Netflix’s Devil May Cry takes the demonic action of Capcom’s games and puts it on screen as a dark, violent animated series. Created by Adi Shankar, the show follows Dante, a demon hunter for-hire, as he battles a demonic invasion led by the White Rabbit. The result is a confident adaptation that earns its reputation as a serious piece of anime-style horror.
Trailer, via Netflix.
Dante’s Demonic Hunt
Dante is a cambion, half-human and half-demon, hired to stop the White Rabbit’s invasion of Earth. He also clashes with Mary Ann Arkham, a human soldier whose obsession with demons puts her on a collision course with his own work. The premise is simple: good versus evil, but the lines are blurry.
Johnny Yong Bosch voices Dante, bringing a gruff, weary energy to the role. Bosch was cast without knowing the project was tied to Devil May Cry, and he later mentioned that Dante’s original voice actor had quit acting entirely, leaving Shankar to build the character around him. That casting gamble pays off. Bosch sounds natural as Dante, delivering lines with the right mix of sarcasm and weariness.
The Voice Cast
The supporting cast is strong. Scout Taylor-Compton voices a key character, and Hoon Lee adds weight to the ensemble. Chris Coppola rounds out the main voices. Kevin Conroy plays Vice President William Baines in a posthumous role, since he died in November 2022 before completing his dialogue. Ian James Corlett stepped in midway through production to finish Baines’s scenes.
Tony Todd was cast as Beowulf for the second season, but he died in November 2024. James C. Mathis III took over for the final two episodes of that season. These casting changes are handled with care, and the show never lets them interrupt the flow of the story.
DARKCOM’s Pursuit
The government organization hunting Dante is called DARKCOM, led by Vice President William Baines. His pursuit of Dante drives much of the first season’s tension. The show doesn’t waste time explaining the setup. It dives straight into the fight, letting the action carry the plot.
“While being hunted by the government organization DARKCOM under Vice President William Baines, Dante, a cambion demon hunter for-hire, comes into conflict with a demon-obsessed terrorist called the White Rabbit.”
That single line sums up the entire premise. The show trusts its audience to keep up.
The Animation and Sound
Studio Mir handles the animation, working with Adi Shankar Animation and Capcom. The style leans into the dark fantasy of the games, with detailed demons and fluid action sequences. The sound design matches the tone, with growls, gunfire, and Dante’s signature quips landing with weight.
The show is rated TV-MA, and it earns that rating. Violence is frequent and brutal, with demons torn apart and bodies broken in ways that would make a lesser show look cartoonish. The series treats its subject matter seriously, and that seriousness carries through every episode.
A Strong First Season
The first season premiered on April 3, 2025. One week later, Netflix renewed it for a second season, which began on May 12, 2026. The show moved quickly, and the second season kept the momentum going. In June 2026, a third and final season was ordered.
The pacing across both seasons is steady. Episodes move between Dante’s battles, his interactions with Mary Ann Arkham, and the growing threat of the White Rabbit. The show doesn’t drag, even when it slows down to let a character breathe.
Where It Falls Short
Not everything lands. Some of Dante’s quips feel forced, and a few action scenes run together visually. The show is at its best when it’s moving, and it falters slightly when it lingers too long on exposition.
The Verdict
Devil May Cry is a confident, well-cast adaptation that respects its source material. The animation is sharp, the voice work is strong, and the story holds together across two seasons. It’s not perfect, but it’s consistently entertaining.
Key Facts Box
- Creator: Adi Shankar
- Network: Netflix
- Seasons: 2, with a third and final season ordered in June 2026
- First season premiere: April 3, 2025
- Second season premiere: May 12, 2026
- Voice cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Scout Taylor-Compton, Hoon Lee, Chris Coppola, Kevin Conroy, Ian James Corlett, Robbie Daymond, Graham McTavish
- Rating: TV-MA
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