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Studio Ghibli and other anime fans have something special to look forward to over the next three days. Heritage Auctions, the world's largest collectibles auctioneer, is holding its biggest-ever anime artwork event, beginning on March 22 and showcasing over 1,200 total works, including Studio Ghibli films, Dragon Ball Z, Akira and more.

Per a press release, included among the lots are production cels, key master backgrounds, original artwork and many other pieces, including story pages and original art from several manga series. "The Art of Anime - Vol VI: Celebrating 40 Years of Studio Ghibli Signature Auction" is held on Heritage Auctions' live floor in addition to its official website, allowing interested parties to place bids on items without having to physically attend. For fans of these various forms of media, the online portion of the auction is accessible and allows the chance to claim some of these special pieces of art and animation history.

Quick LinksSakamoto Days Uses Family As a Way to Heal AggressionSakamoto Days Portrays Forgiveness As a CureSakamoto Days Makes Listening Another SolutionSakamoto Days Hinges on Faith and Goodwill Curing Evil Men

The following contains spoilers for Sakamoto Days Season 1, Episode 9, "All Aboard," streaming now on Netflix.

As far as anime and manga go, it's hard to ignore how prominent testosterone, aggression and violence are to the medium. Most anime are male-centric when it come down to it. This is no more evident than with popular franchises like Dragon Ball, Naruto, Boruto, Chainsaw Man and Vinland Saga. Even old-school anime such as Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D fall into similar waters.

As nuanced as the series can be, Sakamoto Days isn't any different. Sure, the anime features strong women in its narrative, but most of Sakamoto Days revolves around the eccentric Taro Sakamoto trying to evade assassin, while Shin Asakura...

Castlevania has to be on everyone’s watchlist for many reasons and it has nothing to do with the series’ popularity. Its a spin on the tale of Bram Stroker’s Dracula but it also reimagines several tropes within vampiric genre. But what has most fangirls going gaga is the charming dhampir Alucard.

Alucard draws his sword | Credit: Powerhouse Animation

Other than being a fan-favorite, he is a well-written yet complex character in most senses. There is a debate though regarding him being his mother’s splitting image. And while fans may have blown it out of proportion, his father’s influence is undisputed in most aspects.

Alucard, the splitting image of Lisa

For starters, a dhampir is a child born out of a union between a human and a vampire. There are countless examples of that in popular media and the popular ones are D (Vampire Hunter D) and...

Since George Romero first pioneered the concept with his Living Dead films, the zombie apocalypse has become a staple of horror films. Combining elements of monster movies and the disaster genre, these stories can evoke many different fears at once. From illness and death to isolation and societal collapse, zombie apocalypse narratives explore different facets of human nature and, often, the undead themselves are the least terrifying part. Generally, the true danger of such films is other people and the paranoia and desperation that develops among survivors, leaving zombies as a secondary threat. The cult classic, Stake Land, however, upped the horror by introducing a vampire apocalypse, making the undead more threatening than ever.

Drawing on many of the classic tropes of the zombie apocalypse genre, the 2010 horror film offered a unique twist on the old formula. More deadly monsters, a protagonist that specializes in hunting them, and elements of...

Vampire Hunter D was many anime fans' first vampire anime in the '80s and '90s. It's based on the extensive novel series of the same name, written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano. Many gamers would recognize the art style in the novel illustrations and in the anime films from Amano's character design work in the Final Fantasy video game franchise.

Vampire Hunter D is a classic in all its iterations for all the genres it blends together, from dark fantasy to vampire anime to post-apocalptic and gothic sci-fi. It incorporates many layered literary themes, including one particularly grisly, ancient fairy tale that tends to go hand-in-hand with gothic fiction in all its forms. Fans can enjoy these gothic, vampire, and dark fairy tale themes play out all over again as they enjoy the remastered first Vampire Hunter D film in U.S. and Canada theaters this spring.

In addition to bringing you the most important Marvel and DC-related news, we are also committed to bring you weekly updates of the all the major anime industry news you may have missed every week.

This week begins with a piece of anime news that will probably be of particular interest in DC Comics fans.

Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League confirms release date and English dub

The anime film's official website has confirmed that Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League will initially release digitally on March 18, with the physical home media releases following for 4K Uhd and Blu-ray coming on April 15. This announcement follows a previous reveal of the movie's release in Japan, including a special debut on the Japanese version of Cartoon Network on March 20.

Coinciding with the announcement of the international release is the release of the movie's first English-language trailer (posted above). The trailer includes the following summary of Batman Ninja vs.

Hidive and Shudder have announced that they will bring a digitally remastered version of Vampire Hunter D to theaters across the U.S. and Canada in celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary.

