Whenever a video game franchise gets adapted to a television series or any other form of media, you may almost always expect numerous Easter eggs and references that only long-term fans may be able to understand on their first viewing. Fortunately, theDevil May Cryanime on Netflix is no different, as, aside from acting as an accessible gateway into the world created by Capcom, it has plenty of references that the television-only audience may not instantly catch.
These details range from some obvious references to other Capcom properties to concepts taken straight out of the Devil May Cry video games, making them a treat to spot if you have been following the franchise for a while.
8Dante’s Iconic Dance
Michael Jackson, Dance Dance Revolution, And Devil May Cry 5
If youhave played Devil May Cry 5, you probably remember receiving the Faust hat as a gift when Dante first met Nicoletta “Nico” Goldstein, because what follows is one of the most memorable sequences from the entire game. Dante puts on the hat and randomly starts doing a full dance routine, paying homage to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, in the process.
At the end of the series premiere of the Devil May Cry anime, Adi Shankar hits three references with just one sequence. Dante performs the same Michael Jackson-esque dance moves from Devil May Cry 5 while playing the Konami-developed Dance Dance Revolution in front of his television.
7Mega Man
Darkcom’s Capcom Collectible
The majority of the third episode of the Devil May Cry anime takes place on the road, which means that you spend a good chunk of it inside multiple vehicles as Mary’s team continues its mission to deliver Dante to the Vice President. During this little road trip that comes to a sudden halt later on, you’re able to spot a blue figurine on the dashboard of the vehicle holding Dante prisoner and transporting him.
That figurine is a replica of Mega Man, the titular protagonistof one of Capcom’s longest-running franchises, which, for some reason, has not really received any fresh installments in quite some time.
6Lucia
A Forgotten Protagonist
Although Devil May Cry 2 is not the only game in the franchise that revolves around two protagonists, it was the first to take that approach. Unfortunately, that did not exactly go Capcom’s way in terms of reception. Alongside Dante was Lucia, a protagonist who had seemingly been forgotten since she made her franchise debut in 2003, as her only other appearance was in the Devil May Cry 5 prequel novel called Before the Nightmare.
However, the Netflix anime adaptation pays quick respects to Lucia, as she has a brief cameo as a demon hunter being hunted by Darkcom, during which all she does is spit on one of her interrogators.
5Street Fighter 2
Ken Defeats M. Bison
Aside from playing Dance Dance Revolution in his apartment, Dante also seems to have a collection of other video games lying around his place, with Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior being one of them. Arguably one of Capcom’s most popular franchises, the 1991 sequel makes an appearance during the second episode of the Devil May Cry anime, as Dante throws one of the mercenaries against his television set.
The moment that happens, Ken, who also wears a red outfit similar to Dante himself, can be seen knocking the evil criminal organization leader M. Bison out, possibly also foreshadowing the protagonist defeating Darkcom and the Vice President in the future.
4John Constantine
Demon Hunting Worlds Collide
While the inclusion of Lucia as one of the demon hunters that Darkcom interrogates in the Devil May Cry anime’s premiere was a nice callback, it is the unexpected cameo by DC’s John Constantine that steals that sequence. Right after Lucia spits on her interrogator, the camera quickly cuts to Constantine doing the exact same thing, after which he gets his head smashed into the table in front of him.
Accompanied by his wit, blonde hair, British accent, and, of course, a cigarette in his mouth, Constantine is the one who tells the Vice President of Enzo’s existence, as he actually gets some dialogue, unlike the Devil May Cry 2 protagonist.
3Resident Evil
Dante’s Raccoon City Job
Considering that the very first Devil May Cry video game was actually supposed to be Resident Evil 4, and since bothIPs are owned by Capcom, a reference to the beloved zombie-infested world was inevitable in the Netflix adaptation. While being transported to the Darkcom headquarters, Enzo and Dante have a quick conversation about how this may be one of the worst jobs that the two of them have ever been involved in.
However, it turns out that the absolute worst contract that Enzo ever got Dante was for a job in Raccoon City, a setting that has been a constant presence in the Resident Evil franchise since its inception.
2Captain Commando
Darkcom’s Familiar Uniform
While the Mega Man, Resident Evil, and Street Fighter references are clearly mentioned in the Devil May Cry anime, they are not the only Capcom properties that received homage in the first season of the Netflix adaptation. If you have been a fan of Capcom since the 90s, you probably remember Captain Commando, a beat ‘em up title that, despite having a legacy of its own, seems to have gotten lost in time.
The Devil May Cry anime references Captain Commando through the uniforms that the Darkcom soldiers wear, as they look quite similar to the white and blue outfits that the Commando Team used to be famous for.
1Cindy
Dante’s Favorite Waitress Returns
The Netflix adaptation is not the first time that Devil May Cry has made its way to the anime medium, as back in 2007, Madhouse also produced a show called Devil May Cry: The Animated Series. In that anime, Dante loved going to a diner called Restaurant Fredi to regularly order its strawberry ice cream, which was served to him by a waitress called Cindy.
Cindy has never made an appearance in any other Devil May Cry media, but she makes a comeback in the Netflix adaptation’s first episode, as, similar to the 2007 series, Dante is a regular customer at what is now called Fredy Diner.
