Vampires have been a continually popular genre for the last couple of decades. If you like vampires, here are 25 anime to add to your watchlist.
Humans have always been scared of what lurks in the dark. You don’t see them coming, and you wouldn’t think to defend against them since they look so human. Vampire anime often depicts monsters who long to be men, while others only view humans as their next meal.
Throughout the past couple of decades, the lore of vampires has been so omnipresent and so pervasive, continually rising in popularity, that it is difficult to think of another supernatural creature more adored and more impressive. By contributing considerable material to the subgenre, manga, light novels, anime, and OVAs have clearly been part of the great vampire tradition.
In all these list entries, audiences can observe beautiful animation, strong plots, and complex characters, despite the fact the powers, weaknesses, and origin myths of vampires can change depending on the creator. Thus, it is easy to understand why creators and fans are continually drawn to the subgenre.
There are dozens of shows in this subgenre to choose from, so fans can find a show that fits their taste. Additional titles mentioned on this list range from coming-of-age comedies to gore-filled horror.
It’s slim pickings when it comes to great vampire anime, so check out what we’ve come up for you below so you don’t have to waste your time sorting through all the duds!
1. JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken
Dario Brando helped save the life of an English nobleman, George Joestar, in 1868. George hopes to repay his savior by taking in Dio, Dario’s son when the boy becomes fatherless. However, Dio longs for ownership of the Joestar house, unsatisfied with his life’s station.
Using an Aztec stone mask with supernatural properties, he sets out to destroy George and his son, Jonathan “JoJo” Joestar, causing a chain of events that will endure for years to come.
The grandson of Jonathan Joestar discovers the legacy his grandfather left him half a century later, in New York City. Archeologists unearth the truth behind the stone mask and realize he is the only one who can defeat the Pillar Men, mystical beings of immense power who unwittingly started everything.
The thrilling adventures of JoJo and his descendants are presented in JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken. A variety of bizarre adventures await, whether it’s facing off against the evil Dio or combating the sinister Pillar Men.
There’s a dark comical element to this show, but it also has wacky and serious elements, and it has a great ability to switch between those two.
This anime has a very well-developed story and characters that feel natural, with a lot of different strengths and weaknesses throughout the show. An anime full of style, charisma, and self-awareness, this title proves that you don’t need complexity to create an engaging story, so long as you’re committed and there’s passion behind it.
2. Bakemonogatari
During a vampire attack, Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student, manages to escape with Meme Oshino, a strange man living in an unoccupied building. After being saved from vampirism and becoming human again, several side effects still remain, such as superhuman healing powers and enhanced vision.
Tsubasa Hanekawa, Araragi’s best friend and class president, tries to make him feel like a normal student.
Araragi discovers that his classmate Hitagi Senjougahara appears to be unnaturally light when she falls down the stairs. Senjougahara protests, but Araragi insists that he help her, deciding to enlist the help of Oshino, the man who had once helped him with a similar situation.
Throughout several tales featuring demons and gods, Bakemonogatari follows Araragi as he attempts to help those suffering from supernatural maladies.
The storyline of Bakemonogatari follows Araragi as he tries to help those suffering from supernatural problems through several tales involving demons and gods.
In Bakemonogatari, the main characters are unique and complex. There is an overarching plot that is delicately threaded throughout each of the individual arcs in Bakemonogatari. All of the characters are directly or indirectly connected to one another. We learn about the specific affliction of each girl in each arc.
This would mean long, drawn-out expository dialogue that lacked personality and charisma in other shows. Bakemonogatari, however, is unlike other anime shows. Thanks to its visuals and dialogue complementing each other so well, every interaction is fascinating.
The characters’ interactions are always entertaining; we learn about their personalities, motivations, and beliefs by participating in seemingly pointless conversations.
3. Owari no Seraph
As a result of a mysterious virus that kills everyone over the age of 13, mankind is enslaved by previously hidden and power-hungry vampires, who subjugate humanity by promising to protect the survivors in exchange for their blood.