The screenings, scheduled for April 9, 10, and 13, will be presented as part of Ax Cinema Nights 2024/2025, in partnership with Iconic Events Releasing.

The re-release will feature a 2015 remaster of the original 1985 anime classic, produced by Sentai Filmworks.

The film will be screened in Japanese with English subtitles on April 9, followed by an English dub on April 10 and an English dub encore screening on April 13.

Following its limited theatrical run, Vampire Hunter D will make its streaming debut on both Hidive and Shudder later this year.

“When it was first released, Vampire Hunter D was a stunning landmark in Japanese anime, set in a world of post-apocalyptic horror and fantasy where vampires roam. Now, 40 years later, fans of all...

Vampire Hunter D is a 1985 anime film based on the novel series of the same name written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano. The series' first film was also the first dark fantasy anime for an adult audience. Its anime sequel, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, is even more revered as a dark fantasy film.

Vampire Hunter D is a staple of anime, fantasy novels, and manga. As fans look forward to Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust's remastered theatrical release, they can spend their wait watching similar dark fantasy series and films. Vampire and grimdark series often follow, and sometimes subvert, the standards Vampire Hunter D helped popularize in anime.

The Case Study of Vanitas Gives Vampires the Steampunk Treatment Stream The Case Study of Vanitas on CrunchyrollImage via Studio Bones

The Case Study of Vanitas is a steampunk historical series about vampires. Similarly, Vampire Hunter D takes place...

A multifaceted and diverse medium, anime is a prolific industry many gravitate toward due to the wide variety of ideas and genres it covers. To most, anime is primarily associated with TV series and enormous multimedia franchises. However, some of the anime's most unique and captivating stories adopt the format of cinematic features, utilizing the streamlined structure and higher budget of films to engross audiences in one-of-a-kind narrative journeys.

Unlike the daunting long-running franchises anime is most well-known for, films are concise and self-contained, making them easier to appreciate not just by devoted fans of the medium but anyone with a passion for cinema. And while anime movies rely on many merits to grab viewers' attention — from visual experimentation to thought-provoking introspection, these must-watch cinematic masterclasses use riveting, high-octane storytelling to tell some of the most enthralling stories ever put to screen.

Related10 Best Anime Movies Since 2020, Ranked

Hit movies...

Debuting in the late 1990s, Cowboy Bebopis now over 25 years old and one of the most iconic anime of all time. Now, fans can watch the series' movie side story in theaters as part of a limited engagement.

Iconic Events has brought several anime movies to the big screen in the past year, and now, it's Cowboy Bebop's turn. The latest in a series of Anime Cinema Nights, the screenings for Cowboy Bebop: The Movie will only take place across three days. Thus, now's the time for fans to search for local screenings and get their tickets, currently on sale, today.

RelatedCowboy Bebop Creator Returns to TV Screens for New Spring 2025 Anime Series

Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichiro Watanabe returns to TV screens this April for the highly anticipated sci-fi action anime series, Lazarus.

Cowboy Bebop's Anime Movie Flies Back Into U.S. Theaters Image via Sunrise, Bones, and Bandai...

For 37 years, Kadokawa's Dragon Magazine has provided a literary home for popular light novel series such as Full Metal Panic!, Spy Classroom, Slayers, Date A Live and countless others. However, Spring 2025 will see the release of the publication's final issue.

Per Japanese news site Oricon, Dragon Magazine recently confirmed that it will cease publication with its May 2025 issue, which will go on sale in Japan in March 2025. The magazine's sunset marks the conclusion of a work that helped facilitate the birth of many hit light novel-turned-anime IPs, including the classic harem rom-com High School Dxd, among numerous others. Dragon Magazine's editorial department released a brief statement explaining the decision: "Due to recent changes in the reading environment, we are increasingly realizing that the role that Dragon Magazine has played is no longer something than can be fulfilled by paper magazines, and this is our next challenge."

Related High School DxD...

If you happened to catch Misery Signals on their farewell tour, first of all I am extremely jealous. Not just because you got to see one of the most influential metalcore bands of all time, but you also got to see one of the best up and coming metalcore bands around, Trench. Trench brings the heavy and dark, and it may not be a surprise to learn how much of that is influenced, whether directly or indirectly, by the anime they watched growing up and still watch to this day. I chatted with vocalist Jay Breen about anime and how they were able to bring their influences to life in the video for “Divided Between New Skin.” Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? How it started and where you are now? Are there genres you gravitate toward? What is your favorite anime series or movie of all time?...

Decades back, Hideyuki Kikuchi gave us one of the most iconic vampire mangas of all time. From its gothic inspirations to its occult references, the series is a total banger.

