Devil May Cry: The Animated Series (2007) User Reviews

Oh No The F-Word

[zeil9523 · 7/10 · 17 July 2007]

Franchise- it ruins a lot of things...

So I was recently shown this by a friend- having been a fan of Dante since the first Devil May Cry game I was deeply intrigued. I've been holding my breath for a movie for over a year now and I have to admit I am a little bit of a sucker for the franchise- so I am biased. But I must say all and all the anime is not that bad- not at all actually.

The only problem I can see with it is that it is attached to such a large franchise and a lot of people go in with very different and very definite views on how the characters should be portrayed and what they should act like. Also this seems to be set after the first DMC movie, rather than the third- which I think throws a lot of people as well. The third game happens to be a prequel to the first and portrays Dante as being very cocky and sarcastic (think demonic teenager). The first sets Dante a more of a brooding protagonist and the anime has him as an odd mixture of the two.

Now although its not anything groundbreaking, I think people need to except it for what it is- a beautiful addition in the franchise and a fun way to spend a few hours. If you want something deep and meaningful, there are many other anime titles to choose from- also as far as anime titles go you can also do a lot worse... Ninja Resurrection for one...

Solid demon fighting with a plot

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 18 February 2020]

Before I say anything else about this series I will point out that this is my introduction to 'Devil May Cry'; I've not played the games so had no preconceived ideas about what the characters should be like or the tone of the show.

This anime series is centred on Dante, a half-human/half-demon who runs an agency called 'Devil May Cry'. His jobs typically involve killing devils; a task he is highly skilled at thanks to his abilities with swords and guns. Unfortunately the pay isn't great so he is usually in debt. After the events of the first episode he ends up effectively adopting a girl. Other key characters are JD Morrison, a friend who finds jobs for Dante; Trish and Lady, who are also demon hunters and a Demon named Sid who may be more dangerous than he initially appears. Over the course of the series Dante takes on a number of demons in a number of locations.

Watching this I wouldn't have guessed it was based on a fighting game... there is a decent amount of action but far more time is given to interaction between the characters. I thought the character development throughout the series was pretty good and the central characters were likable. Most episodes feature stand-alone stories but plot lines introduced at the start of the series resurface in the final two episodes. The action scenes are suitably exciting and are a bit bloody but not excessively so. The character designs are distinctive and the animation is of a good quality. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of the genre; I certainly enjoyed it more than I expected.

An Anime Which prefers emotions better than practical

[SaptarshiForYou · 8/10 · 3 September 2017]

At First like all of you I came up with the game series of it....and for further excitement I cam upon the anime series....Main theme as a devil hunter it is same as game but it shows us that getting carried away by our work, is not a good thing at all. There is no necessary to be practical at all time, you could just help your emotions may come out......so for the sake of eternity wherever and whoever you are, just listen to your heart's content.....it always brings benefit to you

The Anime may be not much like the other great anime's in the world but it is one of a kind....and some episode are really great.

It would be great if you prefer the positive sides of it more than negatives then it would cause you better result........

thanks for paying your time, i am honored to represent you my look over it

It surprised me

[peredhil-lover · 9/10 · 19 September 2007]

Let me first say that the Devil May Cry Anime did not come out how I expected, though that is not necessarily a bad thing. I started out with VERY high hopes and they took a severe blow when I saw the preview episode. Like most fans who had been waiting for something like this I was worried that Dante had turned into your typical stock type protagonist. I disliked the addition of new characters which I initially found incredibly annoying and I felt that they had chosen wrong when finding a voice actor. (I think I am one of the few who was not perturbed by the lack of fight scenes).

All I can say is that I was wrong. The first few episodes followed a similar pattern, but a main plot began to emerge towards the second half of the series and the character development was nice. It was wonderful to see the return of old characters and interesting to see how Dante would interact with humans (the guitar case as a sheath for Rebellion was a nice touch).

Tha animation was beautiful and I loved the character design. The OST is awesome and the characters who I loathed in the first episode grew on me as did Dante's new personality.

My advice is if you're a die-hard fan you have to take the anime with a pinch of salt. Yes it's not perfect and there are many things they could have done to make it better, but it also has so many good qualities which you will over-look pointing out the bad things. Watch it with an open mind and be prepared for a light-hearted (though it does have its dark points) piece of good entertainment staring your favourite Demon Slayer.

Pretty good for Anime

[mergatroid-1 · 7/10 · 15 September 2012]

I just read a review from an Uber fanboy. Man, those people shouldn't be allowed to do reviews.

I am a fan of anime, but not a nutjob about it as some people are. Apparently there were a series of DMC video games. I never played any of them. I didn't collect the dolls (oh, sorry, "action figures"), nor any of the other crud they try and make money from.