Among the survivors are Yuuichirou and Mikaela Hyakuya, two young boys who are taken captive from an orphanage, as well as other children whom they consider family. Mikaela, fed up with being treated like livestock under the vampires’ tyranny, devises a rebellious escape plan that is ultimately doomed to fail.
Yuuichirou is the only survivor of the vampire outbreak, who is discovered by the Moon Demon Company, a military unit dedicated to eliminating vampires in Japan.
Yuuichirou, now a member of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, is determined to take revenge on the monsters who murdered his family, but at what cost?
In Owari no Seraph, a young man searches for retribution, all the while battling for friendship and loyalty against seemingly impossible odds.
You won’t be dropped in the middle of the story when watching this anime. Rather, it establishes a background tale, a way to narrate past events. As we learn quickly, vampires treat humans as trash, and some of them only live because they have blood. The vampires rely on it as a food source, so it’s a classic gimmick.
The show basically sets up a war-like atmosphere between humans and vampires. While Yuuichirou is the main character, the show introduces other characters he meets as he trains to become stronger.
4. Hellsing Ultimate
In the night, there are creatures of darkness and evil that devour any human unfortunate enough to be caught in their clutches. Hellsing, meanwhile, is an organization dedicated to eliminating the supernatural forces that threaten humanity. A powerful military is commanded by Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who spends her life-fighting undead.
Despite her massive army, however, Integra’s greatest weapon remains Alucard, a vampire who is working against his own kind as Hellsing’s exterminator. Alucard’s new vampire servant, Seras Victoria, is at his side as he faces not only monsters but all those who stand against Hellsing, whether they are good or evil.
Hellsing Ultimate demonstrates that appearances are not all they seem, and sometimes the greatest weapon is the worst nightmare.
Hellsing Ultimate tells the story of a vampire hunting other vampires. There are many fascinating characters inhabiting this rich and rewarding universe. The story moves at a breakneck pace throughout the 40-minute episodes, setting up one conflict after another.
This is exactly the kind of anime that can keep you panting for the next episode. A very well-knit product, it encompasses intrigue, betrayal, conspiracy, gore, sarcastic humor, and plenty of ass-kicking action. Each of the characters in this anime has their own unique style, and they deliver it well.
Expect top-grade art and animation quality from this anime. The fight scenes are very smooth, and the blood and gore are portrayed very well. From the explosions to exploding heads, there is not much that can be said.
5. Vanitas no Karte
The vampire Vanitas grew afraid and desolate after being mocked for being born during a blue moon. There is a legend that he created a cursed grimoire known as the “Book of Vanitas” and that he would use it to bring vengeance upon all vampires of the crimson moon.
It is 19th century Paris when Noé Archiviste searches for the fabled Book of Vanitas. A doctor named Vanitas, a vampire hunter carrying the very tome he seeks, saves him from a vampire attack while he is on an airship.
The self-proclaimed vampire specialist is a mere human who inherited both his name and the book from the same Vanitas of legend. In the odd case of the Charlatan’s Parade, the doctor’s ability to restore sanity to vampires by recovering their true name will prove to be most beneficial.
As a character, Vanitas is self-assured and full of personality. Playful, sarcastic, and mischievous are the characteristics of his personality.
Based on emotions, he is a difficult character to read. Sometimes, you have to wonder if he can be taken seriously. Despite this, Vanitas’ role reveals he knows more than we think and has an important connection with his book. One of the highlights of this anime is the relationship between him and Noe and their conflicting personalities.
Despite Vanitas no Carte’s various degrees of light humor, it must be taken seriously. Behind the humor lies a dark secret. Our understanding of vampire origins, the purpose of the Book of Vanitas, and even some secrets may surprise us.
6. Vampire Hunter D
In the story, D is a “dhampir,” the offspring of a human father and a vampire mother, and a renowned hunter of vampires. Known for his prowess in hunting the creatures of the night, he is called upon to locate Charlotte Elbourne, an affluent family’s daughter who is mysteriously missing.
The hunt continues when the sun sets! It is Charlotte’s father who offers the bounty, be she alive or dead, a task that D happily accepts, even when a gang of bounty hunters, including the Markus brothers, are pursuing the prize as well.
