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Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 featured a myriad of arcs finally intersecting. Richter Belmont and Annette had to work together to bring down the Vampire Messiah: Erzsebet Báthory. All while Juste Belmont (Richter's grandfather) had to contend with his magic returning and if his charge, Maria, would give into black magic.

Luckily, the heroes foiled Erzsebet and the villain pulling her strings, Drolta – however, the Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 finale was anything but a straightforward ending. The anime left fans with countless questions thanks to cliffhangers that won't get answered unless Castlevania: Nocturne Season 3 gets greenlit.

The Netflix adaptation of the video game franchise, Castlevania, has been a surprising success. It attracts old fans and new ones alike with its gorgeous visuals and enticing characters. Most agree that the characters are even more fleshed out than their game counterparts.

One such person who has caught every fan’s interest is Adrian “Alucard” Țepeș. The half-vampire, half-human offspring of Dracula has been a fan favorite of the Castlevania franchise for decades, but the Netflix version has converted the anime community.

Alucard from Castlevania. [Credit: Netflix]

Sam and Adam Deats have made some significant and subtle changes to Alucard’s character. He’s younger, canonically bisexual, and struggles with his vampire heritage more openly. He’s tragic and relatable rather than a stoic dhampir.

Alucard’s potential love interest in Castlevania wasn’t Maria Renard, surprisingly, but Greta, the leader of Danesti village. Fans are more inclined towards Greta since Maria was only 16 years old.

Who knew Netflix could deliver such an emotional father-son relationship? Castlevania has proven they can portray the nuances of complex familial bonds, especially when adapting from a different source. The exploration of Alucard and Dracula’s dynamic was incredible and fleshed out.

Dracula from Castlevania. [Credit: Netflix]

The main antagonist always disliked humanity but had a soft spot for his wife, Lisa. She was the one thing tethering him to sanity. They had a son, Alucard, one of the protagonists of Castlevania. However, this changed when she was killed after being accused of witchcraft.

Dracula wasn’t the same merciful vampire. He still gave the village a year to make peace with what they had done. He committed atrocities upon atrocities, forcing Alucard to take a stance against his father’s deeds. It wasn’t so black and white, however, even after years of his abuse.

Dracula loved his son, even after losing his sanity,...

Now that Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 is finally out, and for how great it has been, fans already started waiting for a Season 3 announcement! Season 2 went above and beyond, leaving us with so many questions and cliffhangers, that we can’t help but speculate about what’s next for our favorite characters.

However, among the many, one character in particular has shown some serious potential for a killer conclusion in the next possible season; and it is Juste Belmont!

Juste Belmont from Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 | Credits: Powerhouse Animation, Netflix

As a renowned Belmont clan member, there must be a ton of untold stories that are still begging to be explored. In fact, there are several aspects of his character that make him the perfect candidate to take center stage in Season 3. Here’s why.

Spoiler Alert !!!Spoilers from Castlevania: Nocturne season 3 How well Juste’s character was portrayed in Castlevania: Nocturne...

Netflix’s Castlevania presented its audience with some of the most complex characters. From Alucard and Dracula all the way to Trevor, Sypha, and Richter, the series features a plethora of personalities with their own goals and personal tragedies. However, Dracula still stands as the most intricately detailed character among them all.

The series begins by showing the tragedy faced by Tepes and how it changed his outlook towards humans. However, when faced with the most heartless and cruel humans, it is the villain who seems to be standing on a higher moral ground. A trait that he had passed on to his son, Alucard.

Dracula was more human than any actual humans in Castlevania Dracula was more human than actual humans in Castlevania | Credits: Powerhouse Animation, Netflix

Castlevania sports Dracula as its major antagonist, but fans simply cannot find it in themselves to hate the villain at the beginning of the story.

Netflix’s Castlevania is one of the most successful video game turned anime adaptations. From an intriguing plot to thoughtful development of characters, the series has its basic right to attract a huge amount of audience. Despite vampire anime being a popular and common genre, Castlevania has managed to stand out.

But one thing that the series has excelled in is the representation of a diverse group. From characters of varying colors to the inclusion of Asian characters, the anime has left no stone unturned to make sure that it is not a part of the ‘pale vampire anime club.’

Castlevania cleverly avoided one common issue with vampire anime Castlevania pays attention to diversity in the anime | Credits: Powerhouse Animation, Netflix

Vampire anime, or even movies and series in general, lack diversity. Despite the massive quantity of vampire anime, folklore, literature, and movies, very few actually portray colored characters. Many...

