Adi Shankar on Devil May Cry, AAPI Heritage, and Hollywood Success

Adi Shankar's Journey and Success

• 🇮🇳 Adi Shankar, an Indian filmmaker, discusses his journey from India, Hong Kong, and Singapore to pursuing a career in Hollywood.
• 🎯 He aimed to create a new archetype by melding various influences, particularly in dark fantasy and sci-fi, to gain recognition.
• 🏆 Shankar's work on the Netflix series 'Devil May Cry' has achieved significant success, earning a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and reaching the top 10 in 87 countries.

Devil May Cry: A Love Letter to Action

• 🎬 The Netflix series 'Devil May Cry' is described as a love letter to American action movies that inspired Shankar to come to Hollywood.
• 🎮 The adaptation successfully translated the popularity of the video game into a hit animated series.
• 🌟 Shankar's mother expresses immense pride in his accomplishments, noting that this has been his dream since childhood.

Cultural Background and Creative Process

• 💬 Shankar highlights the communal aspect of Indian culture, emphasizing values of community, connection, and creativity.
• 🎶 He mentions working better with music and refers to 'content' as a potentially negative term, preferring to focus on art.
• 💡 Shankar learned that the term 'animation' or 'animated series' is preferred over 'anime' for content outside of Japan, though 'anime' is recognized for its style.

Diverse Portfolio and Industry Trends

• 📺 Shankar has several titles available on Netflix, including 'Devil May Cry', 'The Guardians of Justice', 'Captain Laser Hawk', and two 'Castlevania' series.
• 🎮 The success of 'Devil May Cry' and 'The Last of Us' demonstrates the enduring popularity and viability of video game adaptations.
• 🤝 The interview also touches on Shankar's personal life, including his relationship with his fiancée Jenny and his dog Mushie, noting the eye-opening experience of dating someone from a different culture.