Devilman is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai, beginning in 1972. It has had a variety of anime adaptions, the most recent of which was Devilman Crybaby, which was directed by Masaaki Yuasa and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, and premiered on January 5, 2018 worldwide streaming on Netflix as an original series. Devilman crybaby is an adaption of the complete original manga, albeit with a few changes and additions.
Devilman was a large inspiration for smt, with smtI in many ways being almost a retelling of the original story. And so knowing about it is useful for contextualizing smt. However, devilman focuses on different themes than smt. While in both devilman and smt, you see demons, humans, and angels representing different overall life dynamics, smt focuses on the ideologies, and what it means to have them, whereas devilman focuses on the more personal side of what it means to be these beings in general, with these different lifestyles. So comparing them is useful for contrast.
Despite the comparison, this page will not mention smt, only describing directly the themes in devilman, and the most recent animated version. For information about devilman references in smt, see the movie and literature references page.
Evil
An important aspect of devilman is its focus on the idea evil. Asking what it is, where it is, and how it applies. From the beginning demons are introduced as evil. The only ones you see seem to be hell bent on destruction and death and harm of humans. But this tone shifts as it goes on. In the middle you are asked whether demons can feel love. With the one who denies this ironically doing so because he denies his own ability to feel it. Only for the ending to show that they can.
In a big way this leads to a deconstruction of the idea of an “evil” race, such as orcs from lord of the rings. Even if a species seems irrevocably dangerous from our perspective, that alone doesn't tell us anything about how to proceed. This dangerous seeming race still exists, and lives with its own hopes and dreams. Something shown at the ending. Although this isn't as clearly shown in the show, near the end satan talks about god's desire to wipe out the demons, seeing them as too dangerous to be left alive. But he highlights their perspective, and desire for their own existence.
This ties in to questions of nature. Is the idea of an evil race even coherent? The standards we see as bad are bad from our perspective, but if they are an irrevocable fact of their nature, then the negatives may be something its simply not possible for them to avoid. Would that mean they don't deserve their own right to exist as a species? How could something like that be approached? Note of course that demons are described as being tied to nature. And the revelation that they can learn love can go to show that regardless, they may be possible to change. Note that the evil you see them doing in the show is for them taking place during what they consider wartime. They are fighting for their very survival against both humans and angels. And the demoralization of war that humans would face later in the series may have already set in for them. Making it misled to judge them based on what was seen already.
This ties in to the questions of humans facing their own morality. The existence of so radically different a species that seems to be internally consistent can force us to call into question how many of our own moral standards are constructs that don't adequately reflect moral action. Doubly so because once humans became demoralized by the realities of their war against demons they became no better. The evil within humans and human existence was brought to the forefront, until the point at which they were totally devoid of civilization, and were no better than demons.
For a lot of the story the human / demon contrast is used to represent good and evil. Devilmen are described as having the heart of a human, even if the body of a demon. Representing the ability to hold on to this inner humanity. But as humanity erodes, it begins calling into question what this even means. Said literally in the show with the questions of what does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be good? Most violence in the show is actually done by the humans themselves. Although it would be misleading to blame them only, since after all, this was a demoralized state caused by the actions of demons.
In the end, the comic and show are not really calling you to think the demons were good. They were as a whole, still dangerous and evil. Simply to consider what it means to be what they are. And how much better humans themselves are relative to it. Can it be improved? Would it be possible for both races to coexist? Do they have a right to exist? Ultimately it rejects the mantra that the demons use of that the weak should die. Their own plan and mantra backfires against them, since while they ultimately triumph over humans, being the stronger race, by the end there is nothing left, leaving what was left of them easily wiped out by angels.
The show gives an optimistic ending, though ironically not at the very ending when things turn pessimistic. Miki talks about how Akira cries for others, and never for himself. And about how one should extend compassion to those who need it. While the ending ultimately ends on a negative note, it has optimism before then. As if this was a warning, showing something that can in theory be avoided, rather than an irrevocable fact of reality. Of course, the story itself also calls you to ask whether the races really are fundamentally incompatible. Or how to deal with the question of this inconsistency.
Crisis of identity
Another important facet of devilman is the crisis of identity. Not just for who you are as an individual, but for who you are as a member of your species. At the end, humans are forced to consider what it means to be human. The story is introduced with demons as evil and humans as good. But as it goes on this is called more and more into question, showing the depths that humans can sink to, as well as the reasoning behind the actions of the demons.