A sinister evil has been secretly manipulating every move they make and has set a trap no one will expect, and few will survive in the midst of the frenzied chase. When the tables turn, and the secrets are revealed, the hunters could quickly become the hunted!
Despite its simplicity on the surface, the plot contains many layers of character development. All the central characters in this film exude charm and style from beginning to end. Vampire Hunter D is one of those rare anime movies that delivers everything and then some.
It might not be the first anime to feature vampires, but it certainly portrays them in a way that was at the time incredibly intriguing and presented a vampire anime experience unlike any other.
Even though these characters begin as usual archetypes for the supernatural vampire/hunter genre, they break out of that mold by the end of the film.
7. Kekkai Sensen
For years, Hellsalem’s Lot, formerly known as New York City, has been home to supernatural creatures of all kinds, including supersonic monkeys, vampires, talking fishmen, and many others. New Yorkers, as well as creatures from the Other Dimension, found themselves in an impenetrable bubble when a gateway between the Earth and Beyond opened three years ago.
A secret organization consisting of eccentrics and superhumans, Libra’s mission is to keep order in the city and ensure chaos does not spread to the rest of the world.
Leonardo Watch lives with his parents and sister while pursuing photography as a hobby. His sister’s eyesight was lost by obtaining the “All-seeing Eyes of the Gods,” so he goes to Hellsalem’s Lot to find out about the mysterious powers he received.
In no time, he runs into Libra, and when Leo joins their ranks unexpectedly, he gets more than he bargained for. The story of Kekkai Sensen follows Leo’s misadventures in the strangest place on Earth with his equally strange comrades, as the ordinary boy unwittingly experiences something extraordinary.
Kekkai Sensen makes great use of its world when it comes to telling its story. The possibilities are endless in this twisted version of New York City.
With its artistic flair and character writing, the show embodies what made New York City an ideal melting pot of cultures and ideas. The show includes the diverse cast of characters, the diverse music genres, the diverse population of monsters, the superhumans, and the diverse stories they tell.
8. Rosario to Vampire
Students at Youkai Academy are monsters learning to coexist with humans in a seemingly normal boarding school. Students attend classes in human form and take normal academic subjects, such as literature, gym, foreign language, and mathematics. However, there is one rule at Youkai Academy, all humans found on school grounds will be executed immediately!
As a result of his bad grades, Tsukune Aono cannot enter any high school. In a last-ditch attempt to ensure his education, his parents enroll him at Youkai Academy.
Unknowingly, Tsukune runs into Moka Akashiya, the most attractive girl on campus, as he enters this new world. In order to grow closer to Moka, he decides to stay in the perilous realm, not realizing that beneath her beauty lies a menacing creature – a vampire.
Tsukune’s romantic adventures, experiences, and misadventures with a variety of beautiful but dangerous creatures are explored in Rosario to Vampire, a supernatural school comedy.
Rosario to Vampire is a supernatural comedy about Tsukune’s romantic adventures and misadventures with beautiful but dangerous creatures.
This anime follows a set of rules in every episode. Tsukune and Moka are in love, and when a challenger shows up, Moka beats the crap out of them. As in every harem series, there is a list of waifus. There is a distinct personality for each monster.
Like a well-assembled puzzle, everything just fits. As a whole, it is entertaining. Having a group of characters with a variety of personalities is crucial when watching something. Rosario to Vampire is diverse because it features many different personalities.
9. Blood Lad
The vampire Staz Charlie Blood rules the eastern district of Demon World. He is thought to be a bloodthirsty and merciless monster, but in reality, he is just an otaku obsessed with Japanese culture and totally uninterested in human blood.
Instead of managing his territory, Staz spends his days watching anime, reading manga, and playing games.
Staz is overjoyed when Fuyumi Yanagi, a Japanese girl, accidentally crosses into the demon world through a portal. Just as he is starting to feel a strange attraction to her, his territory is attacked, resulting in Fuyumi’s untimely death.