From visuals to animation, Madhouse Studio left no stone unturned in exemplifying its brilliance. But like most mangaka, Kikuchi had his fair share of inspirations.

D in a still from the animated film | Credit: Madhouse

Regarding his story, he cited Lord of the Rings as one of his influences in an interview. The fantasy, occult, and dark aspects are blended well in the masterpiece.

But most of all, Kikuchi’s exploration of immortality and morality outlined the stigma and the societal norms. The vampires aren’t divorced from this hierarchy either, thus partaking in the discrepancies.

Hideyuki Kikuchi’s connection to The Lord of The Rings

Hideyuki Kikuchi is one of the most underappreciated names in the horror manga genre.

Almost every vampire and Dracula story in the anime and manga community has taken some sort of inspiration from Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D. It is a series of novels that started in 1983 and went on to become one of the greatest vampire stories in history. It has 55 different novels that have been published over the years and also has been adapted into anime, movies, video games, etc.

Vampire Hunter D | Credit: Studio Madhouse

Vampire Hunter D follows the story of D, a half-human, half-vampire who roams through a post-apocalyptic world that is threatened by the Nobles, a brutal race of vampires. The story involves fiction, drama, dark fantasy, and a lot of suspense. And it is one of the greatest works by Kikuchi and his illustrator, Yoshitaka Amano.

However, what many Vampire Hunter D fans don’t know is that Kikuchi took inspiration from Christopher Lee and his...

Anime Expo Cinema Nights has brought back numerous anime classics to the big screen in 2024, including major releases for the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. Now, another gem that debuted almost 40 years ago is about to make its big theatrical return through the screening event.

The original 1985 Vampire Hunter D movie was the first of several adaptations of the light novel series. Becoming a cult hit in the realms of anime, it, like another Axcn release, was instrumental in bringing adult-oriented anime to Western audiences. Now set to turn 40 years old, the movie is one of the next films to be showcased as part of Anime Expo Cinema Nights.

Related AMC Reveals Its Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim 27-Inch Popcorn Bucket

The new Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim movie collaboration with AMC releases a new popcorn bucket in the shape of a hammer over 2 feet long.

In the 1980s, Western audiences were barely aware anime existed at all. It wasn't until sometime in the '90s that fans started to get some of the more popular '80s series, and then by the 2000s the focus was almost entirely on modern anime. As a result, Western fans missed out on the majority of the foundational parts of anime history.

Of course, not every series ages well--for every Mobile Suit Gundam there's also a Ronin Warriors. That being said, some anime from the '80s don't get the respect they deserve, even though they're still well worth checking out today. While they might be a little harder to track down, that just makes it more rewarding for the people who finally get a chance to see them.

Related 10 Great '90s Anime Everyone Forgot About

While all but the biggest '90s anime have gone forgotten, most...

Since the first Vampire Hunter D novel was released in 1983, writer Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrator Kevin Leahy have crafted over 40 novels in the series. The story follows the titular Dhampir – half-human and half-vampire – as he hunts vampires across a far-future after a nuclear war. Despite the series’ popularity, 2000’s Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is only the second (and most recent) feature adaptation.

The film opens with the arrival of Baron Meier Link, a vampire nobleman whose ascending carriage brings a foreboding air that freezes running water and makes roses wither away. He departs into the night with Charlotte Elbourne, a young woman whose family believe that she was abducted. This leaves her family to hire D with the intention of rescuing Charlotte from the vampire’s clutches, even if it means killing her if she has been turned. Also on Baron Link’s trail are a family of bounty hunters,...

As a follow-up to the longer interview we did with From First to Last singer & guitarist Matt Good, we are pleased to bring you a list of their most influential and favorite anime! This list features picks from Matt as well as guitarist Travis Richter. Read ahead and discover your new obsession or be reminded to do a rewatch of a classic anime in a whole new light! After that, be sure to check out their newest single at the end of this article! Travis Richter’s Anime Influences Demon City Shinjuku Image via Amazon Prime " Demon City Shinjuku was one of the first anime films I watched as a kid and it completely warped my brain. He’s got this wooden sword that’s spiritually blessed to destroy demonic energy and travels around a demon-invaded Tokyo. The anime felt like a fever dream-like reality." Akira " Akira made me fall in love with anime.

Studio Madhouse might be known for animating Death Note, Frieren, One Punch Man and several other popular franchises, but in 2000, the studio produced the most iconic gothic film, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. It has been more than two decades since the film was released, but the recognition it received never died down.

