Adi Shankar on Anime, Hollywood and Devil May Cry
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Adi Shankar, the acclaimed producer behind 'Devil May Cry' and 'Assassin's Creed' animated series, joins Cyrus Says for a wide-ranging conversation spanning his global upbringing, creative journey, and reflections on identity, Hollywood, and the power of storytelling. Born in Calcutta and raised across Hong Kong, Singapore, and Los Angeles, Shankar recounts his nomadic childhood and the formative influence of anime and American cartoons, which inspired him to bridge the gap between mature animated content and mainstream audiences. He shares his early career struggles, from working at a credit card company in Chicago to launching a college ad agency that rebranded local businesses—experiences that honed his instinct for creative disruption. Shankar discusses the cultural complexities around the character Apu from 'The Simpsons,' arguing that the controversy was more a B2B issue within Hollywood's infrastructure than a personal affront, and emphasizes the importance of artistic freedom and resilience in comedy. He reflects on his transition into filmmaking, his collaboration with Ryan Reynolds on 'The Voices,' and the creative process behind 'Devil May Cry,' which he reimagined as a standalone universe rather than a direct adaptation. The episode closes with a playful yet pointed critique of modern attention spans, the future of AI and privacy, and a heartfelt call to watch 'Devil May Cry' Season 2, which premieres in May.
Creative disruption starts with noticing flaws and having the courage to suggest improvements, even to corporate leaders.
The absence of mature animated content in the U.S. was a creative vacuum that Adi Shankar sought to fill with 'Devil May Cry'.
Identity is fluid—Shankar’s global upbringing shaped his ability to navigate cultures, accents, and perspectives with ease.
The Apu controversy was less about personal offense and more about systemic inequities in Hollywood’s casting infrastructure.
True artistic freedom requires protecting creative vision from ego, politics, and external pressures.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Global Citizen: Adi Shankar's Nomadic Childhood
Shankar reflects on growing up across Calcutta, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Los Angeles, shaped by constant relocations and cultural fluidity. He discusses how this upbringing cultivated his ability to adapt, read people, and thrive in diverse environments.
From Credit Card to Creative Vision: The Early Hustle
Shankar recounts his early career at Discover Credit Card, where he boldly suggested a rebranding. He shares how this experience, combined with his college ad agency, trained him to see flaws and propose creative solutions—skills that would later define his filmmaking approach.
The Gap in Animation: Why Mature Cartoons Were Missing
“There was a gap in the market. And more importantly than the gap, right? Because it was that I was personally very invested in this thing that didn't exist. I wanted it to exist.”
The Apu Controversy: A B2B Issue, Not a Personal One
“It's because of this talk that Cal gave. So cut to... And by the way, so and Ryan cameoed in Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. He plays a doctor, and it's very, very fun.”
The Voices and the Birth of a Creator
“I was shocked because first of all, you know, if he'd been like, well, I think Indian accent's cool. Like, okay, sexy is like... meant it. No, he actually meant it.”
“Privacy in the digital age is an illusion—assume all digital communication will eventually be public.”
“There was a gap in the market. And more importantly than the gap, right? Because it was that I was personally very invested in this thing that didn't exist. I wanted it to exist.”
“If you don't save this tree, you are a bad person. We should reverse it and save Discover Credit Card.”
Host
Guest
Adi Shankar
person
Cyrus
person
Devil May Cry
media
Ryan Reynolds
person
Netflix
brand
Discover Credit Card
brand
Assassin's Creed
media
The Simpsons
media
Cal Penn
person
Ryan
person
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