It is a beautifully created anime! Every scene is a masterpiece and the storyline is captivating. I truly enjoyed this movie not only because of the exquisite artwork but Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a serious, touching, and at times humorous movie that anyone who watches it, with or without a love for animated movies, will be captured by its unique and brilliantly planned plot. And to those of you who think the hand destroyed the movie i completely disagree with them. He is an excellent source or comical relief that is needed for most people in intense movies and this is definitely an intense movie. I have seen clips of the first movie and heard the opinions of others on which is better and most of them believe that the first was slightly more gripping, but the animation is a definite improvement in Bloodlust. (I still have yet to see the first for myself.) I would have to say the only way i could be disappointed with this movie is that there aren't more of them like it.
125 Reviews
Splendidly, decorated anime.
lost-in-limbo2 April 2006
In the distant future it's the year 12,090 where vampires and the undead who caused terror through the night are falling at a rapid rate, because of a Dunpeal; half-human, half-vampire bounty hunter called D. On this quest he's hired for 20 millions dollars by a father of a young girl who was kidnapped by a powerful vampire who plans to take her with him to the stars. But D learns that his not the only one on their trail, as the man informs him that he also hired a group of vampire hunters know as the Mark Brothers. So now the two are in competition to who can get their hands the on the girl (dead or alive) before they get to their destination. But D also suspects that maybe the girl went by her own accord, which throws a spanner into the mix.
I used to always watch anime when I was a kid, but it kinda died off me when I got into my late teens. Well, that was until it picked up momentum again when I caught the brilliant 'Neo Genesis Evangelion' anime series a couple years ago. So, now I'm a on and off viewer, but I was glad that I was switched on for this particular one. Being a horror fan and reading the synopsis for the film I thought it sounded great and it was most definitely. But I also learned it was a sequel, which I was worried that I wouldn't have a clue what was going, but that's the not the case here with certain things about our protagonist being explained because they crop up into where the story is heading. It does feels kinda different, especially in the terms of violence by keeping it within the story's limits then going out fall ball with a pointless mess. The stimulating violence is done rather graciously with the easy-going pace suddenly moving like a speeding train when the action occurs. The animation is breath-taking, it's simply eye-candy with distinguishable details and sharp imagination that's pure film-craft at its best. The heavy blanket of Gothic atmosphere that's created breaths down on you with it's dark, grimy apocalyptic feel where there's a wonderful mix of ghoulish terror and sweet innocence. While, this anime has terrifically, garnished up visuals. The story was not to be forgotten, as it's a lyrically, thoughtful tale that's richly developed with an emotional pull that's truly enticing. You could call it a hybrid with a galore of ingredients worked into the story's structure; Horror, Medieval, Western, Fantasy and Sci-fi. These adventurous aspects truly made sure that there were plenty of nifty surprises and a range of highly spirited standoffs between foes with a kicking soundtrack to boot. The moralistic tale builds up an allegory you could say about racism and that of never trusting that of perception, but to look on the inside to find the person's true meaning. The smooth dialogue is quite meaningful and there's patches of dry humour sprinkled across it. The fruitful characters are well-rounded and they add their own little parts to the story. But the star here is the quietly spoken, but extremely deadly D; who's dressed up in his black overcoat and wide-brimmed hat that hides his face. He's not alone as his accompanied by his black horse and that of a talking parasite embedded in his hand.
A really compelling and exciting anime piece that delivers all the goods in a marvellous blend.
I used to always watch anime when I was a kid, but it kinda died off me when I got into my late teens. Well, that was until it picked up momentum again when I caught the brilliant 'Neo Genesis Evangelion' anime series a couple years ago. So, now I'm a on and off viewer, but I was glad that I was switched on for this particular one. Being a horror fan and reading the synopsis for the film I thought it sounded great and it was most definitely. But I also learned it was a sequel, which I was worried that I wouldn't have a clue what was going, but that's the not the case here with certain things about our protagonist being explained because they crop up into where the story is heading. It does feels kinda different, especially in the terms of violence by keeping it within the story's limits then going out fall ball with a pointless mess. The stimulating violence is done rather graciously with the easy-going pace suddenly moving like a speeding train when the action occurs. The animation is breath-taking, it's simply eye-candy with distinguishable details and sharp imagination that's pure film-craft at its best. The heavy blanket of Gothic atmosphere that's created breaths down on you with it's dark, grimy apocalyptic feel where there's a wonderful mix of ghoulish terror and sweet innocence. While, this anime has terrifically, garnished up visuals. The story was not to be forgotten, as it's a lyrically, thoughtful tale that's richly developed with an emotional pull that's truly enticing. You could call it a hybrid with a galore of ingredients worked into the story's structure; Horror, Medieval, Western, Fantasy and Sci-fi. These adventurous aspects truly made sure that there were plenty of nifty surprises and a range of highly spirited standoffs between foes with a kicking soundtrack to boot. The moralistic tale builds up an allegory you could say about racism and that of never trusting that of perception, but to look on the inside to find the person's true meaning. The smooth dialogue is quite meaningful and there's patches of dry humour sprinkled across it. The fruitful characters are well-rounded and they add their own little parts to the story. But the star here is the quietly spoken, but extremely deadly D; who's dressed up in his black overcoat and wide-brimmed hat that hides his face. He's not alone as his accompanied by his black horse and that of a talking parasite embedded in his hand.
