Along with vampires, werewolves, witches, and zombies are a few classic monsters that take the spotlight in anime shows, as seen in the most recent season of Castlevania: Nocturne and the highly anticipated anime Vampire Dormitory. It's obvious that there's an enduring interest in vampire anime. Since the publication of Irish author Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1897, audiences' interest in vampiric entities never seems to falter as these creatures have gone through sundry revamps in mass media.

In anime, vampires are beloved characters as they represent a striking blend of darkness and allure with their supernatural powers and deep, complex behaviors that make for compelling storytelling. They also often possess supernatural abilities like super strength, speed, and telepathy, making them formidable characters to root for (and be scared of). From the eerily mysterious Shiki to the action-packed Blood+ , there's a ton of great vampire anime that will keep viewers sinking their teeth into more.

12 'Vassalord' (2013)

Created by Nanae Chrono

Holding a remarkably shorter runtime than other entries on this list, Vassalord is based on Nanae Chrono's josei manga and is adapted into an Original Video Animation (OVA) of 30 minutes. The anime centers around the ambiguous relationship between Charley, a vampire hunter for the Vatican who is also a cyborg-vampire hybrid, and his vampire master Johnny who relishes in his playboy lifestyle.

Bearing themes of suspense, mystery, and young love, Vassalord sees Charley controlling his urge for Johnny's blood whilst the latter finds Charley's resistance to being amusing yet seductive. What makes Vassalord a compelling show is its exploration of immortality, as it sees a vampire who has lived for centuries, portraying his long life as both a blessing and a curse. For viewers who want to lose themselves in a great vampire anime show, they should check out Vassalord.

Vassalord is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase.

11 'Blood: The Last Vampire' (2000)

Created by Mamoru Oshii

Inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula and the American supernatural drama television series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Blood: The Last Vampire is a Japanese animated horror fantasy anime film that features a world guarded by a high school girl named Saya — who just happens to be a katana-waving, vampire hunter.

Unlike traditional vampire lore, Saya does not possess the usual weaknesses such as sunlight or garlic. Saya relinquishes Chiropterans, bat-like vampiric creatures who can pose as humans and, ironically, like drinking their blood as well. Set in the 1960s, Saya is allocated to the American Yokota Air Base where it is believed that a Chiropteran has infiltrated the army base. Alongside its thrilling action sequences, Blood: The Last Vampire is a superb anime about vampires as it explores Saya's predicament as someone who is conflicted with her identity.

Rent from Vudu

10 'Blood Lad' (2013)

Created by Yuuki Kodama

Most fans of vampires have, at one point in their lives, fantasized about becoming one themselves so that they could possess abilities like superhuman agility and ageless lifespan. An underrated anime show from the 2010s that everyone should watch, Blood Lad features the descendant of Dracula, Staz Charlie Blood, an otaku who indulges in Japanese culture whilst bearing no interest in human blood or the vampire lifestyle.

When an ingenious Japanese high school girl, Fuyumi Yanagi, accidentally barges into the Demon World, Staz becomes immediately attracted to her. Their allegedly romantic encounter is cut short when Fuyumi is eaten by a carnivorous plant demon and becomes a ghost, but not even the afterlife can put a hindrance on Staz's resolution to get the girl of his dreams.Watch on Hulu

9 'Vampire Princess Miyu' (1997 - 1998)

Created by Narumi Kakinouchi and Toshiki Hirano

Adapted from the eponymous manga series, Vampire Princess Miyu is one of the more underrated vampire anime shows out there. It's centered on a girl named Miyu, who finds herself stranded between the human and demon worlds. Born a vampire, Miyu's destiny is linked with her Shinma side (god-demon), and she believes her purpose is to catch others like her to send them back to the underworld.

Vampire Princess Miyu is definitely gorier and more brutal than your typical beginner anime, but viewers will surely appreciate it for its hauntingly beautiful art style and atmospheric soundtrack. Audiences who don't have the stomach for extreme violence and graphic killings may want to skip it, but fans of that aspect of the genre will likely enjoy this lesser-known series.

Buy on Apple TV

8 'Kizumonogatari' (2016)

Created by Nisio Isin

After the release of the critically acclaimed, jaw-dropper smash hit series Bakemonogatari, it's no surprise that its prequel Kizumonogatari will delight both fans and newcomers to the franchise. That's due in large to its emphasis on vivid body horror elements, reminiscent of body-horror movies like Raw and Fresh.

