On Thursday, Netflix gave fans a fresh glimpse of its much-anticipated animated series inspired by Devil May Cry. They revealed the opening credits for Adi Shankar and Studio Mir’s anime rendition of the beloved Capcom franchise. In a daring yet totally fitting move, the anime kicks off with Limp Bizkit’s iconic track “Rollin’,” a standout hit from their 2000 album, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.
Both Devil May Cry and Limp Bizkit’s third album emerged as cultural staples of the early 2000s, so while die-hard DMC enthusiasts might contend that the series’ original music is the way to go, it’s hard to deny that “Rollin'” brilliantly captures the spirit of the era.
Adi Shankar, the mastermind behind this adaptation, shared some background on the musical choices through a social media post. He explained that his vision of the DMC universe is rooted in a late ’90s/early 2000s PS2 era. He wanted to reflect the world as he remembered it around those times, both before and after 9/11. The series blends hits from that period with classic tunes from the DMC games, reimagined by the synthwave duo, Power Glove—known for their contribution to Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, which also inspired Shankar’s Captain Laserhawk series.
Shankar also mentioned that each season of Devil May Cry will bring a unique vibe to mirror how each game offers a different experience. This means we can expect a fresh theme song and distinct title design for every season. He teasingly added, “You are not prepared for this soundtrack.”
In addition to this sneak peek, Netflix also announced that the series will be available for streaming starting April 3. Originally slated for 2024, it’s exciting to finally have a concrete release date for fans to anticipate.
The Devil May Cry anime is helmed by executive producer and creator Adi Shankar, known for his work on Castlevania and Captain Laserhawk, with writing by Alex Larsen of Yasuke fame. The series will unfold across eight episodes, focusing on a younger version of Dante. It draws inspiration from the 2005 prequel, Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening. Studio Mir, the talented animation company behind favorites like The Legend of Korra, The Boondocks, Young Justice, and Harley Quinn, is bringing this project to life.
This upcoming anime is an adaptation of Capcom’s longstanding action franchise, Devil May Cry, which game designer Hideki Kamiya launched 23 years ago. Excitingly, Kamiya has also recently announced his return to the Okami franchise. As we wait with bated breath for another thrilling Devil May Cry entry since the release of Devil May Cry 5 over five years ago, fans are hopeful it won’t be the last.
