Hubbry Logo
Inferno CopInferno CopMain
Open search
Inferno Cop
Community hub
Inferno Cop
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Inferno Cop
Inferno Cop
Inferno Cop
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
Inferno Cop
Key visual
インフェルノコップ
(Inferuno Koppu)
Original net animation
Directed byAkira Amemiya
Hiroyuki Imaishi
Written byHiromi Wakabayashi
StudioTrigger/CoMix Wave
Released December 24, 2012 – March 18, 2013
Runtime3 minutes
Episodes13 (List of episodes)

Inferno Cop (インフェルノコップ, Infaruno Koppu) is a 13-episode Japanese original net animation in the motion comic style, directed by Akira Amemiya with Hiroyuki Imaishi serving as series production director and produced by Trigger and CoMix Wave. It was streamed via the Anime Bancho YouTube channel from December 24, 2012 to March 18, 2013.[1] The main theme is "Die Höllen Polizei" (ディ ホゥーレン ポリツァイ, Di Hūren Poritsai; lit. "Hell Police") by Juriano Hagiwara. A second season has been announced.[2] However this has been complicated by the passing of Inferno Cop's voice actor Junichi Goto in February 2020.[3]

Synopsis

[edit]

The series centers around the adventures of Inferno Cop, a police officer with a flaming head who seeks revenge after his family was murdered by Southern Cross, a shady, Illuminati-like organization that attempts to control the world with its various monsters and thugs. Inferno Cop dispenses ruthless justice on all lawbreakers he can find in Jack Knife Edge Town, generally by blowing them up, shooting them dead or both. Inferno Cop rapidly goes from one ridiculous incident to another, including fighting a newborn baby, travelling through time, fending off a zombie apocalypse, turning into a car for several episodes, and killing a mummy and becoming the new pharaoh after mishearing his sidekick's dying words. He ultimately tries to halt Southern Cross' attempts to bring about an end of the world with Inferno Cop as the key.

Recurring characters

[edit]
Inferno Cop
A brash and violent former police officer turned vigilante. He drives a flaming cop car and his head is a flaming skull that wears sunglasses. He uses a revolver that blows up nearly anything it shoots. His family was murdered by Southern Cross, and it is implied that they killed him as well before the series. While most of the local police in Jack Knife Edge City excuse any crime so long as the perpetrators have "paid their taxes," Inferno Cop will tolerate no evil and destroy any lawbreaker on sight with little to no evidence. He is a middle school dropout and is severely weakened when underwater, though his skull/head stays on fire regardless.
Mr. Judge
A masked vigilante and purveyor of justice, both as a superhero and an actual judge.
Mecha Cop
A hulking robot armed with chain guns that are created by Southern Cross solely to kill Inferno Cop. When he proves incapable of doing so, they are forced to work together when they are both sent into the past, and eventually Hell itself. When Inferno Cop notices the exit to Hell, Mecha Cop chooses to stay in Hell and help others instead.
Auntie Grenda
Inferno Cop's aunt who lives in Hell. She is a kindly old lady despite her situation. Mecha Cop befriends her when he and Inferno Cop arrive in Hell, and she is later seen riding him into battle.
Claudia
A blonde woman saved by Inferno Cop, only to come back later, revealed to be a very powerful entity, with a passionate love for Inferno Cop.
FBI
A trio of hitmen who work for the Southern Cross. One of them is short, one is tall, and one of them is fat. They attempt to kill Inferno Cop while he is in the hospital. The only thing they ever say is "FBI!".
Hellfire Boy
A young boy that Inferno Cop accidentally sets on fire after coming back from Hell. He becomes Inferno Cop's sidekick, and later sacrifices himself as fuel to help Inferno Cop win a race against Mr. Judge. He eventually returns as a malt loaf and is consumed by Inferno Cop twice (once in Egypt, and again before the final battle).
High Priest Altair, Deneb, and Vega
The masterminds of the Southern Cross. All three of them are cloaked in robes, and their faces look nearly inhumane.
Ariel Suzuki
A reporter who works for Channel 11. She does the weather and zombie reports, and also does a report when aliens invade and kidnap Inferno Cop. She is also the mother of Hellfire Boy.

