to accept themselves and love each other".][ Bridges commented it has a positive message to LGBT watchers, as it depicts "the destructive nature of the ]closet
A closet (especially in North American usage) is an enclosed space, with a door, used for storage, particularly that of clothes. ''Fitted closets'' are built into the walls of the house so that they take up no apparent space in the room. Closet ...
", while also showing that self-acceptance can strengthen people who are suffering.[ '']The Japan Times
''The Japan Times'' is Japan's largest and oldest English-language daily newspaper. It is published by , a subsidiary of News2u Holdings, Inc.. It is headquartered in the in Kioicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo.
History
''The Japan Times'' was launched by ...
'' writer Matt Schley stated that despite being an adaptation of Nagai's ''Devilman'', it felt more like a spiritual successor to '' Kemonozume'', since both handle the subjects of identity, prejudice, religion and star-crossed love.[
''Crybaby'' featured the original apocalyptic ending of the manga,] not featured in any other ''Devilman'' animated adaptations.[ Daryl Surat of '']Otaku USA
''Otaku USA'' is a bimonthly magazine published by Sovereign Media, which covers various elements of the "otaku" lifestyle (such as anime, manga, video games, cosplay and Japanese popular music) from an American perspective. The issues were acc ...
'' called it nihilistic
Nihilism (; ) is a philosophy, or family of views within philosophy, that rejects generally accepted or fundamental aspects of human existence, such as objective truth, knowledge, morality, values, or meaning of life, meaning. The term was pop ...
,[ while Remus Noronha of ]Collider
A collider is a type of particle accelerator which brings two opposing particle beams together such that the particles collide. Colliders may either be ring accelerators or linear accelerators.
Colliders are used as a research tool in particle ...
commented that "a sense of tragic inevitability" is presented through the whole series.[ Alexandra said the anime shows the manga's nihilism although it seems to exhibit a lot of hope near the end.][ Kotaku's Chris Person wrote that, despite ending in a tragedy, he does not think it is appropriate to characterize ''Devilman Crybaby'' as nihilistic "because it has an emotional core and a thesis that it strongly believes in".][ Frank commented the devastated Satan's tears for Akira "makes such a nihilistic ending feel not so totally hopeless".] Yuasa himself commented on this subject, saying ''Crybaby'' focused on Ryo's character. While Akira is resolute about his actions from beginning to end, Ryo faces doubts, "internal changes and struggles at least".[ They meet as a child and Akira is the only one who supports Ryo, who develops feelings for him but does not realize it. Akira's role is to teach Ryo something and the story's essential point "is about what Ryo learns in the end"; and "in the end, it's about love".][
]
Episodes
All episodes were written by Ichirō Ōkouchi.
Reception
Audience response
''Devilman Crybaby'' announcement created anticipation among anime fans.[ It was the Netflix original anime that attracted the "biggest buzz", according to James Hadfield of ''The Japan Times''.] It turned out to be "the first big talking point of the year in the anime community", according to Syfy.com's Christopher Inoa. It was described as "one of 2018's most talked-about anime" by ''The Japan Times'' Roland Kelts, and "one of the most talked-about anime releases for many years" by Dan Auty of GameSpot. The Devilmen running-style attracted some attention among anime fans, including YouTuber PewDiePie
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg ( , ; born 24 October 1989), better known as PewDiePie ( ), is a Swedes, Swedish YouTuber known for his Let's Play videos and comedic formatted videos and shows. Kjellberg's popularity on YouTube and extensive media co ...
,[ and was dubbed "the best animated running since '']Naruto
''Naruto'' is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. It tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who seeks recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village. T ...