Castlevania is one of the most iconic and well-known video game series, with a vast library of games, anime series, books, and graphic novels. In recent years, the gaming side of the franchise has slowed down, with the most recent title being Castlevania: Lords of Shadow II from an ill-fated reboot attempt. Since then, the series has focused more on remakes and anniversary editions.

The series predominantly features the Belmont family as its central protagonists. This legendary bloodline of vampire hunters descended from honorable knights has passed down a singular goal through generations: to ensure Dracula remains vanquished. In this universe, Dracula follows revival cycles, and the Belmonts, armed with their ancestral whip, rise to combat the darkness. Here are 10 facts you might not know about Richter Belmont.

For Nearly 200 Years, Richter Was the Last Vampire Hunter In the Belmont Line He Left the Vampire Hunting Life Behind

Richter Belmont's...

The first season of Castlevania: Nocturne was truly something epic. Despite receiving a very low audience score, the show proved to be a hidden treasure with its complex yet seamless episodic storytelling. The way it showed differences in each individual’s power, skills, and abilities made the series’ character development stand out even more. And the emotional backstories of certain characters were just phenomenal!

Alucard from Castlevania: Nocturne | Credits: Powerhouse Animation Studios

Now with Season 2 announced and its highly compelling trailer already released, fans are once again excited to their wits’ end. In fact, one particular dialogue from Alucard from the trailer has shaken the entire fanbase to its limits. What he hinted was a possible debut of a legendary Castlevania character in Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2!

Alucard Talks About Trevor Belmont! Alucard in Castlevania: Nocturne | Credits: Powerhouse Animation Studios

The entire fandom has gone crazy, and it’s just because...

Arcane season 2's finale marked the end of the series, but Netflix already has a great follow-up to watch while waiting for spinoffs: Castlevania Nocturne. Arcane is an extremely difficult show to follow, as the League of Legends adaptation boasts everything from complex themes and characters to standout animation. Its first season placed estranged sisters Vi and Jinx in the middle of political upheaval in Piltover, which was worsened by the development of Hextech. That story ended in season 2, but Arcane spinoffs seem to be on the horizon.

Unfortunately, it'll probably be a while before we see any of those Arcane shows premiere on Netflix. In the meantime, viewers may be looking for other series like Arcane to dig into. Netflix subscribers already have access to two, and they're both animated adaptations of another video game. Castlevania and Castlevania: Nocturne will appeal to those who enjoy the League of Legends show,...

Castlevania: Nocturne is returning for a brand new season on Netflix. It is a sequel to the 2017 series Castlevania, which was in turn adapted from the Konami video game series of the same name. The show is created and written by Clive Bradley. This sequel series will focus on Richter Belmont who fights against vampires and night creatures.

A still from Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 | Credits: Netflix

The first season of the series saw Richter making new allies to stop the ‘Vampire Messiah’ from rising to her evil power. Despite the critical acclaim, the series largely divided fans over its plot and character development. Just like the first season, the second season might also draw some flak from hardcore fans of the universe.

Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 – Release Date Richter Belmont in a still from Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 | Credits: Netflix

Castlevania: Nocturne first premiered on Netflix in September 2023 and it has been...

Castlevania was all the rage with its stunning visuals and themes when it first came out as the anime was a tribute to the video game franchise of the same name. Through its stellar animation and well-written characters, it’s a visual treat.

While the original series outlined the animators and their brilliance, the sequel Nocturne is rather lackluster. With most fans calling it bland, it garnered mixed reviews.

Maria Renard in the series | Credit: Powerhouse Animation

The series is set to make its comeback with Season 2 in January 2025. Interestingly, the trailer teased Drolta’s return in the anime and while several fans welcomed this move, it seems inconclusive mostly.

The characters’ return, along with Alucard’s role in the revolution, made one thing certain—there is a desperation to milk the franchise in every way possible, irrespective of its previous pitfalls.

Nocturne revives Drolta in the upcoming season

From pacing to characters,...

Dear Konami, what will it take to get a proper reboot of the Castlevania video game franchise? After years of Netflix delivering high-quality animation projects for the legendary franchise, it’s time for you to step up your game. I am a lifelong fan who wants you restored to your former glory. If you need inspiration or want to know what fans like, gaze upon the might of Netflix’s Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 trailer, previewing the next exciting chapter of an animated series that has yet to miss the mark.

“Now joined by the legendary Alucard, Richter Belmont and his band of vampire hunters are in a desperate race against time,” says the official logline for Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2. “Erzsebet Báthory, the Vampire Messiah, who already seems invincible, seeks the full power of the goddess Sekhmet so she can plunge the world into endless darkness and terror.”

