Promotional artwork for the anime Dance with Devils, a musical anime featuring anime dance sequences.
Sometimes, the anime that surprise you the most are the ones you almost skipped. Dance with Devils was exactly that for me. Teetering on the edge of not watching it at all, it quickly became a highlight of its season. Let’s be clear, it’s not high art, but as a thoroughly enjoyable guilty pleasure, it hits all the right notes – sometimes literally!
At first glance, Ritsuka Tachibana seems like your average high schooler. That normalcy shatters when vampires storm her home, turning everything upside down in their hunt for a mysterious Grimoire. In the chaos, they kidnap her mother. Suddenly, the seemingly helpful yet strangely alluring members of her student council reveal their true forms: devils, each with their own agenda and desire for the Grimoire, believing Ritsuka holds the key to its location. If that wasn’t enough, her brother returns from overseas, harboring his own secret – he’s an exorcist. But in this web of supernatural intrigue, trust is a fragile thing, and Ritsuka soon learns her family history is far more complicated than she ever imagined.
This premise might sound familiar, and the anime’s style does lean heavily into the otome game aesthetic (dating sims aimed at women). Interestingly, the Dance with Devils game actually came after the anime, which flips the usual adaptation order. What truly sets Dance with Devils apart in a crowded genre is its bold choice to be a musical anime. Elements that might feel cliché or even unintentionally funny as spoken dialogue suddenly gain a new dimension when expressed through song. The inherent theatricality of musical numbers allows the show to embrace its more outlandish aspects with a wink.
The student council introduction song is a prime example. Each of the four devilish heartthrobs belts out a number about their own brand of “badassery,” and honestly, it’s incredibly captivating. From that moment, I was hooked. Each episode since has managed to weave in at least one song, each one serving as a mini character study, highlighting the personality of the singer. While not every song is a chart-topper, the sheer audacity of singing devils and vampires carries the show a long way. It’s genuinely hard to criticize a show that commits so wholeheartedly to its premise that it includes a musical number backed by a chorus of demonic Pomeranian dogs. Yes, you read that right.
Beneath the musical veneer, there is a plot, albeit a somewhat skeletal one. The overarching narrative revolves around Ritsuka’s quest to rescue her kidnapped mother. Along the way, she’s constantly manipulated by vampires (clearly the antagonists) and, to a lesser extent, by the devils (who are presented as the “good” guys, though their morality is definitely questionable). Meanwhile, her overprotective exorcist brother hovers, adding another layer of familial drama to the supernatural soup.
Predictably, each devil, in their own uniquely twisted way, falls for Ritsuka. This culminates in the inevitable showdown – devils versus vampires – all vying for Ritsuka’s affection and the Grimoire’s power. The narrative subtly hints at which devil is intended to be her primary romantic interest, though surprisingly, they don’t share a huge amount of screen time. Given the series’ short episode count, each major character gets their moment in the spotlight, often at the expense of developing the central romance.
Throughout the series, Ritsuka makes some questionable decisions, like trusting and following clearly suspicious individuals into dimly lit alleys. However, credit where credit is due, she ultimately takes charge and saves herself during the final confrontation. This agency, while a bit late in the game, was a welcome change.
I also appreciated the ending. It veers away from the typical happily-ever-after expected in a reverse harem scenario, opting for a more bittersweet and, dare I say, realistic conclusion. Ritsuka is still a teenager, and the choice she makes feels appropriately grounded in that reality.
Intriguingly, a post-credits scene hints at a potential sequel. If a sequel does materialize, I’d happily tune in.
As a standalone anime, Dance with Devils might be considered decent, solid “B-material.” However, as a musical anime, it elevates itself significantly. If you’re looking for something different, something unashamedly fun and a little bit absurd, then Dance with Devils is definitely worth checking out.
Number of Episodes: 12
Pluses: Unique musical format, protagonist takes control of her destiny, devils versus vampires theme.
Minuses: Characters are somewhat generic, protagonist is often reactive rather than proactive, romantic interests are mostly not very nice people.
Dance with Devils is currently available for streaming on Funimation and Hulu, both subtitled and dubbed (dub requires a Funimation subscription). Funimation holds the license for eventual retail distribution in the US.
Laurie Tom is a fantasy and science fiction writer based in southern California. Since she was a kid she has considered books, video games, and anime in roughly equal portions to be her primary source of entertainment. Laurie is a previous grand prize winner of Writers of the Future and since then her work has been published in Galaxy’s Edge, Strange Horizons, and the Year’s Best YA Speculative Fiction.
