As a storytelling medium, anime has no shortage of creative ideas. It’s also known for being unafraid of diving into dark corners of society and exploring mature themes and visceral action head-on. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that vampire stories are just as appealing in anime as in other mediums.
Anime not only embraces the lore surrounding vampires, but also infuses it with unique cultural interpretations. The narratives are usually emotionally and morally complex, and they depict vampires as tragic figures doomed to an existence of horror and violence. The most intriguing inner conflict they face is fighting their innate thirst for blood in the face of the lingering spirit of humanity. The stylish visuals and fluid animation make these mythical stories worth binging.
In this list, we take a look at 10 of the darkest and most engaging vampire anime available to stream online.
10 Dance in the Vampire Bund (2010)
Stream on Crunchyroll
Dance in the Vampire Bund can easily be watched in one day because it only consists of 12 episodes. It follows Mina Tepes, the ruler of all vampires, as she announces on live television her plans to form a separate country, a safe haven, for all vampires. While most of humanity agrees, Akira Kaburagi, who is repulsed by vampires, does not. After a chance encounter with Mina, Akira has a change of heart, and he finds himself unwittingly protecting Mina in every way possible.
A Lush and Guilty Treat
It goes without saying that the vampire genre is very interesting and appealing to mainstream audiences. What Dance in the Vampire Bund does to profit off this popularity is to tell a story so refreshing yet rooted in legend and myth that it’s impossible to look away from. Firstly, it celebrates femininity with its female vampire protagonist. Secondly, it provides equal doses of camp and carnage as Mina’s bubbly rebellion against vampire traditions leads to some surprising twists and turns.
9 Blood Lad (2013)
Stream on Hulu
Blood Lad
Release Date July 8, 2013
Cast Ryōhei Kimura , Yuuka Nanri , Iori Nomizu , Sarah Emi Bridcutt , Ryōta Ōsaka , Chiwa Saitô , Taichi Komesu , Kazutomi Yamamoto , Takuma Terashima , Tetsu Inada , Kenichirou Matsuda , Masumi Asano , Yûki Kaji , Eiichiro Tokumoto , Shuusaku Shirakawa , Kenji Roa , Kôji Yusa , Daisuke Kishio , Kotono Mitsuishi , Eiji Miyashita , Mariko Honda , Saeko Zogo , Norio Wakamoto , Keiji Fujiwara
Seasons 1
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Fans of Twilight, gather around, for we have a similar-themed anime recommendation for you. Blood Lad centers around Staz Charlie Blood, a vampire so powerful he basically rules the Demon World. However, he’s not entirely thrilled with his way of living and isn’t even fond of human blood. All he wants is to watch anime and play video games. When Staz meets Fuyumi Yanagi, a human girl who accidentally wandered into the demon realm, he is filled with joy. But Fuyumi gets killed, and now it’s up to Staz to resurrect her.
A Highly Entertaining Sleeper Hit
Usually, vampire anime series feature the blood-sucking creatures unwillingly embroiled in human drama, forced to use their special abilities to get out of their twisted reality. The story of Blood Lad is distinct because it explores Staz’s fish-out-of-water scenario and his obsession with being normal and cultivating a relationship with humans. It pokes fun at the genre and proves vampires can find new life beyond the darkness they inherit. Funny, romantic, and ambitious, it’s worth watching.
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8 Vampire Knight (2008)
Stream on Hulu
Based on the popular manga written and illustrated by Matsuri Hino, Vampire Knight is set against the backdrop of Cross Academy, a school split into Day Class and Night Class. Yuuki Cross and Zero Kiryuu are prefects at the academy and their job is to make sure that the students of the Day Class never learn about the fact that the Night Class actually houses vampires as students. But Zero’s ominous past threatens to break this balance and expose some secrets.
Features One of the Best Vampire Romances
Among vampire-themed romances in anime, Vampire Knight is highly regarded. It not only features a love triangle blooming amidst a thick veil of secrets but also immerses us in rich character drama and genuinely intriguing magical plot twists, thus subverting all the saccharine tropes of the shojo genre. As the characters navigate their dual lives, the conflict is heavy, but it only paves the way for emotional nuance and character development.