Episode list

[edit]
No.Title[4]Original release date
1"The Badge From Hell"
Transliteration: "Jigoku no Keiji wa Yattekuru" (Japanese: 地獄の刑事はやってくる)		December 24, 2012 (2012-12-24)
In Jack Knife Edge Town, a gang attempts to attack a pregnant woman when a police officer shows up. He prepares to arrest them for wrongdoing, but they point out they pay their taxes and convince him to leave. Moments later, a vigilante named Inferno Cop arrives and easily wipes out the gang, but the woman experiences amniorrhexis, spraying him with water.
2"Deep Blue Baby"
Transliteration: "Dīpu Burū Beibī" (Japanese: ディープブルーベイビー)		December 31, 2012 (2012-12-31)
The woman's amniorrhexis causes a flash flood. While trying to stay afloat, Inferno Cop finds a baby in the water; the baby has a scar shaped like the Southern Cross emblem, an organization that killed Inferno Cop's family. The baby reveals himself to indeed be a Southern Cross member and drags him underwater, where the baby shape-shifts into a larger monster. Although Inferno Cop's bullet deflects off the baby, it also deflects off Inferno Cop and kills the baby. However, another vigilante in Mr. Judge witnesses the fight and arrests Inferno Cop for infanticide and mutilation.
3"Proof of Justice"
Transliteration: "Seigi no Shōsa" (Japanese: 正義の証左)		January 7, 2013 (2013-01-07)
Inferno Cop's trial reaches the Supreme Court, where he and Mr. Judge repeatedly object to the other's claims. Unable to keep up, the chief judge repeatedly flips sides before giving both of them the death penalty. Annoyed, Inferno Cop kills the judge, but Mr. Judge reveals himself to be the true chief justice and sentences him to prison. During the ride to jail, the police van drives off a cliff.
4"Escape From Nightmare"
Transliteration: "Akumu kara no Dasshutsu" (Japanese: 悪夢からの脱出)		January 14, 2013 (2013-01-14)
Southern Cross outlines their plans for Inferno Cop, including treating him at an organization-run hospital and turning him into their soldier, which would bury him in a massive debt that drives him to suicide; to ensure their plan works, Southern Cross hires a trio of hitmen called FBI to oversee him. Inferno Cop awakes as a doctor attempts to operate on him, so he escapes. FBI takes a nurse as hostage in an effort to stop him, but Inferno Cop simply kills them before leaping through a hospital window and landing in a zombie-infested street.
5"The Apocalyptic World"
Transliteration: "Yagate Owaru Sekai" (Japanese: やがて終わる世界)		January 21, 2013 (2013-01-21)
Surrounded by zombies, Inferno Cop spots a newspaper that reveals he had been unconscious for over 80 years. Before he is overrun, a robot created by Southern Cross called Mecha Cop kills the zombies before turning on him. Mecha Cop shoots him with his minigun, but Inferno Cop survives and retaliates by transforming into a car and ramming him. Inferno Cop's speed increases as he tries to go back in time, but overshoots and the two land in the prehistoric era.
6"From the Ancient Village"
Transliteration: "Taiko no Mura Yori" (Japanese: 太古の村より)		January 28, 2013 (2013-01-28)
Inferno and Mecha Cop inadvertently land in the Cretaceous period, where they are attacked by dinosaurs. The two spot a tribe of small creatures and approach them, but fall into a trap and are placed on a roast. However, one tribesman reads an ancient manuscript and assume the pair are gods, sparing them. As they feast, the real god intervenes.
7"A Picture of the Inferno"
Transliteration: "Inferuno Jigoku-hen" (Japanese: インフェルノ地獄変)		February 4, 2013 (2013-02-04)
As punishment, the god sends the two to Hell, where Inferno Cop reunites with his Auntie Grenda. Grenda asks the two to find her husband; once they succeed, Grenda points them to an exit door to leave. While Inferno Cop leaves, Mecha Cop chooses to stay upon realizing his ability to help others in Hell. Back on the mortal plane, Inferno Cop accidentally sets a bullied boy on fire, who reveals himself as Hellfire Boy.
8"Accelerating Spirit"
Transliteration: "Tamashī wa Kasokusuru" (Japanese: 魂は加速する)		February 11, 2013 (2013-02-11)
Hellfire Boy invites Inferno Cop to take over the world; although skeptical, Inferno Cop accepts when he notices a poster for the America Racing Grand Prix with enough prize money to achieve their goal. Much of the race's field consists of figures from previous episodes including Mr. Judge and the baby, the latter of whom is eliminated from the race after briefly leading. With Inferno Cop struggling to catch up to Mr. Judge, Hellfire Boy sacrifices himself to power him. Although Inferno Cop closes in, Mr. Judge unceremoniously wins by an easy margin. Nevertheless, Inferno Cop also receives the prize money.
9"Rest in Peace, My Friend"
Transliteration: "Shōnen'yo, Yasuraka ni Nemure" (Japanese: 少年よ、安らかに眠れ)		February 18, 2013 (2013-02-18)
Inferno Cop mourns Hellfire Boy's death and remembers his wishes to be buried in Egypt. Noticing a poster promoting a cheap world tour, he capitalizes and reaches the Great Pyramid of Giza. While browsing a bakery, he spots a malt loaf and places Hellfire Boy's mask on it before eating it.
10"King's Intervention"
Transliteration: "Ō no Sokaku" (Japanese: 王の阻隔)		February 25, 2013 (2013-02-25)
Entering a pyramid, Inferno Cop traverses its trap-laden interior and discovers its sarcophagus. Pharaoh Khnum-Khufu appears from it, angered that Inferno Cop's noise woke him up after just 15 hours of sleep, and challenges him to a fight. Inferno Cop is overpowered before he summons seven multicolored flames that combine into a larger, lethal flame that kills Khnum-Khufu. Satisfied, Inferno Cop enters the sarcophagus and prepares to sleep when he receives a phone call from the police chief.
11"Condemn the Evil, Part 1"
Transliteration: "Danzaiseyo, Jigoku no Keiji (Zenpen)" (Japanese: 断罪せよ、地獄の刑事(前編))		March 4, 2013 (2013-03-04)
The police chief orders Inferno Cop to return to headquarters, which is quickly destroyed by an alien spaceship along with the rest of Jack Knife Edge Town. Inferno Cop is captured by mysterious winged creatures. Southern Cross' head priest explains the aliens seek to use Inferno Cop's power and fake god status to initiate the Third Destroy Finale, a mass extinction event that would turn him into a legitimate god. A bright light then engulfs the world.
12"Condemn the Evil, Part 2"
Transliteration: "Danzaiseyo, Jigoku no Keiji (Kōhen)" (Japanese: 断罪せよ、地獄の刑事(後編))		March 11, 2013 (2013-03-11)
Once the light dissipates, Inferno Cop lands back on earth and encounters multiple clones of himself. The pregnant woman he saved shows up and reveals herself as Claudia, a misanthrope who has the power to change the world; Claudia explains she had fallen in love with him, prompting her to create many copies of him that would replace humanity as revenge for its vices and horrors. While initially attracted by her proposal, Inferno Cop profusely vomits, freeing a mostly-undigested Hellfire Boy who urges him to continue his mission. Inspired, Inferno Cop eats him and regains his flames.
13"Let's Search For Tomorrow"
Transliteration: "Rettsu Sāchi Fō Tumorō" (Japanese: レッツ サーチ フォー トゥモロー)		March 18, 2013 (2013-03-18)
Receiving the power of the real god, Inferno Cop evolves into Glitter Inferno Cop and frees humanity from Claudia's hold. Supported by those he had encountered, including the return of Mecha Cop and Auntie Grenda, he leads a mounted charge with his Devil's Satan Hellhound Grenda's Kind Hand, an attack that engulfs him and Claudia in an explosion. After the explosion subsides, Hellfire Boy watches as Inferno Cop's badge falls to the ground.

