The reverse harem genre, when done right, holds immense potential. I approached “Dance With Devils” with similar hopes, anticipating a refreshing experience compared to typical harems. While I had previously been disappointed by the harem genre, I believed reverse harems could offer more depth. However, my exploration into the genre led me directly to “Dance with Devils,” and it was… an experience.
Story (3/10): Grimoires and Reverse Harems Don’t Mix
“Dance with Devils” attempts to blend unique concepts – a musical structure and high production values – but unfortunately results in a poorly written narrative. Despite some praise, the story falls apart quickly. The premise revolves around a Grimoire, a powerful artifact sought after by vampires and devils, who are engaged in a hidden war. Our protagonist, Ritsuka, is inexplicably linked to this conflict and finds herself caught in the middle. Her brother, an exorcist, is tasked with protecting her and explaining the supernatural world, while harboring secrets of his own. This setup initially hints at a “Star Wars”-esque dynamic. However, instead of Ritsuka joining her brother to fight against the demonic forces, the story veers sharply into reverse harem territory, featuring hellspawn as the romantic interests.
Alt text: Ritsuka Tachibana surrounded by the reverse harem cast of Dance with Devils anime, including Rem Kaginuki, in a promotional visual.
Unlike well-executed reverse harems with charming gentlemen, “Dance with Devils” presents us with self-indulgent, less-than-gentlemanly demons. It feels like a fetish series, prioritizing bishounen figures whose main goal is seducing Ritsuka. While romance is supposedly present to appease critics, it feels rushed and artificial. The chemistry is nonexistent, and meaningful dialogue is replaced with repetitive phrases like “Remu,” “Okasan,” and “Grimowaru.” Terms of endearment like “You’ll be mine,” “Chow-Chow,” and disturbing moans hardly contribute to romantic development. The romantic element feels almost entirely absent.
The plot, after a decent initial setup, descends into absurdity. Beyond the predictable “bishie of the episode” formula, the narrative is riddled with plot holes, convenient coincidences, and ultimately relies on deus ex machina to resolve conflicts. The lore surrounding devils and vampires is barely explored. Villain motivations are superficial at best. The scale of the war remains vague and undefined. Even the Grimoire, the central plot device, lacks origin or substantial explanation beyond its name and supposed powers. While some might consider this nitpicking, the overwhelming focus on this MacGuffin overshadows any character development or meaningful world-building.
Character (2/10): Reverse Harem Archetypes and Missed Potential
The characters in “Dance with Devils” fare even worse than the story. While attempts are made to portray Ritsuka as different from a typical Mary Sue, she ultimately embodies the most frustrating aspects of a Young Adult female lead, amplified by questionable decision-making. Despite showing moments of resolve and independence, her intelligence is consistently undermined by unbelievable choices.
Consider this: Ritsuka, after numerous betrayals and manipulations, should understand that trusting demons and vampires is dangerous, that her exorcist brother offers sound advice, and that her school is practically a demon hotspot. Yet, when a creepy, menacing man with a disturbing aura, openly identifies as devilish, and lures her to a “special place” using the same tactics as previous antagonists, she complies. This is despite her past experiences and clear warnings. While naivety can be a character trait, Ritsuka’s actions stretch credulity to its breaking point.
As for the male cast, they are largely walking clichés designed to fulfill specific fetishes. Beyond the slightly more developed Rem Kaginuki (Emo Liar) and Lindo Tachibana (Saint Onii-san), we are presented with archetypes: “Brad from the Football Team” (Shiki Natsumezaka), “Man-Dog” (Mage Nanashiro), “Masochist Zombie” (Urie Sogami), and the bizarre “Chow-Chow” ( লোว์এন Kaginuki). These characters serve primarily to trigger viewer desires rather than contribute to meaningful narrative or character development. Despite attempts at depth, they remain superficial, engaging in activities like verbal seduction, stalking, and kidnapping. Even Mage, arguably the most nuanced of the group, is still essentially a stalker.
The villains are equally underdeveloped, motivated solely by serving their leader or acquiring the “GRIMOWARU.” Even the Church faction, supposedly eternal enemies of hellspawn, plays a minimal and inconsequential role. The series prioritizes the reverse harem dynamic over any substantial conflict or character exploration.
Sound (5/10): Music – A Fleeting Bright Spot
If there’s any redeeming quality in “Dance with Devils,” it’s the music. As a musical anime, songs are frequent – with at least one per episode. While some tracks, particularly the opening and ending themes, and a few insert songs offer impact, many others are generic, forgettable bishie seduction songs. The overall soundtrack is unremarkable, though the voice acting is competent, effectively bringing the shallow characters to life. The opening song is passable but suffers from an awkward clash between an ominous tone and a modern rhythm. The ending theme, featuring the reverse harem cast singing, is skippable unless you specifically enjoy that genre.
Art and Animation (6/10): Visually Competent but Uninspired
Anime Studio Brains Base, known for works like “My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU” and “Durarara!!”, delivers their usual above-average art and animation quality. Despite questionable character designs, the visuals possess a certain polish. The animation is fluid, character expressions are natural, and the overall presentation is technically sound. The art style is clean and crisp, even if the character designs themselves are not particularly memorable or original.
Enjoyment and Overall (3/10): A Chore to Watch for Reverse Harem Fans and Newcomers Alike
Despite some technical merits in art and sound, “Dance with Devils” is ultimately a tedious viewing experience. It feels like a chore to get through, dragging on slowly. Even for dedicated reverse harem fans, this series is likely to be a disappointment due to its weak plot, shallow characters, and questionable romance. If you appreciate well-developed reverse harems, “Dance with Devils” is best avoided.