For more plot...

It’s been more than a year since Castlevania fans have been treated to any new content on Netflix, but the drought is almost over thanks to Season 2 of Castlevania: Nocturne, which is set to make its explosive return to the streaming platform on Jan. 16, 2025. To go along with the news, a new trailer has been released to promote the upcoming season, and man, does it look to be another stellar entry in what has been an amazing anime series thus far, despite its divisive nature.

Picking up where Season 1 left off, the trailer (seen below), showcases what’s to come in Castlevania: Nocturne, which this time focuses on Richter and his band of vampire hunters – now joined by Alucard – in a desperate race against time to stop Erzsebet Báthory, the Vampire Messiah, before she can plunge the world into endless darkness and terror. Returning voice actors include Edward Bluemel...

Castlevania fans have a lot to look forward to in 2025. After over a year, Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 will finally premiere on Netflix on January 16, 2025.

On its official YouTube channel, Netflix released a brand-new trailer for Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2. In contrast to the first atmospheric trailer from Geeked Week 2024, the latest trailer for Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 displays the epic action and destruction one would expect from a fight between good and evil. When all seems lost for Richter Belmont and Annette, Adrian "Alucard" Țepeș, the son of Dracula, comes to their aid to stop the resurrected Sekhmet from destroying the world.

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Netflix's Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 Reveals New Action-Heavy Trailer Ahead of January Release Date

Castlevania: Nocturne is the sequel to Castlevania, which premiered on Netflix...

Castlevania: Nocturne has ranked among Netflix's best original series ever since it debuted in 2023, and now with a new trailer released, it's clear that the vampire-killing sensation is back to prove it deserves its status as an all-time great. Coming from showrunners Kevin Kolde and Clive Bradley, Nocturne is the sequel series to Netflix's Castlevania. Castlevania: Nocturne season 1 was critically acclaimed on release and was even hailed as the best season of Netflix's larger Castlevania series.

Alucard, Richter Belmont et son gang de chasseurs de vampires se lancent dans une course contre la montre pour sauver le monde.Castlevania: Nocturne saison 2, le 16 janvier. pic.twitter.com/XaKmMTXi2g— Netflix France (@NetflixFR) December 10, 2024

Posted to Netflix France's X account, Castlevania: Nocturne season 2's new trailer gives fans all the intense action the franchise is known for. In addition to showcasing some truly impressive animation courtesy of animation studio Dr Movie,...

The wait is almost over for Castlevania fans! The highly anticipated second season of Castlevania: Nocturne is finally on the horizon, and the release date has been officially revealed in a dark, pulse-pounding new trailer.

In this brand new season of the vampire horror series, the story takes viewers to the French countryside between Machecoul and Paris, where Richter Belmont and his team of vampire hunters, now allied with Alucard, find themselves in a frantic battle against time. Erzsebet Báthory, the self-declared Vampire Messiah, appears unstoppable as she seeks to harness the full power of the goddess Sekhmet, intending to cast the world into eternal darkness and terror.

With the risks and consequences much higher and more intense than before, Richter and his team must do everything they can to put a stop to the impending apocalyptic threat.

Castlevania: Nocturne season 2 also takes place in a new location: Egypt. According...

Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 is coming soon!

The second season of the series premieres on January 16, 2025 on Netflix.

Here’s the official logline: “Now joined by the legendary Alucard, Richter Belmont and his band of vampire hunters are in a desperate race against time. Erzsebet Báthory, the Vampire Messiah, who already seems invincible, seeks the full power of the goddess Sekhmet so she can plunge the world into endless darkness and terror.”

Keep reading to find out more…

The voice cast includes Edward Bluemel, Pixie Davies, Thuso Mbedu, Sydney James Harcourt, Nastassja Kinski, Zahn McClarnon, Franka Potente, James Callis, Richard Dormer, Iain Glen, Elarica Johnson, and Aaron Neil.

The Castlevania anime series is part of the video games by the Konami company, including toys, manga, graphic novels, and more. But Nocturne is a stand-alone series expanding on the Castlevania world, loosely based on the 1993 game Blood of Rondo.

Castlevania premiered on...

The Castlevania franchise returns to Netflix with the second season of animated series “Castlevania: Nocturne” next year, and the streamer has announced the premiere date today.

“Castlevania: Nocturne” Season 2 premieres January 16, 2025, only on Netflix.

Watch the official trailer for the new season down below.