When Staz realizes she has turned into a ghost, he vows to resurrect her so that he can travel to the human world, which he has always wanted to do.
In Blood Lad, Staz and Fuyumi are soon joined by the spatial magician Bell and the half-werewolf Wolf as they search for the magic that can bring humans back to life.
In the series, the vampire theme is twisted into a humorous tale. Both our main characters have a fun journey and one hell of a ride. Blood Lad presents the supernatural relevantly well. Although not as grim as some series, this anime portrays Staz as a vampire with supernatural abilities.
Blood Lad is a very enjoyable series to watch. It shouldn’t be taken seriously, despite its premise. In fact, there are many moments in this series where the fights and moments are portrayed as parodies rather than anything too serious.
10. Strike the Blood
As a high school student in the Demon District of Itogami Island, Kojou Akatsuki’s days as a typical student are abruptly ended by a fateful encounter that leaves him with the remarkable abilities of a vampire.
After discovering that he is the fourth primogenitor, an immensely powerful vampire who most regard as merely a legend, he becomes the center of attention. Kojou’s destructive potential has led the Lion King Organization to send an apprentice sword-shaman, Yukina Himeragi, to keep an eye on him and kill him if he becomes a threat.
Together, as Kojou struggles to come to terms with his powers and they work to protect the city from various chaos forces, the two form an unlikely alliance.
It is not just about the lead male who also happens to be a vampire. The whole cast plays a part. While the storyline isn’t the most original, it flows smoothly. The actual plot of this anime is interesting and is a new take on something that has been done many times before. Despite the fact that the storyline and plot are truly absorbing, there aren’t too many fillers or confusing plot twists.
The episodes are captivating and entertaining! Well-developed characters and well-defined relationships between them! Kojou’s character may seem a little two-dimensional, but overall she’s a very likable, handsome, smart, and brave main character.
Kojou aside, the lead female protagonist Yukina is a very responsible girl who takes her job seriously. Her way of thinking is well-developed and very enjoyable to see throughout the show.
11. Vampire Knight
There are two distinct classes at Cross Academy: the Day Class and the Night Class. Yuuki Cross and Zero Kiryuu both serve on the disciplinary committee.
They are responsible for maintaining order between classes when they switch out. Though it may appear to be a simple task, Day Class students are unaware that the Night Class is populated by vampires.
Kaname Kuran, a Pureblood vampire, rescued Yuuki ten years ago from a vampire attack. The Night Class is now led by Kaname, and Yuuki’s position on the disciplinary committee allows her to see him again, which complicates her feelings for him.
Meanwhile, Zero harbors a fierce hatred for vampires and believes they can never coexist peacefully with humans. The fragile peace at the academy is soon threatened by a secret from Zero’s past, and things might never be the same as they once were.
There are many events in the story that allow for emotional growth, character development, and, of course, romance. There is something happening in the anime, but you can’t put your finger on what it is. You will also notice that the characters, as well as the story, are evolving with each episode. It takes some time to understand everything.
This is a fantastic anime for fans of vampire stories with a romantic element. Once you get to know the characters, you’ll fall in love with them! Along with Yuki, Zero, and Kaname, you also get to meet other Night-Class members.
12. Shiki
Despite having dreams of a glamorous life in the big city, fifteen-year-old Megumi Shimizu’s death in the small village of Sotoba marks the start of what appears to be an epidemic that turns the hot summer into a bloodbath.
Toshio Ozaki, a young doctor, begins to doubt the nature of the disease and realizes to find the truth, he must abandon his humanity. During this time, Natsuno Yuuki, the antisocial youth from the city, must face the pain of friendship in the face of the sudden death of Megumi. Together, Toshio and Natsuno work to save Sotoba before it is turned into a ghost town of vampires.
Shiki goes beyond the typical vampire story. There is no easy division of good and evil in this tragic tale about survival. As the vampires are abandoned by God, they have only their will to live as they fight with the fear of the paranoid/unbelieving villagers. Shiki explores the line between man and monster.
