DEVILMAN CRYBABY

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > VEGETA > DEVILMAN CRYBABY

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

SPOILERS

As a huge fan of Devilman (mainly the OVA with the awesome Manga dub I got on VHS like 20 years ago, and when I found out 2 months ago there was a THIRD series by the same studio where they were all chibi AND it was on YouTube I was over the drat moon. Seriously I love that art style, score, everything) I enjoyed this a lot.

I thought the crybaby title and theme was weird at first, but it all came together in the end. The art style was a bit hit or miss, generally hit though (this was the same guy who did Kaiba? I tapped out of that after that abysmal second episode. Christ). Also the running stuff came together really nicely.

I was hoping that they'd do something different with the ending, cos you know it's a bit of a Debbie Downer, but it's good to have a whole contained Devilman anime from beginning to end (I've never seen the old show, so I don't know if they finished it, and why WAS that show in this show? That didn't make much sense thematically). I was surprised they didn't bring out Amon, but maybe that would be too messy.

Loved that last fight! It was insane. I'm glad it was a bit more of a back and forth instead of a one shot kill in the manga. They really knocked the last few episodes out of the park, some really hard hitting stuff. Everything with Miki's family was loving awful and heartbreaking, Jesus. I was really hoping Miki would survive this time.

I think they dropped the ball with Jinmen and Silene. The OVA did both those plot points and fights so much better. Also not sure how Ryo became a world famous super rich professor by the time he's like 18, but oh well. I also enjoyed him talking in English, made him seem more educated and worldy.

Maybe they can do Devilman Lady next, and continue the story.

# ¿ Jan 6, 2018 20:02

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# ¿ May 10, 2024 09:04

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

wielder posted:

Frankly, I thought this was a great watch. If I had to give a rating to Devilman Crybaby, it would be about 8/10. Admittedly, the pacing might have benefitted from an extra episode or two to make the flow feel natural. I think that much is hard to deny. Why did they end up with just ten episodes though? That's such a strange number for an anime production.

Like Darth Walrus mentioned, I would argue this adaptation was all about being true to the core underlying themes of Devilman. Obviously, I mean the themes as interpreted by Masaaki Yuasa himself since this anime reflects his personal style and vision quite strongly, including his own ideas about psychosexuality and the relationship between humans and demons as viewed through a surrealist perspective. His goal wasn't to provide an extremely literal animated version of every single panel from the manga.

In short, we did get to see the original ending of Devilman and the same general framework with some of the same key events but with lots of individual modifications to the narrative along the way.

Which is fine by me. I don't think you hire someone as creative as Masaaki Yuasa to direct a project without giving him the freedom to convey his feelings and thoughts about Devilman. Said freedom brings the potential for both great and not-so-great decisions that will not be equally appreciated by everyone in the audience, yet that is precisely how a lot of artistic content works in this world.

The specific changes vary in terms of concept and execution quality, yet I would argue most of them worked for me. I had no problems with Ryo's and Akira's backstory here, at least not once they decided to focus on it. I wasn't too convinced by what they tried to do with Jinmen (the turtle) in the fourth episode, but appreciated that they gave Silene and Kaim a little more to do here than in the Devilman manga before their fight. Which I thought was also decently adapted despite not being too long.

I am in special disagreement with Davincie about the added sports content being a bad thing. On the contrary, I had a lot of questions about that approach at the start of the anime, yet by the end it all made sense to me once they had taken the metaphor to its logical outcome and tied it to the story's conclusion.

Furthermore, I think Miki's portrayal was an overall improvement here in terms of giving the girl a greater role and additional relevance to the themes, despite admitting that I do tend to prefer her fiery attitude from the manga. To be clear about this: Miki was more of a comedic relief character in the original manga until the unforgettable final sequence, which I would add was also one of the strongest episodes of the adaptation.

I was indifferent to the reporter. He wasn't necessary, but I think he fit right in. Oh, I also liked this version of Miko.

Mind you, I can understand why someone who just wanted a straightforward adaptation might not feel satisfied with the results. But for me it's entirely possible to appreciate the original manga and this version on their own terms. After all, we get to enjoy more content that way and see different takes on the subject matter. Which Go Nagai seems to be totally fine with, according to the interviews he's given about the project.

A very good post.

# ¿ Jan 7, 2018 12:25

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

I saw an article online that said it's one of the top streaming series this month, hopefully its success will bring Devilman Lady (or motherfucking GUYVER I hope I can see the end of that story sometime!)

# ¿ Jan 8, 2018 01:51

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Avynte posted:

Having never heard of Devilman before and finishing it in one sitting, holy poo poo I was not expecting that kind of ride. By the time episode 9 finished, I was so emotionally drained that the final episode seemed more like an epilogue/wrap up than anything.

My biggest criticism would be how pitch black most of the action scenes were made it difficult to follow, but the ultraviolence made up for it.