A really compelling and exciting anime piece that delivers all the goods in a marvellous blend.
action toned down, but quality turned up
MrBoBomb8 August 2002
Vampire Hunter D is a legend in some aspects of the anime world. It was the first anime I saw as a child and it was a movie I never forgot. I borrowed the sequel from my friend and I was very happy with it. There isn't as much fighting as in the first one, but the story is deep and thick with great characters. Meijer Link, a vampire with noble intentions with a human girl, is the first decent vampire we see in the D movies. You root for him, yet D never loses in battle, so it's really tough watching them fight. We see again D's constant struggle with his self and the life that he leads. He's stuck between a human life and a vampire's life, never truly fitting into either. He meets a bounty hunter, Leyla, who finds something truly magnetic about D and his loneliness in that she has felt the same way in her life. It truly is a somber tale full of lively characters, a tremendous love story, and of course, D's usual blood spilling action. A great movie that I think most audiences will enjoy.
One of the greatest adult animated films ever
juubei-215 July 2005
Yoshiaki Kawajiri's style is so detailed, so precise, you just get the feeling that each frame of animation has been slaved over and perfected, making Vamp D Bloodlust the best showcase of his directorial style. Of course, the actual chara designs are by Yoshitaka Amano and here is perhaps the most accurate depiction of his unique style. The soundtrack also bears mentioning and is right up there with the Hollywood's best.
Story-wise, its an eclectic mixture of Gothic horror, Science fiction, Westerns and Samurai, apparently based on a novel I've never read. Its genre cannot be classified simply horror, and while there are plenty of great action scenes, the near-perfect pacing allows for quiet moments of conversation between the characters.
Its full of great moments, but the best is the climactic finale - absolutely unforgettable. A must-see, right up there with classics of anime such as Studio Ghibli's work...
Story-wise, its an eclectic mixture of Gothic horror, Science fiction, Westerns and Samurai, apparently based on a novel I've never read. Its genre cannot be classified simply horror, and while there are plenty of great action scenes, the near-perfect pacing allows for quiet moments of conversation between the characters.
Its full of great moments, but the best is the climactic finale - absolutely unforgettable. A must-see, right up there with classics of anime such as Studio Ghibli's work...
Maybe the best anime piece ever
scobbah26 July 2004
As we saw that Vampire Hunter D was high ranked on IMDb, we decided to give it a shot. Loaded up with some expectations, who comes naturally when a piece is placed good at IMDb, we enjoyed the movie from the very early beginning to the very end. I was astonished! At first, the whole piece is animated in a way that I really find attractive. I mean, not the regular ninja-banzai-anime-style, but instead this beautiful way of animating this alternative reality put up on your tv. I really like ancient stuff like vampires and more goth related stuff when it comes to animes, and this one got it all. With a terrific story the piece develops and bounds the viewer into the magic world of Vampire Hunter D. I just simply love it because of the vibe it gives me! A sober 10 out of 10, no doubts about it.
Dark fun
Rirath_com22 June 2003
When VHD: Bloodlust came out, I wasn't too very interested. Having recently got the chance to watch the film though, I know now I should have been. VHD:B is top notch so far as dark anime goes. From the opening scene, watching the crosses twist and crumble as the dark carriage passes by, you know you're in for something good. VHD:B doesn't disappoint.
First off, D has been given a major upgrade. He looks more vampire like, he looks stronger and badder than ever before. The new art helps much, of course. D is hired to find a girl named Charlotte, dead or alive, who has been taken by a vampire from her home. Adding to the mix is a bounty team already has a head start on D, and each member of this team could well have his/her own anime. These are no second rate fill-ins, these folks are every bit as interesting as D. The vampire in question doesn't disappoint either, showing the full force of his powers from the very first scenes.
All in all, if you're looking for something darker and blood filled, watch this show. It looks dang good, the english voices are much better than you'd expect, and things just simply click. It's well worthy of the VHD name, and surpasses the original in nearly every way.
First off, D has been given a major upgrade. He looks more vampire like, he looks stronger and badder than ever before. The new art helps much, of course. D is hired to find a girl named Charlotte, dead or alive, who has been taken by a vampire from her home. Adding to the mix is a bounty team already has a head start on D, and each member of this team could well have his/her own anime. These are no second rate fill-ins, these folks are every bit as interesting as D. The vampire in question doesn't disappoint either, showing the full force of his powers from the very first scenes.