''". The series' remix of "Devilman no Uta" also became a popular meme.[ Nevertheless, it was "one of the most divisive anime of the Winter 2018 season", according to Nick Valdez of ComicBook.com, because of Yuasa's "stylized take" on Nagai's original work.] The anime was a regular topic on Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
in January 2018; ComicBook.com's Megan Peters reported on it, declaring "to say it has been controversial is an understatement". Peters commented the main source of disagreement was about its "over-the-top imagery" that "enthralled" some and "revolted" others.[
Although Netflix does not disclose viewership numbers,][ Auty, Valdez, Kelts, and ''Forbes'' Lauren Orsini have described the series as a "hit".][ Its viewership consisted most of non-Japanese audience; 90% of it were from outside Japan.][ Nevertheless, Japanese Blu-ray release was the 11th best-selling product on its medium and in its release week sold at least 2,637 copies.][ Inoa wrote that the "immediate reaction" to it indicated it was probably Yuasa's most popular work.][ Writing for ''Otaku USA'', Vincent commented it is one of Yuasa's "most instantly recognizable works".] Because of ''Devilman Crybaby''s popularity, GKIDS
GKIDS is an American film distributor based in New York with, according to the ''Los Angeles Times'', a focus on "sophisticated, indie" animation. GKIDS releases critically acclaimed, mostly hand-drawn, international films—such as the works o ...
showed interest in releasing Science SARU's previous works ''Night Is Short, Walk On Girl
is a 2017 Japanese animated romantic comedy film directed by Masaaki Yuasa. The film is based on the 2006 novel ''The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl'' written by Tomihiko Morimi and illustrated by Yusuke Nakamura, who also served as the film's o ...
'' and ''Lu over the Wall
is a 2017 Japanese animated fantasy film produced by Science Saru and released by Toho about the eponymous ningyo. It was directed by Masaaki Yuasa, and written by Yuasa and Reiko Yoshida. The music was composed by Takatsugu Muramatsu. It is ...
''. Likewise, Sam Reach of Anime News Network commented, "Go Nagai fever is running red-hot nowadays, thanks in no small part to ''Devilman Crybaby''". Nagai himself, the 1970s ''Devilman'' anime screenwriter Masaki Tsuji
is a Japanese anime screenwriter, mystery writer, manga author, travel critic, essayist, professor as well as mystery fiction novels writer. Tsuji was most active in the business from the 1960s through the 1980s, and worked as a script writer on ...
, and filmmaker Sion Sono
Sion may refer to
* an alternative transliteration of Zion
People
* Sion (name) or Siôn, a Welsh and other given name and surname, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name
* Shion or Sion, a Japanese given name
Plac ...
praised ''Crybaby''.
Critical reception
Based on nine reviews collected by review aggregator
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...
, ''Devilman Crybaby'' has received mostly positive critical reviews, with an overall approval rating of 89% from 9 critics and an average score of 6 out of 10. The anime has been considered one of the best anime available on Netflix, as well as one of the best or the best anime of 2018, while it was awarded "Anime of the Year" at the 3rd Crunchyroll Anime Awards, along with Yuasa being awarded Best Director. The anime was among the 14 Japanese works listed in the Jury Selections in the Animation Division of the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival
The Japan Media Arts Festival is an annual festival held since 1997 by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs. The festival begins with an open competition and culminates with the awarding of several prizes and an exhibition.
Based on judging by ...
Awards by Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs
The is a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). It was set up in 1968 to promote Japanese arts and culture.
The agency's budget for FY 2018 rose to ¥107.7 billion.
Overview
The ag ...
. ''Crybaby'' was also chosen among the best anime of the 2010s by the staffs of Crunchyroll, IGN and Polygon, while Film School Rejects
Film School Rejects is an American blog devoted to movie reviews, interviews, film industry news, and feature commentary. It was founded by Neil Miller in February 2006.
