Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2001)

Charlotte Elbourne has been kidnapped by the vampire Meier Link. Her father, desperate to see his daughter returned to him has called upon the services of the most dangerous vampire hunter ever to walk the earth. His name is D. It is D’s mission to rescue Charlotte and bring her back to her father. This time however, D has some competition. While D's reputation precedes him, the Marcus Brothers are regarded as the best of the best. They've killed hundreds of vampires and they have never failed a single mission. Yet still, there is more to this kidnapping than our would-be heroes know. It is a race against time as D competes with rival hunters, the powerful Meier Link, and his own nature.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is an elegantly woven tale that continues the exploits of one of the most enigmatic characters of all-time. It also improves upon the original by providing a deeper view into D’s personality, showing us how D relates to the world around him, and even greater variety in how other characters in this world see D and his kind. The interplay of good and evil in the central confrontation also takes forms not often seen in the genre.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is based on the third novel in the series entitled Demon Deathchase. D is present but the third book mostly centers around the Marcus Brothers who are completely different from they are in Bloodlust. Demon Deathchase is dark even in comparison to the other novels while the film is almost entirely absent of certain mature content in the novel. With that in mind, the liberties that were taken with the source material gives the film a different and much more enjoyable experience. The film also places a greater emphasis not only on D but the relationship between D and the other characters. The changes that were made served to better the story while at the same time, preserving the original plot.

Bloodlust explores the relationship between Charlotte, Meier, and D. If any approximation can be made of Charlotte's and Meier's situation it would be they are star-crossed lovers, and D is willing to destroy what ever bond they think they have. In D's eyes vampires are an abomination, and the very thought that love can bloom between a human and a vampire is not only incredulous but something D sees as impossible.

There is also a captivating relationship between D and Leila as well. Leila sees D in the same manner D himself sees Meier Link. In Leila's eyes D is a monster that cannot and should not be trusted by proxy of having vampiric blood, half-breed though he is. While Leila shows ill-intention towards D he never regards her as a threat or even competition. When Leila is nearly killed, D tends to her wounds with little hesitation and without expecting anything in return simply because he is that kind of person. The major thread in the relationship between Leila and D is not so much a matter of love as it is respect. Circumstances bring the pair together and changes how at least one of them sees the other.

Bloodlust shares the techno-frontier setting familiar to the novel and 1985 film. The environments are created with such stunning attention to detail that it's easy to believe one can touch them. Whether the characters are in small towns, forests, glades, or castles everything is simply stunning and it's truly a feat of animation as quite simply there isn't a single anime on the market that looks even half as good as this. The clothing effects, hair movement, rippling grass, flowing streams of water, even the characters' reflections are a testament to Japanese animation and it looks like you're watching a moving painting.

Similar to the art and animation, the voice acting in the film is in a class of its own. Bloodlust wasn't dubbed in Japanese then re-dubbed with an English translation when it first released. Rather, the English dub came first and the script and animation was made with the English voice acting in mind. There is no noticeable delay in lip-synching, the dialogue is written very well, and conversations flow naturally between characters, not just because of a solid script but because the conversations themselves are delivered by an amazing cast who keep the personalities of their characters at the forefront of their performance.

Wendee Lee is no stranger to voice acting and she delivered a knockout performance as Charlotte Elbourne. While she shares the spotlight with lesser known voice actors their performance is nothing short of incredible.

Meier Link was voiced by John Rafter Lee who conveyed the regal dignity of a classical vampire. In addition, he was also able to capture a certain emotional quality of the loneliness some vampires feel after living so long and becoming disenchanted with eternal life.

Pamela Adlon does a good job portraying Leila as an extremely headstrong hunter. This woman is tough as jerky and harbors an intense hatred of vampires. This hatred seems to waver albeit slightly after meeting D, and Adlon did an smashing job to portray the ebb and flow of Leila’s emotions.

Andrew Philpot however steals the show. His lines though few, speak volumes of D's character. Philpot has a deep, almost darkly melodic voice which helps to tell D's story in its own right. Philpot balances D's angst with the character's determination and sense of purpose. D is thought to be an emotionless character but this has always been due to the fact that D believes actions speak louder than words. However, Philpot's performance gives a view into not only who D is but what D has been through. It's one thing to give us the idea of a character, it's another matter entirely to help us understand what makes the character what it is, and Philpot does this exceedingly well.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust brought anime into the the new millennium with style, depth, and intensity on a level that few if any anime can match. Even if you've never been a fan of Vampire Hunter D or anime in general, every movie lover owes it to themselves to see this title. It's half animated and half amazing.

Vampire Hunter D (1985)

Vampire Hunter D takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where the world has long since been devastated by nuclear war. When the last bomb was dropped and the remnants of mankind emerged from the destruction so did something else. All manner of supernatural creatures emerged from from the ether, animals and some humans mutated from the fall out, but the worst of all was the advent of the vampires. No one knows where they came from or why they are here. The human race didn't have time to ask these questions because just as they had come back from the brink of extinction, they were once again fighting for their lives.

Nearly a millennium after the war against the vampires ended with the victory of the humans, mutants and supernatural creatures still posed a constant threat and some say, somewhere out there still exists the last vestiges of the vampire race. Only one man stands between the forces of the dark and mankind. He is a Dhamphir; half-vampire and half-human. Walking between the worlds but rejected by both, he will not rest until every last vampire has been destroyed.

He is The Hunter.

He is D.