7 Blood Blockade Battlefront (2015)
Stream on Crunchyroll
Set against the backdrop of Hellsalem’s Lot, formerly known as New York City, Blood Blockade Battlefront familiarizes you with a world where monsters, magicians, vampires, and all sorts of fantastical creatures coexist with humanity. It’s a survival-of-the-fittest situation where the tough emerge as victorious. Leonardo Watch is the newest member of this city, who joins a peace-keeping organization called Libra, and uses his “All-seeing Eyes of the Gods” ability to protect those he loves.
A Must-Watch During Spooky Season
Blood Blockade Battlefront is one of the most creative anime series out there. It is overflowing with bizarre creatures that are also highly inventive, paying homage to weird science fiction. It is infused with glorious Shōnen tropes and the episodes are filled with immersive fight sequences. Fresh and colorful, its core story is what captivates audiences, because seeing Leonardo use his gift to create rich dynamics and fend enemies is unique and empowering.
6 Trinity Blood (2005)
Stream on Crunchyroll
Inspired by Sunao Yoshida’s light novels, Trinity Blood takes place in a future where, with Armageddon, another threat to humanity arrived – vampires. After a war, the two races formed different factions and lived separately to avoid conflict. Abel Nightroad, an otherwise gentle-hearted fellow but an unforgiving vampire slayer, works with other agents to thwart the terrorists’ attempts to break the peaceful alliance between humans and vampires.
Cult Hit That Deserves Its Spot
The story of Trinity Blood is confusing because of the characters and groups involved, but once you get the hang of it, the layered narrative only adds to the suspense and intrigue. The lavish production design combined with the gorgeous art and interesting vocals makes the world-building seamless. The series also progresses at a decent pace, with the character development being stark and thoughtful.
5 The Case Study of Vanitas (2021)
Stream on Hulu
The Case Study of Vanitas is set in an alternate steampunk version of 19th-century Paris. It first introduces us to the fabled vampire Vanitas, who was dismissed and abandoned by others of his kind, so he created a grimoire called the “Book of Vanitas,” in the hopes that it would one day heal all the cursed vampires. In the present day, a young vampire named Noé Archiviste is on a quest to find this book. He comes across Vanitas, a self-proclaimed vampire specialist who claims to be the official inheritor and keeper of the book.
Takes You on a Thoughtful and Unique Adventure
The anime surrounds itself with the immersive mystery of the legendary book, ultimately exploring how vampires find purpose beyond their fated existence. Based on a manga steeped in Gothic aesthetic, it is a supernatural slice-of-life series that focuses on demons that are both real and metaphorical. The animation is gorgeous, the soundtrack is haunting, and the combat scenes are flashy. It also works as a BL anime because of the intense chemistry between Noe and Vanitas. Overall, The Case Study of Vanitas is an addictive one.
4 Castlevania (2017)
Stream on Netflix
Release Date July 7, 2017
Seasons 2
If you’re entirely new to anime but have an appetite for dark, vampire-centric stories, Castlevania is just the show for you. It follows Trevor Belmont, one of the last remaining members of the disgraced Belmont clan in 1470s Transylvania, who teams up with a group of misfit comrades to save the nation from extinction at the hands of Dracula. Apparently, after his witch wife was burned at the stake, a grieving Dracula declared war on all humanity by unleashing an army of the undead upon them.
A Rewarding Iteration of a Gothic Classic
Adapted from the popular video game series, Castlevania is an enormously popular supernatural/dark fantasy series. It is gory for the most part, thoughtful for the remaining part. Through the eyes of a monster hunter and other sympathetic heroes, it delivers a fresh glimpse into the fate of the tyrannical Dracula. Lauded by critics as a “witty and self-aware” anime that expands its lore beyond a legendary duel, Castlevania is a phenomenal addition to both the horror genre and the animation medium.