I picked up the DMS compete animated series on Blu-ray. It's smarter than most anime series. It doesn't preach as some anime does. The action is pretty cool, and the voice actors do a pretty good job. This is a type of "demon hunter" story, although a little different than most.

This is not a 10 out of 10 as the fanboy would have us believe. I give it a solid 7. I enjoyed watching it and would recommend it to other fans of animation.

Great so far!

[mlanevic · 9/10 · 20 July 2007]

I love DeviL may Cry! The games are my favorite all time series, I love the books, I love everything about the universe! I have only seen episode 1 of this and from that episode it appears the story and style of the anime follows the Devil May Cry Novel by Shin-Ya Goikeda which is a GREAT thing! The story in the games are great but in the novel is where it truly shines and the real Dante emerges. As soon as Dante is first shown in the episode and he asks for a Strawberry Sundae I smiled. Anyone who has read the book knows that thats his favorite and seeing that in the anime was just killer. The dialog and story seems very Devil May Cry-ish. Not like the story in the games, definitely like in the novel. I truly recommend watching this anime its great especially for everyone who has read the novel. My only complaint from episode 1 is that in the beginning instead of Dante saying his tradition "Jackpot!" line he as "Bingo!" and it really made me sick. I was hoping he would say Jackpot.

I can't wait for the series to hit the states in English so I can watch it all :D

Unfulfilled.

[my_cats_a_chav · 6/10 · 15 December 2014]

So much potential, so little realized.

I'm not going to do a full review but this is what I feel could of made it 2x as good as it was.

1) Dante's/Sparda's back story is never really explained. Sparda is mentioned a few times but to anyone who hasn't played the games it's just a name to them and it could be quite confusing.

2)No mention of Vergil. Why? For me the defining moment of DMC is when the two brothers have their final face off in the third game or even any of the battles in the third game. He's a perfect opposite of Dante. Obviously anyone who has played the games knows that Vergil decides to remain in the demon realm where his father grew up and is then 'recruited' by Mundus and the series is set after the events of the first game.

Even if it was a flashback to where they battled or even just them growing up together with their mother but nope, nothing.

3) For me this was the biggest mistake of the entire series: Dante NEVER uses his 'Devil Trigger'. I mean come on, that power was MADE for anime! Imagine the amazing colours of his glowing red power emitting from his body and his incredible speed. I watched the whole thing expecting maybe in the final episode that something would push him too far and he would be forced into using it but yet again, nothing.

4) My final and less significant point: There is a lack of all major items from the games. Such as the two amulets that the brothers share, Sparda's sword which Dante kept after the first game or force edge which Dante was left with after Vergil stayed in the demon realm.

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the anime, I thought it was okay but could of been 2x as good had they included some of these points. 6-7/10.

I Love the anime like I love the games

[teztiment · 10/10 · 8 August 2007]

Obviously the guy who commented before doesn't know a thing about the games. Devil May Cry Anime is exactly what its suppose to be, cool, sleek and"Stylish." Those who have played all the games know that Dante calmed down quite abit after he defeated Mundus. This is the Dante displayed in the anime. The reason he hasn't had to struggle or use his DT (Devil Trigger) is because none of the devils he's fought have been worthy. There have only been 8 episodes. I say give it around 15 and he might DT:)I would definitely recommend this anime to anyone who is truly a fan of the games or manga(comics).I also feel that people who have more adult senses of humor o like animes that aren't cliché will like this series as well, and the anime style is dark and gritty. I give it a ten

A Different Perspective On Dante.

[mcrpghk · 7/10 · 7 May 2021]

The Anime of Devil May Cry gains value by showing a different point of view of the life of our favorite demon hunter, since the first game we have in view a completely badass character, who does not care about much besides a good fight and make jokes of his opponents. Of course, in specific parts of his journey we have exciting and even sad moments, such as when he thinks he let Trish die, as if he had failed his mother again, moments where he talks to his brother or his childhood, leading the character even to cry (hence the name of the franchise is obvious), but overall what we have is a buck , stylish and a joke.

Already here we have a tired Dante, sad with his life, the anime in chronological terms takes place right after "Devil May Cry (2001)" ie, his brother was supposedly dead, his revenge against the one who took the life of his mother had already been realized and his partners were no longer present, so there was nothing that gave meaning in his life , he was moved only by the jobs morrison delivered him and the goal of protecting the weak, but that was just a hobby. Interestingly the few moments when we see Dante smiling and having fun is when he fights, since in these hours the character went out all his internal problems, the anime also makes it clear that the protagonist spent every day feeding on pizza and ice cream, just as another escape from his anguish, and in his ending it is implied that alcohol was also part of his routine.