The darkest battles lie ahead in Season 2. Here’s the official synopsis…

Now joined by the legendary Alucard, Richter Belmont and his band of vampire hunters are in a desperate race against time.

Erzsebet Báthory, the Vampire Messiah, who already seems invincible, seeks the full power of the goddess Sekhmet so she can plunge the world into endless darkness and terror.

The voice cast for “Castlevania: Nocturne” Season 2 includes Edward Bluemel, Pixie Davies, Thuso Mbedu, Sydney James Harcourt, Nastassja Kinski, Zahn McClarnon, Franka Potente, James Callis, Richard Dormer, Iain Glen, Elarica Johnson, and Aaron Neil.

Kevin Kolde (Castlevania) and Clive Bradley (Trapped) are the showrunners. Clive...

January 2025 premiere plans were previously penciled in for Castlevania: Nocturne season 2, and now a concrete date is in place. Richter Belmont will be back along with Alucard and the rest of the cast to continue the battle against the Vampire Messiah, Erzsebet Báthory, on January 16, 2025. The second season will consist of eight 25-minute episodes, and you can see a new trailer below.  Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 Trailer Related: Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 Continues Richter's Journey in January 2025 Kevin Kolde and Clive Bradley serve as showrunners, with Sam Deats and Adam Deats directing for the Project 51 Productions and Powerhouse Animation series. Here's how Netflix describes  Castlevania: Nocturne  season 2: Now joined by the legendary Alucard, Richter Belmont and his band of vampire hunters are in a desperate race against time. Erzsebet Báthory, the Vampire Messiah, who already seems invincible, seeks the full power of the goddess Sekhmet so she can plunge...

Castlevania: Nocturne sequel series has potential for a massive multi-season saga. Season 2 of Castlevania: Nocturne could improve on its preceding season. Castlevania's future on Netflix is exciting, with potential for more sequels and spinoffs.

Netflix's original Castlevania series doesn't start out with its best season, and this fact makes me even more excited about the potential future of Castlevania: Nocturne. Netflix's Castlevania series is the adaptation of the beloved video game series, with it chronicling the story of Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard as they attempt to thwart Dracula Vlad Tepes' plans to overthrow the world with his vampire army. After four seasons of Castlevania, Netflix followed it up with a sequel series titled Castlevania: Nocturne, a series that could turn into a massive multi-season saga of its own.

Castlevania: Nocturne is the newest Castlevania series from Netflix, with Castlevania: Nocturne taking place 300 years after the original series.

Adi Shankar’s Castlevania has received praise through and through. From the first season to the last, following even the spin-off series, praise has become more of a shadow of the fan-favorite Netflix franchise. There are many ways in which the series comes off as unique. Whether it is through the approach of an anime-like adaptation or because of the darkness it is unafraid to dive into, Shankar’s series is one to commend.

Trevor Belmont in Castlevania. Credits: Powerhouse Animation

One of the things that stand out in the series is the complexity of its villains. They are less villains than they are people. Dracula, Death, Isaac, and even Carmilla have their moments to shine as people beyond what makes them human or the lack thereof. They are not evil for the sake of being so, and that changes everything.

Adi Shankar Understood the One Rule to Keep Castlevania...

The creators of Castlevania: Nocturne shocked the entire fanbase last year when they introduced Alucard into the story. Alucard was one of the main characters of the prequel Castlevania story, as he helped Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades defeat his father, Dracula, and later on, fight death itself.

Alucard in Castlevania: Nocturne | Powerhouse Animation Studios

Many believed that, just like Trevor and Sypha, Alucard’s story was also concluded with Castlevania, but his entry in Castlevania: Nocturne has certainly opened ways for new narratives and storylines to be introduced into the story. However, there was one problem with his character design that needed to be changed.

The director of the series once revealed that he was frustrated with one aspect of Alucard’s design, and if they had not changed it, this particular aspect would have only gotten worse with time. The aspect that frustrated the director was Alucard’s hair,...

When the final season of Netflix’s Castlevania aired, fans were satisfied to see that the series gave a perfect ending to a perfect story adapted from the video game. However, as gaming fans might be aware, the Castlevania video game had over 30 games, and not every game was from the original timeline and featured its own story.

Castlevania Season 4 | Powerhouse Animation Studios

This is why, when Castlevania: Nocturne was announced, the fans of the show were excited to see how the spin-off series would hold in terms of reception as compared to the first one. While the creators had everything planned, the only thing that scared them was the action sequences, as Castlevania had set the bar too high with the fight scenes.