Special episodes

[edit]

There are three special episodes of Inferno Cop only shown at the 2015, 2016, and 2017 AnimeNEXT conventions. While the episodes have never been uploaded officially, one recording of the third episode is on Youtube. However, the recording only captures half of the episode. The episode starts at the end of Inferno Cop's cameo appearance in Space Patrol Luluco. Afterwards, Inferno Cop goes to America and loses a fight with Donald Trump. All three of the specials are notable for showcasing Studio Trigger's self-professed love for New Jersey, and for audience participation at the end of every short.

The 2015 special is the same short shown during a prior convention that year (Anime Expo). The 2016 special involves Inferno Cop and friends traveling to New Jersey to stop hardcore and casual anime fans from waging war against each other, which Inferno Cop remedies by killing both sides. Afterwards, he leads both his friends and the audience at the live panel in chanting "New Jersey Oi!" for 5 minutes straight. The 2017 special involves Inferno Cop criticizing Donald Trump while watching him on TV, only for the later to threaten to deport him through the television and the two engage in short-lived combat (in which Inferno Cop is cut in half and screams about how he is dying for an extended amount of time) Afterwards Inferno Cop leads both the cast and the Panel audience in singing "the American National Anthem" (A rendition of The Star Spangled Banner but with the lyrics replaced with "America daisuki, Hamburger daisuki" (I love America, I love Hamburger)) for at least 5 minutes.

China ban

[edit]

On June 12, 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Culture listed Inferno Cop among 38 anime and manga titles banned in China.[5]

Cameo

[edit]

In episode 11 of Space Patrol Luluco, Inferno Cop makes a cameo appearance, where it is revealed that he worked for Space Patrol before becoming a vigilante.

In episode 8 of New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, a very similar character named Impact Cop gets Panty and Stocking's help to destroy the root of all evil, the internet. The next segment has the trio fighting the true root of all evil.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Inferno Cop

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
(インフェルノコップ, Inferuno Koppu) is a Japanese series comprising 13 brief episodes, produced by and directed by Akira Amemiya, which premiered online in December 2012. The show employs a motion comic style characterized by static panels with minimal , dynamic , and exaggerated sound effects to depict hyper-violent action sequences. Centered on its eponymous protagonist—a flame-enshrouded, skeletal-headed police officer operating in the dystopian Jack Knife Edge Town—the narrative follows his relentless crusade against the pervasive Southern Cross criminal syndicate, blending absurd humor with over-the-top . As 's debut production, formed by ex-Gainax animators seeking creative freedom, Inferno Cop highlights the studio's early emphasis on stylistic experimentation and of action tropes, garnering a for its concise, high-impact format despite its low-budget constraints.

Production and Development

Concept and Creation

Inferno Cop originated as a commission from CoMix Wave Films to Studio Trigger for short-form content on YouTube's Anime Bancho channel, replacing an earlier pilot project called "Superson" that was abandoned after two episodes for lacking engagement. The concept centered on a flame-headed vigilante cop emerging from hell to deliver justice, devised by Hiroyuki Imaishi and Shigeto Koyama as a high-energy parody of bombastic action heroes, emphasizing absurdity over conventional storytelling. This foundational idea drew from Western influences like 1980s cop films and comic book vigilantes, reimagined with a skeletal, fiery protagonist driven by vengeance against the conspiratorial Southern Cross organization in the dystopian Jack Knife Edge Town. Director Akira Amemiya adapted the premise for web distribution, constraining production to roughly two hours per episode to test experimental, resource-light approaches amid Trigger's early independence from Gainax. Episodes were capped at three minutes to suit online viewing habits, prioritizing relentless pacing and trope subversion—such as instant plot resolutions via improbable justice motifs—over detailed polish or narrative depth. The first episode premiered on December 24, 2012, establishing the series' commitment to minimalism in subverting over-the-top revenge fantasies.