Bloodlust is the second anime adaptation of Hideyuki Kikuchi’s light novel series and it presents a powerful visual style to its audience. Taking place 10,000 years after a nuclear war, the anime shows vampire survivors called Nobles who begin to enslave humanity. As a countermeasure, humans take the help of Vampire Hunters, and our protagonist is a vampire-human hybrid who travels the world to kill vampires as well as other monsters.

Why is Madhouse’s Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000) the Pinnacle of Gothic Anime? Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust | Credits: Studio Madhouse

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust belongs to the gothic horror genre.

The concept of vampires is an age-old storytelling element that might as well be its own genre if not for the many different types of tales that anime has told with the mythical creature in mind. From the gory, teetering-on-bloodlust destruction of Alucard in Hellsing Ultimate to the more lighthearted drama of Chibi Vampire, anime has many renditions of the supernatural, literally bloodthirsty creature of the night.

Vampire anime has steadily amassed its audience since Vampire Hunter D, anime's first entry in a long line of series featuring the blood-sucking creature, and has only skyrocketed in popularity thanks to series like Vampire Knight (which features a more attractive take on vampires). It's an undying niche, with new series such as Delico's Nursery and Mayonaka Punch adding to its numbers. And with so many shows under its umbrella, it's difficult to determine the best of the best.

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‘Alien: Romulus’ is right around the corner, so it’s the perfect time to check out ‘Lily C.A.T.,’ an anime body horror classic that’s a gory tribute to ‘Alien’ and ‘The Thing’.

“Confine them? We’re on a ship. We’re practically confined ourselves.”

Ridley Scott’s Alien is an iconic horror/science fiction hybrid that’s had its ups and downs as a film franchise, but remains an essential genre film 45 years later. Alien is such a tried and true property with limitless potential that it’s kind of remarkable that there hasn’t been an Alien animated series or in-universe anime that’s in the vein of The Animatrix that translates this iconic sci-fi horror property into animated madness where it can really let loose and not be confined by live-action’s limitations. An unreleased Alien vs. Predator anime is the closest thing that audiences have gotten to this,...

Full of epic action and striking style, the iconic Trigun franchise is a legendary anime series where guns are almost always a-blazin'. Now, dedicated fans with spare water on their hands can recreate these iconic action sequences, albeit in a much less serious way.

Created by Fullcock, some new replica toys from the Trigun anime franchise are on the way. While they certainly look like dashing and dangerous weapons, they're actually far wetter than they would appear. Perfect for collectors or those seeking to take down a bounty with H20, these water guns are some of the coolest anime collectibles around, and a solid choice for beating the summer heat in style.

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Satoru Gojo, Yuji Itadori and the rest of the main Jujutsu Kaisen cast are beating the summer heat in these new anime figures by Sega.

Kizumonogatari -Koyomi Vamp- begins with a kinetic display of carnage where its main character bursts into flames and careens down a skyscraper like a rogue pinball. It’s a violent, chaotic way to begin this vampire tale that feels all-too thematically appropriate for its conflicted hero, Koyomi Araragi, who gets pulled in extreme directions as he struggles to gain control of his life. It’s not dissimilar to the madness that the audience experiences as Koyomi Vamp’s aggressive storytelling grabs hold of them and doesn’t let go for two-and-a-half hours.

Anime is dense in groundbreaking and foundational vampire texts, whether it’s Vampire Hunter D, Blood: The Last Vampire, Hellsing, or even absurdly violent monster titles like Wicked City and Demon City Shinjuku. However, Kizunonogatari -Koyomi Vamp- clears them all. There’s a strong case to be made that Koyomi Vamp is not just one of the best anime vampire movies of all-time,...

An anime doesn't have to be in the romance genre to have an amazing love story. Romances tend to be the secondary plot or a subplot in many other anime genres, like high fantasy, adventure shnen, and science fiction. How a character falls in love and who they fall in love with says a lot about that character.

Some audiences may enjoy a romance plot, but they don't want it to be the central piece of an anime. Romances can add a lot of depth to the overall series. They add vulnerability and heightened stakes to the story, and add nuance to heavier-toned anime with darker themes.

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Related 15 Shonen Anime Where Romance Is The Main Focus

Although romance is generally not a main element of shonen anime shows, there are some where it can be the big focus for the story.

Meier...

The One Piece community has recently received a shocking surprise as they finally got some exciting news about One Piece live-action season 2. Netflix yesterday announced that popular actor David Dastmalchian, who has been a part of major projects like The Dark Knight, Late Night With The Devil, and Oppenheimer, is now going to play Mr. 3 in the upcoming season of the live-action series.

Netflix’s One Piece Live-Action

This truly is a big update for One Piece fans, as the role of Mr. 3 is an important one. He not only plays a major part in the Alabasta saga but also has a big role in the Marineford arc. One Piece fans are confident that Dastmalchian will do justice to the character, as he is already a big fan of the anime and manga industry.

