Devil May Cry, the adult animated urban fantasy action television series on Netflix, is now awaiting the release of its second season on May 12. Based on the Japanese video game franchise of the same name, the series follows the demon hunter-for-hire Dante as he attempts to foil a demonic invasion of earth orchestrated by the White Rabbit while also coming into conflict with human soldier Mary Ann Arkham.

Created and show-run by Calcutta-born Adi Shankar, Devil May Cry had a successful first season, with Season 2 being greenlit immediately by the streaming giant. Shankar, who has work like Dredd, Castlevania, The Guardians of Justice, Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, among others to his name, spoke to t2 from the US about what to expect from the second outing of Devil May Cry, his desi roots and what prompted his interest in the anime genre.

Season 2 of the Netflix series Devil May Cry is out in May. What is it like getting into the second season?

I remember the first time I had something come out as a producer, it was a little overwhelming. But by the time it was the fifth or sixth movie, it didn’t seem like such a big deal. The first time I had something come out, I was 100 per cent the creative driver of it. I did freak out because that was a new level of personal attention, and a little tricky to navigate.

Now I am pretty chill, but also excited. I have worked very hard on Devil May Cry and I hope this is a cool thing that people are going to love. It is a massive level up from Season 1.

How is Season 2 a level up?

In terms of quality and craftsmanship. In Season 1 of a TV show, you are trying to get a machine up and running. By the time you get to Season 2, the machine is working. It is the difference between a new startup and a startup that has shipped its first product. Every aspect of it becomes better. I keep comparing it to The Dark Knight (2008) and Batman Begins (2005) because in Batman Begins, one had to establish a lot of things, and then The Dark Knight got to be a better-crafted piece.

How have you evolved as a creator and a producer, especially in a genre that not many people venture into?

It has all been one big challenge and I have come out of it evolved every time. As I am evolving as a person, it is allowing me to create more depth. I feel like I understand people more, and hence create better, because I have lived more life. That enriches anything I am doing.

Your most creatively fulfilling experiences so far?

Definitely, Devil May Cry, in terms of both the seasons. I have also started two other projects that are very creatively fulfilling because they have helped me grow as an artiste and as a human.

What spurred your interest in this career?

It was an interest in Japanese culture from childhood. I was deeply fascinated by Japanese cartoons, video games and manga. I also loved American superheroes. Science fiction was also a deep area of interest for me.

But there is no way of knowing whether you are good or not at something till you have done it a few times. Sometimes the things that you love don’t always love you back. I was fortunate enough to find a situation where my passions and interests loved me back. And then the business around it determined that I got more opportunities.

Was there ever a period of struggle?

Massive. It is still a struggle every day. On some level, time is coming for all of us. You can do something great, but then you go to bed, you wake up the next day and then you have to start again. I don’t like losing and that keeps me going.

The demand for and interest in anime and manga has grown exponentially in India over the last few years...

I have started realising that it is resonating more deeply in India. I am grateful for the kind of reception my work has got in India. There is a huge market for it now. It means a lot to me on a personal level when the work I do connects in India. It helps me get validation.

As a creator, what is the plan over the next few years?

First of all, I view myself as Indian; I don’t see myself as American. I see myself as an Indian who came here to America in order to do this business. I want to be a global-level creator like Hideo Kojima (prolific Japanese video game designer and writer), but for India.

Can you talk about your Calcutta roots?

I was born in Calcutta and spent some time there. I lived for a while in Madras (Chennai), and then went to Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai. A lot of my close friends are in India and my naani is in Calcutta.

Anything coming out of India that you watched recently and liked?

I watched Dhurandar, the first part, when I was in India in February. I think Indian cinema is now competing on a global level. There is no reason why India can’t have its own Parasite moment or Squid Game moment. That is where my mind goes when I see how Indian cinema is doing now. In fact, I think there are many things that Bollywood does better than the American film industry.

I am in a very fortunate position where I wake up every day and I am being asked to do a lot of different things, I am getting new opportunities. One thing I really want to do is get stars from India and put them in my anime work in Hollywood.