Animation Techniques and Style

Inferno Cop utilizes a motion comic approach, relying on static black-and-white illustrations with minimal motion, such as camera pans across panels, zooms on key elements, and basic particle effects for flames and impacts. This method emulates the sequential art of comic books, employing a limited palette of character poses and exaggerated static gestures to convey action and emotion without full frame-by-frame animation. The technique facilitated efficient production under tight constraints, with episodes assembled in roughly two hours of weekly studio time, prioritizing conceptual absurdity over fluid visuals. The aesthetic features crude, high-contrast influenced by American , characterized by bold outlines, stark shading, and simplistic backgrounds that underscore a deliberately amateurish quality. integrates for explosive sequences and mechanical elements, amplifying the of resource-strapped media while heightening comedic tension through visual restraint juxtaposed against hyperbolic scenarios. This cost-effective style, distinct from traditional or digital keyframe , reduces expenses by minimizing drawn frames—often reusing assets across episodes—and focuses resources on timing and composition to evoke dynamic motion illusion. Audio elements compensate for visual sparsity, incorporating bombastic with amplified impacts, gunfire, and orchestral swells alongside theatrical that delivers lines in an over-enunciated, dramatic manner. Such integration fosters a rhythm, where synchronized effects and performances propel the narrative forward, transforming static compositions into a visceral, parody-laden experience that critiques conventional production norms.

Studio Involvement and Staff

Studio Trigger, newly formed in August 2011 by former staff including director and producer Masahiko Ōtsuka, took on animation production for Inferno Cop as an early amid the post- transition, enabling experimental approaches unfeasible under prior studio constraints. Akira Amemiya directed the series, with Imaishi overseeing as chief production director, fostering a collaborative environment that prioritized rapid prototyping of motion comic techniques to overcome budget shortages. Co-production with further streamlined workflows, allowing Trigger's ethos of bold, low-fi innovation to dictate the project's form over conventional demands. Voice acting selections aligned with the hyperbolic, absurd tone, featuring as the lead voice for Inferno Cop and numerous supporting roles performed by Trigger staff such as Fumihiko Morohashi for , which kept expenditures minimal while infusing an authentic, insider energy reflective of the studio's tight-knit dynamics. Script duties fell to Hiromi Wakabayashi, whose involvement across Trigger projects underscored the interdisciplinary staff contributions that made the venture viable. These elements converged in a compressed production schedule, yielding the debut on December 24, 2012, and concluding episodes by March 18, 2013, with episode lengths capped at around three minutes to match fiscal realities and enforce narrative concision. This resource-driven brevity not only tested Trigger's adaptability but also highlighted how staff versatility—spanning direction, voicing, and design—directly causalized the output's punchy, unpolished feasibility.

Content and Narrative

Premise and Synopsis

Inferno Cop is set in Jack Knife Edge Town, a dystopian urban environment plagued by rampant crime and villainy. The titular protagonist, a , operates as a vigilante after his family is murdered by the secretive criminal organization Southern Cross, which seeks . Following his own death in the confrontation, Inferno Cop resurrects , his body aflame, to pursue unrelenting justice against Southern Cross and the town's myriad evildoers. The narrative unfolds through brief, episodic confrontations that escalate in absurdity and scale, incorporating elements like , outbreaks, and interdimensional conflicts, while maintaining a loose overarching continuity tied to the protagonist's vendetta. Rather than serialized plotting with sustained character arcs, the structure prioritizes self-contained bursts of over-the-top action and chaos, emphasizing Inferno Cop's indomitable pursuit of vengeance amid increasingly bizarre threats.

Characters

The titular protagonist, Inferno Cop, is portrayed as a flame-headed with a skeletal visage, driven by an unyielding commitment to justice following the murder of his family by the shadowy Southern Cross organization. His character archetype exaggerates traits of pulp heroes and enforcers, manifesting in , resilience, and the ability to empower mundane objects—such as turning a simple badge into a hellish weapon—purely through his "justice flame," which fuels the series' absurd humor via escalating improbability and visual flair. Supporting allies form an ensemble that amplifies comedic chaos, including Mecha Cop, a hulking robotic construct equipped with heavy armaments like chain guns, often deployed for brute-force interventions that devolve into mechanical mishaps. Hellfire Boy, a youthful with infernal powers, provides pint-sized antagonism to villains while mirroring Inferno Cop's fiery motif, serving as a vehicle for escalation and of mentor-protégé dynamics. Mr. Judge acts as a quasi-judicial figure, wielding in mock trials that highlight the series' satirical take on bureaucracy. Antagonists primarily consist of operatives from the Southern Cross, a cult-like syndicate depicted as a conspiratorial cabal controlling and monstrous threats in Jack Knife Edge Town, embodying parodic tropes through their emblematic insignia and schemes for domination. Figures like Heel Bad Billy, a scarred thug with mohawk and , represent generic criminal archetypes twisted into hyperbolic foes for Inferno Cop's confrontations, emphasizing humor through their inevitable, over-the-top defeats. These elements collectively underscore the characters' roles in sustaining rapid-fire absurdity without deeper psychological development.

