Dante is basically the king of "too cool to care." If you’ve played the games, you know the drill: dual pistols, a massive sword, and a craving for strawberry sundae that borders on a medical condition. But back in 2007, things got weird. Madhouse—the legendary studio behind Death Note—decided to take a crack at the franchise. The result? Devil May Cry anime season 1.
It wasn't what anyone expected.
Most people went in looking for the high-octane, combo-heavy madness of DMC3. Instead, we got a moody, noir-inspired procedural about a guy who can’t pay his electric bill. It’s weirdly grounded. Honestly, it’s one of the most misunderstood pieces of media in the Capcom library.
What Actually Happens in Devil May Cry Anime Season 1?
Don't expect a linear adaptation of the games. This isn't a retelling of how Dante fought Vergil atop Temen-ni-gru. It’s set somewhere between the first and second games, though the timeline is famously messy. Dante runs his "Devil May Cry" shop, takes odd jobs, and spends a lot of time getting bullied by a little girl named Patty Lowell.
Patty is a point of contention for many. She’s an orphan Dante ends up babysitting after a job goes sideways. Their dynamic is the heart of the show, even if it feels jarring compared to the demon-slaying. She brings out a domestic side of Dante that we rarely see. He’s not just a legendary demon hunter; he’s a guy who loses at poker and hates doing chores.
The plot follows a "monster of the week" format for the first half. Dante gets a call, usually through his agent Morrison (who looks very different here than in DMC5), goes to a location, and shoots something. There is an overarching plot involving a demon named Abigail, but it stays in the background until the final stretch. It’s slow. Some might even call it boring if they’re looking for constant action. But if you vibe with the "sad cowboy" aesthetic, it hits a very specific spot.
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The Madhouse Aesthetic
Visually, Madhouse crushed it. The animation is sharp, even by today's standards. They used a muted color palette—lots of deep reds, greys, and blacks. It feels like a rainy Tuesday in a city that’s seen better days.
Toshiyuki Itahana’s character designs for Dante are iconic. This is arguably one of the best "looks" Dante has ever had. He wears a long, flowing red trench coat that actually looks like heavy leather. His hair isn't just a white mop; it has texture. It’s a shame the actual fight choreography doesn't always live up to the art style. Dante is so overpowered in this series that most fights end in about thirty seconds. He takes a hit, shrugs it off, and fires a single shot from Ebony or Ivory.
It’s stylish, sure. But it lacks the tension of the games.
Why Fans Were So Divided
You’ve got to remember the context of 2007. Devil May Cry 4 was right around the corner. Fans were hungry for more of that high-intensity action. When the Devil May Cry anime season 1 dropped, it felt like a total 180.
- The pacing is glacial. One episode is literally just about Dante trying to get a strawberry sundae while being chased by minor inconveniences.
- Lady and Trish are barely in it. They show up for fanservice-heavy cameos and to bicker with each other, but they don't have much to do with the main plot.
- The stakes feel low. Until the final two episodes, you never really feel like Dante is in danger.
But here’s the thing: it’s great for world-building. It shows us what Dante does on his "off" days. In the games, we only see him during the apocalypse. In the anime, we see him when he’s just a guy trying to survive in a world where demons are a nuisance rather than a world-ending threat. It adds a layer of melancholy to his character. He’s lonely. He’s the strongest being on the planet, and he’s spending his time playing coin tosses with a child.
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The Voice Cast and the "Vibe"
If you’re watching the English dub, you’re in for a treat. Reuben Langdon, the definitive voice of Dante, returned for the role. He brings that perfect mix of cockiness and exhaustion. There’s a specific cadence to his voice that just is Dante.
The soundtrack is another highlight. It leans heavily into rock and blues, straying away from the heavy industrial metal of the games. The opening theme, "d.m.c" by Rungran, is an absolute banger. It sets the tone perfectly: stylish, slightly edgy, and very late-2000s.
The Abigail Arc: A Weak Finale?
The main villain, Abigail, is often criticized for being a bit generic. He’s a "Demon King" archetype who wants to merge the human and demon worlds. Standard stuff. The buildup to his revival involves a series of seemingly disconnected events that finally converge at the end.
While the final battle is visually impressive—Dante goes full Devil Trigger—it feels a bit rushed. The series spent so much time on character vignettes that it forgot to make the audience care about the big bad. However, the emotional payoff between Dante and Patty is surprisingly effective. By the end, you actually buy their weird sibling/father-daughter bond.
Is It Still Worth Watching?
Honestly? Yes. But you have to go in with the right expectations. If you want a 12-episode version of DMC3, you’re going to be disappointed. If you want a moody, atmospheric supernatural noir that explores the mundane life of a legendary hunter, you’ll love it.
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It’s a relic of an era where anime adaptations of games were trying to find their identity. It’s not a masterpiece, but it has soul. It’s "vibes over plot." Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
With a new Netflix series by Adi Shankar (the guy behind Castlevania) on the horizon, now is actually the perfect time to revisit the original Devil May Cry anime season 1. It serves as a great reminder of where the franchise has been and how much the "style" of Dante has evolved over the decades.
Actionable Steps for DMC Fans
If you're planning to dive back into this 12-episode run, here’s the best way to do it:
- Lower the "action" expectations. Treat it like a supernatural detective show rather than a battle shonen.
- Watch the English Dub. Reuben Langdon’s performance is essential to the experience.
- Pay attention to the background. The environmental art by Madhouse is genuinely top-tier and captures a specific gothic-modern aesthetic that the games often skip.
- Look for the cameos. There are subtle nods to the wider lore that are easy to miss on a first watch if you aren't looking for them.
- Don't skip the credits. The ending theme and visuals provide a nice, quiet cap to the episodes that fits the show's somber tone.
The show is currently available on various streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Funimation. It’s a quick binge—roughly four hours in total. It might not be the adrenaline shot the games provide, but it’s a cool, breezy look at the man behind the sword.