Devil May Cry review: What's so appealing about this action-packed game?

Devil May Cry: The legend and appeal of demon hunting

Devil May Cry is a TV anime series based on the game series of the same name developed by Capcom. Broadcast on WOWOW from June 14 to September 6, 2007, the 12-episode series captivated viewers with its action-packed storyline depicting the exploits of the demon hunter Dante. Below, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of this anime.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

game

■ Broadcast period

June 14, 2007 - September 6, 2007
WOWOW June 14, 2007 - September 6, 2007 (Episodes 1-12) Every Thursday 23:00 - 23:30

■Broadcasting station

WOWOW

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Capcom

■ Director

Shin Itagaki

■ Production

Animation Production: Madhouse Production: Devil May Cry Production Committee (Capcom, WOWOW, Shogate, Madhouse, Media Factory)

■Works

©CAPCOM CO.,LTD.／DMC Production Committee

■ Story

Dante is a devil hunter descended from a legendary magic swordsman. Having protected mankind from the threat of demons countless times, he opens a handyman business called Devil May Cry, which undertakes demon extermination, and solves requests one after another with his beloved twin pistols Ebony & Ivory and magic sword Rebellion. However, the clients who come to him are always quirky and a bit peculiar... The original game is a huge hit, with the series selling over 6 million copies worldwide. It is a stylish action game full of exhilaration, with a focus on flashy and cool moves.

■Explanation

Dante runs a handyman shop called "Devil May Cry." His true identity is that of a devil hunter who hunts down demons that infest the world! He hunts various demons on request from the middleman Morrison and his friend Lady -- sometimes it's just his daily life, sometimes it's work. The exploits of Dante, the strongest hunter born between a human and a demon, are about to be awakened here!
"Devil May Cry" is a huge hit game series for the PlayStation 2 by Capcom, which has sold over 6.8 million copies worldwide. Devil Hunter Dante, descended from the legendary magic swordsman who prevented the demons from invading the human world, uses a long sword and two pistols to fight in a flashy and cool manner, making it an exhilarating and stylish action game. The game has gained support from users around the world for its beautiful images that fully utilize the capabilities of the PlayStation 2, its unique characters, and its powerful sound. The latest title, "Devil May Cry 4," is currently in development for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.
Starting June 14th (Thursday) at 23:00 on WOWOW!

■Cast

Dante/Tomoyuki Morikawa Patty/Misato Fukuen Morrison/Akio Otsuka Lady/Fumiko Orikasa Trish/Atsuko Tanaka Sid (Devil)/Nachi Nozawa

■ Main staff

・Original work / Capcom・Director / Shin Itagaki・Assistant Director / Kenichi Kawamura・Supervisor / Hiroyuki Kobayashi・Series Composition / Toshiki Inoue・Character Design, Chief Animation Director / Tsune Abe・Demon Design / Yutaka Minowa・Prop Design / Masahiro Kimura・Art Director / Katsushi Aoki・Color Settings / Naoko Kodama・Director of Photography / Kazutoshi Ota・3D CGI / Eiji Inomoto・Offline Editor / Shigeru Nishiyama・Sound Director / Akihiko Nakajima・Music / rungran
・Music Producer: Shiro Sasaki, Yukako Inoue ・Executive Producer: Hisato Usui, Atsushi Iwasaki, Hiroyuki Kitaura ・Producer: Takaya Ihei, Tatsuhiro Nitta, Daisuke Katagiri, Tetsuro Satomi ・Animation Producer: Makoto Awano ・Animation Production: Madhouse ・Production: Devil May Cry Production Committee (Capcom, WOWOW, Sho-Gate, Madhouse, Media Factory)