All in all, if you're looking for something darker and blood filled, watch this show. It looks dang good, the english voices are much better than you'd expect, and things just simply click. It's well worthy of the VHD name, and surpasses the original in nearly every way.
- Rirath_com
An exquisite Japanese animation production - heart-warming vampire tale, it is
ruby_fff4 November 2001
Writer-director Yoshiaki Kawajiri gave us an absolutely fantastic animation film. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2001 U.S.) has excellent illustrations, detailed and beautifully rendered. Story is intriguingly presented, mystery and sentiments well-maintained. Original music by Marco D'Ambrosio is impressive and aptly enhanced the atmosphere.
I kept saying WOW! Feeling WOW to its amazing, dazzling sight and sound and music. The illustrative quality is awesome: the colors, the character details, the backgrounds such all round attention, including character development and storyline. There are action sequences to match Hollywood productions, and a love story, too. The age old theme of romantic love, here between human and vampire, began with an 'outcast' vampire hunter (named 'D', himself half human half vampire - hence seemingly ever young) hired by a human family to rescue/retrieve their kidnapped daughter, who actually has fallen in love with her kidnapper vampire count the fairytale adventure continues, and to a grand visual showdown of forces in brilliant colorful effects. Yes, there is heart, and we are rewarded with a heart-warming ending, or never-ending for that matter.
If you like vampire tales and fantasies, this is a must-see. If you appreciate well-crafted, illustrative animations, don't miss this one.
Yet to catch Richard Linklater's "Waking Life" - a modern approach to animated film - substance includes deeper exploration than usual animation flicks. Actually sounds quite philosophical - his "Before Sunrise" 1994, with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy on a train ride and brief stops in Europe, was a philosophical romantic exchange.
I kept saying WOW! Feeling WOW to its amazing, dazzling sight and sound and music. The illustrative quality is awesome: the colors, the character details, the backgrounds such all round attention, including character development and storyline. There are action sequences to match Hollywood productions, and a love story, too. The age old theme of romantic love, here between human and vampire, began with an 'outcast' vampire hunter (named 'D', himself half human half vampire - hence seemingly ever young) hired by a human family to rescue/retrieve their kidnapped daughter, who actually has fallen in love with her kidnapper vampire count the fairytale adventure continues, and to a grand visual showdown of forces in brilliant colorful effects. Yes, there is heart, and we are rewarded with a heart-warming ending, or never-ending for that matter.
If you like vampire tales and fantasies, this is a must-see. If you appreciate well-crafted, illustrative animations, don't miss this one.
Yet to catch Richard Linklater's "Waking Life" - a modern approach to animated film - substance includes deeper exploration than usual animation flicks. Actually sounds quite philosophical - his "Before Sunrise" 1994, with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy on a train ride and brief stops in Europe, was a philosophical romantic exchange.
Perfect!
mGoLos4 April 2004
Can there be a sequel better then the original? Yes there can, and this one proves it. Well worth the purchase even if you have to pay a bundle for shipment like I did.
I'm proud to add this fantastic piece of manga to my expanding collection. I'll put it right next to Mononoke Hime, Akira and Ghost in the Shell. This is a classic already and every manga/anime fan should watch it. All the characters are amazing and original, they could all get their own movie and I hope at least some of them do.
The style of drawing is rough and dark, yet elequent and beautifully detailed. No expense has been spared. D has been buffed up a bit and has more powers than ever.
This movie is exciting to the extreme. 1½ hours flies by. 10/10
I'm proud to add this fantastic piece of manga to my expanding collection. I'll put it right next to Mononoke Hime, Akira and Ghost in the Shell. This is a classic already and every manga/anime fan should watch it. All the characters are amazing and original, they could all get their own movie and I hope at least some of them do.
The style of drawing is rough and dark, yet elequent and beautifully detailed. No expense has been spared. D has been buffed up a bit and has more powers than ever.
This movie is exciting to the extreme. 1½ hours flies by. 10/10
One of the better anime's
The_Void8 September 2005
As soon as I read the plot for this film, I had a feeling I'd like it - but that feeling was quickly quashed when I found out that the film is animated. It's not that I have anything against animated films; I just don't tend to like them very much. Still, there's a couple that I like and, considering plot, I figured it must be worth a go anyway, and it was. The problem with animation these days, especially when it's coming from Asia is that it is extremely likely to receive high praise regardless of how good it actually is, and this makes it very difficult to decide whether or not certain films are worth seeing. While Vampire Hunter D definitely is worth seeing, I get the feeling that a lot of it's high praise is coming from the fact that Asian cinema is in vogue right now. The plot is classic vampire fodder, which is why it instantly appealed to me, and it follows the story of a young rich girl who is apparently kidnapped by a vampire. The vampire population is dwindling, thanks to the bounty hunters, and our story picks up when the girl's father hires a hunter - Vampire Hunter D - to find his daughter. He hires another crew as well, but they soon find out that the girl may have gone with the vampire of her own free will...