He once revealed that after working in huge MCU and Dcu movies, the actor wants to...

Alice Hirsch/ @h.irsch Jesus Piece combines heavy metal with a love of all things anime and it really shows their work. Aaron Heard spoke with Crunchyroll News about his tattoos, love of the Samurai Champloo sword, and which anime he's been keeping up with. This interview has been edited for clarity. You put out one of the albums of the year last year with “...So Unknown.” Congrats on that and I love seeing how it’s taken the band to new heights! Aaron Heard: Oh, man, it's been awesome. Really just breathed new life into everything. You know, once you've been playing the same songs for a long time, it gets a little redundant, you know? Now that we have some new tracks to play, it’s just like a new fire. Seeing the “Gates of Horn” video is actually what inspired me to reach out. I saw it...

For years, Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net has been about two things only – awesome art and the artists that create it. With that in mind, we thought why not take the first week of the month to showcase these awesome artists even more? Welcome to “Awesome Artist We’ve Found Around The Net.” In this column, we are focusing on one artist and the awesome art that they create, whether they be amateur, up and coming, or well established. The goal is to uncover these artists so even more people become familiar with them. We ask these artists a few questions to see their origins, influences, and more. If you are an awesome artist or know someone that should be featured, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.This month we are very pleased to bring you the awesome art of…

Mauricio...

It didn’t take long for Netflix’s The Witcher to become a fan-favorite TV show, especially thanks to its incredible cast and the source material. The show also resulted in a spin-off film written by Beau DeMayo titled, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. The animated film revolves around Geralt’s mentor, Vesemir, and brings his origin story to the screen.

Beau DeMayo’s The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)

Before the release of the film, Beau DeMayo opened up about where he got the inspiration for the story, and let’s just say that there were a few unlikely sources. This includes several anime including Gundam Wing as well as Bruce Timm’s groundbreaking superhero show, Batman: The Animated Series.

Beau DeMayo Found Inspiration for his The Witcher Film in Batman Bruce Wayne as Batman | Source – Batman: The Animated Series

Beau DeMayo worked as producer and writer on...

According to a statement released by the voice acting agency Office Kaoru , actor Yasuo Muramatsu passed away on April 11, 2024, at the age of 91. A private funeral service was held and attended by family members. Muramatsu founded Office Kaoru on March 3, 1992. Muramatsu was born in Tokyo on April 6, 1933, and he began acting in 1955 when he joined the Shiki Theatre Company. Over the course of his long career in voice acting and narration, Muramatsu played such notable roles as General Revil in the Mobile Suit Gundam films (1981 – 1982), Hans in Dog of Flanders (1975), John Sadler in Anne of Green Gables (1979), and Mayor Roman in Vampire Hunter D (1985). Muramatsu also worked as an actor in Japanese dubs of international films, for example in the role of Governor Weatherby Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Source: Comic Natalie...

Hideyuki Kikuchi's horror anime delves into Japanese myths and legends beyond traditional Western concepts. Kikuchi's work, like Vampire Hunter D, influences modern anime such as Tokyo Ghoul and the Shin Megami Tensei video game series. The master of science fiction horror continues to craft tales blending action, suspense, and eroticism in iconic classics.

Whispering fields of ghostly pampas grass. Gargantuan skeletons slaking their thirst for hot human blood. Unrestful dead haunting those foolish enough to enter their desecrated domains. Japanese horror is a horse of an entirely other color when compared to Western concepts and tropes. The ethereal yurei, the monstrous bakemono, and the possessed tsukumogami, along with the countless shapes, entities, and forms they can assume, all populate Japan’s myths and legends. Spirits are forces of nature, many peaceful and benevolent, with just as many being ferocious and malicious. The forces of the dead are not simply...

Wayfarer took the metal world by storm with their sweeping black metal epic album American Gothic in 2023. The album provides a unique look at the history of the United States, and drummer Isaac Faulk has previously discussed numerous different elements that influenced the album’s creation. Faulk’s long-running relationship with anime manifests itself in countless ways in Wayfarer’s music, as well as the music of his numerous other projects like Stormkeep and Blood Incantation. From anime OSTs to subject matter to artistic presentation, the medium is deeply influential in his creative process. I chatted with Faulk to learn a bit more about how Trigun and Flcl were pivotal in making one of the year’s best albums. American Gothic has been such a smash success and ended up on so many “Album of the Year” lists! What was that recording process like? Isaac : The last record was more in this big,...