The directors of the show, Sam and Adam Deats, once revealed that the action scenes were the toughest element of creating Castlevania: Nocturne, as they had...

Major character deaths and mass murders of entire communities are practically a tradition in horror anime. Having memorably gory kills plus a high casualty rate that doesn't spare named characters are surefire ways for a horror anime to gain fame or notoriety. Notable anime, however, went the extra mile.

Instead of simply killing more than one important character and a classroom's worth of background characters at most, these anime slaughtered countless people by the thousands—at the very least. Most of these mass deaths were typical horror anime kills, but ramped up in brutality and scale. Others even transcended time and space.

Related: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Junji Ito, The Creator Of Uzumaki

Shiki Death Toll: 1,300 people at most

In Shiki, the rural village of Sotoba was besieged by the Shiki (or vampires). The village's population of around 1,300 was slowly but surely decimated by the Shikis' nighttime attacks. But when the townspeople had enough,...

This article includes discussions of grooming and predatory relationships.

Warning: This article includes spoilers for Castlevania: Nocturne season 1, Castlevania: Symphony of Night, and Nocturne of Recollection.

Castlevania: Nocturne season 2 must avoid the creepy and predatory relationship between Alucard and Maria from the games. Including this relationship in the show would likely face backlash due to the inappropriate age gap and the vulnerability of Maria's character. Their romantic relationship would ruin the overall storyline of Castlevania: Nocturne season 2 and undermine the progress made in the first season.

Though the series has the opportunity to bring in more game elements, Castlevania: Nocturne season 2 must avoid the Symphony of Night's most creepy relationship. Netflix's animated fantasy series tells the story of vampire hunter Richter Belmont, his sister Maria, and his friend Annette as they attempt to take down a secret vampire group trying to take over during the French Revolution. Shortly after its release,...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Castlevania: Nocturne season 1 and the games Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and Symphony of Night.

Alucard's return in Castlevania: Nocturne season 2 hints at further connections between the two Netflix series and the video game franchise. Richter's character development in season 2 could include learning about his ancestors, gaining powerful new abilities, and obtaining iconic weapons. The introduction of beloved game characters, like Shaft and Iris, and flashbacks filling in Alucard's timeline, will add depth and expand the storyline in season 2.

With the return of Alucard, there are many exciting things that can happen in Castlevania: Nocturne season 2. Netflix's animated fantasy series follows Richter Belmont, Maria, and Annette as they take on the secret vampire society attempting to control the aristocracy during the French Revolution. Castlevania: Nocturne has gained mostly positive reviews and a decent-sized following since its release.

Since the announcement that Castlevania: Nocturne season 2 is happening,...

Warning: Major spoilers for the ending of Castlevania: Nocturne below!

Alucard returns in the finale of Castlevania: Nocturne to save the day, setting up big things for season 2. The events of the original Castlevania seem to have faded in the centuries between the two series, as characters like Annette haven't heard of Dracula or Alucard. Alucard's delayed entrance in Nocturne was intentional to allow viewers to invest in the new heroes and villains first, but his return will be crucial in helping undo Erzsebet Báthory's evil plans in season 2.

Alucard returned when all seemed lost in Castlevania: Nocturne, which means big things for season 2. Netflix's Castlevania was one of the first video game adaptations to receive a (mostly) positive critical reception. It managed to appeal to both fans of the games and newcomers, and after it came to an end after four seasons in 2021, a spinoff titled Nocturne was quickly announced.

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Castlevania: Nocturne season 1.

Dracula doesn't appear in Castlevania: Nocturne season 1, raising doubts about his presence in the sequel show. The original show revolved around Dracula's tragic backstory and his quest for revenge against his wife's killers. Although Dracula is killed in season 2, cultists brought him and Lisa back in season 4, leaving the possibility of his return in Castlevania: Nocturne season 2.

Dracula doesn't appear in Castlevania: Nocturne season 1, raising the question of whether the character will be part of the Castlevania sequel show at all. Based on Konami's long-running Castlevania video game franchise, Nocturne comes on the heels of Netflix's previous adult animated adaptation, Castlevania, which ran for four seasons from 2017 to 2021. Nocturne's predecessor borrowed heavily from Konami's 1989 installment Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, with the titular vampire serving as the initial antagonist of the series.

The crux of the show hinges on Dracula's tragic backstory: his human wife,...

The emergence of the Vampire Messiah, Erzsebet Báthory, shatters the notion that the vampire landscape in Castlevania: Nocturne is not dangerous. Tera's sacrifice and conversion into a vampire by Erzsebet increase the Vampire Messiah's power, while Richter's team is forced to flee with Maria. The season finale hints at Alucard's return and a potential team-up with Richter's crew to stop the vampire queen, setting the stage for action in Season 2.