One of the reasons why anime continually gets high ratings is because, unlike other types of animation, the adult orientation allows for more developed characters; and some of the characters and exchanges in this movie are truly spectacular considering that it's animated. Vampire Hunter D manages to enthral the viewer by way of action and emotion, both of which are extremely well done. The characters are much more complex than in most live action vampire films with the central half-human, half-vampire figure providing most of the intrigue. I didn't like the design of the vampire hunter much, but like the lone figures across cinema; D's presence is enough to ensure that all of his scenes are a highlight. The film's adult orientation allows it to be more gratuitous in it's action sequences than most animated films, and the vast majority of them are really well done. The real star of the show for me was the horror atmosphere, which serves the film really well. The animation helps Vampire Hunter D massively in that respect as the filmmaker's only limit is their imagination, which means that the atmosphere is allowed to be laid on more thickly than a lot of horror movies have means to do. On the whole, this is a very good film, and while I would have preferred live action; Vampire Hunter D shows that animation is an adequate base for a horror movie.
One of the reasons why anime continually gets high ratings is because, unlike other types of animation, the adult orientation allows for more developed characters; and some of the characters and exchanges in this movie are truly spectacular considering that it's animated. Vampire Hunter D manages to enthral the viewer by way of action and emotion, both of which are extremely well done. The characters are much more complex than in most live action vampire films with the central half-human, half-vampire figure providing most of the intrigue. I didn't like the design of the vampire hunter much, but like the lone figures across cinema; D's presence is enough to ensure that all of his scenes are a highlight. The film's adult orientation allows it to be more gratuitous in it's action sequences than most animated films, and the vast majority of them are really well done. The real star of the show for me was the horror atmosphere, which serves the film really well. The animation helps Vampire Hunter D massively in that respect as the filmmaker's only limit is their imagination, which means that the atmosphere is allowed to be laid on more thickly than a lot of horror movies have means to do. On the whole, this is a very good film, and while I would have preferred live action; Vampire Hunter D shows that animation is an adequate base for a horror movie.
Solid, animated vampire hunting action
Tweekums20 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This film is set in the distant future in a world where vampires exist but their numbers are dwindling thanks to the actions of the Vampire Hunters.
When Charlotte, the daughter of the wealthy Elbourne family, is apparently kidnapped by the vampire Baron Meier Link her father hires vampire hunters to bring her back. One of the hunter is a dhampir, a half vampire, half human hybrid, known as 'D'. His chief competition are the Marcus brothers who work alongside a woman called Leila who has personal reasons for hating vampires. As the story progresses they will get into numerous fights against a variety of demonic creatures as each is determined to rescue Charlotte and collect the reward. It was never going to be easy but things get even more complicated when it becomes apparent that Charlotte left with Meier of her own free will because she is in love with him. As well as seeing various fights we learn of D's past and just what motivates Leila. It is also clear that not everybody is going to survive.
This is an exciting vampire anime. There is lots of action; this is well animated with plenty of proper movement no need to worry about various ways of depicting action that are relatively static that are all too often employed to save on the animation budget. The characters are interesting; it was more nuanced than just having evil vampires and heroic humans Meier is surprisingly sympathetic given that he is introduced as the villain. The film had a good look; lots of greys and browns and characters that looked fairly realistic for an animation. I must admit that when I picked this up I was a little disappointed to find it was dub only but when I started watching that didn't bother be at all; I think the voice cast did a fine job. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of anime and vampires.
When Charlotte, the daughter of the wealthy Elbourne family, is apparently kidnapped by the vampire Baron Meier Link her father hires vampire hunters to bring her back. One of the hunter is a dhampir, a half vampire, half human hybrid, known as 'D'. His chief competition are the Marcus brothers who work alongside a woman called Leila who has personal reasons for hating vampires. As the story progresses they will get into numerous fights against a variety of demonic creatures as each is determined to rescue Charlotte and collect the reward. It was never going to be easy but things get even more complicated when it becomes apparent that Charlotte left with Meier of her own free will because she is in love with him. As well as seeing various fights we learn of D's past and just what motivates Leila. It is also clear that not everybody is going to survive.
This is an exciting vampire anime. There is lots of action; this is well animated with plenty of proper movement no need to worry about various ways of depicting action that are relatively static that are all too often employed to save on the animation budget. The characters are interesting; it was more nuanced than just having evil vampires and heroic humans Meier is surprisingly sympathetic given that he is introduced as the villain. The film had a good look; lots of greys and browns and characters that looked fairly realistic for an animation. I must admit that when I picked this up I was a little disappointed to find it was dub only but when I started watching that didn't bother be at all; I think the voice cast did a fine job. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of anime and vampires.