Just for these examples is already valid to say that this anime is a pearl in the midst of the whole franchise, but things get better because we have a counterpoint to all this that was mentioned before, "Patty Lowell" is the typical child that even young is mature and seems to understand a lot of life and how people feel, and even if dante's main mission is to defend her and escort her , for the most part it is she who takes care of his feelings and supports him, creating a relationship almost between brothers. Of course there are times where one teaches the other about different aspects of life, but it is Patty who gives Dante a reason to live, either through his scolding or his sympathy that seemed to be missing in the protagonist's life for a long time.

Another point at which the series hits is not only on the main mission but finally showing Dante and the others acting as genuine demon hunters, things that are mentioned in all games in the franchise but never shown, of course they still act as protectors of humanity, but finally is shown the mercenary side, which accepts the works for money , the research side is of paramount importance in these moments, showing that Dante is not only a fighting machine without any strategy or intelligence, the relationships that the existence of demons causes in humanity is also portrayed, another positive point since in most games this is left aside.

The action scenes are also decent, as much as Dante solves most of his cases with extreme ease makes perfect sense, since at this point in the story the character is completely invincible.

The anime also brings cool curiosities such as dante's way of doing his work through his partner Morrison, as Trish and Lady recognized each other and began their rivalry, never-before-explored ties of Sparda and other demons that followed his ideology, among other interesting moments. Anyway, this anime is a treat for any fan of the franchise and a pastime for a casual audience.

Disappointing

[m4menghi · 5/10 · 19 October 2009]

As a huge fan of the games I felt like I was reading a bad movie adaptation of a book. There is maybe only one moment during the entire series when you feel like Dante is in any kind of danger, and without that there is just very little excitement. Even in what are supposed to be his hardest battles he never seems to be in danger, which knowing his background from the games is what you'd expect, but didn't make for a very exciting show. There are also many key elements lacking from the game such as his Devil Trigger, and gaining and using new weapons. The only reason I gave this a 5 was because it captured Dantes character very well and also had some excellent animation elements to it. If they continue this series I would hope the writers would play the games through and try to match what they see there.

For Fans of Devil May Cry

[sibulelemvayo · 8/10 · 27 June 2023]

Devil May Cry: The Animated Series is an anime focused on the day-to-day life of our loveable demon hunting protagonist, Dante. But even though the games are very action-packed, this anime is more of a drama with occasional action scenes. The sole purpose of this anime is to build the world of the Devil May Cry universe, which it does fairly well.

But due to the show's budget, some episodes feel inconsistent. Most episodes try to cram in action and character drama, which makes both elements feel a bit underdeveloped. But when an episode follows one direction and idea, such as being a solely action-packed OR character driven episode, these episodes end up feeling more fleshed out and enjoyable.

The characters, both introduced via this anime and from the game, are likeable and sometimes compelling to watch. Character development is subtle, but it still works at the end as you slowly notice it.

Overall, the Animated Series is a good addition to expanding the Devil May Cry franchise and universe. It's enjoyable mainly for those who are into the universe, but even then it's flawed. Outsiders to the series aren't going to enjoy this show, unfortunately.

Disappointing, except from the visuals and design

[CrystalisK · 4/10 · 19 January 2008]

As a huge fan of the games which i see as the best 3rd person action game series released since Resident Evil i was anticipating an action packed anime, but sadly this wasn't the case.

First of all the series takes place in 12 episodes and is a visually fine anime along with some great enemy character design, that somewhat lives up to the games. But besides this, the main story that takes place is somewhat non existent as the first 6-8 episodes are pretty much stand alone chapters with minimal linking to the main plot and sees Dante taking "devil-hunter" jobs. The last 2-3 episodes are the only ones with a somewhat main plot and by the the viewer wont seem to care about the story anymore as its been so lose as it has to this point, it feels like the writers didn't really knew what to make of the series except from using the brand.

What i found the worst about the series though was that the characters are so extremely one sided and lacks depth, to be honest i always thought the Dante character would be more interesting but hes always presented to superior and u never get the feeling like he would lose a battle, the same goes for the 2 other female fighter sidekicks that are in most of the episodes, all the characters in the series never seem to get beyond putting up one-liners against each other which really leaves them shallow and unlikeable. The same goes for the 2 other characters that are regulars in most episodes and are usually hanging out in Dante's office, the little girl Patty and his "jobagent" Harrison, both are stripped for depth and seem to only have the same role for every episode.

