Akira Fudo

Manga author Go Nagai created Akira Fudo

Go Nagai created Akira Fudo following the cancellation of Demon Lord Dante. Toei Animation approached Nagai about turning Dante into a television series. The producers wanted certain elements toned down, and a more human-like demon created.[1] Devilman was born as a result. Based on the audience's reaction, Nagai regarded Akira as someone who fights for survival. The television series takes a simplistic approach to Akira: "Evil vs. Evil, revolving around a hero. Evil takes over a human body, and to protect Miki, the girl he loves, the hero participates in the human world and battles evil".[1] Meanwhile, the Akira from the manga took a different path. Nagai points out how Akira's manga persona suffers much more than the anime persona as the narrative progresses.[1] Originally, Nagai designed Devilman to focus solely around Akira's transformation into a fighter, and the violence resulted from having this type of dark character. However, Nagai changed his mind about the themes of Devilman and refrained from using fighting in favor of an anti-war message.[2] In regards to Akira's Devilman persona, Nagai did not aim to give him a "nightmare"-like design but ended up writing accidentally in a similar fashion to the mecha Mazinger Z. In retrospective, he finds Devilman's overall design to be weird and wonders why did he make him like that. For the anime adaptation, a different design was provided for Devilman which consisted of underwears much to Nagai's disliking.[3]

In the climax of the manga, Nagai wanted to show Akira at his lowest. The most notable example is when Akira discovers that Miki has been killed by humans and, in a fit of rage, Akira murders all of them, claiming that that they were not humans. Through this narrative, Nagai wanted to show readers the chaos of wars regardless of which side one is on. Nagai says that the death of Miki had a major impact on the protagonist as it was "peace".[1] This scene was done as Nagai thought that the hero saving the damsel-in-distress was too ordinary in mangas.[4]

Kenichi Takeshita directed the original video animation Amon. He wanted to explore Akira and Miki's relationship even after the latter's death through flashbacks, as he felt this relationship was the most important part of the narrative and most new viewers might require context as the OVA begins.[5]

In regards to Crybaby, Masaaki Yuasa wanted to make both Akira and Ryo "cool". He described Akira as "steadfast in his resolve from beginning to end", which he wanted to contrast with Ryo's characterization. He also wanted to explore the love triangle between Akira, Ryo, and Miki ever since he read the original manga version of Devilman. This triangle was mostly seen through Ryo's character arc, as Ryo is unaware that Akira is important to him but as the story progresses he comes to find feelings for his ally.[6] While Akira's characterization remains consistent in the plot, Yuasa wanted to contrast him with Ryo, whom he felt was more important in this version based on his actions. Yuasa recalls reading the manga when was younger and was surprised at the final scene of Akira dying at Ryo's hands, and Ryo mourning his death.[7] He also said that Miki's death scene, as seen through Akira's eyes, was one of the most important scenes he wanted to show in his series.[4] Yuasa describes the character in Crybaby as: "Akira/Devilman is a crybaby, and at the end he is able to make Satan cry".[8]

Ryoichi Tanaka was the first voice actor behind Akira, debuting in the 1972 anime. In the original video animation, Akira was voiced by Shō Hayami and Alan Marriott. In Amon, Akira is voiced by Shinji Takeda. Bryce Papenbrook voices him in Cyborg 009 vs Devilman. The Akira of Crybaby was portrayed by Kōki Uchiyama in Japanese and Griffin Burns.[9]

Akira Fudo has been a popular character. He was ranked fifth in Mania Entertainment's "10 Most Iconic Anime Heroes" written by Thomas Zoth, who commented that "Shonen manga developed a dark tone with Devilman's graphic violence, casual blasphemy, and theme of using evil itself to fight evil".[18] A character designer from SNK admitted that Devilman was an influence in designing Kyo Kusanagi, the protagonist from the fighting series The King of Fighters '94.[19] However, SNK artist Nona said he found it difficult to design Kyo as a heroic character, as he did not view Akira Fudo's portrayal fitting of a hero.[20] Despite finding the manga's beginning weak due to Akira and Ryo's long discussions about demons, The Fandom Post praised the handling of Akira as it was different from other types of manga fighting series. The reviewer also found Akira's fighting scenes interesting due to the gruesome fate of his rivals.[21]

Anime News Network initially referred to Akira as an appealing hero based on his kind demeanor, but criticized his relationship with Miki due to how she berates these traits. As a result, when Akira becomes a more violent person due to absorbing Amon, the review believes Nagai was expressing the idea of a man undergoing growth but still retaining his kind self. Although Akira and Ryo's relationship is not fully explored, the review felt there was a homoerotic tension between them that was interesting for readers.[22] Jason Thompson from ANN stated that Ryo's inability to save Miki and her family plays "like a visualization of a child's nightmare".[23] Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideaki Anno said the mecha Evangelion Unit 01 was influenced by Devilman. Anno claims that Devilman's scary facial expressions were the basis for the mecha alongside Mazinger Z.[3]

Critics also focused on Akira's portrayal in the animated versions of Devilman. The Anime Review praised his transformation into the Devilman based on the visuals provided by the studio. However, this review criticized Akira's relationship with Ryo, as Ryo comes across as planning a different agenda but Akira is never against him.[24] ANN agreed in regards to long-awaited Devilman transformation but found Akira's motivation to fight devils simplistic. Nevertheless, he found Akira's fights to be well-developed.[25] The Spinning Image enjoyed Akira's alternate take in the original video animation Amon: Apocalypse of Devilman due to how Akira's grief over the death of Miki causes him to lose his humanity and become possessed by his inner demon, Amon. Spinning Image enjoyed the amount of violence that occurs when Amon takes control of Akira and how in the climax the two split to decide who will be the dominant Devilman.[26] Mania noted there was a major contrast between Akira and Amon's characterizations due to the latter lacking compassion for anybody, in contrast to the kind Akira who loses his composure during the armageddon. However, he criticized the lack of an ending in the OVA, as it ends with Akira facing Ryo, similar to the original manga.[27]

The anime adaptation Devilman Crybaby provided a different portrayal of Akira which was discussed by the media. Kotaku enjoyed the larger focus on Akira and Ryo's closer relationship, which is more romantic than previous titles developed by Nagai. This was further explored by how in the story Ryo/Satan realizes he loves Akira but starts grieving in the final scene when he realizes he has killed him, a scene not featured in the original manga.[28] Bloody Disgusting liked the way Akira drops his black-and-white morality when realizing there are demons who also have their own humanity, and while also realizing Ryo's true nature when he reveals to the world the existence of demons. Akira's further relationship with Miki and her death at the hands of humans rather than demons were noted to be too tragic, as Akira is tortured by seeing the remains of her corpse.[29] The Verge enjoyed Akira's characterization as both a capable fighter and a caring person when becoming a Devilman. Like Kotaku, Verge enjoyed the relationship Akira has with Ryo.[30]

Anime News Network found Yuasa's take on Akira "strangely empathetic" due to Akira's sensitive demeanor, in contrast to Nagai's version in which he constantly cries, most notably when he starts understanding the demons. Griffin Burns's performance as Akira was praised.[31] Salkowitz of Forbes described Akira as a too different person when becoming Devilman while still retaining his humanity.[32]