Quick Links Vampire Hunter D Is A Post-Apocalyptic Horror Nightmare Vampire Hunter D Helped Bring Mature Anime To The West Vampire Hunter D Has Received Numerous Adaptations In Anime And Video Games Vampire Hunter D Is One Of Anime's Most Successful And Enduring Horror Series Of All Time

Few creatures have captured the hearts and minds of men as completely as vampires. Darkened, monstrous, lustful, ensnaring—vampires possess a near-endless potential to be either graceful harbingers of eternity or vicious beasts of dripping death. Vampire tales have existed in folklore for centuries with many different cultures having their own takes on the blood-sucking denizens of the night. It would be only fitting that such creatures would find their way into modern populist fiction, specifically that of anime. Of all the vampires that have been featured in Japanese media, there is one and only one that stands as the greatest of...

Vampire romance is a popular subgenre within anime, featuring classic series and fan-favorite stories about the forbidden love between the blood-sucking monsters and humans. These beloved tales are full of romance, action, and drama that fans just can't seem to get enough of. As such, the vampire genre is a very well-loved guilty pleasure for anime fans.

Apart from indulging in all the typical tropes, vampire anime have evolved for the better in recent years and given fans a more realistic take on the vampire-human couple trope. From traditional love stories to something a bit more modern, the vampire genre covers all bases when it comes to swoon-worthy romance.

Updated on December 26th, 2023 by Chelsea Steele: Vampires and romance seem to always go hand-in-hand, and that's no different in anime. The best vampire series are also home to some of anime's greatest love stories. We've updated this list with...

Dark fantasy is a sub-genre that takes traditional fantasy and ups the stakes. It can have a quiet contemplative or morose tone, or it can be full-on ultra violence and filled with cruel tyrants. Dark fantasy tends to revolve around creatures like vampires, demons, and fallen angels. The magic is often eldritch and horrific with creatures that could be described as "nightmare fuel."

There are rarely happy endings in dark fantasy anime, but that's part of the appeal. It dives into the lows of the human spirit and leans into edgier folkloric tropes. Dark fantasy often asks the audience difficult, philosophical questions about humanity and good versus evil.

Related: 15 Best Gothic Anime, Ranked

Vampire Hunter D

Vampire Hunter D takes the concept of vampires and Dracula, and turns up the volume. It combines fantasy horror with post-apocalyptic sci-fi. Though the landscapes are austere and dangerous, they're still designed with beauty...

Every decade in anime history has its own selection of masterpieces, both in the world of TV series and feature-length films. The 2000s were a particularly glorious era for anime movies, leaving a lasting cultural impact with such world-famous classics as Spirited Away, Tokyo Godfathers, and Vampire Hunter D. All representing different genres and appealing to different audiences, these films are united by their lasting influence on the anime industry, as they haven't lost in relevance or popularity even 20 years later.

Nevertheless, the '00s were also a decade rich with underrated cinematic gems. Despite the amazing quality of these movies, they're seldom discussed nowadays, and many modern fans have never even heard their titles. Yet, these films from the '00s are true classics of their era, as fresh and appealing today as they were at the moment of their release despite being mostly forgotten.

Related: 10 Old Anime That...

Anime horror and supernatural classics like Vampire Hunter D and the Castlevania franchise embrace traditional vampire tropes and classic character types. If Dracula is featured, he tends to be incredibly powerful and tragic. Vampire romances generally have themes of temptation and self-control, and they often have angsty romances.

There are some anime titles that center on vampires who have relationships that go far beyond angsty into abuse and uncontrolled emotions. Anime like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure embraces villainous vampire tropes but complicates their characters with superhero-like powers and a creative origin story. They may be too experimental for some who prefer classic horror, but they're worth watching for those interested in creative interpretations.

Related: 10 Shojo Sequels That Ruined Their Franchise

Servamp

Most audiences wouldn't associate a great vampire anime with the comedy genre, but Servamp makes both work. The show is rather polarizing, and people tend to love it or hate it.

Fairy tales helped popularize many tropes and character archetypes. Fairy tales are generally associated with love, magic, and danger. Tropes popular in fairy tales are also popular in nearly every genre of fiction. Almost everyone can recognize a downtrodden yet kind and hopeful character like the Cinderella archetype, regardless of whether she lives in a fantasy world or in a sci-fi universe.

Some anime combine different fairy tale tropes and reinterpret or complicate them. Anime like Ouran High School Host Club will parody some tropes. Others like The Saint's Magic Power Is Omnipotent will turn character archetype expectations on their head.

Related: 10 Best Fantasy Anime for Game of Thrones Fans, Ranked

Ouran High School Host Club

Ouran High School Host Club starts off Haruhi's plot with the Girl in Breeches trope. Young ladies will disguise themselves as boys in fairy tales often for protection. The fairy tale The Princess...

