The Opening Had Me Confused Immediately

There are some anime you click on hoping for a fun romance, maybe a little supernatural flair, and something chill to binge. That’s exactly why I started Dance with Devils. It had been sitting in my watch list forever, and I finally said, “Okay, let’s see what all one of us is missing.”

I wasn’t prepared.

The show starts with creepy whisper-singing, a random girl floating in blue fire, and talk about a grimoire that apparently controls everything. I’m sitting there wondering if I clicked the wrong series. Then, with no explanation, it cuts to a warm breakfast scene like none of that demonic chaos happened. I don’t think I’ve ever been thrown off so fast in an opening.

Yes, This Is a Musical Anime… I Didn’t Know That Either

I truly did not know musical anime was a thing. And let me tell you, when I realized it halfway through the first episode, I had to pause the TV and collect myself.

Sometimes she’s walking to school and breaks into song. Sometimes the guy is literally fighting off monsters… also singing. Sometimes seductive demon boys start singing at the library like they’re auditioning for a supernatural boyband.

The songs aren’t constant, but they always show up at the exact moment you don’t expect them. It’s not subtle at all; it’s more like the show throws music at you just to see how you’ll handle it.

Some people probably love this kind of thing. I am not one of those people.

The Female Lead Isn’t Helping Things

Ritsuka Tachibana, the main character, is written in that very classic “confused romance heroine” style from early-2010s anime. She reminds me so much of Mei Tachibana from Say I Love You that I literally had to pause and look up if they shared a voice actor. They don’t, but honestly the vibes are identical. Same last name, similar voice tone, and the same “What’s going on? Why is this happening?” energy every five minutes.

I wanted her to piece things together just once. At some point, girl, you have to realize two plus two equals four.

Just When I Wanted to Drop It, It Got Interesting

I was seconds away from abandoning episode one when suddenly things got good. Some kind of vampires (or demons with fangs — this show doesn’t slow down to clarify anything) attack her mom, then attack her, and the mysterious student council boy shows up in this dramatic cosmic-blue aura to save her.

That moment actually hooked me. The supernatural plot has potential, and I genuinely wanted to see where the story would go next.

But then episode three hit me with another random song during a moment that should not have been musical at all, and that was it for me. I could not un-cringe myself. I knew I wasn’t going to finish it.

So… Stream or Skip?

For me, it’s a skip.

It’s not because the story is bad. It’s just the combination of musical numbers, random tonal shifts, and a very passive heroine made it hard for me to stay invested. I don’t regret trying it, but it’s not something I see myself returning to.

If you’re someone who loves musicals, dramatic theatrics, or reverse harems with demon boys, you might genuinely have fun with this. It has charm in a chaotic, over-the-top kind of way. But if you cringe at unexpected singing or need your romance leads to use at least two brain cells, then this probably won’t be your thing.

Where to Watch It

If you still want to see what the chaos is about, Dance with Devils is available on Crunchyroll. It is available in both subbed and ENG dub.

Final Thoughts

This anime could absolutely hit for the right viewer. I’m just not that viewer. It’s a supernatural romance musical that leans heavily into theatrics, and if that’s your thing, you might have a great time. If not, it might feel like a fever dream you didn’t sign up for.