Devilman: Birth Review: A shocking beginning and profound themes

"Devilman: Birth": Nagai Go's dark fantasy revived in OVA

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

November 1, 1987

■Frequencies

51 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Go Nagai

■ Director

Tsutomu Iida

■ Production

OH! Production

■ Story

Demons, who existed on Earth before mankind but had been sleeping for a long time, have been resurrected in the present day. A naive boy, Akira Fudo, learns of the existence and resurrection of demons from his best friend, Ryo Asuka, and is then attacked by a demon. In order to protect humans, Akira Fudo decides to combine with a demon to become "Devilman."

■Explanation

Nagai Go's manga Devilman has been made into an OVA. Devilman was aired as a TV anime for boys in 1972, the same year the manga was released, but this OVA is relatively faithful to the manga's hard-hitting plot. This OVA Devilman: Birth tells the story of how the protagonist, a boy named Fudo Akira, becomes a demon-human with the powers of a demon (called a demon in the story) and the heart of a human - Devilman. A sequel OVA, Devilman: Yocho Sirene, was released two years later.

■Cast

・Akira Fudo/Sho Hayami ・Ryo Asuka/Yutaka Mizushima ・Miki Makimura/Jun Takanomaki

■ Main staff

・Director: Tsutomu Iida
・Original story: Go Nagai ・Screenplay: Go Nagai, Tsutomu Iida
・Character design: Kazuo Komatsubara
Animation director: Kazuo Komatsubara, Masahiro Ando
・Art director: Mitsuharu Miyamae
Director of photography: Yoshiyuki Tamagawa
・Composition: Kenji Kawai
・Sound Director: Shigeru Chiba
・General Director: Go Nagai

■ Main Characters

・Fudo Akira A boy who became Devilman. He usually appears human, but transforms into Devilman when fighting. He was originally naive and introverted, but after merging with a demon called Amon, he became aggressive. His parents are missing, so he is staying with the Makimura family.

Asuka Ryo is Fudo Akira's best friend and has a calm and collected personality. He learned about the existence of demons from his father's research as an archaeologist, and merged Fudo Akira, who he trusted the most, with a demon.

Miki Makimura is the eldest daughter of the Makimura family and is strong-willed. She has feelings for Akira Fudo, but they are not in a romantic relationship.

■ Related works

OVA "Devilman: The Demon Bird Shirenu Edition" [2nd OVA]

The appeal and evaluation of "Devilman Birth"

"Devilman: Birth" is an OVA rendition of Go Nagai's classic manga "Devilman," and is highly praised for its dark fantasy worldview and deep themes. The work was released in 1987 and captivated audiences with its very advanced visuals and storytelling for the time. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and evaluation of this work.

■Visual and illustration

The visuals in Devilman: Birth were very high quality for an OVA at the time, and the technical skills of character designer and animation director Kazuo Komatsubara and Masahiro Ando shine. The demon designs in particular are grotesque yet beautiful, making a strong visual impact. The movements in the battle scenes are also very smooth, and Akira Fudo's transformation scene into Devilman is particularly impressive. This level of perfection in visuals maximizes the potential of the OVA medium.

■ Storytelling and Themes

While "Devilman: Birth" retains the essence of the original manga, it features storytelling optimized for the OVA medium. In particular, the process by which Akira Fudo fuses with a demon to become Devilman is depicted with suspense and dramatic developments. Furthermore, this work is not just an action film, but delves deeply into themes such as the relationship between humans and demons, the boundary between good and evil, and self-sacrifice. These themes are deeply moving and thought-provoking for the viewer, firmly conveying the philosophical aspects of Go Nagai's original work.

■Music and Sound

Music and sound are also important elements that enhance the appeal of Devilman: Birth. Composer Kawai Kenji provides the perfect background music for tense battle scenes and moving scenes, enhancing the emotions of the viewer. Sound director Chiba Shigeru also skillfully coordinates the sound effects and voice actor performances to further deepen the worldview of the work. In particular, the roars of the demons and the sounds of battle, combined with the visual impact, leave a strong impression on the viewer.

■ Cast performances

The performances of the cast also contributed greatly to the acclaim of Devilman: Birth. Hayami Shou, who played Fudo Akira, realistically portrayed the change from a naive boy to the combative Devilman, eliciting sympathy from viewers. Mizushima Yutaka, who played Asuka Ryo, firmly portrayed a calm character who played an important role in the progression of the story. Takano Maki Jun, who played Makimura Miki, also charmingly portrayed a strong-willed character, maintaining the balance of the work as a whole. The performances of these voice actors delve deeply into the emotions and psychology of the characters, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

■ Comparison with related works

You can get a deeper understanding and emotion from watching "Devilman: Birth" together with the sequel OVA "Devilman: Yochou Shireinu-hen". "Yochou Shireinu-hen" expands on the story of Akira Fudo's transformation depicted in "Birth", depicting his suffering and struggle as Devilman. These works complement each other and enrich the worldview of Go Nagai's "Devilman". Also, unlike the 1972 TV anime version, the OVA version stays faithful to the original manga and allows you to enjoy a harder story.

Recommendations and how to watch "Devilman: Birth"

"Devilman: Birth" is highly recommended for viewers who enjoy dark fantasy and deep themes. It is especially a must-see for fans of Nagai Go's work and those who want to explore the possibilities of the OVA medium. Also, watching it together with the sequel "Devilman: Yochou Shirenu" will give you a deeper impression and understanding.

■How to watch

"Devilman: Birth" can be purchased on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available on some video streaming services. When you watch it, enjoy comparing it with the original manga and TV anime version and immerse yourself in Go Nagai's worldview.

Conclusion

Devilman: Birth is an OVA reimagining of Nagai Go's classic manga, and has been highly praised in all aspects, including its visuals, storytelling, music, and the performances of the cast. This work is highly recommended for viewers who enjoy the charm and deep themes of dark fantasy. Be sure to watch it together with the sequel, Devilman: The Demon Bird Death, to fully enjoy Nagai Go's worldview.