As the trademark for the video games are the battles and also what made me look forward to this, it came as a major disappointment to the fighting scenes in this as they like the story are reduced to a single or two scenes in every episode, with most of them lasting a mere 10 seconds or so, even the last battle is highly disappointing and adds to how Dante and the other 2 main fighters on the good side are represented so superior, and u throughout the series never really get the feeling that they might lose and therefore might create some unseen twist in the span of the series.

I will only really recommend this the hardcore fans of the game, as there's nothing new to see here as you will be forgetting this as soon as its over, if you want the real Dante play the games! 4/10

A Great Story that adds up with the Other Stories! DMC Forever!

[Chargerbeats1969 · 10/10 · 6 February 2008]

I am one of the few who is actually considered a big huge fan of DMC.

I Started playing the Games in the original order from when it came out (1-3 soon 4). Replayed the games in the specific order in which Capcom admitted was the True order (3, 1, 2... 4 is in between 3 & 1 so I will do that later). And of course replayed the games again in a higher difficulty level.

Read the Novels, Read the Comics... in which I proudly own them all and re-read when given the chance.

I made and own Dante's costume and weapons... I am just missing Ebony & Ivory (dammit!) But I have substitutes.

Then of course I have all 12 Episodes of the DMC Series. Which I am now watching the 3rd time just to see if I missed anything.

NOW! From my perspective of this whole Franchise of DMC... Every story told from the different Sources (aka books, games, etc) have it's own appeal and Promotes a different side of the story of our beloved hero Dante. Bringing in a new vision of what or who Dante is as well as the overall complex story surrounding the entire DMC world.

That is what it's supposed to be People! Have an open mind! Sure they all do not have that same feel as the game. Because If the books or TV series did that... then it would be boring since we Already saw fast-paced action in the games way way too many times, which will make things repetitive.

DMC does have a story, which is why they made the books and such. Like Final Fantasy VII, They had to unfold weak plot holes that will make the story even better by filling those holes with a twist. DMC is doing the same thing, and Wants you to understand the Strong Story. Not just about Dante+action.

The Books explains how Dante got his beloved guns Ebony & Ivory and also explores his overall lifestyle as a growing half Devil-Human. In the game, we get to understand His dysfunctional family and why Dante does what he does and all the fun within his job. The comic is more of a support for the DMC 3 game, bringing out in debt details about both Dante and his brother Virgil. The TV Series is more about exploring Dante's real personality and overall realistic lifestlye as a struggling business owner, bringing in the human feel as he struggles with debts and such.

Overall, This Series is one for the True Fans! And it is also a teaser for those who are not familiar with DMC. Do not feel disappointed for it's simple and less action oriented story. Be happy that Dante and his pals have made it this far! And I am rooting for the 2010 Live Action DMC! I am giving a 10/10 for this series unfolds another great story about the life of Dante and his Devil May Cry shop. He is a great guy who loves Rock, eats pizzas and Strawberry Sundae Ice cream, and has a big heart in helping others and saving the world. Speaking of ice cream, don't mind if I do!

An excellent addition to the well loved series of novels and games.

[jrmiller14454 · 10/10 · 8 November 2010]

First of all, I am going to note that the games were much more involved with the action and the overall theme of Devil May Cry.

HOWEVER, most people that have given this anime a poor review and try to base the game on the anime seem to forget one little detail; a GAME NEEDS action to progress. This is one key element to a hack and slash/action game. That being said, I see a lot of unfair reviews bashing the anime because "it was so unlike the game". If it were made like the game in 12 episodes then we would see 20% personal character development and 80% all fight scenes. AND even THEN, the same group of people would be disappointed because of the lack of that. Give some credit where credit is due guys. Really, it was a GREAT work of anime and as there are with ANY production, some flaws to be had. An UNBIASED opinion is required for such a task as reviewing this. Unfortunately both I or anyone who has watched these most likely, shall ALWAYS compare them to the game. That is a sad realization, but all in all the anime was brilliant. Anyone who loves a good time would love this.

Bingo? No Jackpot!

[moldwarrior · 9/10 · 24 January 2010]

If all anime were like this I would own probably just a few. Devil May Cry is one if not the best Video Game adapted anime's I've seen. I have seen others but this takes the cake. The story while not grounded is fairly easy to grasp and can be taken in for its own right. The animation is beautiful as it treats every detail, character and weapon with care. The voice acting is superb with the same voice actor from the third and fourth game as Dante and others making it a wonderful experience. I did think it was short but I got so much out of it.

The best part for me is the opening for the first episode. Just awesome for all the fans and newcomers. I own it on DVD and love to watch it. The most frustrating moment for me is the Devil Trigger part in the final episode it wasn't as amazing as I thought it would be. Major fans of the games cut this demon slayer some slack.