Some anime couples are so well-crafted that they stand the test of time, even if they were written ten or twenty-plus years ago. Other, newer romance arcs are so thoughtfully written and refreshing that fans fall in love instantly with the characters' journey. Various elements go into an excellent romantic depiction.

Related: 15 Worst Couples In Isekai Anime, Ranked

There needs to be something memorable about the two characters' dynamic that draws them together: enemies or rivals who fall in love despite themselves, a shared past, common goals, traits that complement one another, a similar vision of the future. Their road may not always be smooth, but their romance arc is just as strongly written as any external conflict in the plot.

Sariphi & Leonhart (Sacrificial Princess & The King Of Beasts)

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts may have one shameless fan service moment after another in the form of longing looks,...

Not all anime movies that were popular at their release stand the test of time. Some have tropes that were uninspired in hindsight, and some have messages which are just a bit too trite or on-the-nose. There are also titles that were watched avidly for a few years after their release but hardly get attention now, even though the acclaim is well deserved.

Related: 10 Movies For New Anime Fans

For newer anime fans who may not have been around in the '80s and '90s, they may know of the titles by name but may not have gotten around to watching them. It's worth watching the classic backlog of films to see what influenced the contemporary titles we all love.

Updated on June 20th, 2023 by Vera W.: The '80s was still the early age of American anime releases, and more films that would be considered classics today...

Ever since the time of Disney classics and Hannah-Barbara shows, animation has often been associated with children’s cartoons, but there are just as many R-rated animated movies today. This can be in terms of excessive violence, nudity, disturbing imagery, profane language, or just tragic content that might scare younger viewers. Some R-rated animated movies have a cult following and sometimes draw immense critical acclaim, even in the face of family-friendly Pixar, Disney, and Dreamworks films which continue to break box-office records.

Over the years, R-rated animated movies broke new ground and helped redefine what the genre meant. No longer was animation the stuff of children's games, and after many of these movies came onto the scene, they changed the game for everything else going forward. Adults could get in on the fun as well now, with stories definitely ill-suited for the kids but full of engaging subject matter and...

He may have been preceded by characters like Lord Ruthven and Carmilla, but Dracula is still the quintessential vampire, with Bram Stoker’s iconic novel boasting over two hundred cinematic adaptations and inspiring most modern vampire media. That being said, vampire movies have long worked their way out from beneath the shadow of Stoker’s gothic opus, offering up insanely varied stories about our favorite blood-sucking beasts.

And with Chris McKay’s upcoming Renfield proving that there are still fresh spins to be had on the Dracula formula, we’ve decided to come up with a list celebrating six of the most under-appreciated vampire movies out there. After all, there’s nothing like discovering a hidden gem within a sea of similar genre flicks.

To be featured on this list, a movie needs to be specifically about vampires (that means no other supernatural creatures like werewolves) and has to approach...

Japan Society is pleased to announce the launch of Monthly Anime

The rarely-screened Matrixanthology film The Animatrix—featuring works by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe, Vampire Hunter D’s Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Akira animator Koji Morimoto—screens in 35mm on May 27, 2022. Masaaki Yuasa’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, a Japan Cuts 2018 selection and Tomihiko Morimi adaptation, screens on June 17, 2022. Finally, to commemorate 25 years since its 1997 release, Hayao Miyazaki’s mystical epic Princess Mononoke screens in 35mm on July 22, 2022.

Tickets: 15/12 students and seniors /5 Japan Society members. Lineup and other details are subject to change.For complete information visit japansociety.org.

Screening Schedule

The Animatrix – Friday, May 27, 2022 at 7:00 Pm

Dir. Peter Chung, Andy Jones, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Mahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Shinichiro Watanabe; 2003, 102 min., 35mm, color, in English. With Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Clayton Watson.

A straight-to-dvd classic, the anime companion to The Matrix series received a...

(Welcome to Year of the Vampire, a series examining the greatest, strangest, and sometimes overlooked vampire movies of all time in honor of "Nosferatu," which turns 100 this year.)

The animated Ova (original video animation) took off in Japan around 1985. These were short animated series and movies released on video for older male audiences, often just 90 to 120 minutes long. Made for a niche viewership, they could be violent and indulgent, but many were detailed enough in their craftsmanship that they remain significant today. Riding that wave was "Vampire Hunter D," a gothic horror Western mash-up...

The post Year of the Vampire: Vampire Hunter D (1985) Paved the Way for Pulpy Adult Anime OVAs appeared first on /Film.

