It’s 2025, and hell hath no fury like a Netflix anime adaptation done right. Capcom’s Devil May Cry franchise, a symphony of swordplay, snark, and demonic mayhem, has landed on the streaming giant’s platform with a swagger only Dante can pull off.
Developed by Castlevania showrunner Adi Shankar and animated by South Korea’s Studio Mir (The Legend of Korra, Dota: Dragon’s Blood), the new Devil May Cry anime is an eight-episode cocktail of hyper-stylized action, mythology-drenched drama, and tongue-in-cheek humor—served with extra cheese (both metaphorical and literal pizza-based).
Plot: Holy Hell, Vatican’s in Trouble
Our story kicks off with an explosive demonic invasion of, of all places, Vatican City. It’s like Dan Brown meets Doom Eternal. Enter Dante (voiced with perfect gravel and sass by Johnny Yong Bosch), the demon-hunting, half-human, half-devil heartthrob with a bad attitude and worse credit score.
This time, Dante’s up against the enigmatic White Rabbit (Hoon Lee), a demonic insurgent with a flair for chaos and cryptic monologues. Meanwhile, a mysterious government agency named DARKCOM (yes, that’s their real acronym—subtle as a chainsaw) joins the fray, led by the late, great Kevin Conroy as Vice President William Baines in one of his final roles. Batman meets a demon bureaucrat—poetry.
Dante’s journey is tangled in everything from Vatican secrets and ancient prophecies to very suspicious government contracts and the ever-present threat of running out of pizza mid-fight. He’s not alone, though—he’s joined (and frequently antagonized) by Mary Arkham (Scout Taylor-Compton), who adds some much-needed edge and eye rolls.
Animation: Stylish Doesn’t Even Begin to Cover It
Studio Mir nails the aesthetic. Every slash, shot, and sarcastic smirk is delivered with cinematic flair. The fight scenes are fluid and electric, like someone spilled Monster Energy drink on an Akira Kurosawa film reel.
The color palette leans heavily into moody reds and gothic blacks, with explosive pops of neon during combat. There’s even a touch of retro video game glitchy flair at key moments—visual fan service for OG DMC fans.
If you’re the kind of person who rewatches anime fight scenes at half-speed to admire the choreography… congratulations. Your new obsession has arrived.
Humor & Tone: Self-Aware and Snarky (Just Like Our Boy Dante)
The anime doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is exactly what makes it work. Dante’s quips land with snarky perfection, and even the villain monologues are delivered with a wink. There’s a scene involving demons, diplomatic immunity, and a guy literally throwing a crucifix like a ninja star—if you can watch that without cackling, we need to talk about your joy receptors.
Between the action and the lore-heavy drama, there’s a lot of cheeky nods to fans: Dante’s obsession with strawberry sundaes and pizza? Check. Gratuitous coat-flipping before battle? Check. Using a motorcycle as a weapon? Double check.
Reception: Critics (Mostly) Cried… With Joy
Devil May Cry currently rocks a 95% approval on Rotten Tomatoes and a solid 78 on Metacritic. Critics praised its visual energy and faithful yet fresh take on the franchise. IGN gave it an 8/10, calling it “stylish, snappy, and one of the most fun adaptations of a video game property we’ve seen yet.”
Some naysayers (there always are) argued the plot occasionally dips into overly political territory. To which we say: the guy fights demons in red leather—realism isn’t exactly on the menu.
Season 2: Confirmed and Coming In Hot
In a move that surprised no one with taste, Netflix greenlit a second season on April 10, 2025. Shankar has hinted that Season 2 will go deeper into Dante’s personal demons (literal and figurative), and explore the dynamics between him and Vergil. (Yes, our favorite emotionally constipated samurai twin may finally enter the chat.)
And let’s be honest—we’re all just hoping for more shirtless sword-fighting and cryptic Latin chanting.
Final Verdict: Should You Watch It?
If you’re a Devil May Cry fan, anime enthusiast, or simply enjoy watching hot people do cool things with impractically large weapons, this series is essential viewing. It balances stylish spectacle with surprisingly compelling storytelling and just enough camp to keep things from feeling too self-important.
Also, it features a literal demon exorcism set to heavy metal guitar riffs. Your move, Oscars.
Score: 9/10
Pros:
- Gorgeous animation and stylish combat
- Faithful to the DMC vibe with added depth
- Fantastic voice cast (special shoutout to Kevin Conroy)
- Pizza and bullets in equal measure
Cons:
- Occasional plot bloats
- Not enough Vergil (yet)
Devil May Cry on Netflix is proof that when done right, anime adaptations of video games can be devilishly good. Just don’t try to copy Dante’s haircut in real life—you won’t survive the shame.
