Netflix original anime usually does not do the anime industry justice. Many Netflix adaptations are not as popular or do not gain a following as normal anime does. However Netflix did do something right. Devilman Crybaby is an anime created by Netflix and it is spectacular. It is a type of anime that is very uncommon in the industry. It is a psychological thriller but is done in a way that is completely unique to this show. It is only 11 episodes long so it does escalate quickly but the story flows really well. The story revolves around Akira, a normal high school boy that gets turned into a devilman, a hybrid between a human and a devil. Akira is turned into a devilman at a party that his childhood friend Ryo takes him to. Ryo wanted to uncover the secrets of devils but amidst that Akira gets turned into a devil. If the will of the person is strong enough the devil will not take over and it will produce a devil man, but if not the devil can take over and kill everyone around it. The story continues with Akira trying to protect his loved ones without people finding out he has turned into a devilman because devils are a target of the government. The anime becomes a commentary about the evils of humanity with themes of racism and discrimination at the center of the show.
The animation is excellent as most Netflix adaptations are. Netflix usually has a high budget for animation so the anime visually is very good. Half of the impact of the anime comes from the clean visuals that add emotion to every scene. The character design is very unique and alone can be a good reason to watch the anime.
The voice acting and soundtrack of this anime is also high quality. The voice actors add depth and emotion to the show that otherwise would not be present. It really makes it sound like they are in pain which makes what they are feeling more relatable. The soundtrack just tops it off with emotional music paired with every scene. Overall, the sound of the anime is some of the best I have watched.
I would recommend this anime to anyone that wanted to watch a quick show over the weekend on Netflix. I do caution that this anime is not for everybody as there are some very suggestive themes but it absolutely does not take away from the quality of this show. If anybody wants to watch a quick psychological masterpiece then this is definitely the show to watch.