Themes and Humor Style

The central theme of Inferno Cop revolves around , portraying the titular character as a skeletal, flame-headed enforcer who operates beyond legal constraints to combat the criminal syndicate Southern Cross following the murder of his family. This narrative subverts cop genre clichés—such as the noble upholding within institutional limits—by amplifying the protagonist's methods into realms of excess, like and deployment of apocalyptic weaponry, which render heroic intent indistinguishable from destructive farce. The humor style employs surreal exaggeration and non-sequiturs to mock conventions, escalating trivial offenses into interdimensional conflicts or duels without narrative justification or consequence, thereby exposing the causal implausibility inherent in trope-driven action media. Cartoonish violence, depicted via static images and minimal motion to evoke deliberate amateurism, underscores the absurdity of consequence-free retribution, parodying the stylized brutality of revenge-driven anti-heroes akin to flaming-skulled archetypes in . Fourth-wall breaches, such as characters directly addressing production limitations or plot contrivances, further satirize the self-seriousness of storytelling, prioritizing disjointed, visceral gags over coherent to highlight how clichés prioritize spectacle over realism.

Release and Media Adaptations

Original Web Series

The original web series of Inferno Cop debuted as a Japanese original net animation (ONA) on the Anime Bancho YouTube channel, operated by , with the premiere episode released on December 24, 2012. The series followed a weekly release schedule on Mondays, delivering short episodes designed for online viewing. It comprised 13 core episodes, each running approximately 3 minutes in duration, concluding with the final installment on March 18, 2013. This format emphasized rapid, episodic distribution to build audience engagement through accessible digital platforms, aligning with Studio Trigger's inaugural project under creative supervision by .

Episode Structure and List

The Inferno Cop comprises 13 episodes, each approximately 3 minutes in length, released primarily on a weekly basis via platforms such as Nico Nico Douga and from December 25, 2012, to March 18, 2013. The episodes follow a primarily episodic structure centered on Inferno Cop's successive battles against agents and manifestations of the Southern Cross organization, with loose connective arcs that escalate from personal origins and isolated skirmishes to broader conflicts involving temporal disruptions, ancient origins, and organizational leadership. Episode 1 introduces the protagonist's background and initial clash, while subsequent installments through episode 13 progress via increasingly surreal antagonists and multi-part confrontations, culminating in resolutions against key figures such as Dr. Dreadnight.
EpisodeTitleRelease date
1The Badge from HellDecember 25, 2012
2Deep Blue BabyDecember 31, 2012
3Proof of JusticeJanuary 7, 2013
4Escape from NightmareJanuary 14, 2013
5The Apocalyptic WorldJanuary 21, 2013
6From the Ancient VillageJanuary 28, 2013
7A Picture of the PastFebruary 4, 2013
8The Final DictatorFebruary 11, 2013
9February 18, 2013
10February 25, 2013
11Condemn the Evil, Part 1March 4, 2013
12Condemn the Evil, Part 2March 11, 2013
13Let's March 18, 2013

Special Episodes and OVAs

produced a series of special short episodes for Inferno Cop, distinct from the main web animation run, which were exclusively screened at the studio's panels during anime conventions including AnimeNEXT and from 2015 to 2017. These specials adhere to the original motion comic style, utilizing static panels with minimal animation, , and sound effects to deliver absurd, self-contained stories that action tropes or incorporate external elements. Unlike the weekly releases, these were not made publicly available online at the time, limiting access to convention attendees. One documented special features a crossover with , another Trigger production, where characters from the witch academy series provide cameos and assist Inferno Cop in combating threats, blending the two franchises' humorous tones. This short was screened at AnimeNEXT 2015 and subsequently at 2015, with the studio teasing additional crossover content during the latter event on July 2. Subsequent specials continued the tradition of event-exclusive premieres, including a 2016 entry depicting Inferno Cop and companions traveling abroad for a new escapade, and a 2017 short at parodying contemporary political figures in line with the series' satirical edge. These entries expand the lore through standalone narratives without advancing the core . No original video animations (OVAs) were produced, as Trigger opted for these low-budget, high-impact convention shorts to engage fans directly rather than commercial releases.

Distribution and Accessibility

Broadcast and Streaming

Inferno Cop premiered exclusively as an online series, with its 13 episodes released weekly via the Anime Bancho YouTube channel, beginning on December 24, 2012, and ending on March 18, 2013. This free web distribution model, bypassing traditional television networks, enabled immediate accessibility and contributed to its viral spread through social sharing and fan communities in Japan. Following its web success, the series expanded to licensed international streaming platforms, starting around 2015. secured distribution rights, offering subtitled episodes to subscribers in regions including , , and parts of . Additional availability emerged on in select countries, providing another paid streaming option. As of October 2025, Inferno Cop streams primarily on Crunchyroll and its Amazon Channel integration, requiring a premium subscription without free tiers or ad-supported viewing. The original YouTube episodes remain viewable in some regions, though geo-restrictions and content policies may limit access compared to licensed services.

