The appeal and reviews of "Devilman: The Demonic Bird Death": A fusion of abysmal beauty and terror

"Devilman: Yochou Shirenu-hen": The appeal of the OVA that deepens Go Nagai's worldview

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

February 25, 1990

■Release and sales

Bandai Visual

■Frequencies

60 min

■Original Story

・Original work: Go Nagai

■ Director

・Director: Tsutomu Iida

■ Production

・Animation production: Oh Production

■Works

© Dynamic Planning, Kodansha, Bandai Visual

■ Story

Fudo Akira has merged with a demon and is reborn as Devilman. Before him appears the demon Jinmen. With the fate of mankind on his shoulders, Akira defeats Jinmen. However, the next evil forces, Aguer and Germar, attack the Makimura family, and Devilman is attacked by his arch enemy, the demon bird Sirene. With Sirene's relentless attacks, Devilman finds himself in the biggest pinch ever.

■Explanation

This OVA is based on the opening chapter of Nagai Go's "Devilman". It is a sequel to "Devilman: Birth" and depicts a battle with Sirene, a demon bird that also appears in the TV anime. It further deepens Nagai Go's dark fantasy worldview, and is a work that stands out for its visual impact and clever storytelling. This OVA has been praised for firmly retaining the essence of the original work while challenging the limits of visual expression.

■Cast

・Fudo Akira, Devilman / Shou Hayami ・Miki Makimura / Jun Takanomaki ・Ryo Asuka / Yu Mizushima ・Akira's mother, Suyako / Masako Ikeda ・Sirene / Yoshiko Sakakibara ・Jinmen / Takeshi Aono ・Kaim / Unsho Ishizuka ・Gelmer / Fumihiko Tachiki ・Agwel / Satoshi Nakajima

■ Main staff

・Original work and general director: Nagai Go ・Director: Iida Tsutomu ・Character design and animation director: Komatsubara Kazuo ・Animation director: Ando Masahiro ・Music: Kawai Kenji ・Sound director: Chiba Shigeru ・Art director: Miyamae Mitsuharu ・Director of photography: Tamagawa Yoshiyuki ・Animation production: Oh Productions

■ Main Characters

・Fudou Akira, Devilman The main character is a demon who fights against demons. Amon, a demon who awakens to love, combines with the human Fudou Akira to become Devilman. He fights using supernatural powers such as the "Devil Chop" and "Devil Wing."

Makimura Miki is the eldest daughter of the Makimura family with whom Akira is staying, and has been friends with Akira since childhood.

・Asuka Ryomei's best friend, he took over the research of his father, an archaeologist, and learned of the existence of demons. His true identity is Satan.

Sirene: A demon assassin. He admires Amon who merged with Akira, and hates Akira for taking over Amon's body.

■ Related works

・"Devilman"
・"Devilman: Birth"

■ Theme songs and music

・IN1
・SHOW MUST GO ON!
Lyrics: Eizo Sakamoto, Chris Tsangarides Music: Naoto Shibata Singer: Anthem

The appeal and evaluation of "Devilman: The Demon Bird Death"

Devilman: Yochou Shirenu-hen is the second in a series of OVAs based on the original work by Go Nagai, and was released in 1990. This work makes the most of the dark fantasy and horror elements of the original work, and succeeds in drawing viewers in with its visual impact and clever storytelling. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and evaluation of this work.

Deepening the story

"Devilman: The Demon Bird Sirenu Arc" is a sequel to "Devilman: The Birth Arc" and depicts Akira Fudo's growth as Devilman and his continued battle against the demons. In particular, the confrontation with the demon bird Sirene is an important episode in the original work, and its tension and drama are beautifully recreated in the OVA. The contrast between Sirene's beauty and cruelty leaves a strong impression on viewers. Additionally, the depiction of Akira Fudo's conflict as a human and his sense of mission as Devilman successfully draws sympathy from viewers.

Character design and drawing

The character designs and drawings were done by Kazuo Komatsubara and Masahiro Ando. Their skills allowed them to faithfully reproduce the character designs from the original work while adding movements and expressions unique to OVAs. The battle scenes between Devilman and Sirene in particular have been praised for their dynamic movements and attention to detail. The designs of the demons also closely follow the atmosphere of the original work, creating a visual sense of fear.