The following contains major spoilers for Castlevania: Nocturne, now streaming on Netflix.

When Netflix announced Castlevania: Nocturne as a sequel to its hit Castlevania series, fans were ecstatic. They wanted to learn more about the new era in the wake of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades' stories. With Dracula and Lisa also returning to the land of the living and proceeding to hide out and live a happy life, it did feel like the vampire landscape may not have been as dangerous.

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Castlevania: Nocturne.

Alucard's return in the season finale of Castlevania: Nocturne sets up a potential season 2 and connects the show to its predecessor. Dracula does not appear in Castlevania: Nocturne, as the ending of season 4 suggests he and Lisa had a happy ending away from the pain and misery of their original lives. Erzsebet Báthory's plan in Castlevania: Nocturne is to create an endless night where vampires must no longer hide from the sunlight.

From Alucard’s return to the Erzsebet Báthory’s plan, Castlevania: Nocturne episode 8 concluded the season with major twists and set up a potential season 2. Castlevania: Nocturne followed Richter Belmont, a descendant of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, in a story set 300 years after the original show. After several mentions of the Vampire Messiah and her twisted goals, Castlevania: Nocturne ended with the vampires achieving a major victory,...

Before “The Last of Us” and “Arcane,” it was Netflix’s and Powerhouse Animation’s “Castlevania” (now in its fourth season) that broke the video game adaptation curse with a highly stylized, anime-inspired horror-action show based on the Konami video game series. Now, the spinoff series “Castlevania: Nocturne” moves the action forward 300 years to the time of the French Revolution. With the new time period comes new themes, an expanded worldview, and a big change to the show’s visual style. Unsurprisingly, the biggest change was in the action, all thanks to one invention: Firearms.

“We had guns,” director Sam Deats told IndieWire. “A rifle-axe was my favorite thing, inspired by a trip to a New York museum that had a whole display of different weapons mixed with guns, and I just wanted to incorporate some of that in the show.”

“Castlevania: Nocturne” follows Richter Belmont, a descendant of the original show’s monster hunter,...

If you binged Castlevania: Nocturne over the past few days, you’ve already been impacted by the surprise return of a character in the very last seconds of Season 1. After a critical moment in which it seemed like Richter Belmont (voiced by Edward Bluemel) would take a deadly blow, a pale figure known as Alucard (James Callis) shows up with his massive sword to save the night and join the fight.

Castlevania: Nocturne weaves a complex narrative that immerses viewers in a world of monsters and metaphoric darkness. The unpredictable return of Alucard adds excitement and opens up new possibilities for Season 2. The unresolved conflicts and alliances create anticipation for future storylines and character developments.

The echoes of a past rich with turmoil and victories over demonic entities linger. Castlevania: Nocturne, birthed into this complex world, intertwines a fresh chapter with the tangled threads of its predecessor. The inaugural season, a symphony of narrative arcs that dance eloquently amidst the brooding atmosphere and historical hues of the French Revolution, has unequivocally etched an indelible mark on fans and first-time viewers alike.

Delving into the first season of this series, a tapestry of interwoven storylines and intricate character developments unfolds, with Richter Belmont at its epicenter. Plunged into an era swirling with revolutionary fervor, the plot serenades us through the inky alleyways...

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Castlevania: Nocturne.

Richter Belmont, the protagonist of Castlevania: Nocturne, overcomes his fears and embraces his destiny, showcasing impressive powers and skills in magic and regular fighting. In the lore of the Castlevania games, Richter is described as the strongest Belmont considering those who came before him, with unmatched and supreme powers. He is considered one of the most powerful and skillful Belmont characters in general. Unlike his ancestor Trevor Belmont, Richter is born into a lineage of magic users and can use magic, combining it with his regular fighting skills to become a formidable vampire hunter in Castlevania: Nocturne.

Richter Belmont’s powers and skills in Castlevania: Nocturne are quite impressive, especially after he overcomes his fears and embraces his destiny, similar to how it plays out for Castlevania’s Trevor Belmont. Netflix continues its adaptation of the Castlevania games with Castlevania: Nocturne, a...

Vampires may be one of the most popular supernatural creatures in horror and anime in general, but they're not known for their noble nature. Many are immortal and their strength plus the endless years passing tends to make them apathetic, even misanthropic. Eternity and watching generations pass may fascinate and humble some, but others find it monotonous, and it brings out the worst in them.