On the individual level, you also have it show this type of crisis of calling into question who you are. After akira transforms into the devilman, he becomes aware of the fact that this irrevocably changes him. He now has demonic drives. Ones that are not easy to control, and involve heavy aggression. While he maintains his desire to be human, and to protect humanity, there is always this tension between his natures. The show version focuses more on this, and the ramifications of trying to remain a human when having a demon body. While certain aspects might be able to be enjoyed like the additional confidence and lack of fear, which it shows him playing with early on, there is always the darker side of the coin. Even the title of crybaby references the contrast between his human side, the one miki talks about crying for other people, and his external body of a demon.
There is also a sexual element to this. He finds himself having a harder time controlling his sexuality, finding himself almost making moves on miki before stopping himself, deciding that that isn't a path he wants to pursue. The scenes showing the family eating dinner are interesting for framing this into context. Regardless of what new life he is involved with, having to go out and fight and kill, he places importance on retaining himself. He goes home to enjoy being with his surrogate family as he always had, hoping for it to remain as it always would. Showing people's desire to be able to have a firm sense of control over the core of who they are, and ability to maintain it even through irrevocable changes.
Another crisis of identity happens with Ryo. Ryo believes that he is doing what he does to protect humanity. Only to realize later on that he doesn't even understand his own actions. He realizes that his plan doesn't seem to make as much sense as he thought it did. Only to further realize that this is because his plan never had the protection of humanity at its core. He faces a crisis of identity of realizing that he didn't even have a firm grasp on himself. He had been working for the demons all along, without even understanding the reasons for his own actions.
Another layer of this comes in in that he doesn't realize at first his love for akira. He understands in a sense that he wants to protect him, but not the meaning of his feelings. And he realizes them only too late, at the point when he is literally the last man standing. Next to the dead body of akira, on an open sea as angels descend around him to purge what is left of the world. Note that in the show early on he asks akira to choose between him and miki. Likely also not realizing at the time that he is saying this because he is desiring his affections.
A smaller example happens with taro in the show version. While his death is different in the comic, in the show, he ultimately becomes a devilman himself. He eats a dog, only to be struck with fear over what he became. His mom taking him into hiding in the hopes of protecting him. Only for this to not work afterall. His demonic half takes him over, and his identity is lost within it. So it shows a darker side of this crisis. The ability to lose entirely who you are. Sometimes even through means that aren't your own fault.
Overcoming nature
Another thing it focuses on is nature, and the ability to over come it. Demons represent primal nature. Being in tune with the earth, and living a lot like animals, but with more intelligence. They are considered dangerous, but humans are revealed to have a darker side to their nature as well. A question is given about whether demonic nature can be overcome. The devilmen are always facing against their own nature. It pulls them to do things that their human heart rejects, or wants to temper. And so the struggle between these aspects is a core staple of the series. You cannot erase your nature, but you can choose how to react to it.
But besides this, as shown above, it calls into question whether demons themselves could not rise above. The nature seen of them is something that even they are shown to be able to have aspects better than. Silene causes akira to question whether demons could learn love. Which also raises the question of whether their lives are inherently incompatible with humanity. The show and comic make no clear attempt to answer this however. Focusing instead on the character moments, sympathy to beings with various goals and hopes and dreams. At times, some may really come into conflict.
Human nature is also shown to be weak and easily swayed. But while that fact can be used for evil, it can also be used to unite for good. In the series, Ryo says something that repeats itself later. He asks to Akira and Miki, “why do you run? You’ll never be as fast as the animals out there, so why run?”. Note that this is a statement of nature. Similar to his claim that the weak ones die, ryo is talking as if it is impossible to surpass certain limitations of your nature. But the same metaphor of running is shown with the passing of the baton. Showing that when people unite, they can accomplish greater feats. In the show, examples of this are shown, though ultimately it is too little too late. Again, it is open ended about what can really be done on that front. And how demons would factor into it if at all. But it gives a tone of optimism.
Outgrouping and mob mentality
An aspect of the evil shown of humanity is the tendency to outgroup and to think using a mob mentality. Even earlier in the series, it implies that miki's family may be seen as odd, due to being foreign, and stereotyping them as such. And in the show a cop is seen assuming a kid is dangerous due to him having tattoos.
Later this is shown to tie into the mob mentality. Humans start turning on eachother. And the way it shows this is meant to parallel real world versions of this. First they stereotype a certain group they think is at fault. But over time, there is motive decay where the targets start to aim at anyone not in the ingroup. It shows how people, originally afraid of demons move to target even other humans who are dissatisfied with society. Showing a targeting of the out-group as a whole, and even those dissatisfied with the system.
