Critic Reviews

Devil May Cry isn't just one of the best new animated shows of 2025, it's one of the best shows of the year so far overall, and one that's deserving of the same level of success that Castlevania has rightly enjoyed.

Devil May Cry is not without flaws, including horrendous use of CG, bad jokes, and predictable characters. And yet, Adi Shankar and Studio Mir craft a fun video-game adaptation that doubles as a deranged, bonkers, and bold homage to and indictment of '00s Americana.

“Devil May Cry” effectively translates the game’s kinetic pacing with a short story that takes place over 48 hours or less for its eight-episode first season. It’s a frenzied, adrenaline rush as swift as the swords Dante wields in both pacing and style, best to digest in one easy binge.

Obviously the series will be of interest to anyone familiar with the playable characters. But we feel like this Devil will work just as well for those who’ve never played the video game on which it’s based.

It does feel like a slight step down, but even then, the absolutely sensational technical aspects and visuals flawlessly emulate the classic Capcom series and boast more than enough bloody great spectacle to satisfy more casual fans.

Dante and Mary ‘Lady’ Arkham are where season two’s biggest and most delightful surprise comes. .... They are much closer to their video game counterparts this time. Not that it’s a be-all and end-all requirement for every gaming adaptation, but it does work far better for the story when it comes to franchises such as this.

Though the plot remains a bit predictable and the animation suffers from its use of CG, Vergil is a great addition to the show and brings with him a darker tone, a compelling emotional story, and some kick-ass fight scenes.

The show still can't make the militaristic subplot fit with the more fantastical elements, and the need to show Vergil's side of the past makes for a somewhat unnecessary retreading of season 1's events. But with the fan-favorite antihero's debut still coming with plenty of stylish action setpieces, emotional character evolution, and overall gorgeous animation, it's still a largely thrilling time from start to finish.

Showrunner Adi Shankar (“Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix”) takes time and care with the multi-layered world building while pumping it all up with adrenaline, heavy-metal-esque action sequences. They razzle dazzle.

It's undeniably an acquired taste, and as someone who previously wasn't familiar with the game series, I completely understand why anybody would bail after a single half hour in the presence of the irritating man-child bounty hunter Dante (Johnny Yong Bosch). However, I must confess that the show managed to trigger my post-Y2K nostalgia, so indebted to the pop culture of that decade that it made me feel reverence for a video game I've never played in my life.