There is quite a deep plot to this series, and while there is a degree of predictability about the storyline, this is balanced with some good scripting and a more reasoned narrative approach.
The main strength of this series is characterization; every single role is clearly defined. The advantage to this is that it’s not always necessary to develop an already well-defined character. There is some growth in the series, but what’s most interesting in this anime is the way the characters adjust and adapt to the events.
13. Demi-chan wa Kataritai
Tetsuo Takahashi may be your average high school biology teacher, but he is fascinated by the “Ajin,” or “Demi,” half-humans and half-monsters who have integrated into human society. Takahashi believes little about these hybrid creatures will be known until he encounters them personally.
This anime follows Takahashi and his three Demi students, Hikari Takanashi, a vampire with a lot of energy; Kyouko Machi, a dullahan with a gentle side; and Yuki Kusakabe, a snow woman with a nervous temper. Sakie Satou, a succubus who has an aversion towards men, is also met along the way by Takahashi.
In order to learn more about the Demi, Takahashi conducts casual interviews with the girls to learn about their abilities, psyches, and interaction with human society. Takahashi soon learns that the Demi are not as unusual as he initially thought.
Demi-chan wa Kataritai seems like a harmless slice of life with some supernatural elements. Some might simply dismiss it as another moe-fest destined for the backlog, as it’s filled with all the typical tropes. Don’t be fooled! Despite its generic premise, this anime contains likable characters, great social commentary, and the right dosage of comedy.
What makes these characters entertaining aren’t their abnormalities but rather their struggles in coping with them to adapt to human society. Rather than simply being demi-humans for the sake of vanity, the characters in Demi-chan wa Kataritai learn to deal with problems arising from their irregularities. It’s an interesting formula that always provides each new episode with a fresh perspective.
14. Blood+
In Okinawa City, Saya Otonashi lives with her adoptive family and seems to lead a mundane life. Her only peculiarity is suffering from anemia and being unable to remember anything beyond the previous year.
Nevertheless, Saya’s forgotten past comes back to haunt her one night when she gets attacked at school by a creature that feeds off human blood. A mysterious man named Haji appears just as all hope seems lost and temporarily fends off the creature. When her rescuer forced her to drink his blood, Saya suddenly entered a trance and slew the monster with ease, utilizing her own blood as a catalyst.
As a result, Saya discovers an organization named Red Shield, created for the sole purpose of defeating the hellish beasts. Saya and Haji must now work together with Red Shield to uncover the secrets of the girl’s past and fight these fearsome monsters.
The story is dark, sad, and action-packed. Every battle has a reason other than just being yet another battle; it’s not just one brawl after another; it strengthens your resolve as well as your emotions. The story is complex but simple enough to follow without too much thought.
There is no doubt that this anime has one of the best character developments; you will be enthralled by how the characters change throughout the series. They’re deep, three-dimensional characters, and their relationships with each other are fascinating.
All in all, Blood+ is among the best series in the vast world that is anime and a series you’ll enjoy watching.
15. Servamp
According to Mahiru Shirota, the best way to deal with trouble is to avoid it altogether. A 15-year-old, frustrated with his inaction, picks up a stray cat on the way home from school. The cat, Kuro, is affectionately named by him, but he has no idea how this chance encounter will change his everyday life.
Mahiru returns home one day to find something quite strange: a mysterious young man he has never seen before. As a result of his subsequent panic, the uninvited guest is exposed to sunlight and transforms into Kuro, much to Mahiru’s shock! Kuro promises to leave once night falls once he reveals himself to be a lazy shut-in vampire.
However, a series of unfortunate events leads to Mahiru accidentally creating a contract with this new freeloader, dragging him into a risky battle with supernatural servants and bloodthirsty beings.
It’s the characters in the anime that make it so interesting. The lazy personality of Kuro helps lighten the anime and make it easier for the viewer to consume.
Even though the story isn’t realistic in general about vampires, the MC displays realistic human emotion, which helps the viewer relate a little. By doing their jobs effectively, the supporting characters really bring the story to life.
You will be hooked by the plot development and suspense of this anime. Although this anime is not about a tragedy or a romance, it still makes you cry. This is an anime that leads you on with plot development and suspense.