Home Video Releases

Inferno Cop did not receive an official physical home video release, such as DVD or Blu-ray sets, in Japan or elsewhere. Studio Trigger, the production company, focused distribution on web serialization and later streaming platforms rather than compiling episodes into physical media compilations. No limited editions with extras like audio commentaries, artwork booklets, or behind-the-scenes materials were produced for video content. Digital purchase options for home viewing emerged post-release, allowing users to buy episodes or seasons for offline access. On , the full 13-episode series is available for individual episode purchase or seasonal ownership in regions including the and , with Japanese audio and English subtitles. Similar digital ownership is supported on platforms like Premium, though primarily through subscription models with optional ad-free downloads rather than outright sales. No region-specific digital editions or bundled extras have been noted, reflecting the series' origin as a concise web without extended production materials. Western audiences lack physical imports due to the absence of any master releases, relying entirely on these licensed digital channels.

International Availability

Prior to official licensing, international audiences primarily accessed Inferno Cop through unofficial fan-subtitled versions shared on platforms like , where episodes with appeared as early as 2012 following the series' Japanese debut. These fan efforts facilitated initial exposure amid the ' niche, absurd humor, which limited mainstream distributor interest. Official international availability began with Crunchyroll's addition of the series to its streaming catalog on March 12, 2015, offering Japanese audio with subtitles in English, German, Spanish (), and other languages. This subscription-based model, requiring payment after a free trial, contrasted sharply with the original free, ad-supported episodes on Japan's Nico Nico Douga platform. No official English dub has been produced, restricting accessibility to subtitle-dependent viewers. In and , Crunchyroll's service enabled legal streaming, though regional licensing variations occasionally limited episodes. Apple TV also offers the series with multilingual subtitles, including English and French, expanding options for Western users. The shift from free Japanese web access to paid international platforms posed challenges for global dissemination, yet contributed to the series' cult appeal through selective, dedicated online communities rather than broad broadcast.

Reception and Critical Analysis

Critical Reviews

Anime News Network ranked Inferno Cop as the top production from in a 2018 feature article, lauding it as "one of the greatest comedies of all time" for its stream-of-consciousness absurdity and minimalistic style that employs cut-out drawings over photo-collage backgrounds to deliver unpredictable vulgar humor. The series' 13 episodes, each roughly three to four minutes long, feature escalating nonsense such as the protagonist battling a baby, transforming into a race car, time traveling, and confronting a , all crafted by a small team including director Akira Amemiya to parody over-the-top cop narratives with intentional low-effort visuals that heighten comedic constraints. Critics highlighted the work's representation of Trigger's early , prioritizing mischievous over commercial viability, with the animation's deliberate "cheapness" enabling rapid, action-figure-inspired scripting completed in as little as 15 minutes per episode. In another list from 2019, it was described as "intentionally cheaply animated – and intentionally stupid," embodying the studio's broad sense of humor through stylized violence and parody that appeals to fans of similarly irreverent Western animations like . However, some reviews noted drawbacks in its niche appeal, with THEM Anime Reviews observing that the verbal jokes and crudeness, while initially amusing amid the stylized , tend to grow repetitive and fail to sustain over the short runtime, limiting its draw beyond tolerant audiences. This aligns with patterns in critiques of early Trigger projects, where experimental brevity and extremity prioritize stylistic innovation over narrative depth, often polarizing viewers unaccustomed to unfiltered .

Audience Response

Inferno Cop garnered a dedicated niche , particularly among enthusiasts drawn to its absurd, low-production-value humor and potential. On Reddit's r/ subreddit, users have formed discussions celebrating the series' over-the-top scenarios, with one 2015 watching thread describing it as delivering "10 dank /10" for its random, escalating action sequences that lend themselves to viral sharing and remixing. Similarly, reviews highlight fan appreciation for the of clichés through unscripted-feeling violence and character antics, positioning it as a refreshing antidote to more formulaic entries in the genre. Engagement metrics reflect sustained but targeted interest rather than mass appeal. Anime News Network data shows 173 users reporting partial or full viewings, with a median rating of "Good" and an arithmetic mean of 6.611 out of 10, indicating consistent positive reception within its core audience. IMDb aggregates yield a 6.5/10 average from 685 ratings, underscoring the series' cult status driven by word-of-mouth on platforms like Nico Nico Douga, its original 2012 premiere site, where episodic absurdity fueled community uploads and commentary overlays. Viewer debates often center on the humor's reliance on unrestrained, elements, such as graphic gunplay and excess, which some fans credit for authentic satirical bite unhindered by contemporary content norms. commenters, for instance, praise these as elevating the beyond superficial randomness, fostering a that values the raw, unpolished edge over polished narratives. This grassroots appeal persists through archives and fan edits, amplifying episodes with peak ridiculousness like improbable boss fights, without relying on mainstream promotion.