Vampire Hunter D started as a series of novels written by famed author Hideyuki Kikuchi. Kikuchi-san noted that western movies and Bram Stoker were among his inspirations for the work. At the time of this writing there are more than twenty Vampire Hunter D novels in print and many of them have been translated and sold in America. You can find them at just about any online book retailer including Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, and many others. The 1985 film is based on the first Vampire Hunter D novel. Before we continue it should be said that while this review is safe for work, the anime is not for kids. Most anime isn't but this one is certainly meant for the teens to adults.

The script is solid and stays true to the source material as it was Hideyuki Kikuchi who oversaw the creation of this movie and he ensured that it closely followed the novel it's based on. This works marvelously well as Vampire Hunter D stays true to it’s source material and Hideyuki Kikuchi was able to have his work reach a wider audience.

The film opens and we meet Doris Lang, a skilled hunter in her own right protecting her land from mutants until she encounters something far more terrifying; Count Magnus Lee. In the next seen we see our dark hero riding into town like a cowboy draped in nightmares. D encounters Doris Lang who attacks almost without warning. This minor distraction barely slows our hero down as he continues on his way until Doris stops him and reveals she has been bitten. Within days she will be completely transformed into a vampire and it is only by killing the vampire who bit her can she be spared from the curse. D takes the job without hesitation and so our story begins in full.

Vampire Hunter D had a basic, but well-written plot loaded with one very big twist. The twist isn't what I revealed in the opening because they reveal D's mixed heritage in the first 20 minutes or so of the film. Rather than dwell on spoilers or non-spoilers it's worth exploring what the plot does right and these things are many. Unlike many anime today, VHD is very easy to follow - not because it in anyway is dumbed down but because the plot ties in very well with its setting. Vampires are evil. People hire vampire hunters to bring them down. What makes VHD work is that it's very plot driven but it also has a great cast of character that not only feel authentic to this world but actually make you care for them. Doris Lang doesn't feel at all out of place despite the feel of the industrial-frontier-punk world. She has a nice blend of believable heroine and sensitive female character who serves as something of a moral guide to her younger brother and even D at times. Doris also serves as something of a damsel in distress but it's not as outlandishly trite and offensive as some other female characters might be portrayed because for the most part Doris can hold her own physically and emotionally. But when dealing with the 5,000-year-old Count Magnus Lee, it's understandable that she's in over her head.

D is one of the earliest incarnations of the anime anti-hero - if not the first. While some aspects of his characterization stems from westerns which author and creator Hideyuki Kikuchi has mentioned were his inspirations, D is a type of character anime had not seen at this time. D rarely talks, opting to speak only when he has something worth saying, which is a very essential aspect of who he is. He doesn't have many people who are close to him and he doesn't labor to make bonds of any kind or even interact with others outside the demands of his job. He's always looking forward, always looking for something, and never slowing down to wait on those who would tarry to follow him.

Magnus Lee is every bit as villainous as you would expect from someone who terrorizes people because according to him, "It keeps me entertained." He doesn't sparkle, he doesn't cry, and he's not reciting poetry to Doris Lang. He is a stone cold villain whose heart is blacker than his cape and it works for him. What's interesting is that the contrast between Magnus Lee and Doris Lang isn't just a difference between pure good and pure evil, but it also shows the stark schism between how humans and vampires view the existence and each other respectively. It adds an intriguing dichotomy to the film that would not have worked if Magnus Lee was not the type of villain he was.

It's interesting to note that Vampire Hunter D addresses the issue of specism. Humans hate vampires and everything about them as they fear vampires are evil incarnate. At the same-time vampires feel as though humans are nothing more than cattle. D who is half and half, is caught right in the middle.  He has to live in a world where he is hated by both vampire and human alike.  In spite of that, D lives as he wants to live and does not allow himself to be bound by the prejudices of those around him.  “I am what I am. How you see others is of no concern to me.”

The voice acting is very good given the time this anime was dubbed (1988) and especially in comparison to some of the ear-gratingly awful dubs we get today. Even though this was one of the earlier anime to come to the states and the American actors weren't the most experienced crew, they really got a feel for their characters and brought something unique to the table. I actually find myself preferring the American voices over the Japanese seiyuu.  Michael McConnohie doesn't have many lines as D because D doesn't speak very often. When he does, his lines are delivered with a kind of determination, confidence, and even a hint of melancholy that characterizes D. In an interesting dynamic, D’s Japanese seiyuu is also very good but he portrayed D as a younger character than his American counterpart.

The animation is amazing for a movie this old. The movement of hair and clothing is very realistic, when they're outside of battle. VHD has the signature style of early anime with speedlines, technicolors zigzagging in the backgrounds, and the fact that D's cape seems to expand like wings whenever he leaps are very nice touches. If you grew up watching anime during the 80s and 90s these things are not only noticeable but make it all the more classic.

There is also a great deal of mist and a substantial amount of blood (which looks like fruit punch). The scenery transitions almost seamlessly from foreboding to beautiful. Most of the best imagery is drawn around D.  His fight between Rei-Gansei is especially spectacular.  It is dark and only the two can be seen.  After D blocks Rei’s kick, he throws Rei high into the air and jumps after him.  We see D’s cape and hair billowing magnificently while the moon is behind him causing Rei to look insignificant. The cels then show one side of D’s face, and then it switches to the other side, his hair and hat animating spectacularly.

The score in this anime is absolutely brilliant. It's moody, grim dark, but at the same-time there are tracks that are beautiful, and soothing if a bit repetitive at times. D's theme played at the end of the movie is one of the more simple tunes but also one of the best anime themes I've ever heard. It conveys the triumph and the tragedy, the magnificence and the sadness that is this character and when D rides off into the sunset it's a scene that sticks with you.

If you're a fan of classic anime, horror anime, or anime in general then I can't think of any reason you shouldn't pick this up.