Devilman Crybaby

Devilman Crybaby, my beloved, how I could count the ways that you were the paradigm shift that put Netflix on the map in the anime scene. Its soundtrack: slaps. Its animation: godlike. And its story: fucking imaculate

Devilman Crybaby, by Science SARU, is an avante-garde supernatural horror remake of Toei Animation’s ‘70s anime, Devilman. After a near-death experience, a meek high school boy named Akira Fudo transforms into the anti-hero Devilman. With the help of his childhood friend Ryo, Akira protects the world from devils wreaking havoc on earth.

Read More: What We Loved About Devilman Crybaby

Be warned: Devilman Crybaby is a heavy anime that more than earns its TV-MA rating. Its 10 episodes are chock-full of gruesome gore and graphic sex scenes. Despite its rating, Devilman Crybaby is not edgy for the sake of being edgy. At the forefront of its storytelling is a story about identity and hope in a world gone mad.

Devilman Crybaby managing to find a balance within the horror and commentary of its story isn’t surprising when you take into account that the original Devilman served as inspiration for the king of seinen fantasy, Berserk and the end-all-mecha deconstruction anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion. Much like with Berserk and Neon Genesis Evangelion, you’re best served pacing yourself while watching Devilman Crybaby rather than binge watching it. Trust me, your brain will thank you.