The site was nominated for Best News Blog by ''Total Film'' magazine and na ...
selected it as one of the best animated series of the decade. '' Paste'' magazine's staff elected it the 35th best anime of all time, with critic Toussaint Egan writing the anime is "not only as one of the best series in recent memory, but one that will stand the test of time". Frank of Polygon, Vincent, Cecilia D'Anastasio of Kotaku, and Beckett of ''Anime News Network'' called the series a "masterpiece".[ Peters wrote it exhibits all the a attributes of "an artistic cult classic",][ while Bridges of ''Anime News Network'' deemed it "just top-to-bottom perfect".][
The series has been noted for its graphic violence and sexual content;][ the latter has been compared to ]pornography
Pornography (often shortened to porn or porno) is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. Primarily intended for adults, .[ Its ]gore
Gore may refer to:
Places Australia
* Gore, Queensland
* Gore Creek (New South Wales)
* Gore Island (Queensland)
Canada
* Gore, Nova Scotia, a rural community
* Gore, Quebec, a township municipality
* Gore Bay, Ontario, a township on Manitouli ...
content has been highlighted,[ and because of its "ultra-violence"][ it has usually been described as "not for the faint of heart" or "weak of heart".][ Auty of GameSpot stated it "has pushed back the boundaries" of what type of content can be shown in a streaming service,][ and wrote an entire article dedicated to why the series has "some of the most extreme content ever to hit Netflix". Toole stated it is "the most ludicrously violent, sexed-up anime TV series ever aired",][ while Joyce Slaton wrote for ]Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media (CSM) is an organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children. that its mature content exceed what is expected to be featured in adult-aimed anime. Emily Gaudette of ''Newsweek
''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print m ...
'' called it "the bloodiest, most profane animated series of the year",[ and Thurm of ''Decider'' described it as the "grossest show on TV".] ''The Japan Times'' Schley commented that ''Crybaby'' differs from other ''Devilman'' adaptations because of its "level of on-screen sex and violence" and that it was more suitable for the public of the 1980s with its "ultra-violent films" like '' Akira'', ''Demon City Shinjuku
is a novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi that was adapted into an original video animation (OVA) in 1988, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. The title has also been translated as ''Hell City Shinjuku'' and ''Monster City''. It was also released as two man ...
'' or ''Violence Jack
is a Japanese manga, co-written and co-illustrated by Go Nagai since 1973, all the way to 2008. It has had several serializations and one-shot stories which have run in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Most of the stories have bee ...
''. On the other hand, Chapman of ''Anime News Network'' felt it was not difficult to bear the violence because of "Yuasa's super-cartoony style".
While Peters of ComicBook.com and Rebecca Silverman of ''Anime News Network'' said most of the content was "gratuitous",[ Farokhmanesh of ''The Verge'' disagreed, saying it is "a tool used to demonstrate the overindulgent, sometimes disgusting nature of being human".][ Likewise, Sanchez of ]IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
deemed it to be "one of the rare graphic action anime that has an incredible story to back up".[ Peters said it "is as harrowing as it is thought-provoking",][ while Pementel of Bloody Disgusting commented "its violence cuts on an intimate level" because of the themes it evokes.][ Beckett concluded the series features a "poetical vision" and that its focus on personal experiences makes it intimate, despite the violence.][ Alexandra of ]Kotaku
''Kotaku'' is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier.
History
...
was divided on the topic; while understanding the story's focus on humans' vileness and indulgency, she described it as "occasionally distracting" and said the amount of violence makes it lose its impact fast.[ Kotaku's Person commented that the sexual depictions were "deeply silly" and fit the plot, since the first part is about sex's ludicrosity and absurdity, especially to young people.][ However, Alexandra also highlighted how the camera frames several woman "in the most lustful way possible",][ while Loveridge of ''Anime News Network'' stated it demonizes female sexuality as all demons in the Sabbath are female and their demon traits are based on their sex organs which then devour the men.][
Many critics commented about "the remarkable animation style", as reported Pementel.][ It was considered one of the most "visually striking" anime of all time by Loveridge, while it has been described as "visually enthralling" by Thurm,][ and "visually stunning" by Matt Kamen for ]GamesRadar+
''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...
and by Frank.[ Theron Martin of ''Anime News Network'' commented, "you won't see a more ..outlandish visual spectacle in anime this season".][ Loveridge called it a "visual trip unlike any other",][ while Salkowitz of ''Forbes'' stated that the series "breaks out the most eye-melting psychedelia seen on the small screen" since ]MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
's ''Liquid Television
''Liquid Television'' was an animation showcase that appeared on MTV from 1991 to 1995. It has served as the launching point for several high-profile original cartoons, including ''Beavis and Butt-Head'' and '' Æon Flux''. The bulk of ''Liquid ...
