Devil May Cry Anime: Love It or Hate It? Fans Are Divided!

by

Back in the mid-to-late 2010s, I found myself right in the heart of Devil May Cry fandom. The release of the 2013 reboot, DmC: Devil May Cry, had stirred up quite a debate among fans, leaving many of us worried about the future of our beloved series. But then, after a much-needed break, Capcom breathed new life into the DMC franchise. They rolled out an array of ports, collections, and fresh games on contemporary platforms, from 2015 to 2018. We were gifted with the Devil May Cry HD Collection, the DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition, and Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. And then, in 2019, they unveiled Devil May Cry 5, a long-awaited original installment that had been missing for more than five years.

Given the significant focus Capcom put on the “Devil May Cry” franchise during that period, it wasn’t unreasonable for some fans to anticipate that it would become one of Capcom’s main intellectual properties, alongside “Resident Evil” and “Street Fighter”. However, since the release of “Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition” in 2020, the “DMC” series has scarcely been seen in the gaming world, with no clear indication that a new numbered installment is forthcoming. Luckily, the recently premiered “Devil May Cry ” anime on Netflix has sparked renewed interest in the series, although this resurgence has had its pros and cons for long-term fans of the franchise.

The Devil May Cry Anime Makes Some Major Changes to Its Source Material

The Devil May Cry Anime Has Been a Big Success for Netflix, But It Isn’t Beloved By Everyone

Back in 2025, I was one of the millions who tuned into Netflix to catch the premiere of the Devil May Cry anime on April 3rd. This wasn’t your typical Devil May Cry, mind you – it was a fresh take from the mind of Adi Shankar, who also produced Castlevania. The series made quite an entrance, racking up over 5.3 million views in just its first three days and landing as the fourth most-watched show on Netflix’s global top ten list at launch.

However, while the show was a hit with critics, it didn’t sit well with many fans like me. The reason? It seemed to veer away from the original storyline of the Devil May Cry video games that we all know and love.

The Storyline of Devil May Cry’s New Anime is Largely Original

Netflix’s “Devil May Cry” series doesn’t follow the same storyline as the video games it’s adapted from; instead, it presents an alternate timeline that draws loosely on “Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening.” The show centers around the young demon hunter Dante, who finds himself pursued by a secret government agency called DARKCOM. In addition to this relentless enemy, Dante must battle against a vengeful demon known as the White Rabbit. Notably, the anime’s plot is primarily original and while some familiar characters from the “Devil May Cry” games appear, their personalities have undergone significant modifications.

Netflix’s Devil May Cry Completely Alters the Characters and Themes of the Series

One noteworthy transformation occurred for the character Mary Ann Arkham (Lady) in the DMC anime adaptation. In the video games, Lady is a determined demon hunter with a somber past and an insatiable thirst for vengeance. However, in the anime, she’s depicted as a foul-mouthed, aggressive lieutenant of DARKCOM, unwilling to yield to any obstacles. Although her character has undergone significant changes from the games, Lady remains an essential figure in the series, and there are instances where she appears to surpass Dante in power, which contrasts with the established Devil May Cry lore.

In addition to fresh character interpretations, the Devil May Cry anime on Netflix introduces political elements and government agencies, which were absent in the original DMC video games. The Netflix version of Devil May Cry presents demons as refugees, frequently mistreated by both humans and malevolent demons from the underworld. Conversely, in the games, demons are usually depicted as adversaries. While there are benevolent demons within the realm of Devil May Cry, most are typically portrayed as monstrous rather than human-like entities. Due to numerous changes such as these, some fans argue that Netflix has not faithfully captured the essence of the DMC franchise’s storyline, potentially leaving newcomers with an incomplete understanding of its best aspects.

Read More

2025-05-17 05:34