IBanalysis

By John Ferrandino

Characters: Akira Fudo, Ryo Asuka (Satan), Miki Makimura, and Miko Kuroda

Plot: Akira Fudo is a normal, small high schooler who is on the track team along with his friend, Miki Makimura. His childhood friend, Ryo, comes back from a research expedition from the Amazon Rainforest, discovering demons. For research purposes, Ryo takes Akira to a black sabbath party. Demons posses sinful humans, so Ryo creates a panic, which results in partygoers transforming into demons, including Akira. But instead of killing humans, Akira fights the demons. His body os Amon, a mighty demon, but his heart is human. A devil human hybrid known as Devilman. Akira and Ryo team up to fight the demons, while Akira deals with his humanity and Ryo has ulterior motives.

Influences:

Go Nagai; the author, writes science fiction, horror, and erotica manga. Wrote this story for the purpose of an anti-war message.

Berserk; Guts and Griffith reflect Akira and Ryo in design and role in the story.

Apocalypse Now; Apocalyptic art design.

Motifs: Running, demons, two moons, light, darkness, sex, rapping, and Devilman tv show from the 80s

The animation uses natural lighting, dark shadows, and bright light to create a visceral, hardcore experience. This is similar to Francis Ford Coppola’s war film, Apocalypse Now. Both of them use visceral cinematography and violence to create a feeling of apocalyptic despair.

(Apocalypse Now, 1979)

(Devilman Crybaby, 2018)

The animation of the running of the track team is distinct by making the runners look like wild animals, highlighting demonic nature and physiology. The fastest runners on the track team, Akira and Miko, run leaning forward and arms swinging below them, giving the appearance of wild animals. Before Akira merges with Amon, he is a scrawny and meek teenager who is the slowest of the track team. After the merger, his speed and physiology increase. The members of the track team are ambitious, selfish, and estatic while running, eventually becoming devilmen like Akira to enhance their speed and endurance. The origins of demons is revealed to be thet they are the spirits of prehistoric beasts before the mass extinction event, with the same instincts and will to survive. They just see humans as a lesser lifeform to take advantage of. In return, possessed humans have increased physical capabilities. Miki, who sees the good in other people, doesn’t become a demon, and its reflected by her normal running stance.

(Before and after Akira’s merger with Amon)

Some characters in Devilman Crybaby rap to express their pent up emotions. The director, Masaaki Yuasa, states that “rappers the people who speak their minds today”. When the rap gang in the show raps, its often confessions to other characters, such as their ambitions and sexual desires.

The ending sees the moon split in half and formed into two new perfect spherical satellites. This confirms that this timeline is a time loop. Further hints at a time loop is present with the Devilman tv show from the 80s making an appearance as merch and a tv show in Akira’s home.

Conflicts:

The moral grey between demons and humans

Akira’s heightened senses and libedo

Demons possessing humans and humans persecuting devilmen

Ryo’s apathy and mysterious past

“I’m not a devil, I’m Devilman.”-Akira begging to a mob

“Don’t cry for it, it was going to die anyway.”-Ryo criticising Akira for trying to save a starving cat

Themes: Sexuality, loss of innocence, puberty, cycle of punishment, destiny, morality in the face of fear, such as the victem reciprocates the offender, such as the humans mercilessly killing devilmen after the existence of demons is revealed.

Ryo is revealed to be Satan who lost his memories after being exiled to Earth after rebelling against God and becoming leader of the demons. Although he doesn’t have a clear goal in mind, his apathy and coldness make his orchestrating humanity’s downfall inevitable. His punishment by God is to constantly kill the one he cares for the most, Akira. Although he is the villain, by the end, he is revealed to be the biggest victim.

“Why am I the only one talking? Akira! Don’t leave me.”-Final line from Ryo to Akira.

It can be interpreted that God punishes Satan by having him experience friendship, but without love, so he can destroy it himself and humanity, in an endless cycle. The presence of the 80s continuity in this timeline supports this by showing that Satan lives multiple times as Ryo, and makes the same tragic mistake.