Great piece of anime.
Teknofobe7016 August 2005
Vampire Hunter D is a "Dhampir" ("Dunpeal" in the English version), a half-human, half-vampire, who works as a bounty hunter, slaughtering the last remaining vampires. He is hired by a rich man to rescue his daughter, who has been kidnapped by a noble vampire. While hunting for this girl, he also must compete with another group of bounty hunters, siblings who travel around in a massive vampire-slaying truck, who will do anything to ensure that they take the prize. As he closes in on his prey, D begins to suspect that the girl may not have been kidnapped against her will ...
I know what you're thinking ... sounds a bit like "Blade", doesn't it? However, while it's true that Marvel first published the "Blade, Vampire Hunter" comic in 1973, and this was clearly an influence on this character, Vampire Hunter D first made it to the big screen in 1985 -- over ten years before it's predecessor got the Hollywood / Wesley Snipes treatment. And besides, this is actually a lot better.
Great visuals, lots of blood, plenty of weirdness ... what more do you want in an anime? The first thing you'll notice is how great this movie looks. Compare this with the original, and it just goes to show how new technology is best put to use in animation. There are times when you want to pause the movie simply to marvel at how great a particular frame looks. And everything, the characters, the creatures, and the world itself, is brilliantly designed. This is the main advantage of animation, that you can design pretty much anything and have it realised without concern for cost. But this on it's own does not make a good film, of course ... it's helped along by an engaging storyline and interesting characters, resulting in an eastern Gothic masterpiece. The ending inparticular is notable for an anime since it focuses strongly on the characters rather than on some crazy monster design, which is the usual approach.
There are those who would argue that this is among the greatest anime movies of all time, and it's certainly one of the very best that I've seen. It surpasses the decent 1985 original by far.
I know what you're thinking ... sounds a bit like "Blade", doesn't it? However, while it's true that Marvel first published the "Blade, Vampire Hunter" comic in 1973, and this was clearly an influence on this character, Vampire Hunter D first made it to the big screen in 1985 -- over ten years before it's predecessor got the Hollywood / Wesley Snipes treatment. And besides, this is actually a lot better.
Great visuals, lots of blood, plenty of weirdness ... what more do you want in an anime? The first thing you'll notice is how great this movie looks. Compare this with the original, and it just goes to show how new technology is best put to use in animation. There are times when you want to pause the movie simply to marvel at how great a particular frame looks. And everything, the characters, the creatures, and the world itself, is brilliantly designed. This is the main advantage of animation, that you can design pretty much anything and have it realised without concern for cost. But this on it's own does not make a good film, of course ... it's helped along by an engaging storyline and interesting characters, resulting in an eastern Gothic masterpiece. The ending inparticular is notable for an anime since it focuses strongly on the characters rather than on some crazy monster design, which is the usual approach.
There are those who would argue that this is among the greatest anime movies of all time, and it's certainly one of the very best that I've seen. It surpasses the decent 1985 original by far.
Vampire hunter B
stamper29 February 2004
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust may be called an animated version of Blade by some, but it is so much more. In this animated horror / adventure the Vampire Hunter (as Blade) is half human and half vampire, but that's about where the similarities end, for the film plays in the distant future and D is a hunter that prefers a good old fashioned sword to battle the evil of his time. The things that make this film great were the incredible music and cinematography along with a pretty good story. But that isn't all. The thing that struck me most, was that despite being a vampire / demon film, the creatures and weapons in it were rather original. Some things had just been given a bit of a work-over while other things were completely new to me. In all that one can see a lot of care was invested in the making of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and I for one thought that the result was as good as the effort. I'd even be inclined to say that Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is in my top 3 of vampire films, right next to From Dusk 'till Dawn and Dracula (by Francis Ford Coppola).
8 out of 10
8 out of 10
As good as the first movie...
paul_haakonsen28 June 2023
Well, if you enjoyed the 1985 Anime "Vampire Hunter D", then you most certainly will also enjoy the 2000 sequel "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust". That much I can guarantee.
Writer Yoshiaki Kawajiri did a good job in carrying on the torch from 1985 with the script written for "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust". And the plot was every bit as entertaining and enjoyable as the first movie. So thumbs up to the writer for that accomplishment. In fact, you get to delve more into the characters this time around, and that was definitely something much needed for the D character.
Visually then I will say that "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" got a massive upgrade since the 15 year old previous movie. The art is such an improvement in this 2000 Anime movie, and it does the a lot for the overall enjoyment of the movie. I really liked the changes they brought about here. And there was so much attention to detail in the different locations and scenes.
The animation in "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" was spot on, good, fast and effective. And that helped bring the action to life in a very fulfilling manner on the screen.
"Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" is well-worth spending 103 minutes on watching.
My rating of director Yoshiaki Kawajiri's 2000 Anime movie "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" lands on a six out of ten stars.
Writer Yoshiaki Kawajiri did a good job in carrying on the torch from 1985 with the script written for "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust". And the plot was every bit as entertaining and enjoyable as the first movie. So thumbs up to the writer for that accomplishment. In fact, you get to delve more into the characters this time around, and that was definitely something much needed for the D character.
Visually then I will say that "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" got a massive upgrade since the 15 year old previous movie. The art is such an improvement in this 2000 Anime movie, and it does the a lot for the overall enjoyment of the movie. I really liked the changes they brought about here. And there was so much attention to detail in the different locations and scenes.
The animation in "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" was spot on, good, fast and effective. And that helped bring the action to life in a very fulfilling manner on the screen.
"Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" is well-worth spending 103 minutes on watching.
My rating of director Yoshiaki Kawajiri's 2000 Anime movie "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" lands on a six out of ten stars.
Strangely enough I liked the first and shorter movie much better.
Boba_Fett113828 December 2009
This anime got based on a novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi and got made into a movie for the first time in 1985. That movie, the anime "Kyûketsuki hantâ D", to me was a great one to watch due to its great dark atmosphere and intriguing characters. This longer and also more expensive movie however could never grab me with its story or even characters.
The story felt like a mess at times and was the foremost reason why the movie just couldn't always hold my intension. It also was the reason why the movie really felt like it was dragging at times and was definitely being overlong. With a different and more dark style I'm sure that the movie would had come out as a better one still though.
I just wasn't too impressed with the animation style this time, though I can certainly dig a good anime movie from time to time, so I'm familiar with its animation style and are often also quite fond of it. Its action but also its concept and character seemed far from original, which makes this a bit of a redundant movie, especially after the much better 1985 production.
Because the movie just never grabbed me, everything else in the movie just basically also fails to fully work out. It wasn't a movie that entertained me or was one that I enjoyed watching, though it's also far from the worst thing that you'll ever see.
5/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
The story felt like a mess at times and was the foremost reason why the movie just couldn't always hold my intension. It also was the reason why the movie really felt like it was dragging at times and was definitely being overlong. With a different and more dark style I'm sure that the movie would had come out as a better one still though.
I just wasn't too impressed with the animation style this time, though I can certainly dig a good anime movie from time to time, so I'm familiar with its animation style and are often also quite fond of it. Its action but also its concept and character seemed far from original, which makes this a bit of a redundant movie, especially after the much better 1985 production.
Because the movie just never grabbed me, everything else in the movie just basically also fails to fully work out. It wasn't a movie that entertained me or was one that I enjoyed watching, though it's also far from the worst thing that you'll ever see.
5/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
Excellent example of the genre!
cobra3125 October 2005
Excellent manga which would be all the more enhanced with a good widescreen TV and speaker system. I don't imagine I've got much to add over and above what the other anime buffs have most probably already stated but this is definitely one of the better anime I've seen. It also has a cohesive plot that doesn't ramble on endlessly like many mangas seem to do (Akira, Spirited Away, Ghost in the Shell 2) There are nicely drawn characters. Good action. Lots of beast monster type things and supernatural stuff. Would probably give it an 8.5 out of 10 if the option was there.
I would hope that with the development of computer effects for anime there will be more entertaining mangas to come in the future. It's a genre that I always feel has a lot of potential but for some reason it doesn't quite get fulfilled. Perhaps, Hollywood might wake up to the potential for animated features that aren't necessarily focused towards kids only. Anyway, time will tell.
I would hope that with the development of computer effects for anime there will be more entertaining mangas to come in the future. It's a genre that I always feel has a lot of potential but for some reason it doesn't quite get fulfilled. Perhaps, Hollywood might wake up to the potential for animated features that aren't necessarily focused towards kids only. Anyway, time will tell.
Masterpiece
saldarinilarissa31 August 2021
I've noticed that the bad reviews here are made by people who don't know how to spell or people with anger issues. I wouldn't trust them, I would watch it and judge it by myself if I was someone who hasn't seen it and has stumbled upon these demented comments. Personally, I have watched it and I've been amazed by how beautiful and good this film can be. There are some anime that transcend their status and become works of art and this is one of them.
Who needs american movies?
MechanicalHybrid11 May 2001
In this day and age there is no such thing as a "classic" movie anymore, cinema has lost it's respect for many people. The only new Classics are that of the anime genre, these are the movies that inspire so many huge american action movies, as well as TV shows...(James Cameron's Battle..er... I mean Dark Angel....A**hole) You have the Matrix taking famous scenes from every popular anime series out there and calling it original! Let's hope and pray that this doesn't happen to Vampire Hunter D.