Cultural and Genre Impact

Inferno Cop exemplified the use of motion comic techniques in , blending static comic panels with to create short, high-impact episodes produced on a constrained budget of approximately two hours per week. This approach allowed , in its debut project released starting October 2012, to deliver content efficiently, influencing subsequent low-budget web animations by demonstrating feasibility for rapid production of absurd narratives without full cel animation. As Trigger's inaugural production before Kill la Kill in 2013, the series established the studio's signature irreverence through its depiction of a flame-headed vigilante combating conspiratorial forces in escalating, trope-subverting scenarios, setting a precedent for the studio's boundary-pushing style in action-comedy genres. Staff reflections indicate that its unexpected popularity validated experimental formats, encouraging Trigger to prioritize bold concepts like a "flaming cop that slays evil" over conventional anime structures. The series contributed to the of absurd humor in short-form by gaining traction among international audiences via distribution, prompting Trigger to incorporate overseas feedback into pre-production for future works and fostering emulation in fan-created parodies that reference its surreal escalation from revenge to time-traveling chaos. This visibility helped normalize web-exclusive, episode-length formats under three minutes for satirical content, with empirical traces in community recreations mimicking its comic-book aesthetics and non-sequitur action sequences.

Controversies and Bans

China Ban

On June 9, 2015, 's announced a blacklist prohibiting the distribution of 38 Japanese titles, including Inferno Cop, in print and online formats across the country. The decision targeted content featuring "scenes of , pornography, terrorism and crimes against public morality," which officials argued could lure minors into delinquency by glamorizing harmful behaviors. This action formed part of a broader 2015 regulatory crackdown on imported media, initiated under new guidelines from that intensified scrutiny of foreign animations to safeguard youth development and public order. Inferno Cop's episodic structure, centered on detective combating terrorists through over-the-top, explosive confrontations, aligned with the cited prohibitions on depictions that normalize or aestheticize and anti-social acts. As a result, Inferno Cop became inaccessible through official channels in , with no licensed releases or streaming availability permitted, in stark contrast to its global distribution on platforms like and outside restricted regions. The blacklist's enforcement extended to digital piracy crackdowns, limiting even unofficial access, though enforcement varied by province. No subsequent reversals or appeals have lifted the ban as of 2025.

Censorship Debates

The inclusion of Inferno Cop in China's 2015 blacklist, justified under prohibitions against content depicting "crimes against ," has fueled arguments that vague phrasing enables discretionary suppression of foreign media employing hyperbolic to expose societal absurdities. Such criteria, applied to the series' intentional excesses—like demonic vigilantes battling conspiratorial cabals—critics contend obscure distinctions between fictional exaggeration and genuine endorsement of disorder, mirroring patterns in broader restrictions on that prioritize ideological alignment over nuanced artistic intent. This approach risks conflating parody's truth-revealing distortions with moral threats, as evidenced by the blacklist's sweep of 38 titles without granular justification for each. Opposing views assert that Inferno Cop's unbridled chaos, while comedic, could desensitize viewers to irrespective of satirical framing, aligning with regulatory aims to safeguard from media correlating with behavioral shifts—though empirical studies on causation remain inconclusive and often methodologically contested. Proponents of the ban emphasize precautionary principles over expressive liberties, yet detractors highlight how failing to exempt evident stifles cultural critique, as the series lampoons through rather than literal . Internationally, the illustrates clashes between barriers imposed for domestic and for unfettered artistic flow, where bans like this limit global access to Japanese animation's parodic traditions, contrasting with frameworks in liberal democracies that shield as essential to . Observers note that such policies, while empirically tied to reduced exposure to "harmful" tropes in censored markets, may empirically correlate with diminished innovation in transnational storytelling by preempting boundary-pushing works.

Crossovers and Legacy

Cameos in Other Works

Inferno Cop appears in episode 11 of the 2016 anime , portrayed as a former Space Patrol officer who encounters the protagonist Luluco in Hell and aids her revival by affirming the persistence of her first love. This cameo integrates Inferno Cop into the series' , linking his vigilante backstory to the broader Trigger production network despite Inferno Cop's origin at . Studio Trigger produced an official crossover short blending Inferno Cop with Little Witch Academia, screened at Anime Expo on July 2, 2015, and later at other conventions like Genericon in 2017. The short, part of Inferno Cop Specials, features Little Witch Academia characters as cameos within Inferno Cop's narrative, highlighting collaborative ties among anime creators and studios. These appearances underscore Inferno Cop's recurring role in Trigger-adjacent projects, leveraging its distinctive low-budget, high-energy style for humorous interdimensional references without expanding into full-series crossovers.