Note of course that this didn't all just happen. Satan is shown as the temper, and the demons lead this into occurring. Tying to religious ideas of temptation. But ultimately it was still humans who made the choice. Even if done in fear. But this same fear shows an element of sympathy. Many are not inherently ill-intentioned, but from their perspective, when they see danger their humanity begins to erode. A big aspect of the story being the sympathetic perspectives of the various sides, despite the evil. That people can be swayed is shown in reverse in the show. From akira's good example, some humans are restored to sanity. They come to realize that he is not evil, and that the ones they were targeting were not either. Interestingly, it shows a child being the first to realize this. Showing that someone less entrenched into a way of thinking has an easier time acting outside of it.
First person perspectives
A big aspect of the comic, but which was expanded even further in the show is the idea of first person perspectives. The fact that good or evil, everyone is living their own life from their own perspective, and has their own hopes and dreams. While akira is the main character, the focus shifts showing not just the distinction between demons and humans, with satan on a different side, fighting for something else, but the stories of many side characters, such as the two other devilmen, one who ultimately fights for humans and one for demons. Even miki's dad gets his own element of the story, leading to its own conclusion amidst the chaos. Showing how in life there is irrevocably never a single perspective that any event is coming from, but how they are all perceived by the elements of different ways. This does not mean that no one is evil, or immoral. But that despite this that perspective too would exist.
Not only does it show different characters who have their own motivations for what they do, ranging from more to less altruistic, the three races that are shown have this aspect as well. Angels, after being attacked by demons in ancient times concluded that the entire race is too dangerous to be left alive. And from a certain angle they have a point. Demons ultimately did end up wiping out humanity. And they didn't even survive themselves in the process. Demons of course, contrasted against either humans or angels, despite everything will fight to exist, and to take over humanity. Humans are of course being attacked by demons, and are who the story begins with. Viewing demons as evil before showing that the demons have their own perspective as well.
While the show version does not have this, the comic ends with satan admitting that the demons realized only too late their hypocrisy in denying humans the same survival they wanted for themselves. Showing a different side's perspective in the conflict, and how it was difficult to sympathize outside of their own first person perspective. One that exists contrary to the one viewed by the narrative itself originally in favor of humans, presenting an entirely human perspective. The show does not end by saying any perspective is right or wrong. Merely showing sympathy to all the different angles. One of the main messages being that regardless of inevitabiltiy or not, conflict happens, and this aspect inherently exists in it.
War
One of the main themes of the story as a whole, stated explicitly by the writer is the fact that war is hell. Regardless if you are on the right side or not, there are irrevocable losses that are going to come from it. Ones that you may have regardless, even if you try to avoid. And that even if you are on the right side, you won't be able to trust even everyone on your own side. Demoralization and corruption will come in from everywhere.
This ties in to its deconstruction of the idea of the hero. Even alleged heroes will not be perfect. They too can suffer from corruption. In the comic, he is shown essentially giving up on regular humanity entirely by the end. The show changes this, but still shows him by the end in anger killing people as revenge for what they did to miki, ultimately no longer even being sure of what is being fought for, marching to a last battle and seeing it destroy the world. Some things he does are morally ambiguous or show imperfection despite his role, showing that no one will ever be a perfect hero. And that the idea of such is part of a narrative that often doesn't show the various first person perspectives.
This can also tie to how altruistic actions themselves may not always end well. You can save someone only for them to betray you. As is shown in the show with akira saving the devilmen in the middle. Because while optimism and working for beter ends is useful it won't always succeed. But despite this one should still try. Because the ending is meant to be a warning, more than a fatalistic statement.
Another aspect of how war is hell is the pyrrhic victory. This is shown at the end with satan, who even though the humans and devilmen were defeated is seen morose and sad in an empty world. Because the victory is meaningless, knowing that nothing is left to build from.
Another aspect of this is sacrifice. Ryo is seen sacrificing people a part of the goals. This shows the darker side of working for things, and calls into question the questions of whether its okay to involve innocents like that, or whether avoiding it is even coherent. In the show, ryo presents it as necessary to kill anyone who finds out their secret at the wrong time, needing to be able to keep it private. While it turns out that this is not true, due to his goals not being about protecting humanity all along, the question still stands. And him and akira are seen at odds about whether they accept this as a good course of action. Likewise, ryo sacrifices amon as well, to protect akira. The darker questions of what alleged heroes might have to do, or what might happen if they refrain still hanging open.