DEFINITELY watch the two OVAs if you enjoyed this. English or Japanese, it doesn't matter.

Even if the movie is so-so I love the end theme of Apocalypse of Devilman. It fits the mood just right https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnG1D2Oz9Lk

# ¿ Jan 8, 2018 03:00

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

I'm so glad people are being introduced to the joys of Devilman!

I read Amon: The Darkside of Devilman today and gently caress me just what the Christ was going on with all the T Rex's and people melting and creepy angels

I pre-ordered the new translation of the original Manga, thanks for the link! I bought the OVA soundtrack on vinyl over Christmas, that poo poo owns

# ¿ Jan 8, 2018 15:45

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Avynte posted:

The motorcycle post credits scene was probably the one that hit me the hardest. I won't lie, I was misty-eyed as gently caress there.

What episode was this again?

# ¿ Jan 9, 2018 07:22

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Yeah Zenon kinda got one-shotted in this adaptation.

I think people have some valid points about Ryo and their friendship. Their friendship is way more believable in the OVAs. He's less of a psychopath and they both help each other out. God I wish they'd made a couple more (though oddly enough the chibi parody version they made after actually kinda sorta does do this version with everything going to hell at the end, it's pretty weird but there's some laughs in there).

# ¿ Jan 10, 2018 07:04

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

LORD OF BOOTY posted:

I always thought the Amon: Apocalypse of Devilman OVA was supposed to basically be the third OVA.

It could be, but it's a different studio, different director/actors/composer, so for me it's not part of that particular story. Also Ryo is barely in it.

That reminds me, I was very surprised that they killed off Psycho Jenny in this version. That never happens (she's way too powerful). Also she was hilarious in human form, the most hosed up terrifying assistant you ever had.

# ¿ Jan 10, 2018 09:18

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

StrixNebulosa posted:

https://twitter.com/zysets/status/950662619752415232

Haha yeah, that's the one I was talking about. I liked it! It's all on YouTube.

# ¿ Jan 10, 2018 15:19

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

I gave up on Kaiba after that abysmal second episode.

# ¿ Jan 11, 2018 08:05

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Please, no!

It was the second episode with the exploding sex people right?

# ¿ Jan 11, 2018 08:12

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Mido exploded an old man's head while sexing him and carried on sexing.

This was normal compared to Kaiba

# ¿ Jan 11, 2018 09:51

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Lupin the Third loving Owns. I just watched the new series in Italy, it's awesome. Theme song rules too. He's the best.

# ¿ Jan 12, 2018 02:54

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Darth Walrus posted:

Ryo didn’t win. Akira’s death broke him, and God defeated him again. You see the reset process happening post-credits - it looks just like Satan’s first defeat at the very beginning of the show.

The old Devilman show is a reference to a concept that first cropped up in Devilman Lady - every time God defeats Satan, he resets the world and Akira and Ryo’s adventures become fiction. It’s an ominous little warning - all this has happened before, all this will happen again - which is delivered upon with the reset at the end, as the old, ruined Earth becomes another moon.

Yeah, but doesn't Violence Jack happen afterwards? So the reset happens sometime after that battle.

# ¿ Jan 12, 2018 03:00

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

It's a shame there's no way to tell if this is doing well. Seems like a lot of people are talking about it and it's brought in tons of new Devilmen. Then Netflix commissions Guyver and I'm 13 again

# ¿ Jan 12, 2018 09:56

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Sakurazuka posted:

Speaking of stuff inspired by Devilman, the 2006 The Guyver TV series just got put up on Crunchy. From what I remember it's a fairly decent retelling of the same manga volumes the old OVAs coveted without the weird changes (and a lot less gore unfortunately, since it was on TV).

It's good, but it doesn't finish the story. It just sorta ends.

The old OVAs (12 VHS tapes!) were my first introduction to anime. Ah, memories.

# ¿ Jan 12, 2018 17:26

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Are you trying to tell me that they never finished writing the drat Manga!? I'm sure they did, it just was never translated, right guys?

# ¿ Jan 12, 2018 17:40

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Just been listening to the soundtrack on YouTube. It actually rocks.

The second best opening, Lupin III Part IV, was already posted, so submitted for your approval, here's the OG best opening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX5i50oLg_A

# ¿ Jan 13, 2018 09:03

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Devilman Crybaby inspiring a whole new generation of Devilmen. That's awesome

# ¿ Jan 13, 2018 17:55

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

https://twitter.com/mar_mar_draws/status/952426369580806144?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Em5%7Ctwgr%5Eemail%7Ctwcon%5E7046%7Ctwterm%5E1

# ¿ Jan 14, 2018 09:50

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Smoking Crow posted:

I disagree about binge watching because I think I would have liked the first 4 episodes more if I had watched them with a week's break

It's too much bad poo poo at one time

I mean, no one forced you to binge.

