# Devilman (1987)

> A normal Tokyo teenager is drafted into a demon war when his old friend Ryo pulls him into a dangerous ritual that turns him into humanity's last hope, the Devilman.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/105695

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 3
- Episode runtime: 52 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, horror, science fiction
- Created by: Go Nagai
- Cast: Show Hayami, Alan Marriott, Yu Mizushima, Adam Matalon, Jun Konomaki, Larissa Murray, Tessyo Genda, Naoya Uchida
- TMDB rating: 7.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264530/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: graphic
- Tone: dark, frenetic, nihilistic, disturbing, tense

## Synopsis

Devilman (1987-2000) is a Japanese animated horror series created by Go Nagai and produced by Oh! Production, adapted from his manga and released as an original video animation. The story follows an ordinary teenager named Akira (voiced by Show Hayami in one version and Alan Marriott in another) who is pulled out of his everyday life in modern-day Tokyo when his old friend Ryo (Yu Mizushima or Adam Matalon) reappears with news of an approaching war between demons and humanity. Akira is recruited for a desperate campaign, and the only weapon available is the demon's own power, so the two friends risk a dangerous ceremony to forge a defender of mankind. The engine of the story is the collision between mundane school life and a cosmic conflict, with Miki Makimura (Jun Konomaki or Larissa Murray) caught between them. The three-episode run is one long continuous story rather than a case-of-the-week format, carried by graphic violence, visceral body transformations and a bleak, nihilistic mood. Its tone is dark, frenzied and disturbing, with a grim sense of dread that fans of Hellsing Ultimate and Devil Hunter Yohko will recognise. Its style is a product of late 1980s Japanese animation, a classic of the demon-and-monster subgenre that remains a cult touchstone for horror anime fans.

## Shows like Devilman

- [Blue Exorcist (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/35351)
- [Hell Girl (2005)](https://ember.film/tv/8314)
- [Boogiepop Phantom (2000)](https://ember.film/tv/31436)
- [Elfen Lied (2004)](https://ember.film/tv/38964)
- [Devilman Crybaby (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/65278)
- [Fist of the North Star (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/50535)
- [High School D×D (2012)](https://ember.film/tv/41666)
- [Chainsaw Man - The Compilation (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/1105201)
- [Devil Survivor 2: The Animation (2013)](https://ember.film/tv/49252)
- [Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/126643)

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