#akuma kun 1989

[chthonicpink]

They're having fun! 🎩2️⃣🚥🎶

I had fun too! I played with textures a lot here and tried doing a paper cutout style piece. I might do this again, since it was a delight working like this! There's also room for improvement so, I could practice a little further.

I love akuma-kun a lot, it has helped me get through August (thanks to Venezuela's current crisis) and it has motivated me to get creative! I owe this show and Shingo my mental wellbeing (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)♡

[aroshi-wish]

Just wanted to draw my favourite demon egg

[moon--hotel]

I've recently become obsessed with a little-known (in the West) 1989 anime called Akuma-kun, about a magical boy who summons monsters and has 12 monster friends who help save the world from demons attacking humanity. Barring one unfortunate character design, the two subbed movies are fantastic, and I wish the anime itself was subbed as well. Also the art is some of the most gorgeous I've ever seen.

[voynich-exists]

reminder that akuma kun 1989 is way better than netflix’s shitty akuma kun

[cdasubs]

Akuma-Kun (1989) 01 Mesmo com sequência na Netflix ainda não tem tradução desse clássico do Shigeru Mizuki, então começando novo projeto. Não sei como vai ser a periodicidade, já que o principal por hora é pelo menos terminar a fase P&B de Sally, mas quero tentar pelo menos 1 ep por semana se o tempo permitir. Download

[dayinanimanga]

Today in Anime History

April 15th, 1989

The Akuma-kun anime premieres.

Based on the manga by Shigeru Mizuki

[colorful78]

Itd be cool if there was a fandub or something of Akuma-kun (1989) I practiced this morning for fun to see if I could replicate Shigo's voice in english but, i think his voice falls into a range or pitch im missing from my voice entirely!

[mspinky1]

Akuma Kun (2023) Theory (Spoilers Ahead)

This thought/theory is very long so I apologize in advance lol.

So i've recently watched all 12 episodes of Akuma Kun on Netflix and let me say I love the concept and characters for the show. I found out that this is actually like a sequel to the 1989 ver. Akuma Kun and tried to watch that, but sadly could only find 11 episodes online.

Getting to the point, in both versions it states that an Akuma Kun comes around every 10 000 years, yet in the 2023 show it seemed to show a small time gap, revealing all the old characters all grown up. Ichiro was found by Shingo Umoregi (the first Akuma Kun) and Mephisto the Second in the demon world when he was a child. While Shingo and Mephisto fought Strophaia, Soloman's Flute reacted to Ichiro. In the 1989 version, Professor Faust told Shingo that Soloman's flute will only react to the true Akuma Kun.

So my question is how is it possible for Ichiro to be the new Akuma kun when an Akuma Kun only comes every 10 000 years? Especially since Shingo is still alive.

My theory is that in the 2023 version, Ichiro was apparently abandoned by both humans and demons alike. I also looked up other versions of the Akuma kun series, and found that there was another version of Akuma Kun where the main character was named Ichiro Matsushita and his hair colour is similar as well. What if there was time travel involved somehow and Ichiro actually came from the past? It might explain why he was all alone. Maybe Strophaia brought him to the future since he's a powerful angel and has unexplainable powers? There was also the fact that Strophaia freaked out when Ichiro held the flute, so maybe he knew Ichiro was Akuma Kun?

[vaguecore]

Akuma-kun (1989)

[okayto]

Mini-Review: Akuma Kun

Ichiro Umoregi is the second Akuma-kun – adopted by Shingo Umoregi as a little boy, Ichiro is meant to be carrying on his father's work of bringing about the utopic Millenium Kingdom. But Ichiro has a difficult relationship with his dad and despite the sometimes desperate attempts of his cousin Mephisto III, Ichiro just kind of trudges through life. But when a strange angel from his past appears, Ichiro is forced out of his torpor because sometimes the world really is worth preserving.

-or-

Akuma Kun, a boy raised by a demon, works with his half-human partner Mephisto III as paranormal investigators to solve various murder and mysteries.

Paranormal investigators? Right up my alley! This was pushed to me on Netflix and as per uzh I added it to my watchlist and ignored it for a while. I was definitely intrigued, but the art looked...odd. Not bad, but with some round heads and other features that put in in mind of styles popular before I was born, I figured I'd look into it another time.

Interesting art style, right? Not bad--let me be clear! But definitely distinct, and when I see something that appears to have roots several decades old, I often want to look it up and see what its backstory is, y'know?

Fast-forward a couple months later: I'm reading Anime News Network's best/worst end-of-year roundup, and Rebecca Silverman listed this anime as one of the top five "moments of the year," writing:

Shifting from Japanese folklore to Western religious lore, the story follows the second person to bear the title of Akuma-kun, the adopted son of the original. Shingo rescued Ichiro as a child, and he gives the impression of not being nearly as invested in his role as "Akuma-kun" as he perhaps ought to be. But as the series goes on, it becomes apparent that it's not that he doesn't care; it's that if he lets himself, he'll get lost in the role, and that means seeing the absolute worst that humans are capable of, over and over and over again.