Influence on Anime and Animation

Inferno Cop's motion comic style, characterized by static images with minimal and exaggerated sound effects, represented an experimental approach to web production, utilizing a small staff to deliver 13 episodes averaging three to four minutes each via starting December 24, 2012. This format enabled rapid creation of absurd, parody-driven content parodying American action tropes, such as flaming-skull vigilantes reminiscent of , which resonated in niche online communities but saw limited direct emulation in mainstream due to its reliance on deliberate crudeness over polished visuals. As an early project involving key personnel, including director Akira Amemiya and series production director , Inferno Cop helped define the studio's reputation for irreverent, high-energy experimentation, influencing their subsequent works' emphasis on stylistic audacity over narrative convention, though without spawning widespread copycats in the industry. Post-2012, it coincided with a modest uptick in ultra-short parody series on platforms like Nico Nico Douga and , where creators drew on its model of low-budget, meme-infused cop humor for fan-driven shorts, fostering a evidenced by ongoing panel discussions at conventions like as late as 2017. The series' extremity—featuring overt violence, non-sequiturs, and meta humor—cultivated amateur and tributes within fandom, but empirical traces of professional influence remain sparse, with no verified instances of major studios adopting its motion comic , attributable to preferences for higher-fidelity in commercial projects. This niche legacy underscores Inferno Cop's role in validating web-exclusive formats for testing bold ideas, rather than reshaping broader production norms.

References

  1. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=15419
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3498252/
  3. https://anigamers.com/interviews/studio-trigger-kill-la-kill-inferno-cop-turning-girls-animenext-2015/
  4. https://the-avocado.org/2018/04/16/anime-worth-watching-inferno-cop/
  5. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/features/2017/6/25/the-fires-of-justice-burn-hellaciously-hot-in-inferno-cop
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy0E-1MD0bw
  7. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WebAnimation/InfernoCop
  8. https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/62dq6k/so_i_started_inferno_cop_and_finished_watching_it/
  9. https://blog.alltheanime.com/trigger-happy-the-works-of-hiroyuki-imaishi/
  10. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/features/2019/6/3/the-road-to-promare-trigger-staff-discuss-the-anime-studios-history
  11. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-12-22/gurren-lagann-director-studio-makes-inferno-cop-anime
  12. https://myanimelist.net/anime/16774/Inferno_Cop
  13. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2020/2/24/40-year-old-va-of-inferno-cop-junichi-gotoh-passes-away-in-motorcycle-accident
  14. https://myanimelist.net/anime/16774/Inferno_Cop/characters
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3498252/fullcredits/
  16. https://ahogegirl.wordpress.com/2018/05/06/its-lit-quite-literally-inferno-cop-review/
  17. https://jainituos.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/jainituos-anime-reviews-inferno-cop-my-own-impressions/
  18. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-12-25/studio-trigger-1st-inferno-cop-short-streamed
  19. https://www.thetvdb.com/series/inferno-cop
  20. https://animanga.fandom.com/wiki/Inferno_Cop
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3498252/episodes/
  22. https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/32903/inferno-cop
  23. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-mike-toole-show/2018-11-11/.139327
  24. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-07-02/trigger-teases-new-project-and-new-inferno-cop-little-witch-academia-crossover-short/.90008
  25. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8Vd-cvqk4GtPGk2K8yfiEcWxy6nt3VZY
  26. https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GYE5KVMNR/inferno-cop
  27. https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Inferno-Cop/0OAA7TLFUQOHCF5599FOWXDK29
  28. https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/inferno-cop
  29. https://dic.nicovideo.jp/a/%25E3%2582%25A4%25E3%2583%25B3%25E3%2583%2595%25E3%2582%25A7%25E3%2583%25AB%25E3%2583%258E%25E3%2582%25B3%25E3%2583%2583%25E3%2583%2597
  30. https://themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=1640
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ax1Eo3wTT4
  32. https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/5ntnti/inferno_cop/
  33. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2015-03-12/crunchyroll-adds-donyatsu-inferno-cop-streaming/.85907
  34. https://tv.apple.com/us/show/inferno-cop/umc.cmc.1rcd79udhfqcwct1ohlyt8gmq
  35. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2018-02-02/ranking-the-best-anime-from-studio-trigger/.127301
  36. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-list/2019-09-15/.151141
  37. https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/2zamgk/wt_infernooooooooo_copppppuuuuuuu_inferno_cop/
  38. https://myanimelist.net/anime/16774/Inferno_Cop/reviews?filter_check=1&p=2
  39. https://www.cbr.com/anime-with-famous-infamous-animation/
  40. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-06-09/china-blacklists-attack-on-titan-death-note-36-more-anime-manga/.89055
  41. https://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/china-blacklists-38-distasteful-anime-and-mangas
  42. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2015/6/9/china-bans-38-anime-series
  43. https://gaodawei.wordpress.com/2025/08/02/2015-2025-anime-bans-in-china-and-other-countries/
  44. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/china-blacklists-38-cartoons-violence-801206/
  45. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32149754
  46. https://www.scmp.com/comment/blogs/article/1822255/forget-attack-titan-china-issues-its-own-attack-anime
  47. https://cbldf.org/2015/06/china-bans-anime-and-manga-from-the-internet/
  48. https://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/2493/3145
  49. https://www.cbr.com/space-patrol-luluco-crossovers-established-trigger-verse/
  50. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Anime/SpacePatrolLuluco
  51. https://myanimelist.net/anime/31035/Inferno_Cop_Specials
  52. https://www.cbr.com/anime-can-take-inspiration-from-american-shows-too/
  53. https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/6kwr4r/triggers_ax_2017_inferno_cop_short_featuring_trump/
  54. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/features/2021/8/22/feature-celebrating-some-of-studio-triggers-best-anime-on-their-10th-anniversary
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
Contribute something
User Avatar
No comments yet.