While Capcom’s long-running video game franchise is mostly known for its fast-paced action sequences, fights, and killer soundtracks, it would not be able to use those elements as effectively if it were not for the characters that make up its universe. Naturally, theDevil May Cryanime adaptation on Netflix continues that tradition by bringing together a vibrant cast of characters that help elevate the hardcore moments to something more impactful.
Sure, there are plenty of characters who are absolutely unbearable due to the way they are written. But fortunately, there are more than enough of those who make the anime an unforgettably fun adaptation, stealing almost every scene that they are a part of in the process.
8Anders
Voiced By Benjamin Abiola
The opening scene of the Devil May Cry anime features a squad of Darkcom agents getting annihilated by the White Rabbit, but it turns out that one soldier actually ended up surviving the attack. This Darkcom agent, called Anders, comes back alive, much to everyone’s surprise, but he is now forced to work undercover for the White Rabbit since the antagonist let him go only to threaten his family.
Thanks to this complicated scenario that surrounds him, Anders easily ends up being the most memorable Darkcom agent and member of Mary’s team, as he receives more character development than anyone else on the squad.
7William Baines
Voiced By Kevin Conroy / Ian James Corlett
Although the White Rabbit is the main antagonist of the Devil May Cry anime, the Vice President of the United States is arguably even more villainous due to the lack of personal motivation that drives his genocidal nature. William Baines is also the head of Darkcom and wants to invade the demon realm to simply strip it of whatever resources it has left and expand the control of the United States even further.
It is just refreshing to have a villain who is a bad guy for the sake of it without much room for sympathy,and hearing the voice ofBatman himself come out of him is the cherry on top.
William Baines marks Kevin Conroy’s first posthumous television performance after his tragic passing in 2022. This is why Ian James Corlett had to record additional dialogue for the character.
6Cavaliere
Voiced By Jason Marnocha
When the top demon soldiers from the White Rabbit’s army first arrive in Devil May Cry as a unit, you can’t help but be underwhelmed because of their CGI appearance, which feels out of place and jarring to the eyes. While that feeling never really goes away, the demon knight called Cavaliere is the one you are likely going to remember, thanks to how menacing he comes across.
Cavaliere has more standout moments than the majority of his squad members, which range from a terrifying hunt inside a building to his confrontation with Dante, as he is an extremely strong force to be reckoned with in combat.
5John Arkham
Voiced By Ray Chase
While Mary is one of those characters who are not really likable for the majority of the Devil May Cry anime, it is her backstory that makes her much more bearable, and a lot of the credit for that goes to John Arkham, her deceased father. It is revealed that while taking the subway on their way home when Mary was a child, she and her father witnessed a demon attacking them and almost killing her mother.
That incident left John completely shocked, after which he decided to spend almost all of his time in his home office trying to understand demon DNA and ultimately injecting himself with it to ensure the safety of his family from otherworldly entities. Unfortunately, that results in him tragically turning into a demon himself, killing the wife he was supposed to protect and eating her flesh in front of their daughter, after which he seemingly dies in a house fire.
4Plasma
Voiced By Roger L. Jackson
Aside from the demon knight Cavaliere, the only other member of the White Rabbit’s team who actually manages to have an impact on you is Plasma, a shapeshifter who makes his entrance in the very first episode. From transforming into Dante’s brother Vergil to impersonating a member of Mary’s Darkcom squad, Plasma proves quite useful in various situations despite not always succeeding in the long run.
Additionally, unlike the rest of the White Rabbit’s team, Plasma also goes out on his own terms, committing suicide in a powerful scene when he realizes just how much humans despise his race, making an unforgettable exit from the series.
3Dante
Voiced By Johnny Yong Bosch / Kue Lawrence
It is not necessarily surprising that Dante, the protagonist who kick-started the Devil May Cry franchise and has been a constant presence in it since then, is one of the best characters featured in the Netflix anime adaptation. Equipped with plenty of charm, amazing taste in music, witty humor even during intense life-threatening situations, and masterful combat skills, Dante is always a highlight whenever he is on the screen.
Unfortunately, a big chunk of the Netflix adaptation takes a detour from Dante’s shenanigans to focus on other characters, making you miss the protagonist and look forward to his next scene, as that is when Devil May Cry is at its most enjoyable.
2Enzo Ferino
Voiced By Chris Coppola
Despite never appearing in any of the Devil May Cry games, since he has only been a part of the franchise’s novels and manga up until now, Enzo Ferino emerges as a standout character in the anime thanks to his constant humor. Serving as both a broker for the demon hunters in Devil May Cry and the interconnecting tissue between many of its characters to move the plot forward, Enzo stays true to his hilarious personality even in front of people like the Vice President.
However, aside from his funny nature andan amazing Resident Evil Easter egg, Enzo is also responsible for one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the entire anime, giving Dante the motivation to embrace his true self and hold nothing back against the enemy.
Enzo may not have appeared in any Devil May Cry games, but he is a constant presence in the Bayonetta titles. Both universes have been created by Hideki Kamiya.
1White Rabbit
Voiced By Hoon Lee
Every once in a while, in any form of media, an antagonist arrives who ends up becoming an instant highlight and even manages to surpass the screen presence of the protagonist, which is what the White Rabbit does marvelously. Being the first major character you meet in the Devil May Cry anime, even the opening scene alone is enough to get you hooked on the villain, as he singlehandedly devours a squad of elite soldiers and leaves a massive impact.
However, although the White Rabbit is already an interesting antagonist throughout the series, it is the sixthand best Devil May Cry episodethat cements his place as one of the best villains to be featured in animation recently. He is wonderfully eloquent and extremely menacing, and he comes with a backstory that will make you sympathize with him, which is why the White Rabbit is the best character to be featured in the anime.