Mentions of horror, investigation, supernatural, and a character who appears to be hiding under a gruff or apathetic exterior? Suddenly, it seemed like a good time to start watching. And then the moment I heard the main character's voice, absolutely marinading in calm apathy, I knew it was going to be good.

So, this is a new (2023) anime that apparently can act as a sequel to a 1989 anime of the same name, which was itself an adaptation of a 1960s-70s manga by the creator of Gegege no Kitaro, a classic series involving many yokai, and one which I've heard about but have thus far never managed to read or watch. The connection between the classic about Japanese ghouls/ghosts/creatures and Akuma-kun, which is more based (vaguely?) on Abrahamic mysticism, intrigued me.

The basis is this: every 10,000 years, a child, always called Akuma-kun, is born who will help usher in a period of peace between humans and demons. Our current Akuma-kun (whose non-prophecy name is Ichiro) is the adopted son of the previous one (Shingo, who starred in the 1989 series). He's assisted by his cousin-by-adoption, the half-human, half-demon Mephisto III.

Together, the two boys set up a supernatural detective/investigative agency, and that's when we get to see how good this series actually is.

Don't let the cartoony designs fool you, this stuff gets dark. While it's never particularly gory, there is blood, there is at least one off-screen-but-audible instance of ripping a heart out, etc. So as the viewer, we quickly realize that these kids are up against actual threats.

The cases cover things like demon possession, trying to use power beyond your control, and so forth. They're not mysteries the viewer can solve, but they're good at keeping you paying attention to learn the result, not drawing things out too long nor fixing everything too quickly.

The recurring characters are what makes or breaks it, however. Mephisto III takes everything seriously, understanding and worrying about what happens when normal humans come into contact with a demon. He looks like comic relief, and he can get a bit shouty, but at his core he's just a straightforward boy who wants to help people and is frustrated at his cousin's...lack of that.

Ichiro, the current Akuma-kun, is more of an enigma. He's clearly brilliant, book-smart with good recall and not particularly excitable. He also has absolutely no social graces and is frequently rude, not because he's mean or wants to be, but because he's incredibly blunt and, despite Mephisto's attempts to rein him in, has no concept of tact regarding delicate subjects and really doesn't care about learning. (And let's be real, that's a dream for many people in at least some situations.)

We know that Ichiro lived with demons for a while, and his relationship with his father, Shingo, the previous Akuma-kun, is strained despite Shingo appearing to be a perfectly nice and well-adjusted person. It takes the whole series to work out the details, which makes the ending feel like excellent payoff.

As the series goes on, it shows more and more of its worldbuilding, and it's just so intriguing. I want to know more about demons! And the demon world! And Ichiro's life with the pre-adoption! How'd he even get there? What is sexy ghoul Gremory's deal? She's so fun, can we get her history? What happens next?

Verdict

English dub? Yes! And like most dubs through Netflix, it's good. Everyone was excellently-cast; Mephisto's voice was exactly what I expected based on his performance, yet without being grating on the ears. And Ichiro/Akuma-kun's flat, unexcited voice was perfect. It would have been easy to take that voice and make it boring or monotone, but it's not: it does an excellent job from the moment you hear it conveying that this is a character who doesn't really get upset or display strong emotion, without making the character himself seem flat.

Visuals: Very nice! Not only is this a recent series, but I really liked the kinda-round, cartoony style. Like I mentioned above, as soon as I saw it I thought it originated in another time period, which it did, and there's something about older art style that appeals to me; maybe it's just a weird combination of nostalgia for things I did experience as a kid (the way Ichiro's mouth is drawn slightly droopy, is reminiscent of a lot of older American cartoons I watched) and a really strange nostalgia for anime I've never watched but which floated around when I was first entering fandom, names and pictures of things I'd never heard of, but which everyone older than me sure seemed to.

Worth watching? Yes, as long as you have a tolerance for paranormal murder investigations where people sometimes die and/or there's some blood splatters. I think it's really interesting, particularly because this kind of supernatural topic doesn't come up in anime a lot. The two minor downsides to it are:

It gives you enough information to understand, but there are probably some references or other context missed because of its connection to the 1989 Akuma-kun. Don't get me wrong, it's understandable and enjoyable regardless! But I did read the non-spoilery series review on Anime News Network before I watched, and I think having that context going in specifically understanding that Shingo was the previous Akuma-kun (and ran around with Mephisto's dad, who now cheerfully supports his son) was helpful context.

Netflix for some reason calls it Akuma Kun. Trying to recall, I think this is the only Japanese honorific used in the English dub, so I assume this was a stylistic choice to allow them to keep the same name/title as Japanese. But to people who have some familiarity with honorifics, it's weird to see it written like Kun is a second name, like "Mary Ann."

Where to watch (USA, as of February 2024): Netflix

Click my “reviews” tag below or search “mini review” on my blog to find more!