Music and Sound

The music was written by Kawai Kenji, and Chiba Shigeru was the sound director. Kawai Kenji's music succeeds in bringing out the dark atmosphere of the work, especially the sound effects and background music that heighten the tension in the battle scenes. Chiba Shigeru's skill as sound director also brings out the best in the voice actors, allowing the characters' emotions to be conveyed to the audience. The theme song, "SHOW MUST GO ON!", also symbolizes the theme of the work with its powerful anthem's voice.

Director's Perspective

Director Tsutomu Iida respects the worldview of the original work while taking advantage of the characteristics of the OVA medium. In particular, the camerawork in the scene that simultaneously expresses the beauty and cruelty of Sirene, and the battle scene between Devilman and the Demons, succeeds in maximizing the visual impact. In addition, the well-paced editing that matches the progression of the story also attracts the viewer's interest.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"Devilman: The Demon Bird Shirenu Arc" has been highly praised by fans of the original work, with the confrontation scene with Sirene and the episode depicting Devilman's growth receiving particularly high praise. The visual expression that makes the most of the characteristics of the OVA medium has also been praised, with the visual impact and clever storytelling leaving a strong impression on viewers. Furthermore, the quality of the music and sound has also been highly praised, and the overall high level of completion has been praised.

Recommended points for "Devilman: The Demon Bird Death"

"Devilman: Yochou Shirenu-hen" is the second in a series of OVAs based on the original work by Go Nagai, and has received a wide range of reviews and appeal. Below, we will explain in detail the points that make this work recommended.

Faithfully reproduces the world of the original

This work is based on the original work by Go Nagai and faithfully reproduces the worldview of the work. In particular, the essence of the original work, such as the design of the demon tribe and Akira Fudo's conflict, is firmly inherited. In addition, by deepening the story of the original work, it provides viewers with a new perspective.

Visual impact

The quality of the character designs and drawings is high, and the battle scenes between Devilman and Sirene in particular have a strong visual impact. The demon designs also closely resemble the atmosphere of the original, creating a sense of visual terror. These elements leave a strong impression on viewers and enhance the appeal of the work.

Music and sound quality

The dark atmosphere of the film is enhanced by the music of Kenji Kawai and the sound direction of Shigeru Chiba. The sound effects and background music that heighten the tension in the battle scenes are particularly impressive, and they succeed in drawing out the emotions of the viewer. The theme song "SHOW MUST GO ON!" also symbolizes the theme of the film with its powerful singing anthem.

Director's perspective and direction

Director Tsutomu Iida respects the worldview of the original work while taking advantage of the characteristics of the OVA medium. In particular, the camerawork in the scene that simultaneously expresses the beauty and cruelty of Sirene, and the battle scene between Devilman and the Demons, succeeds in maximizing the visual impact. In addition, the well-paced editing that matches the progression of the story also attracts the viewer's interest.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"Devilman: The Demon Bird Shirenu Arc" has been highly praised by fans of the original work, with the confrontation scene with Sirene and the episode depicting Devilman's growth receiving particularly high praise. The visual expression that makes the most of the characteristics of the OVA medium has also been praised, with the visual impact and clever storytelling leaving a strong impression on viewers. Furthermore, the quality of the music and sound has also been highly praised, and the overall high level of completion has been praised.

Related works and recommendations

For viewers who enjoyed Devilman: The Demon Birds' Death, we also recommend the following related works, which will help you gain a deeper understanding of Go Nagai's worldview.

Devilman

Based on the original manga by Go Nagai, it depicts the birth of Devilman and his battle with the Demon Clan. It is the foundational story for the OVA series, and is a must-see for anyone wanting to learn about the world of the original work.

"Devilman: Birth"

This OVA is the first part of "Devilman: Yochou Shireinu-hen" and tells the story of how Akira Fudo was reborn as Devilman. By watching this work, you can gain a deeper understanding of the story of "Yochou Shireinu-hen".

summary

"Devilman: Yochou Shirenu-hen" is the second in a series of OVAs based on the original work by Go Nagai, and has received a wide range of appeal and critical acclaim. It faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work while successfully drawing viewers in with its visual impact and clever storytelling. The quality of the music and sound has also been highly praised, and the overall level of completion has been highly praised. Viewers who enjoyed this work are also recommended to watch the related works "Devilman" and "Devilman: Birth". Through these works, you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of Go Nagai's worldview.