16. Blood-C
A peaceful schoolgirl by day and a fearsome monster slayer by night, Saya Kisaragi leads a split existence. Armed with a ceremonial sword given to her by her father, she vanquishes every monster that threatens her village.
When she hears the monsters speak of a broken covenant – something she is not familiar with – Saya’s worldview is turned upside down. Suddenly, a strange dog appears; it asks her who she promised to protect the village, curious as to what would happen if she broke that promise.
As Saya experiences unexplainable visions and her world unravels around her, we travel with her through her struggle to find a way to the truth in a village where nothing is as it seems.
If you like the type of horror which is more psychological than just pop-outs, this show is for you. During the first half of Blood C, you will be immersed in the surreal setting and life of the show. The first four episodes or so might seem pretty dull because they are monotonous, but what you don’t realize is that this is all for a very good reason, which comes later.
It does a good job of creating a very unnerving atmosphere; you can’t place your finger on exactly what is wrong with this town. Despite seemingly innocuous events, an eerie tension persists, a tension that’s about to snap, and yet you do not know when or how.
17. Jitsu wa Watashi wa
Asahi Kuromine learns that the girl he is in love with, Youko Shiragami, is actually a vampire after he stumbles upon that fact one day after school. Youko is now required to quit school by her father in order to keep her family safe.
Asahi, however, does not wish her to leave and assures her that he will keep her true nature a secret. However, Asahi is an easy man to read, and he is incapable of keeping secrets from himself.
His troubles are only just beginning, as more supernatural beings enter his life, and he must protect their identities or suffer the consequences. Asahi struggles to keep his mouth shut as he deals with his new friends and the challenges they bring while also attempting to win Youko’s heart.
An anime like this is refreshing. It follows a simple story that is easy to follow without emotional commitment. It’s a pallet-cleanser anime. It delivers refreshingly light humor that will let you just relax while you watch it. The credit to much of that is the timing of its jokes, as well as the pacing of the story.
The characters in this anime are all likable, and they each have their own traits, making them easy to distinguish from each other. Not only does each character have their backstories, but they are also mostly part of each episode, and no one gets left out.
18. Devils Line
As a part of society’s underbelly, vampires walk among us. While they do not need blood to survive, extreme emotions can increase their bloodlust and turn them into uncontrollable monsters. Following a tense confrontation with Yuuki Anzai, a hybrid of a vampire and a human, Tsukasa Taira, a 22-year-old university student, discovers the existence of vampires when her longtime friend reveals himself to be one of them.
When her friend is arrested, Tsukasa finds herself drawn to Anzai, who reluctantly reciprocates her feelings. The unconventional romance may be too difficult for Anzai to maintain, as he cannot control his desire to devour Tsukasa.
It’s an interesting story, but it’s been told before. However, some new twists are added to the story that makes it different from other series covering the same material. They really sell you on the struggle when the main character’s vampire half takes over; not only are those around him actually in danger, but he isn’t always in control.
As a child, vampires and devils made you cry because they were scary, frightening, horrifying, even spine-chilling. The show succeeds at capturing the dark world in which the story takes place; devils are threatening creatures that the characters are constantly reminded of.
The characters are compelling and realistic; the main cast has an interesting dynamic that works well off the dark setting. Overall, this is a pretty good anime and definitely one that enjoyers of this genre should add to their lists.
19. Dance in the Vampire Bund
Mina Tepes, the queen of vampires, reveals to the world the existence of her species and announces plans to build a sanctuary for vampires in Japan. She has been given permission to build this safe haven for her fellow creatures of the night by paying off the nation’s debt with her family’s wealth.
The queen’s announcement, however, doesn’t sway everyone, as some humans think her commitment to peace is merely a facade.
As a vampire skeptic, Akira Kaburagi gets uneasy whenever the subject is brought up, although he has yet to understand why. Apart from a head injury he suffered a year ago, he lived a blissful life until he met Mina. She prompts him to remember a life he had long forgotten, and he soon begins protecting her without realizing why.