[aciddaffodil]

Thoughts about Akuma-kun so far:

at time of post 3 episodes in

So Akuma-kun came out on Netflix November 9th. It is a reboot of a series by mangaka author Shigeru Mizuki which was adopted into an anime for 1989-1990 by Toei Animation. The reboot was jointly done by Toei Animation and Encourage Film, in commemoration of Shigeru Mizuki's 100th birthday.

From its detailed backgrounds and chibi-like character designs, there is so much charm so far in this series. The music is done by Akio Izutsu and I find it to be wonderful accompaniment and an especially driving force in action sequences. For me personally, yet another composer/artist to fall in love with.

I'm honestly so excited to see what will happen, considering it will try and become "its own" series and have a differing storyline compared to its predecessors. Akuma is a very blunt, genius detective who has the ability to summon demons and use magic. He has poor social skills- which I see as a neurodivergent person (and because it's obvious)- which may make him seem unlikeable but I feel that he has a hard time expressing tone. But because of that, it doesn't mean he cares less for people- he DOES want to help people and he cares for Mephisto. I love their friendship and buddy-cop nature. I'm excited to see them grow together and what story will be told.

Thank you for reading this. I have thoughts to share. I hope to grow as a writer while doing this and make my own way in the animanga community.

Credits: My Anime List for dates

[chthonicpink]

PRECIOUS BOYS ARE BACK 🗣️

First niumo fanart of the year 🎉 and more will come after this one teehee 💕 Ugh, I missed my little guys soooo much, I'm so glad I got part of my motivation back... Akuma-kun 89 I will not let you go!!

[strophaia]

Came back from the trenches (strophaia tweeter search (it's actually not that bad??)) here are three points I've read there/thought of that I'll just repeat I looove discussing shit

Who the shit is the Count did he get mentioned in the show at all or is he from the 1989 anime series. Some people were saying he was one of the demons that took him and then abandoned him (we know that it couldn't be Strophaia because he pretty obviously did not abandon him in the slightest also that's an angel I believe lol) but was than mentioned anywhen.... Idk lmao. Anyway I believe the "abandoned by the demons that took him in" bit could also very plausibly mean Strophaia while also being a blatant lie like "yeahhh uh he abandoned you. yeah we didn't take/kidnap you he def abandoned you and that's that please don't ask again" but 1) Shingo doesn't look like that much of an ass to me idk I trust his kind eyes, this statement has the potential to age like milk, 2) I believe Shingo being akuma kun has the ability to distinguish between a demon and an angel I don't think he'd believe Strophaia's a demon lol. Unless the demon bit was also a lie in which case what the fuck is going on what are you fucking Ouma Kokichi. Not going with the lie route/theory purely because of how wacky it is though it might be fun if it turns out to be true

Shingo mentions creating this Millenium Kingdom where both humans and demons can exist together and be happy or something along those lines. Nobody mentions angels like ever when talking about it which. hmmm

AU where instead of Ichiro just shooting Strophaia over and over wasting bullets while completely knowing dude's on creative mode and not taking any damage, Ichiro just turns the gun on himself as a threat. Strophaia BAD cease this folly right now or I'm fucking killing myself in front of you. It'll work

So glad I'm not the only Strophaia boypussy believer in here. I don't think he has nipples though the patch of feathers(?) on his chest isn't there to cover his nipples it's there to cover for his evident lack of them

[newsintheshell]

▶️ Primo full trailer anche per la nuova serie di AKUMA-KUN che debutterà su Netflix il 9 novembre!

La moderna reinterpretazione del manga di Shigeru Mizuki (GeGeGe no Kitaro), è diretta da Fumitoshi Oizaki (A Centaur’s Life, Romeo × Juliet), dietro alla supervisione di Junichi Sato (Aria, Sailor Moon), che al tempo lavorò pure all'originale prima serie del 1989.

[cdasubs]

Akuma-kun (1989) 01-11 (Parceria com Fuckill Fansubs)

Mais cedo nesse ano eu tinha já lançado o primeiro episódio que tinha feito sozinho, mas logo conversei com o JooJ do Fuckill e acertamos em fazer juntos, os primeiros 8 episódios são tradução do JooJ com base na versão em inglês do InkaSubs e revisados por mim, e dali pra frente eu assumi a tradução direto do japonês. Agradecimentos também ao Kuroi do Gekigá-Subs que conseguiu uma RAW de melhor qualidade e está fazendo QC do Projeto. Acompanhem também o Fuckill pq os episódios vão sair sempre primeiro por lá e depois postados aqui. Links: Fuckill Fansub Página do Projeto (Fuckill) Gekigá BR

Downloads: GoFile Telegram (Página do Projeto)

[anytubenews]

The new anime series "Akuma Kun" is scheduled to premiere globally this Fall 2023 on Netflix (Studio: Encourage Films)

Synopsis: This new series is set in a world 30 years after the 1989 TV anime series. Ichiro Umoregi, a boy genius who was raised by demons, investigates cases caused by demons alongside his partner, Mephisto the 3rd