''.[ Writing for ''Otaku USA'', Vincent said, "Yuasa's signature fluid animation ..transform what could have ultimately been an unattractive gorefest into an attractive ballet of human and demonic interaction".][ Daniel Kurland of ]Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
said that "there's nothing too special about ''Devilman'' at its surface level", but that Yuasa's injection of his "eye-popping animation and art direction" turns the story into "something special".[
Another aspect of ''Devilman Crybaby'' that was commended includes its "pumping" and "pulsing" soundtrack,][ which Inoa qualified as "so good it is an outright tragedy that it isn't available on ]Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a proprietary Swedish audio streaming and media services provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 456 million monthly active us ...
".[ Musically, the rap sequences were praised both by fans and specialized media like ''Hypebeast''.][ Others, including Creamer of ''Anime News Network'', praised the "rich characterization".][ Surat of ''Otaku USA'' commented, "The key is characterization", which he praised for not being limited to just Akira and Ryo.][ Toole enjoyed how Miki was no more a mere ]plot device
A plot device or plot mechanism
is any narrative technique, technique in a narrative used to move the Plot (narrative), plot forward. A clichéd plot device may annoy the reader and a contrived or arbitrary device may confuse the reader, causing ...
that she was in the manga and the punks' reconceptualization as rappers.[ The way it dealt with sexuality and its openly LGBT characters also received praise;][ Surat said "many strongly resonate with ''Crybaby'' for its emphasis on explicitly gay and lesbian characters in a dramatic presentation".][ Person liked the fact that there were "empathetic depictions" from both genders of the difficulty of being oneself and its "explicit and metaphorical queer presence".][ Farokhmanesh also found "its unwavering acceptance of storylines like queer romance" to be "refreshing" and praised its subversion of ]toxic masculinity
Toxic masculinity is a set of certain male behaviors associated with harm to society and men themselves. Traditional stereotypes of men as socially dominant, along with related traits such as misogyny and homophobia, can be considered "toxic" d ...
.[ The ending was divisive; PewDiePie considered it "flat" and a "fatal flaw" in the series,][ while Frank deemed its "beautiful, devastating finale" to be "perfection".][
''Crybaby'' has generally been considered to be faithful to the original manga,][ maintaining its sexual and violent content.][ Surat declared it to be "perhaps the most faithful animated adaptation of it".][ Egan of ''Paste'' stated it "is as orgiastically violent and unflinchingly risqué as Nagai's original manga".][ Toole said that at first ''Devilman Crybaby'' appears to be "a straight take on Nagai's classic story", and also compared the first episodes to the 1987 ]original video animation
, abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the first part of an OVA s ...
of ''Devilman''.[ Vincent considered it to be "the best iteration of ''Devilman'' to have ever existed" because of Yuasa's animation.][ Zac Bertschy of ''Anime News Network'' concluded that "it elevates the material into something else entirely, a spectacularly gay firestorm, a screaming, crying apocalypse that takes hold of you the moment it starts and never lets go".][
]
Controversy
On August 5, 2022, the city hall of Botucatu
Botucatu is a city in the southeastern region of Brazil and is located from São Paulo, the capital of the state of São Paulo. It has an estimated population of 148,130 (as of 2020) in an area of . It lies on the top of a plateau ( high). Botuca ...
, Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
removed a painting from the ''It happened in 2022'' exhibition. The painting was based on the anime's poster. The prefecture justified the act by saying that the anime was based on a work suitable for mature audiences, while the painting was free for all ages, as well being way too traumatizing for children to look at. One day after, teachers and students protested, calling the act censorship
Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...
. The art can now be seen in the Botucatu Board of Education building.
Notes
References
External links
*
''Devilman Crybaby''
on Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
*
*
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