Chances are, you’ve either never heard of Vampire Hunter D or you’re a huge fan of the original anime movie and possibly even the series of 23 novels by
Hideyuki Kikuchi, currently available only in Japanese. VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST, based on the third novel, Demon Deathchase, takes the anime
version of our hero to new heights in both animation and characterization.
The VAMPIRE HUNTER D series takes place in a future Europe dominated not by amazing technology, but by the declining rule of vampire overlords and their
love of expansive gothic architecture. The standard rules of vampire lore apply, sans the innovations wrought by newcomers like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” but
vampires aren’t the only demons populating the landscape.
For fans of Japanese animation, D represents a departure from the norm: Not only is the editing slower and more evenly paced but the plot makes sense from start
to finish. The rich mix of both CG and traditional animation strongly contrasts the beautiful but very dated original film without altering the design of the familiar
characters and settings.
But enough tech talk. The excitement of traveling with D (Philpot), half man, half vampire, as he wrestles with his conscience and talks to the demon parasite that
lives in his Left Hand (McShane) beats most buddy movies hands down. Plus, who can resist a movie created in Japan and set in Germany where everybody
speaks English? And don’t forget that true to standards, there’s not a female depicted who doesn’t get the full anime treatment. (You’ve got a way to come yet,
baby.)
I sincerely hope that VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST represents the first in a long series of well-done anime films created to bring the genre to the
American public. No one who cares about anime should miss this movie, and it’s a great introduction to the genre for folks who haven’t gotten around to seeing
AKIRA or LEGEND OF THE OVERFIEND. It’s even got a great gothic romance to boot!
—Reed Oliver
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out of 5
While we would never encourage anyone to destroy a video... 