Creating terror with animation means that you aren't limited to our concept of reality. In anime, the body can be bent, stretched, and ripped apart using excruciating and fantastical methods that can only be realized via hand-drawn or computer-generated images. Films such as "Vampire Hunter D" and "Wicked City" realize horror anime's grotesque potential, creating hellish worlds where women become spider demons and eat men alive. Old tropes and well-tread creatures such as zombies are given facelifts and realized in new, repulsive ways that can't be replicated by actors in front of a camera.

There's going to be a lot of gore on this list, especially from director Yoshiaki...

The post 15 Must-See Horror Anime Movies appeared first on /Film.

Based on Hideyuki Kikuchi’s novel series of the same, “Vampire Hunter D” was released straight to video in 1985. Directed by Toyoo Ashida, who would later take the reins on “Fist of the North Star”, the film was produced on a limited budget by the studio Ashi Productions. Now considered an anime classic, the feature still has plenty to offer in terms of careful world-building and enticing visuals. It’s worth noting that this review is for the 1992 Streamline Pictures English dub.

In the post-apocalyptic future of 12,090 Ad, Doris Lang (Barbara Goodson) is out hunting one night when she stumbles into the territory of the imposing vampire Count Magnus Lee (Jeff Winkless). Left bitten by the count and now the object of his desire, she hires the formidable vampire hunter, D (Michael McConnohie); a half-human, half-vampire hybrid known as a dhampir. With the count’s minions on the prowl for Doris,...

Features the voices of: Andreas Petersen, Thomas Petersen, Katie Maguire, Eric Power | Written by Andreas Petersen | Directed by Eric Power

Horror and animation don’t exactly go hand in hand. I’m not exactly sure why, maybe it is because when people think of animated movies their minds always think of children’s or family movies. Even when you ink of animated horror, my mind goes to A Nightmare Before Christmas, Paranorman, Monster House or Coraline. All very entertaining movies but still aimed at children. But in recent years there have been a few more ‘adult’ horror animations with Resident Evil: Degeneration and Seoul Station, while anime has always, on a smaller scale, been pushing horror with films like Vampire Hunter D and Blood: The Last Vampire. Attack of the Demons though is very different from any of these.

This is a good thing though. It might not look as...

'80s horror is defined by camp, gory practical effects, and comedic undertones. The decade popularized the slasher, but it also played around with classic creatures like werewolves, aliens, and vampires. Bloodsuckers have been a staple of the genre since Bram Stoker wrote his 1897 gothic masterpiece, Dracula.

Related: Top 10 Vampires Besides Dracula, Ranked

1979's Salem's Lot, adapted from the Stephen King novel, set the tone for '80s cinematic explorations of vampirism. From the hipster vamps in The Lost Boys to the animated, undead titular killer in Vampire Hunter D, the '80s contributed multiple cult features to the vampire subgenre. The rise of VHS culture contributed to the lasting influence of these films, directed by both horror icons and Oscar-winning filmmakers.

Dilili is an adorable, charmingly unconventional heroine: a 6-year-old Kanak girl from New Caledonia who dresses like Shirley Temple and speaks like royalty. And Paris, glittering with elegant couture and a shiny new Eiffel Tower, never looked more splendid than it did around the turn of the 20th century, when Michel Ocelot’s new computer-animated feature is set. So why does “Dilili in Paris” feel like such a waste of both of these appealing assets?

Ocelot no doubt intends to set some kind of positive example with his latest adventure, the first to take place in the marvelous city he calls home, but about one girl’s fight for respect and gender equality in the early 1900s. It’s a complicated issue with an ugly past, which Ocelot has the courage to acknowledge — the film introduces young Dilili topless, chopping vegetables outside a straw hut in the park while well-dressed...

Konichiwa, dorks! As you may have noticed, we’re trying to do the occasional “throwback episode” in an attempt to keep things fresh around here. That, combined with the fact that in the past we’ve only talked about two anime films, we decided what better time than now to cover another […]

The post Who Goes There Podcast: Ep 224 – Perfect Blue appeared first on Dread Central.

One of the creators of Vampire Hunter D, character designer Yoshitaka Amano, is working on a new anime project called Gibiate with a team of team of talented Japanese artists and creators, and they’ve come up with something that is looks crazy! The series is set in a world that is plagued by demons and nightmarish bug-like creatures.

The team behind this project includes Naoki Serizawa (Resident Evil monster designer), Yuzo Koshiro (music composer), and Yoshida Brothers (music performers). We have a preview of Gibiate that you can watch below along with a synopsis that offers some of the story details. As you’ll see, this anime is going to be pretty insane, but lots of fun. I’d watch it!

In 2030, Japan. A virus has infected humans throughout the world. Infected people turn into different forms of monsters based on their ages, sexes and races. The virus is...