The Devil May Cry anime, specifically the 2007 series titled "Devil May Cry," unfolds primarily in a fictionalized version of Fortuna, a city-state that serves as the central hub for the Order of the Sword. While the narrative touches upon the broader, hellish dimensions of the Demon World, the majority of the action takes place within the human realm, focusing on the political and religious landscape that has grown around the legacy of Sparda. This setting provides a grounded, gothic European backdrop that contrasts sharply with the high-speed combat the franchise is known for.
The City of Fortuna: A Holy Bastion
Fortuna is the undisputed geographical heart of the anime's story. It is a walled city built around the imposing Order of the Sword cathedral, where the Knights of the Order enforce a theocratic rule. The city presents itself as a holy sanctuary for humanity, claiming to protect them from the demons that lurk in the shadows. Streets are lined with gothic architecture, and the constant presence of the cathedral reinforces the idea that this is a place where religion and governance are indistinguishable, creating a tense atmosphere of devotion and control.
The Order of the Sword Headquarters
Located at the center of Fortuna, the Order of the Sword headquarters is a colossal structure that dominates the skyline. This building functions as the administrative, military, and spiritual center of the city. It houses the council of cardinals, the training grounds for the knights, and the sacred gear known as Yamato, which is sealed deep within the complex. The headquarters is a character in itself, representing the corrupt institution that the anime’s protagonists must navigate and ultimately dismantle.
The Underworld and the Demon Realm
Although the human world of Fortuna is the primary stage, the Devil May Cry anime consistently reminds viewers of the hellish realm that exists beneath it. The Demon World is depicted as a chaotic and violent dimension where demons fight for dominance. Access points between the two worlds are often found in secluded areas or through dimensional rifts, allowing demons to spill into Fortuna. These incursions force Dante and the Order to confront the literal monsters that the city’s religious propaganda claims to keep at bay.
Limbo and the Edge of Realms
Specific demonic locations, such as Limbo, are introduced as desolate spaces that exist outside the normal flow of time and space. These areas serve as battlegrounds that are neither fully human nor fully demonic. They are void-like environments that strip combatants of their distractions, focusing the conflict down to pure instinct and skill. These realms visually represent the chaotic nature of the demonic forces that the Order is supposed to be guarding against.
The Journey from the City to the Cathedral
The plot of the anime drives the characters from the outer streets of Fortuna directly to the highest levels of the Order’s power. What begins as a mission to hunt down a rogue demon evolves into a full-scale assault on the corruption festering at the heart of the city. The path to the cathedral becomes a pilgrimage through the lies of the faith, with each step revealing more about the true nature of Sparda’s sacrifice and the manipulation of the human population.
Vergil's Influence and the Demon World
As the story progresses, the influence of the Demon World becomes more tangible within Fortuna. The presence of Vergil, Sparda’s other son, acts as a bridge between the human and demonic realms. His actions and his connection to Yamato cause rifts in reality, allowing the dark geography of the Demon World to bleed into the streets of Fortuna. This fusion of the sacred city and the chaotic underworld visually represents the collapse of the Order’s fabricated reality.
