Parents' Guide to

Devilman Crybaby

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Ultra-violent animated series is way too intense for kids.

TV Netflix Drama 2018
Devilman Crybaby Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 25 parent reviews

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largefanofepicthings Parent of 15-year-old
September 16, 2022
age 18+

Devilman

Make no mistake, this is not just the best anime of all time but perhaps one of if not the best show of all time. It is deep, fast paced, enthralling and shocking. While this show is truly a masterpiece and I see the violence and sexual content as no issue and can likely be viewed by anyone of any age as long as they are not usually bothered by that kind of thing, children and the vast majority of teenagers will just not understand the show’s connotations and level of depth. That said if they are mature then it’s fine. Only reason not to watch it is if you’re not mature enough because you won’t get as much out of it.
Haxxlim
Haxxlim Parent of 16-year-old
May 26, 2022
age 16+

This title has:

Great messages
See all 25 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the manga series Devilman by Go Nagai, DEVILMAN CRYBABY meets up with sensitive teen Akira (Koki Uchiyama), whose normal life is overturned after he's visited by a mysterious friend from the past, Ryo (Ayumu Murase). Ryo has learned that demons have always existed in the world, but have recently made an evolutionary leap -- they can now hide inside a human body, and are intent on waging war with humanity. Knowing that humans are helpless in the face of the cruel and powerful demons, Ryo presents Akira with a novel idea: He should allow a demon inside him yet keep his humanity intact. And so Akira becomes Devilman, a being with a demon's power but a human soul that's humankind's last chance.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (25):
Kids say (67):

With extreme levels of sex and violence and plot points that will mystify Western viewers not familiar with Japanese anime conventions, this series is for mature anime fans only. Devilman Crybaby wins points for sheer oddness. Animated movies and shows frequently have a "good against evil" plotline, with heroic figures standing in between humanity and certain apocalypse. But styling the bad guys as literal demons is a departure, and Devilman clearly delights in dispatching the demons as violently as possible in set pieces that are almost balletic in their bloody brutality.

However, other aspects of Devilman's plot are more puzzling: "pseudo-Satanic" parties at which partygoers gulp pills and have group sex, a running star who's repeatedly referred to as "the witch of high school track," and a strange drug that seems to make humans more vulnerable to demonic possession. Complex and otherworldly, these and other parts of Devilman will strike viewers as either weird or complex and fascinating, depending on their taste. But the heart of the series is in the moments when Akira must battle various demons, when hacked off heads and limbs fly through the air, blood spurts in fountains, demons ooze out of human crevices and tower to great heights. It's strange stuff, and it's not for kids, but if over-the-top anime is your thing, this unusual series may be too.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about who Devilman Crybaby is aimed at. Is it for kids? Is it typical for American animated shows to be family-oriented? Is this also true in Japan? What other adult animated series or movies have you seen? Does this show have more or less mature content?

  • Families can also talk about the violence in this series. How does watching super-violent content make you feel? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • Have you read the manga series on which this show is based? How does this animated series compare? Does it enhance your enjoyment of a movie or TV show to have read the book it was based on?

TV Details

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