However, Akira’s secret is much stranger than he ever could have imagined: he discovers that he is a werewolf, sworn to protect the vampire queen at all costs, no matter what the cost. The two discover just how deep their bond is as they dance the rondo of death in the Vampire Bund.
Unlike most vampire stories, Vampire Bund does not seem to be trapped in one time frame. The story of the vampire Bund spans centuries of vampire history and glory and the darkness within. Moreover, it shows that vampires are not just creatures sleeping in coffins locked away in the middle ages but also advanced in technology and culture as humans do.
20. Sirius
The year is 1930, and vampires have infiltrated Tokyo to feast on its unsuspecting citizens. The result is that the city’s authorities hire the Jaegers, a strange, diverse team of individuals sent around the world by the V Shipping Company to hunt down vampires. With musical instrument cases to conceal their identities, the Jaegers battle the vampires with the same level of mercilessness.
A vampire raid on Yuliy’s home village has left him the only survivor of the Jaegers’ most skilled warriors. With the help of his werewolf blood, he assists Tokyo’s law enforcement with the city’s vampire problem.
The Jaegers, under the pretense of helping the police, are actually fighting the vampires over the mystical Ark of Sirius. The artifact can change the destiny of the world, so Yuliy and his friends need to find it before the vampires are able to use it for destructive purposes.
A beautiful setting of the 1930s marks the spot of Sirius very early in the show. Tokyo’s dark domain looks and feels like it’s time for a revolution. Most vampire stories today resemble soap operas and are very niche. The story takes on a darker tone of revenge and self-discovery in this show.
Our first impression of vampires is that they are ravenous monsters with little regard for mortality. They are beings who desire to eat and kill humans for their own self-interest. There are some vampires in the series who are more sophisticated than others, but most, if not all, have an insatiable appetite.
21. Trinity Blood
Humanity faces yet another threat after Armageddon, an apocalyptic war: vampires. Confrontations between races have caused the world to be divided into separate factions. The vampire race, Methuselah, is affiliated with the New Human Empire. The Vatican Papal State consists of the humans, deemed Terrans by the vampires.
Despite efforts by these factions to avoid direct conflict, extremist groups such as Rosenkreuz Order try to rekindle a war.
The Vatican has established the AX unit to combat terrorist organizations. The AX agents, led by Cardinal Caterina Sforza, investigate vampire-related disturbances with the hope of one day achieving peaceful coexistence between the Terrans and the Methuselah.
As a member of the AX unit, priest Abel Nightroad is a seemingly disoriented yet gentle-hearted man who is a fierce vampire slayer. Sister Esther Blanchett joins the unit as his partner, a brave and kind young nun with a tragic past.
They begin to uncover signs of malicious schemes and dark forces working in the shadows as they grow closer. Their path is marked by misfortune, and the memories that plague their hearts might just force them to confront them.
Throughout the series, Trinity Blood has a consistent and deep plotline that engages; it reveals an ample amount of information for its run but is also simple to understand.
Throughout the series, there is some major character development. There are several flashbacks and isolated thinking scenes that reveal much more of the characters. Character development is the real strong point of this anime. It is the very thing that gets you hooked to this anime.
22. Dance with Devils
It is quite a shock for Ritsuka Tachibana to be summoned by the student council, as she has always been a good student. Moreover, they seem to view Ritsuka as a troublemaker. Rem Kaginuki, the handsome leader of the student council—which also includes Shiki Natsumizaka, Urie Sogami, and Mage Nanashiro, they try to question her, but it soon becomes evident that they have ulterior motives.
However, this is just the beginning. When Ritsuka’s mother is kidnapped, her life is turned upside down, and she falls into a world of vampires and devils. In both groups, there is a search for the “Grimoire,” a forbidden item that enables its owner to rule the world.
Even her brother Lindo, who has returned from overseas, seems to be hiding something. Ritsuka finds herself in a world filled with secrets, while the handsome and dangerous students on the student council vie for her attention.