Vampire Hunter D is one of the most remarkable love stories to date, it takes calssic cinema and pushes it, it's funny that this movie was made over 10 years ago but it still holds strong in my memory, especially in the DVD incarnation as well as the new movie coming out. If there is anything close to Nosfarateu this is it.
Vampire Hunter D is one of the most remarkable love stories to date, it takes calssic cinema and pushes it, it's funny that this movie was made over 10 years ago but it still holds strong in my memory, especially in the DVD incarnation as well as the new movie coming out. If there is anything close to Nosfarateu this is it.
Vampire Hunter Junior
Misaomaki196 April 2002
Seeing this movie in a theater is awesome. The action seems to jump right out at you. What impressed me most was the attention to detail in every aspect of the movie. I was less impressed with the plot, however, but I got used to it after a while.
I would NOT recommend seeing the original especially if you liked the newer version. The older movie is far from the quality of Bloodlust. (But if you like what I call "old school anime" go right ahead).
I would NOT recommend seeing the original especially if you liked the newer version. The older movie is far from the quality of Bloodlust. (But if you like what I call "old school anime" go right ahead).
The Best Kawajiri Film For Animation But Not My Favourite
adamhorner-6201522 March 2021
Wow Vampire Hunter D bloodlust is an amazing film with flawless animation by the best anime director Yoshiaki Kawajiri this isn't his first time directing an adaptation of a Hideyuki Kikuchi novel with his others being Wicked City 1987 and Demon City Shinjuku 1988 this being the best adaptation of one of his novels it is a Journey that is fantasticly animated from start to finish and has a amazing gothic castle near the end and has some good action scenes this is my 3rd favourite anime made by Kawajiri number 2 being Ninja Scroll 1993 and Number 1 being Cyber City Oedo 808 but yeah this is a great famtasy movie with mixes of horror and is a true vampire story a very good 9/10 it's a film worth multiple watches
The movie is about as much fun as it's main character.
Son_of_Mansfield21 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The stoic D is a fantastic idea for a character. The son of a mortal women and Dracula, king of the vampires, he is shunned by both worlds as he seeks to destroy all vampires. But Japanimation doesn't allow for much of a range of emotion and the movie suffers from the loss. Both D and Link are burdened as we are told by the dialogue, but nothing in the visuals or vocals support it. The vocal work is bland with either caricature tough guys or the overly soft spoken D. The music made me roll my eyes. It could have lifted from a Zelda clone. The high points are the story, which is half way decent, and the visuals, which easily outclass the original. Once you get past the odd names, overly sentimental characters, and the lack of character information, this is a well paced action film with lively fight scenes highlighted by the kooky vampire protectors that can morph into shadow, wood, or beast.
Best movie ever.
macsee-088334 March 2022
This is one of the best. Although t it's animated. The story the characters are superb the dialogues humorous and deep, especially the music.. It's one of those movies that in the end you want more, and gets kinda depressed because it's so good. Quality is of 100%.
Fascinating characters, worthless story
kaimal15 July 2002
The movie wasn't bad at all. However, it wasn't great either. I felt that the filmmakers had a lot of potential with the character of D. Unfortunately, they felt that he would look cooler if he was wooden and quiet. The inner turmoil of being a Dunpeal (half vampire/half human)was never adequately explored. The other characters were quite inventive, especially the Barbarois freaks. It really is too bad that these characters were thrown together into an incoherent and ultimately pointless story. Everything completely falls apart in the end, and the audience is left with the feeling of great potential wasted.
A must watch for classic anime fans and vampire lovers
grant_dodge17 September 2021
I can't recommend this movie enough. I just watched it and I feel like watching it again already.
If like classic anime movies like Princess Mononoke and Akira, this is as beautiful as any anime I've ever seen. And especially if you love the classic vampire genre or spooky things in general, this is a a much watch. It's probably my new favorite movie.
If like classic anime movies like Princess Mononoke and Akira, this is as beautiful as any anime I've ever seen. And especially if you love the classic vampire genre or spooky things in general, this is a a much watch. It's probably my new favorite movie.
don't believe the hype; this is okay, not great
BomageMinimart8 August 2003
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this film because a number of friends told me it was both great anime and a good movie. I was told that I didn't need to watch the first film to understand this one, and I found that to be true enough. But this didn't even come close to living up to the hype.
SPOILERS!!!!!
Great animation involves more than watching some hair blow in the ever-present wind. Great acting is complimented by close-ups; still drawings of faces (with the few strands of hair blowing, of course) is not the same as watching an actor's face. The climactic battle involves still shots of our hero and nemesis facing each other, a sword locked against a cape/shield. They stare at each other and eventually where they touch begins to glow red. Ooooooh, really great action scene. In fact, most of the "action" scenes weren't much more than a still shot of our hero holding his sword while he is suspended in the air. One swipe was usually enough to kill anything he faced.
