ONA
Description
Miki Kuroda, almost universally referred to by her nickname Miko to distinguish her from her more famous friend and rival Miki Makimura, is a supporting character in the anime DEVILMAN crybaby. She is a student at Kamigaku High School and a member of the school's track and field team, where she consistently places third, always behind the naturally gifted Miki Makimura. This dynamic of being forever second-best is the central conflict of her character, as she has been friends with Miki and Akira Fudo since childhood but has grown to quietly resent being perpetually overshadowed. The nickname Miko serves as a constant, irritating reminder of this inferiority, as her real name, Miki, belongs to someone else as far as her peers are concerned.
Initially, Miko presents a kind and modest demeanor, showing respect and friendliness to those around her. She has a private, thoughtful side, evidenced by her daily ritual of watering a bed of snapdragons outside her home. However, beneath this gentle surface lies a deep-seated jealousy and a frustrated desire to be recognized for her own merits, not just as the other Miki. This internal turmoil makes her vulnerable, and she seeks connection and validation, which she briefly finds with a local rapper named Kukun. He sees past her insecurities and delivers a heartfelt rap that resonates with her feelings of inadequacy, leading to a genuine, if tragically short-lived, bond.
Her life changes forever when she accompanies Kukun to a demonic sabbath, a party where demons possess and slaughter the attendees. Miko survives the attack but is transformed into a Devilman, gaining demonic power while, like Akira, retaining her human consciousness. Her transformation is physical and psychological. She gains a more muscular and amazonian figure, ties her hair into a braided ponytail, and adopts a more confident, brash, and arrogant personality. Her devil form itself is monstrous and spider-like, granting her a terrifying appearance with four long legs, a large thorax, mandibles around her mouth, and multiple eyes.
Empowered by her new abilities, Miko’s suppressed jealousy curdles into a more aggressive and mean-spirited drive. Her primary motivation becomes to prove herself by finally defeating Miki Makimura in a track event, believing this is the only way to shed her Miko identity and be recognized as the true Miki. She becomes callous and negligent, allowing the snapdragons she once tended to wither and die, symbolizing the loss of her former gentler self. Her newfound demonic nature also unleashes a more violent and sexually aggressive side. In one harrowing scene, she is threatened and raped by an old man at gunpoint; she kills him by crushing his head and continues to have sex with his corpse, an act that demonstrates the corrupting and brutalizing influence of her powers and the chaotic world around her.
Despite her descent into arrogance and cruelty, Miko’s humanity is not entirely extinguished. As the world descends into paranoid chaos following the public revelation of demons, she aligns herself with Akira Fudo. She plays the role of his fierce and capable ally, using her superhuman speed, agility, and sharp claws to fight. Her most significant act of redemption comes in her final relationship with Miki Makimura. After a period of estrangement fueled by her jealousy, she reconciles with Miki and confesses that the strongest feeling she had for her was not hatred or rivalry, but love. This confession marks a heel realization, where her humanity is restored, and her priorities shift from petty competition to genuine protection.
In the series' climax, Miko makes a desperate last stand to save Miki from an angry mob of paranoid humans. Allowing Miki to ride her spider-like devil form, she tries to carry her to safety but is ultimately cornered. She is shot multiple times but continues to plead with the mob, asking them profound questions about the nature of humanity, good, and justice in a futile attempt to appeal to their reason. Her sacrifice proves to be a senseless one, as Miki is killed shortly after, but Miko dies having redeemed herself, having overcome her destructive envy through an act of pure selflessness.
Initially, Miko presents a kind and modest demeanor, showing respect and friendliness to those around her. She has a private, thoughtful side, evidenced by her daily ritual of watering a bed of snapdragons outside her home. However, beneath this gentle surface lies a deep-seated jealousy and a frustrated desire to be recognized for her own merits, not just as the other Miki. This internal turmoil makes her vulnerable, and she seeks connection and validation, which she briefly finds with a local rapper named Kukun. He sees past her insecurities and delivers a heartfelt rap that resonates with her feelings of inadequacy, leading to a genuine, if tragically short-lived, bond.
Her life changes forever when she accompanies Kukun to a demonic sabbath, a party where demons possess and slaughter the attendees. Miko survives the attack but is transformed into a Devilman, gaining demonic power while, like Akira, retaining her human consciousness. Her transformation is physical and psychological. She gains a more muscular and amazonian figure, ties her hair into a braided ponytail, and adopts a more confident, brash, and arrogant personality. Her devil form itself is monstrous and spider-like, granting her a terrifying appearance with four long legs, a large thorax, mandibles around her mouth, and multiple eyes.
Empowered by her new abilities, Miko’s suppressed jealousy curdles into a more aggressive and mean-spirited drive. Her primary motivation becomes to prove herself by finally defeating Miki Makimura in a track event, believing this is the only way to shed her Miko identity and be recognized as the true Miki. She becomes callous and negligent, allowing the snapdragons she once tended to wither and die, symbolizing the loss of her former gentler self. Her newfound demonic nature also unleashes a more violent and sexually aggressive side. In one harrowing scene, she is threatened and raped by an old man at gunpoint; she kills him by crushing his head and continues to have sex with his corpse, an act that demonstrates the corrupting and brutalizing influence of her powers and the chaotic world around her.
Despite her descent into arrogance and cruelty, Miko’s humanity is not entirely extinguished. As the world descends into paranoid chaos following the public revelation of demons, she aligns herself with Akira Fudo. She plays the role of his fierce and capable ally, using her superhuman speed, agility, and sharp claws to fight. Her most significant act of redemption comes in her final relationship with Miki Makimura. After a period of estrangement fueled by her jealousy, she reconciles with Miki and confesses that the strongest feeling she had for her was not hatred or rivalry, but love. This confession marks a heel realization, where her humanity is restored, and her priorities shift from petty competition to genuine protection.
In the series' climax, Miko makes a desperate last stand to save Miki from an angry mob of paranoid humans. Allowing Miki to ride her spider-like devil form, she tries to carry her to safety but is ultimately cornered. She is shot multiple times but continues to plead with the mob, asking them profound questions about the nature of humanity, good, and justice in a futile attempt to appeal to their reason. Her sacrifice proves to be a senseless one, as Miki is killed shortly after, but Miko dies having redeemed herself, having overcome her destructive envy through an act of pure selflessness.