The plot is rather simple. Our first impression is that we don’t understand why she is being pursued by these people, but like any decent show, it slowly fills us in on the details.
Ritsuka, the main character, has a strong personality and stays true to herself until the very end, and she is also very relatable. The boys are not only handsome but also very interesting as well. Each of them has his own personality, which you can either like or dislike.
The character designs are well suited to the characters’ personalities. They are all very distinct and unique. The character development is nothing short of splendid, and it makes you change your initial opinions on the characters.
23. Mars Red
Tokyo is swept up in a vampire crisis in the year 1923. As a result of the illegal trade of “Ascra,” artificial blood, the population of vampires begins to increase in the city rapidly. Lieutenant General Sounosuke Nakajima orders the Special Forces Unit 16 to gather vampires within the military to create Code Zero, an undercover vampire-hunting unit.
Colonel Yoshinobu Maeda leads the unit. In charge of locating the source of the Ascra trade as well as capturing and killing vampires, he is under increasing pressure to deliver results in the face of growing criticism that threatens the unit’s decommissioning.
As a result, the vampires within the unit are unsure of their new identities and powers now that they are no longer human. The Code Zero team must find a way to stop the crisis or else fall victim to their own demonic nature.
The anime doesn’t treat its audience like idiots – you’ve got to pay attention to the small details and subtleties to truly appreciate it.
Mars Red has one of the best opening episodes ever seen in anime. The writing is simply brilliant, for it introduces to us enough pieces of an entangling mystery for us to figure out what happens.
The anime doesn’t tell or explain to you what happens; it shows you what happens through subtle, cryptic dialogue or facial expressions and lets you infer the rest. All in all, this is an amazing anime, a truly unique experience found nowhere else.
24. Yami no Matsuei
Paperwork and criminals persist even after death. Shinigami Tsuzuki Asato is 26 years old and a happy-go-lucky dorky guy who makes sure those who are dead stay dead and stay in their proper realms. Although he has been at this job for over 70 years, he is in the worst division with terrible pay.
Since shinigami work in pairs, he also lacks the ability to keep a partner, but he does have one that sticks around now; Kurosaki Hisoka, a stubborn, smart-mouthed, serious, and defensive 16-year-old. Each time they investigate a case, they get closer to discovering the conspiracies of serial killer Dr. Muraki Kazutaka. The relationship between Tsuzuki and Hisoka is growing stronger and closer, but there is a dark past to how Tsuzuki died which will keep him from finding peace.
All the characters are interesting enough. Although it falls into the trap of non-original characters for its background cast, and it’s not really a bad thing. The two main characters are likable and a mystery to us at first. This means we start to wonder how they got to where they are today, and eventually leads to us caring about them. In turn, they become more interesting to learn about.
Though Tsuzuki can be childish and playful at times, he is still a mature adult, so it’s nice to see him as a lead. He’s even admirable at times. While angsty, Hisoka is not annoying. He has a very interesting and thought-out history. It explains his character and what makes him tick.
25. Diabolik Lovers
Yui Komori, at her father’s behest, moves into a secluded mansion, where the six Sakamaki brothers live: Shuu, Reiji, Ayato, Kanato, Laito, and Subaru. Although initially puzzled as to why the girl has arrived, the siblings soon realize that she will be their new “sacrificial bride,” in addition to their more carnal intentions for her.
Yui soon starts to wonder why her father would send her here and why she feels a strange pain in her chest after meeting the brothers. Yui’s life as a captive takes harrowing turns as each of her brothers becomes crueler than the last. Yui spirals deeper and deeper into madness and ecstasy as her days turn into endless nights and her brothers vow to make her their own.
There is a lot of fluff in the beginning, but as the show goes on, the plot becomes more apparent. Although the beginning of this anime may have left you thinking the anime is shallow, the ending proves you wrong, being extremely satisfying and unexpectedly touching.
This anime is best known for its characters. The characters are well-rounded and realistic. The vampires are exactly what you would expect a vampire to be, sadistic and hungry. The female lead is also realistic, not some perfect, brave, strong hero out to save the world—just an ordinary but still special girl.