OVA
Description
Gelmar, whose name is also frequently spelled Ghelmer or Gelmer, is a demon who appears in the original Devilman manga and its various adaptations. He is a servant of the powerful demoness Sirene and is one of the secondary antagonists sent to attack the Makimura family.
In terms of background, Gelmar is an ancient demon, estimated to be millions or even billions of years old, who has long awaited the chance to battle the legendary demon Amon, whose power is fused with the protagonist, Akira Fudo. His physical appearance is that of a large, thin, and hunched-over demon with a skeletal frame, long spindly limbs, and long clawed fingers. He possesses vaguely reptilian or insect-like qualities, with a long neck, a protruding lower jaw, and ears that resemble large bat wings. Notably, the lower half of his body is fused with a larger slug-like demon, and his tail has additional stalk-like eyes and a jawed mouth. His skin color, which can be purple or blue, shifts to a pale blue when he merges with water and a darker cream color when dry. His blood is purple.
Gelmar’s personality is defined by cruelty, sadism, and a perverse nature. He enjoys tormenting his victims, as demonstrated when he watches Miki Makimura undress and bathe before attacking her, seemingly for his own amusement. He displays a fierce eagerness for combat and is proud to finally have a chance to prove himself against the legendary Amon. In battle, he is relentless and cruel, showing no restraint and even being willing to forcibly fuse with an unwilling partner to gain an advantage.
His primary role in the story is as an antagonist and an instrument of Sirene’s will. He is summoned alongside another demon named Agwel to cause chaos and kill the Makimura family as part of a larger scheme. His specific target is Miki Makimura, whom he attacks in her own home by emerging from a mirror and later from the water in her bath. He serves as an early major threat for Akira, testing the young Devilman's powers in a direct confrontation.
Regarding key relationships, Gelmar is a loyal, though seemingly eager-to-please, underling to Sirene, who summons and commands him. His primary adversarial relationship is with Akira Fudo in his Devilman form, and specifically with the demon Amon whose soul resides within Akira. He expresses a long-held wish to fight Amon, indicating a rivalry born of reputation rather than personal history. In some adaptations, such as the Devilman Grimoire manga, Gelmar also has a human host named Senda Mari, whom he possesses to interact with the world.
Gelmar’s development is limited, as he is a relatively minor antagonist who appears for a single major confrontation. His most significant moment is his battle with Devilman, during which he demonstrates his overconfidence in his water-based abilities. This leads to his downfall when Akira uses fire to evaporate his water, rendering him solid and vulnerable. While he does not undergo a significant personal change, his arc is defined by his eagerness for a legendary battle, his initial tactical advantage, and his eventual, brutal defeat. He does not seek redemption or change his ways, remaining a monstrous threat until his end.
Gelmar’s most notable abilities are centered on the manipulation of water. He can control water at will, merge his body with it to become intangible and invulnerable to physical attacks, and even transport himself through bodies of water or condensation on mirrors. He can also use water as a means to possess a victim, as seen when Miki swallows some of his water and comes under his control. However, his power has a critical weakness: when he or his surrounding environment is dried out, he loses his intangibility and becomes much more vulnerable to physical harm. In combat, he relies on his water fusion for defense and uses his spindly, clawed limbs for physical attacks when solidified.
In terms of background, Gelmar is an ancient demon, estimated to be millions or even billions of years old, who has long awaited the chance to battle the legendary demon Amon, whose power is fused with the protagonist, Akira Fudo. His physical appearance is that of a large, thin, and hunched-over demon with a skeletal frame, long spindly limbs, and long clawed fingers. He possesses vaguely reptilian or insect-like qualities, with a long neck, a protruding lower jaw, and ears that resemble large bat wings. Notably, the lower half of his body is fused with a larger slug-like demon, and his tail has additional stalk-like eyes and a jawed mouth. His skin color, which can be purple or blue, shifts to a pale blue when he merges with water and a darker cream color when dry. His blood is purple.
Gelmar’s personality is defined by cruelty, sadism, and a perverse nature. He enjoys tormenting his victims, as demonstrated when he watches Miki Makimura undress and bathe before attacking her, seemingly for his own amusement. He displays a fierce eagerness for combat and is proud to finally have a chance to prove himself against the legendary Amon. In battle, he is relentless and cruel, showing no restraint and even being willing to forcibly fuse with an unwilling partner to gain an advantage.
His primary role in the story is as an antagonist and an instrument of Sirene’s will. He is summoned alongside another demon named Agwel to cause chaos and kill the Makimura family as part of a larger scheme. His specific target is Miki Makimura, whom he attacks in her own home by emerging from a mirror and later from the water in her bath. He serves as an early major threat for Akira, testing the young Devilman's powers in a direct confrontation.
Regarding key relationships, Gelmar is a loyal, though seemingly eager-to-please, underling to Sirene, who summons and commands him. His primary adversarial relationship is with Akira Fudo in his Devilman form, and specifically with the demon Amon whose soul resides within Akira. He expresses a long-held wish to fight Amon, indicating a rivalry born of reputation rather than personal history. In some adaptations, such as the Devilman Grimoire manga, Gelmar also has a human host named Senda Mari, whom he possesses to interact with the world.
Gelmar’s development is limited, as he is a relatively minor antagonist who appears for a single major confrontation. His most significant moment is his battle with Devilman, during which he demonstrates his overconfidence in his water-based abilities. This leads to his downfall when Akira uses fire to evaporate his water, rendering him solid and vulnerable. While he does not undergo a significant personal change, his arc is defined by his eagerness for a legendary battle, his initial tactical advantage, and his eventual, brutal defeat. He does not seek redemption or change his ways, remaining a monstrous threat until his end.
Gelmar’s most notable abilities are centered on the manipulation of water. He can control water at will, merge his body with it to become intangible and invulnerable to physical attacks, and even transport himself through bodies of water or condensation on mirrors. He can also use water as a means to possess a victim, as seen when Miki swallows some of his water and comes under his control. However, his power has a critical weakness: when he or his surrounding environment is dried out, he loses his intangibility and becomes much more vulnerable to physical harm. In combat, he relies on his water fusion for defense and uses his spindly, clawed limbs for physical attacks when solidified.