Bad

[klauzbilana · 5/10 · 22 April 2020]

The game is awesome but the anime is very bad and boring

Devil May Cry Character summary and short review

[NightmareBeforeHogwatch · 9/10 · 10 February 2010]

Devil May Cry is a 12 episode series of animated episodes based on the PS2 Capcom Video game Devil May Cry and the Manga volumes. The Animated Series follows the main playable character of the Video Game, Dante as he works in his demon killing business, Devil May Cry. Dante (voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa in Japanese) is a half-demon, Half human. whose father, Sparda, a legendary Dark Knight, saved the earth from demons many years ago. His mother, Eva's picture stands on Dante's desk in Devil May Cry in memorial. Dante works as a Private investigator,mostly accepting jobs involving the supernatural. although, throughout the series, Dante is in financial debt, and the money from his work goes to pay off that consistent debt. Devil May Cry also sees the return of series regulars, Trish and Lady. Trish, who makes her first appearance in the first game is a human-like demon created by Lord Mundus in Dante's Mother's image, she has demonic powers, such as electricity. after, Dante defeated Mundus, Trish joined Dante as his partner. Lady, who makes her first appearance in the third game is a female demon hunter, who is descended from the bloodline of a priestess, whose blood, Sparta used to seal the gate between the human and demon world. she often gives Dante work and takes the pay claiming it will go towards the debt he owes her. Two new additions to the series are Patty, an orphan girl, who Dante saves in the first episode, and spend her time cleaning Devil May Cry after Dante, and acts like his sister. the other addition is Morrison,Dante's Agent. who gives Dante work and helps out with repairs around the office. at first the series seems to just be Dante taking missions,and winning, but something more sinister is happening in the background. this is where the last main character comes in. Sid, A weak demon who first appears in episode one, and continues to appear throughout the series. Initially seems to be an insignificant danger and minor nuisance, Dante shows mercy towards Sid and restrains from killing him when given the opportunity. Unfortunately, Sid's ambitions prove to be far more dangerous than Dante possibly imagined. The order of the full series chronologically i believe is DMC 3 followed by the first DMC then the Anime then DMC 4 and lastly DMC 2, this is because By the anime Dante has met both Lady and Trish, but Lady and Trish don't know each other, and they meet and become friends during the anime, and I believe in the 4th game Trish and Lady make an appearance together(having not played the game I'm not sure) then the 2nd game comes last.

From the Animation team that brought you Deathnote, with amazing music By Japanese singer Rin Oikawa and Rungran. Devil May Cry combines bloody action, and Emotional moments, although I hoped there would be more, showing more of Dante's vulnerability towards his mother,and showing that although Dante seems to be a man with no cares, there's is something hidden in his tough exterior, although there is one episode that does go into Dante's past, and another where a demon falls in love with a human, both episodes, and others do reference Dante's parents and past, but I'd Like to be more. despite some minor flaws, in this Reviewers opinion, Devil May Cry is a must see.

Nothing like the games

[chrichtonsworld · 2/10 · 13 September 2007]

After having seen 4 episodes of "Devil May Cry" anime i have to say that this anime is not what I hoped for!! I did not expect much from a show based on a computer game but this is just awful! The slickness and coolness from the games is gone! From what I have seen the anime features some of the characters from the game but also put in new ones! Dante seems to be babysitting this little girl who appeared in the first episode and since then never left! And Dante himself is not the same character we know from the games! I am not sure how much the creators of the game are involved in this! But in this anime they are trying to do something different! The games were all about action and style and even had substance! In the anime the action is very average and it doesn't show an ounce of quality that the far superior cut scenes from the games do have! I am not going to talk about plot because there is none! There is no connection between this anime and the stories from the games! It makes me wonder why this anime has been made! All the fun,the stylish action and the ultra cool Dante are nowhere to be found in this anime! Avoid this!

When Anime Are used for Platform of Evil, Cursing, Killing, use of G-d In vanity, Man in Other words, teach, Inhumanity, heathenism!

[madeinisarel · 1/10 · 20 June 2023]

This is the end, your time is up all you've nearly their, This is the end, of humanity, The end of our elaborate plans, the world is at it's end The end of everything that stands The end No safety or surprise, criminality rains down upon all mankind, The end I'll never look into your eyes again, see innocent anymore, Can you picture what will be?

So limitless and evil, comes to take your soul's away Desperately in need of some salvation no hand to help you find it In a desperate land of evil where no one stands.

Where death rules, hatred is spread by evil man, everywhere.

The end of all social media is at hand, evil men have taken over the land of man.