Also, I don't get this goth thing about Vampires being misunderstood, persecuted, blah blah blah. Vampires kill humans in order to survive, right? End of story; no negotiating. It's not like we walk around saying "man, those homicidal maniacs have a bad rap! Maybe we could just treat them like everyone else and all live in peace..." No.
The movie is set in the far future, where there are bridges that apparently span hundreds of miles, yet the fastest thing on the road is a carriage drawn by four horses. Our hero uses a sword, not a gun. WTF?
And I can't say enough about how annoying it is to have a disembodied voice (in this case, coming from a demon-thingy face in our hero's palm) give advice and offer humourous commentary. Lame. Stupid.
The good thing was the art itself. The drawings are excellent. The backgrounds, particularly, were a constant bright spot, done in a stunning neo-realistic style. The character art is good, although I could was surprised to find that our hero is male. From the art, I thought we had a female vampire hunter, and I found that I never could quite reconcile the hero's voice (masculine) with his decidedly feminine look.
The story is filled with elements of Romeo & Juliet (tragic star-crossed lovers), racism (vampires are just misunderstood), and is at least coherent enough that it seems to make sense (as long as you don't think too hard about it (if his rivals wanted our hero dead & out of the way, why destroy the mob about to attack him, eh? but like i said, don't think too hard about it)).
To sum up, if you think that lots of still art (i mean that little if anything in the frame is in motion), like watching each frame of a comic book, is how an animated feature should be, and yer really into goth-y/sci-fi stuff, you'll love this movie. If you want people who move, scenery that does more than move from a perspective, and a story that doesn't throw a lot of trite "misunderstood monster/Romeo & Juliet/racism" crap at you, you might want to keep looking.
Oh yeah, it does have a happy ending, tho.
Snowboarder Bo Snoarder
SPOILERS!!!!!
Great animation involves more than watching some hair blow in the ever-present wind. Great acting is complimented by close-ups; still drawings of faces (with the few strands of hair blowing, of course) is not the same as watching an actor's face. The climactic battle involves still shots of our hero and nemesis facing each other, a sword locked against a cape/shield. They stare at each other and eventually where they touch begins to glow red. Ooooooh, really great action scene. In fact, most of the "action" scenes weren't much more than a still shot of our hero holding his sword while he is suspended in the air. One swipe was usually enough to kill anything he faced.
Also, I don't get this goth thing about Vampires being misunderstood, persecuted, blah blah blah. Vampires kill humans in order to survive, right? End of story; no negotiating. It's not like we walk around saying "man, those homicidal maniacs have a bad rap! Maybe we could just treat them like everyone else and all live in peace..." No.
The movie is set in the far future, where there are bridges that apparently span hundreds of miles, yet the fastest thing on the road is a carriage drawn by four horses. Our hero uses a sword, not a gun. WTF?
And I can't say enough about how annoying it is to have a disembodied voice (in this case, coming from a demon-thingy face in our hero's palm) give advice and offer humourous commentary. Lame. Stupid.
The good thing was the art itself. The drawings are excellent. The backgrounds, particularly, were a constant bright spot, done in a stunning neo-realistic style. The character art is good, although I could was surprised to find that our hero is male. From the art, I thought we had a female vampire hunter, and I found that I never could quite reconcile the hero's voice (masculine) with his decidedly feminine look.
The story is filled with elements of Romeo & Juliet (tragic star-crossed lovers), racism (vampires are just misunderstood), and is at least coherent enough that it seems to make sense (as long as you don't think too hard about it (if his rivals wanted our hero dead & out of the way, why destroy the mob about to attack him, eh? but like i said, don't think too hard about it)).
To sum up, if you think that lots of still art (i mean that little if anything in the frame is in motion), like watching each frame of a comic book, is how an animated feature should be, and yer really into goth-y/sci-fi stuff, you'll love this movie. If you want people who move, scenery that does more than move from a perspective, and a story that doesn't throw a lot of trite "misunderstood monster/Romeo & Juliet/racism" crap at you, you might want to keep looking.
Oh yeah, it does have a happy ending, tho.
Snowboarder Bo Snoarder
First One Was Better
ghostm0625 August 2011
Overall compared to the first Vampire Hunter D this one I feel was lacking quite a bit in the story line aka plot. Don't get me wrong the animation in this movie was very well done, however I feel as if it didn't measure up to it's full potential as it could have. As we already know from part one it is a story about a Dampiel half human half vampire who's mission is to solely destroy all vampires. The first movie had a way stronger plot as I had said before, young girl in need for a Vampire Hunter who can destroy all who gets in his way and it all turns out great in the end. The villains portrayed in this piece I felt could have been way way way better and the other team hunting vampires I felt was weak. But overall I give it a 4 out of 10.
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