Years before Jujutsu Kaisen, Netflix delivered one of the darkest, most disturbing anime ever streamed. Let's take a look at Netflix's 2018 global hit.
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SUMMARY
ELI5 Read Next ! Trigger Warning
This article discusses disturbing themes, graphic violence, and mature content. Readers’ discretion is advised.
Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen ushered in a new wave for Netflix-watchers, who weren’t familiar with the anime genre. Akutami’s manga-turned-anime not only gained a new audience across the globe, but it proved that the world likes twisted, spine-chilling, blood-curdling stories and visuals. But, before Gojo’s “Infinity” technique and dry humor that charmed the world, there was one anime that was so dark and mind-numbing that it paved the way for series like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Beastars, and Dorohedoro.
Eight years ago, Netflix took a risky gamble with Go Nagai’s manga, titled Devilman (1972), and released its first dark anime original in 2018. The anime was titled Devilman Crybaby and touched on the themes of s*x, LGBTQ, societal bigotry, s*xuality, and more. The streaming giant showed the world what an anime can become if all the restrictions are yanked out of it. And, the world loved it!
Here’s an overview of the anime:
| Title | Creator | Director | Production House | Release Date | IMDb Rating |
| Devilman Crybaby | Go Nagai | Masaaki Yuasa | Science Saru & Netflix | January 5, 2018 | 7.6/10 |
What Is Devilman Crybaby, And What’s So Special About It
Devilman Crybaby is a Netflix original anime released worldwide on January 5, 2018. It was directed by Masaaki Yuasa, written by Ichiro Okouchi, and animated by Science Saru. The series has ten episodes, and upgrades Go Nagai’s 1972 violent and graphic manga for the present day. The production was also tied to Nagai’s 50th year as a creator, which helped shape the project’s scope and purpose.
The plot revolves around Akira Fudo and his high school friend Ryo Asuka in the 21st-century world. The world has come face-to-face with an ancient demon race that is hellbent on destroying Earth. Ryo takes Akira to a sabbath party at an underground nightclub to prove to him that demons exist. After a mishap, several demons attack the nightclub, and one (Amon) tries to possess Akira.
Somehow, Akira’s sheer willpower to defeat the demon overpowers Amon. Still in Amon’s devil form, Akira attacks the demons and defeats them to protect the people in the nightclub. Later, Ryo tells Akira to strike a deal with a demon to gain its powers that will help them defeat their enemy. Akira listens to his friend and, in the process, turns into a devil, who looks like a human but possesses demon powers: a devilman.
Even in 1972, Nagai’s manga shed light on the sensitive and disturbing themes of gore, LGBTQ, gun-brutality, nudity, s*xuality, anti-war propaganda, puberty, and more. Similarly, the 2018 Netflix original keeps the soul of the manga but portrays the anti-war sentiments as a metaphor for a critique of bigotry and scapegoating. In today’s world, a social media post decides a person’s right to live or being ostracized by society. A viral tweet decides a person’s popularity, regardless of how revolting their ideologies are.
Meanwhile, Devilman Crybaby stands out because Yuasa’s animation stretches and distorts bodies, switching between cartoon elasticity and sudden wrenching realism. The Science Saru anime series does not trade shock for meaning. Instead, it uses violence and grief to force viewers to confront bigotry, mob mentality, and the thinness of social trust.
Netflix’s Risky Bet Led to One of Its Darkest Anime Originals
Netflix’s choice to release Devilman Crybaby as an uncut, global original was a clear gamble. The show is explicit in s*x and violence, and it ends in a way many viewers found devastating. Because Netflix distributed the series without broadcast edits, the team kept the story’s harsh edges intact. That freedom let Yuasa and Science Saru deliver the exact tone they wanted and reach an international audience all at once.
Regardless of the Crybaby’s success, which propelled Netflix as a serious player in the anime division, it quietly walked off the stage. People had hoped for a season renewal, but it has been eight years, and the hit anime fell through the cracks of history. Although Crybaby was made as a single, self-contained adaptation since it ends on a clear note, viewers wished for a season 2, or even a spin-off. Nagai meant to keep the story compact. And, both Yuasa and Netflix honored that.
Devilman Crybaby’s legacy is straightforward. Nearly every major streamer now hosts high-profile anime, but few have matched Netflix’s willingness to fund an adult, risky piece like this. It is ugly and painful, yes, but it asks a blunt question: what happens when society lets fear and paranoia rule? That question still rings loud, and that is why the series deserves to be watched, talked about, and not forgotten.
Let us know what you feel about Netflix’s Devilman Crybaby in the comments below.
Devilman Crybaby is available for streaming globally on Netflix.
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