Historically in storytelling, a vampire's urges aren't easy to control, either. But there are some vampires who see eons pass, and it encourages them to choose compassion and take a protective stance toward humanity. Though their bloodlust limits their relationships often, they prioritize honor.

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Abel Nightroad (Trinity Blood)

Abel Nightroad wasn't always a standup guy in Trinity Blood. For a long time, he equated all of humanity with the cruel ones that participated in the Red Mars Project. He was wrong to do so,...

One of the best couple dynamics is the Battle Couple. Power couples don't need to come in power suits, they embody the idea that the couple who battles together stays together. They don't hold each other back nor do they only interact when their loved one gets hurt. These couples work best when they work side by side and face their enemies together.

These couples are either in love, or the romantic subtext is incredibly strong. Sometimes it's hard to iron out tender feelings in times of violence and upheaval. But whether they're a confirmed romantic couple or not, there's no doubt that they will always be there for each other.

Related: 13 Best Anime Couples Who Were Destined For Each Other

Briareos & Deunan (Appleseed)

Appleseed gives "Beauty and the Beast" the sci-fi treatment with Briareos and Deunan. Some of the most iconic Appleseed images are where Briareos carries Deunan in his arms mid-melee,...

Not all the best romances get their happily ever after. Some characters have such chemistry and romantic undertones that they send fans into a tailspin. Even if they're paired canonically with other people, they still inspire plenty of forum debate and extensive fanfictions.

Anime with why-choose elements and a bevy of handsome characters pave the way for many character-shipping options. Some characters are written to be best friends, but they are so well aligned that fans could see them spending their lives together as a married couple. And other characters, like Trevor and Alucard butt heads so often audiences can't help but see romantic tensions. Despite this, these potential couples never make things official.

Related: 10 Worst Codependant Anime Relationships

Kurama and Nanami (Kamisama Kiss)

Kurama tried to capture Nanami and eat her heart in Kamisama Kiss, but other iconic anime couples have started off on worse terms. Kurama wanted to...

A talented Castlevania fan has brought the devious Carmilla to life.

Uploaded on Reddit by SleepyMaple, the vampiress cosplay showcases the character's vibrant red dress and shocking white hair. To further sell the monstrous illusion, the cosplayer can be seen drinking blood from a goblet. SleepyMaple has crafted costumes for multiple other notable pop-cultural characters, including Jinx from League of Legends, Mitsuri Kanroji from Demon Slayer and Yasha Nydoorin from Critical Role's The Mighty Nein.

Related: 10 Anime Vampires And How To Build Them In D&d

Carmilla from Castlevania (Netflix Adaptation) by Sleepy Maple by u/sleepymaple_ in cosplay

Based on Konami's classic video game series of the same name, Castlevania premiered in July 2017 and ran for four seasons, with the final debuting in May 2021. The story sees Dracula wage war against all of humanity after the Church burns his beloved wife at the stake, claiming she was a witch.

Hellsing is the tale of a secretive organization that works to wipe the world clean off of vampires. The series is iconic within the anime community, due in large part to its two fantastic leads: Alucard and Seras Victoria. Alucard is a powerful vampire whose favorite weapon is a handgun, while Seras Victoria runs Hellsing, which was previously her father's organization.

Related: 15 Modern Horror Manga That Need Anime Adaptations

The Hellsing franchise is arguably the most well-known anime in the entire vampire genre, so it's only natural for fans to use it as a springboard to find similar series. Whether they be part of the horror, action, or thriller genres, there are plenty of anime shows for fans of Hellsing to sink their teeth into.

Updated on June 8, 2023 by Kennedy King: The Hellsing franchise has been dormant for over a decade, but with each passing year, new anime emerge as worthy spiritual successors.

As anime becomes more and more mainstream, writers can get creative with their stories, embracing newer sub-genres like soothing slice-of-life and expanding on the oldies-but-goodies, like isekai. The least popular genre in anime is historical fiction (the sort without any speculative elements whatsoever). Action, adventure, and romance are the most popular genres, but other sub-genres have risen to the fore and gained in popularity, like romantic comedy.

Related: 10 Anime Characters Who Belong In Another Genre

Popular genres and sub-genres are not to be confused with demographics like shojo, shonen, seinen, and josei, which have more to do with marketing and target audience. Genres like romance and chosen-one fantasy are written for any kind of demographic.

Magical Girl: Revolutionary Girl Utena

Though Utena is the titular character of Revolutionary Girl Utena, Anthy is the true magical girl of this classic. Anthy contains the power of the Sword of Dios. Utena acts as her princely guardian.