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3 Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012)
Stream on Hulu
Release Date October 4, 2012
Cast David Vincent , Matthew Mercer , Daisuke Ono , Unshô Ishizuka , Tôru Ohkawa
Seasons 5
On the surface, Hirohiko Araki’s most influential supernatural action anime is nowhere close to being vampire-themed. But the shocking turn it takes in the said direction makes it a standout entry on this list. Spanning over a century and across generations of the Joestar bloodline, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure tells the story of George Joestar and his son Jonathan, who get locked into a deadly battle of wits with Dio Brando, the son of Dario Brando, whom they were indebted to. Dio intends to use his magic to steal the Joestar fortune, but Jonathan tries to protect it.
Delivers a Special Take on Vampirism
Like we said before, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has a camp exterior. But beneath the fantastic neon colors and unique art style is a thoughtful shounen exploration of mortality and what it means to inherit a family name. Looking at it from a vampiric point of view, the layered storytelling featured tropes like body manipulation and regeneration, adrenaline-pumping fight sequences, and lots of blood-sucking. The series spans five seasons, and while the concept of vampires is not present in all of them, it still does the work.
2 Seraph of the End (2015)
Stream on Apple TV+
Seraph of the End: A post-apocalyptic anime series that follows the story of Yuichiro Hyakuya, a young boy seeking revenge against vampires who have enslaved humanity. Set in a world where a mysterious epidemic wipes out most of the adult population, the show delves into themes of survival, loyalty, and the struggles between humans and vampires. The series combines elements of fantasy and action, presenting a gripping narrative.
Release Date April 4, 2015
Cast Miyu Irino , Kensho Ono , Yuichi Nakamura , Takahiro Sakurai , Saori Hayami , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Kaito Ishikawa , Yuka Iguchi , Aoi Yuki , Atsumi Tanezaki , Tatsuhisa Suzuki , Daisuke Ono , Takuma Nagatsuka , Yû Shimamura , Tomoaki Maeno , Hibiku Yamamura , Yui Ishikawa , Yuuichirou Umehara
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In a post-apocalyptic future where a mysterious virus has killed every adult on Earth, the only survivors who managed to get out are children. And even they are imprisoned in cities operating under the strict rule of power-hungry vampires Focusing mainly on the never-ending battle between vampires and humans, Seraph of the End follows Yuuichirou and Mikaela, two young boys who escaped captivity and join a rebellion dedicated to exterminating the vampires ruling Japan.
Hard to Stomach At First, But Worth It
It may appear that Seraph of the End is a highly violent and gory anime, with its dystopian premise and two warring factions on opposite sides. But it’s actually quite light-hearted. Of course, there are visceral hand-to-hand combat scenes and the use of over-the-top military weapons, but for the most part, it delves into the layered mystery of the vampires’ origin and human mortality, which keeps the plot intriguing throughout.
1 Hellsing Ultimate (2006)
Stream on Crunchyroll
Hellsing Ultimate
Release Date December 5, 2006
Cast Katie Gray , Crispin Freeman , Victoria Harwood , Ralph Lister , Jōji Nakata , Fumiko Orikasa , Yoshiko Sakakibara , Gildart Jackson
Seasons 1
A list of the best vampire anime series would be incomplete without mentioning Hellsing Ultimate. Its plot goes something like this: in modern England, where evil haunts the night and vampires devour any human in sight, the titular organization is tasked with defending the government and people against supernatural forces. At its head stands the heir of the Hellsing bloodline, Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who controls Alucard, the most powerful vampire to ever exist and work on the good side.
An Accurate Adaptation of the Manga
Inspired by Kouta Hirano’s manga of the same name, Hellsing Ultimate is a faithful rendition. It adapts the hyper-violent source material by dotting every i and crossing every t, making sure the camp is balanced with the signature Gothic flair and brutal action synonymous with vampire anime. At the same time, it also offers tongue-in-cheek nods to B-movies with its one-liners and noir atmosphere. Alucard is a brilliant character, and so is Integra. Overall, the series is an excellent blood-soaked love letter to the original.
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