Control
Another major theme is the theme of control. What can you control, and how well can you control it. In keeping with the theme of war is hell, an ultimate message is that some things will be otuside of your control. Ryo tells akira that in a worldwide demon invasion, even if he fights he cannot fight all of them. Akira sees this as pessimistic, but in a sense it is true. You cannot control everything, only add to the level of outcome.
Ultimately, akira is shown to have less control than imagined. He did defeat a few weaker demons, but no indication was really given that he was strong enough to really turn the tide. Despite the army centering around him, he was outmatched by satan, and ultimately could not protect those he cared about. Control is shown to be in a sense a group effort. One voice going against a tide can shift it, but it can't stop it.
Humanity in general shows a theme of lack of control on a different level. Humanity sought to protect itself, but couldn't even maintain its own internal coherency. In the end, most damage done to humans was done by humans themselves out of fear of demons. They were shown a lack of control, and this led to a spiral of fear. They couldn't keep themselves from turning into demons, so they feared this loss of agency, and how difficult it made it to target and stop the demons.
The most interesting theme of lack of control comes from ryo though. He is introduced as a character who always seems in control. He is not perfect, and make mistakes but is generally depicted as on top of things. Ryo ultimately finds out that his plan to save humanity didn't really make much sense. He delves further, and realizes that that is because his subconscious was working to humanity's end all along, and as its hidden tempter. He takes on this identity, and you think at first that he will have a deeper level of control, having manipulated everything as satan all along. But even there this is shown to be mistaken. He planned to save demonkind as satan, only for this plan to blow up in his face as well. And he hoped to save akira as well, only for him to not get this either. So the more it unfolds, the more even he is shown to not have command over the situation, ultimately breaking down as it all spirals out of control.
Another aspect of control comes into play with the idea of divine control. The show calls into question god's omnipotence and benevolence. While the angels have a perspective of their own that is sympathetic, the universe as a whole does not seem to operate to any larger good, by the guise of divine providence. These are simply more beings that exist there. The events that happen are random, and not necessarily ordered to any particular good in the ultimate sense. While the sequels to devilman do try to expand on the character of god, the ambiguity of the original is far more striking. And this, being an adaption of only that captures this remoteness and ambiguity.
Loneliness and unity
A major theme of the story is also loneliness. One of the most obvious ways this is shown is with relationships. There are many relationships, from satan and akira, akira and miki, miki and miko, people who have affection for eachother, only for this to end as unrequited love. Ultimately everyone in the story loses those they care about, and are forced to face isolation, and ultimately death alone. This shows a heavy element that ties to this first person perspective, and the fact that the only person you can count on being with you is yourself. Your first person perspective is irrevocably set apart from all others, even those you spend time with.
This is not necessarily meant to be entirely pessimistic though. While the story is a warning, it is not fatalistic. And while the characters die, their lives and pasts are not implied to be without value for the time they had. Their connection is shown as something important and optimistic, even though in this case it never saved them, and corruption can still set in. Life isn't a narrative where the better always follows the worse. The ending shows this unity passed between them, represented with a baton.
Unity is implied to be an important part of the story. It is through working together that things can be solved, since individuals can only do so much alone, hero or no. Miki's connection to akira in the show was depicted as the source that led the devilmen to come to his side, even after her death. Showing the beginning of a chain of unity that while it did not save them showed optimism that it was a possibility that something like that could have done so. Akira too shows connection to others, with miki stressing that he cries for them, always thinking of others before himself. And that this altruistic connection was an important facet of why she trusted him.
The question of whether demons can feel love is tied to this idea of unity. Because love is a connection. Demons in their chaotic state seem to not take love very seriously. But this is not an irrevocable fact of their nature. It shows them learning love, though they too are finding bonds and a connection too late to do anything about it.
In some ways, the story even equates individuals and groups together. Some of the same struggles that individuals undergo are also undergone by groups. and groups reflect a common nature and direction that various things can shift similar to how individuals do. And so the development of them is a reflection of the unfolding of nature as a group-organism similar to the individual drives of individuals themselves. Which relates to structuralist ideas about one's place in systems in general.
Optimism and pessimism
Ultimately, the story shows a sliding scale of optimism and pessimism. While the comic's ending shows a bit more pessimistic of a tone, one that is made more explicitly optimsitic for the show even in light of both humans and demons being wiped out, even the comic is meant to not be fatalist, or totally misanthropic, but to show something to avoid. The show highlights this in the second to last episode, showing both akira convincing people to come to their senses and not to kill other humans, and miki helping unite the devilmen, even before her own death. Despite the ultimate outcome, and overtly pessimistic aspect, it has elements that show what can be improved as well. Through the means of working together, understanding others, and being ready to solve the problems before they get out of control.