After briefly flirting with the idea of a 3D Castlevania with the Nintendo 64, Konami decided to go back to the 2D well with the Game Boy Advance. And seeing as the “Metroidvania” style was still hot, it made sense for Konami to try and continue it. Disappointingly for some, neither of the first two Gba entries were quite able to approach the de facto Metroidvania in Symphony of the Night. With the third and final Gba entry, 2003’s Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Konami appeared to finally get as close to Symphony as they could, despite the hardware limitations. That fact still remains true, two decades later.

Switching away from the traditional Castlevania story, Aria of Sorrow takes place in 2035 in Japan. Soma Cruz is an exchange student living near the Hakuba shrine. During a solar eclipse, Soma visits the Hakuba shrine with his childhood friend, Mina Hakuba. Suddenly, Soma and...

When most people think of anime, they think of some production, whatever it may be, that has its origin in Japan. Several popular anime of today, however, do not have completely Japanese creative teams at all. This is part of what makes them officially "anime" and not just anime-inspired, like shows such as Teen Titans, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and The Boondocks. Here's a list of anime that took the world by storm and surpassed expectations, even if they didn't come solely from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Related: Why Attack on Titan Isn't Considered Part of Shonen's Current Dark Trio

Dr. Stone (South Korea)

Perhaps the most surprising entry on this list is the popular series Dr. Stone. This series sees a young genius named Senku attempt to revitalize the human race after a strange phenomenon petrifies humanity for centuries while society crumbles. The author of the manga is Riichiro Inagaki,...

Netflix has made itself the home for many different genres of shows, and the best adult animated shows on Netflix matches up well with any other network or streaming service. While there have been several animated shows for adults on cable television, with Family Guy and South Park both great examples, and the many Adult Swim shows, Netflix has created its competition with award-winning, critically acclaimed results. No longer was adult animation just something dirty that people watched late at night. Now, it was something often deep and smart, but with an adult twist.

The best adult animated shows on Netflix offer something special for fans of the genre. One of the best in the streaming services history has a talking anthropomorphic horse who has depression issues. Others use either anime or groundbreaking CGI animation to tell stories that are at times both disturbing and socially important. Of course, there...

I saw "Renfield" this weekend — but based on the box office returns, I'm one of the few who did. I understand why, since I didn't enjoy the experience. Why is the movie an action-comedy instead of a horror-comedy? Why is it set in the modern day, especially when the opening teases a "Young Frankenstein" style homage to classic, black-and-white Universal Horror?

To read more about the failings of "Renfield," I'd point to /Film's own review courtesy of Chris Evangelista. And if you want a better action-heavy, modern-day twist on Dracula, I recommend Kouta Hirano's manga "Hellsing" and its anime adaptations ("Hellsing: Ultimate").

Published from 1997 to 2008, the Dracula of "Hellsing" is unrecognizable. He now goes by Alucard, for one, and while still a creature of the night, he hunts his own kind, not ingenues or estate lawyers. Why? Because Alucard serves at the behest of Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing,...

After teasing fans for a few weeks, Motion Twin and Evil Empire have finally revealed the release date for their upcoming Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Dlc. During the Nintendo Direct yesterday, the developer announced the Dlc will arrive on March 6 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store for 9.99.

Along with the release date, we’ve gotten another teaser trailer for Return to Castlevania, showing off the various inhuman enemies that The Beheaded will face down. Along with that, we get more glimpses of the new toys and abilities that make quick work of these formidable foes. Namely, Castlevania‘s iconic weapons, including the Throwing Axe and Vampire Killer Whip to dispatch monsters, all while teleporting behind enemies with a swing of Alucard’s sword.

You’ll be needing these new weapons and abilities when you’re facing off against Dracula and Death himself,...

From the minds behind Xcom, Marvel's Midnight Suns bring Marvel games into the world of turn-based tactics games. Though it may not be on the same level as Marvel's Spider-Man or Marvel's Guardian Of The Galaxy in terms of scope and scale, it is set to bring a fresh RPG experience for fans of the universe.

At launch, Marvel's Midnight Suns is set to feature a cast of twelve playable characters. Some are famous members of the Midnight Suns while others are not what they expected and then, post-launch content will have even more characters joining the supernatural mix.

Launch Characters The Hunter

This is an original character created for Marvel's Midnight Suns and he or she is the main protagonist of the story. They are the child of the main villain Lilith, and they use their power to fight evil including their mother in a fashion not that dissimilar...