■ Main Characters

Dante is a man who runs a handyman business called "Devil May Cry" in a certain town. He is sarcastic and likes to skip work whenever possible, and is not exactly a serious person, but he is skilled and some people respect him. He is actually half demon, half human, and his main job is hunting the demons that infest the world. He uses his twin pistols "Ebony & Ivory" and his giant sword "Rebellion" to hunt demons with superhuman physical abilities, making him the strongest hunter who "makes even demons cry."
Patty: A girl who became obsessed with "Devil May Cry" after a certain job that Dante took on. Having lost her mother at a young age, she has lived alone, giving her a tough and mature personality. Perhaps because of this, she is often put off by Dante's sloppy behavior and often acts like a guardian. She treasures her mother's keepsake pendant.
Morrison is a "middleman" who suddenly visits Dante and brings him various jobs. He and Dante exchange sarcastic comments, but this is only possible because they trust each other. Dante values ​​Morrison's honest personality, and Morrison values ​​Dante's skills. However, he seems to be a bit bothered by Dante's tendency to slack off and his sloppy lifestyle.
Lady Dante's friend, a human woman who works as a devil hunter. Although she is a skilled hunter, she suddenly visits "Devil May Cry" when she has a job that she cannot handle alone and asks Dante for help. She has lent Dante a considerable amount of money, and she extorts money from him on various occasions, calling it "repayment."
Trish: A woman who used to work as Dante's partner. Although she appears human, she is actually a pure demon with the power to control lightning. She has now temporarily left Dante and is continuing her journey to see various worlds.
・Sid (Devil)
A low-level demon appears before Dante and his friends. He's not a big deal, and somehow you can't hate him, so Dante has a hard time finishing him off.

■Subtitle

・Mission:1／Devil May Cry
・Mission:2／Highway Star
・Mission:3／Not Love
・Mission:4／Rolling Thunder
・Mission:5／In Private
・Mission:6／Rock Queen
・Mission:7／Wishes Come True
・Mission:8／Once Upon a Time
・Mission:9／Death Poker
・Mission:10／The Last Promise
・Mission:11／Showtime!
・Mission:12／Stylish!

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・dmc
・Composition: Matakeshi ・Arrangement: rungran

・ED1
・I'll be your home
Lyrics: Oikawa Rin; Composition: Matakeshi; Arrangement: Matakeshi; Singer: Oikawa Rin

・IN1
・FUTURE IN MY HANDS
Lyrics: Oikawa Rin Composition: suble
・Vocals: Aimee B

The appeal and evaluation of "Devil May Cry"

"Devil May Cry" has been highly praised not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. Its appeal can be summed up in the following points:

1. Stylish action

The stylish action that is a feature of the original game is faithfully reproduced in the anime. The combat scenes using Dante's dual pistols and magic sword are visually very attractive and have the power to draw the viewer in. In particular, the battle scenes that unfold at the climax of each episode are extremely impressive.

2. Charming characters

The main characters, including Dante, are all unique and charming. The characters' backgrounds and relationships are depicted in depth, making it easy for viewers to empathize with them, such as Dante's sarcastic and lazy personality, Patty's mature toughness, and Morrison's discipline. Female characters such as Lady and Trish also leave a strong impression.

3. Deep story

The anime version of Devil May Cry is based on the story of the original game, but by adding new episodes, it has its own unique appeal. The human drama depicted through Dante's past, his relationship with his family, and his battle with demons will deeply move viewers.

4. High-quality production

Madhouse's animation is of extremely high quality. The character designs, background art, color scheme, and more are all top-notch, making for a visually stunning production. Additionally, the sound design by sound director Satoshi Nakajima is also a key element in enhancing the atmosphere of the film.

5. Music

The opening theme "DMC" and the ending theme "I'll be your home" are high quality songs that match the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the music by Takeshi Hata and Rungran, who composed the opening theme, has the power to capture the hearts of viewers.

Devil May Cry's recommended points

I would especially recommend Devil May Cry to the following types of viewers:

1. Fans of the original game

For fans of the original game, this is a rare opportunity to relive Dante's exploits in the anime. It's also fun to see how the world and characters of the game are portrayed in the anime.

2. I like action anime

Fans of stylish action scenes will especially enjoy this film, as Dante's fight scenes are visually stunning and well worth a watch.

3. People who want a deeper story

It is also recommended for those who want a deep story that depicts human drama and character growth. The human drama depicted through Dante's past, his relationship with his family, and his battle with the devil will deeply move the viewer.

4. People who want to enjoy high-quality animation

I would also recommend this to anyone who enjoys high quality animation from Madhouse, as the character designs, background art, color palette, and more are all top notch and visually stunning.

5. People who want to focus on music

It is also recommended for those who are particular about the opening theme, ending theme, and insert songs. The music by Hamatakeshi and Rungran is an important element in livening up the atmosphere of the work.

Conclusion

Devil May Cry is a work that is widely supported not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. The stylish action, attractive characters, deep story, high-quality production, and music all come together to draw viewers in. Please watch it once and experience its charm for yourself.