# ¿ Jan 15, 2018 00:49

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

I read Devilman Lady a while back and don't remember being too offended

# ¿ Jan 18, 2018 15:40

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

I was just thinking of this thread and all the LGBT talk this show has generated and then I thought "there aren't actually any gay relationships in this show?"

Ryo is Satan, and is neither male or female. Akira loves Miki, who loves Akira. Mido is in a relationship with that rapper and thinks about Akira's huge dong.

# ¿ Jan 19, 2018 09:48

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

tithin posted:

You're forgetting the rear end in a top hat devilman who turns on Akira. His entire reason for turning in the first place is his best friend / lover being killed by a demon

he was very explicitly gay

Yup, I knew there was something I was forgetting! Just getting to that episode now on my rewatch.

Man, the first scene of episode 1 makes complete sense on a rewatch.

# ¿ Jan 19, 2018 09:55

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Endorph posted:

*character literally turns to other character and says they love him, with romantic undertones*

"God, you guys are overreading it."

I think it's more like

*character becomes their true self, which is both and neither male and/or female, and professes love to a male character*

"God, this is so gay it's great"

Edit: Satan says he/she doesn't believe in love, but he/she does really, just didn't realize it

# ¿ Jan 19, 2018 11:40

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Srice posted:

The straightest thing that a man can do is to gently caress another man.

Are you talking about Kudo? Because I already said I forgot about that relationship

# ¿ Jan 19, 2018 11:42

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Pener Kropoopkin posted:

Just letting them be gay would be missing the forest for the trees, because the queer reading goes deeper than sexuality. Becoming a devilman is a literal transhuman experience, which openly confronts the inherent value of humanity as a natural inborn trait. The heroes are heroes because they defy their very natures, even when they're heightened by demonic impulse. There's a trans dialectic coursing through the narrative that goes all the way down to The Devil Himself, who overcomes his nature as a being designed by God to be more perfectly beautiful and intelligent than any living thing on Earth, to realize the human experience. It's literally an anti- narrative.

A good post.

Also I'd say Miki and Mido are straight. It doesn't matter.

# ¿ Jan 19, 2018 16:14

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

C-SPAN Caller posted:

Maybe one day Japan won't suck as much about gay people so gay anime fans don't have to latch onto subtext and can just enjoy actual gays in their cartoons

I dunno it feels like Japan is ahead of America in terms of depictions onscreen? What does everyone think?

# ¿ Jan 19, 2018 16:42

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

How many beings are aware of the time loop? Jenny, Satan, I think Akira in Devilman Lady, and God?

# ¿ Jan 22, 2018 07:19

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Pener Kropoopkin posted:

Afaik it's just Jenny. Akira and Ryo are only aware of previous cycles if their memories are restored.

True, I was counting Satan when he gets his memory restored, but it's then erased again (I forgot Akira thought it was an alternate reality). Though doesn't Devilman Lady end with them realizing it's a time loop, banding together and going off to fight God?

This story is insane and I love it.

# ¿ Jan 22, 2018 09:16

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Nice! What did you think of the OVAs? Don't forget to watch the Chibi world after,same studio and style!

# ¿ Jan 23, 2018 15:51

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

I want that soundtrack. I doubly want it on vinyl. Not for $300 though lol

# ¿ Jan 25, 2018 05:13

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Lupin III Netflix series? :fap:

# ¿ Jan 27, 2018 03:26

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

How is Miko a lesbian when she went on a date and had feelings for the rapper guy and then hosed that skeezy dude? Are you using a different definition of lesbian?

# ¿ Jan 28, 2018 08:02

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

I guess I'm just confused. Why not say Miko is bi? If she's a lesbian she's also straight, so isn't bi OK?

# ¿ Jan 28, 2018 08:50

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Just finished my rewatch and drat episode 9 hit a lot harder this time. Love that closing song, too. I made my GF watch it, now she's suitably depressed :good:

I love all the stupid Devilman memes, and great art that's out there!

# ¿ Jan 28, 2018 15:19

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

A lot of the fan art is based around the OVAs, and many people decry Crybaby Roy's lack of sideburns. It warms my heart.

# ¿ Jan 28, 2018 15:51

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Expect My Mom posted:

https://twitter.com/emkonishi/status/955545607275458560
https://twitter.com/mmmagnolia/status/952184390133587969

drat.

Looking at the hash tag, too many people are drawing Mido without her huge honkers. Shameful.

# ¿ Jan 28, 2018 16:43

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

Aww man, happier times :unsmith:

Hey it's my old friend Ryo!

# ¿ Jan 31, 2018 15:43

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# ¿ May 10, 2024 09:04

Alan_Shore: Dec 2, 2004

I read the first volume of Devilman Grimoire and I really like it. It's very different so far (no Ryo, what the heck) but I like the witch stuff, Miki, and it's super gorey. Recommended!

# ¿ Feb 9, 2018 06:39

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