The anime movies follow the main high school student protagonist Koyomi Araragi as he learns of a rumor about a beautiful blonde vampire seen lurking around town. On the same day, Koyomi encounters the blonde-hair, golden-eyed Vampirella, albeit lying in a pool of her blood with all four of her limbs cut off by vampire hunters. When the badly mutilated vampire cries out for his help, Koyomi's decision would result in his life completely changed, for better and for worse.

Rent on Amazon

7 'Seraph of the End' (2015)

Created by Takaya Kagami

Seraph of the End is a somewhat light-hearted anime about vampires that combines military confederacies with supernatural elements, albeit in a post-apocalyptic setting that caters more to younger audiences. The action-adventure series chronicles the events undergone by the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, where exterminating vampires is just part of their daily routine. The main protagonist Yuichiro Hyakuya is one of the young survivors who are untouched by a man-made virus ravaging the human populace in 2012.

After Yuichiro escapes from being captive and food supply to vampires, he becomes determined to avenge his friends who weren't as lucky as he is. Apart from its incredible world-building that involves the political dynamics of a vampire society, viewers will also enjoy the anime thanks to its intense action sequences that are primarily focused on the battles between humans and vampires.

Watch on Hulu

6 'Blood+' (2005 - 2006)

Created by: Asuka Katsura

Aside from having the same name for the protagonist, Blood+ is an equally fascinating anime spin-off set in an alternate universe than its movie predecessor Blood: The Last Vampire. The show is substantially popular with its inclusion of radically diverse characters as well as action-packed sequences fully taking advantage of vampires' badass qualities.

Living with anemia and unable to recollect memories beyond the previous year, Saya Otonashi's ordinary life is shattered when she is attacked by a Chiropteran. After drinking the blood of her savior, Saya learns that her blood becomes a catalyst for slaying the bloodsucking monsters. Armed with a katana, Saya's mysterious past extending over decades and centuries is slowly revealed as she travels around the globe eliminating Chiropterans.

Buy on Amazon

5 'Shiki' (2010 - 2011)

Created by Fuyumi Ono

Translated as "Corpse Demon," Shiki's story takes place in Sotoba, a small quaint Japanese town plagued by a string of mysterious death, coinciding with the arrival of the enigmatic Kirishiki family who had moved into a long-abandoned mansion on the outskirts. The village doctor Toshio Ozaki and other citizens of Sotoba begin investigating and even receiving visits at night from vampiric creatures named Shiki.

The anime vampire supernatural horror series is more of a slow-burn, opting for the routes of psychological horror rather than full-blown action sequences like the previous two entries. That said, the way Shiki gives life to its complex characters, particularly the vampires who struggle with their new existence and morality, is pretty interesting to watch. After watching Shiki, audiences may never have a good night's sleep without making sure that no one resides underneath the bed.

Buy on Amazon

4 'Jojo's Bizarre Adventure' (2012 - )

Created by Hirohiko Araki

One of the longest-running anime series beloved by fans new and old around the world, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is well-known for not only its intriguing storylines exploring different timelines, themes, and genres, but also its incorporation of pop culture references as exemplified in its unique art style and infamous poses.

The first three seasons of the supernatural adventure anime show see vampires as the show's primary antagonist, with the army of undead creatures led by one of anime's most charismatic villains, Dio Brando. Owning abilities like high-level regeneration, body manipulation, and blood-sucking tentacles on their fingers, these undead creatures aren't the typical vampire audiences are familiar with as they could easily (and accidentally) transform into zombies if their vampire transformation process is handled incorrectly.

3 'Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust' (2000)

Created by Hideyuki Kikuchi

Encompassing breathtaking visuals, provocative dark humor, and chilling orchestral sound work, gothic horror aficionados will definitely love Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. This adult horror fantasy movie revolves around D, a reticent and taciturn vampire hunter who is half-vampire, half-human. Feared and renowned for his exceptional skills at hunting down creatures of the night, D is hired by a wealthy businessman to track down his daughter Charlotte, believing she was kidnapped by a vampire baron named Meier Link.

The tables are turned when it is revealed that Charlotte and Meier share an authentic mutual endearment, but prize-seeking bounty hunters and sempiternal sinister forces demand to interfere. There are a lot of concepts that make Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust a memorable anime, including its use of technology in a fantasy setting, as well as its opening sequence where D is riding his bionic horse through a barren wasteland. It's truly a vampire anime film like no other.

Buy on Amazon

2 'Castlevania' (2017 - 2021)

Created by Warren Ellis

For audiences looking for a vampire anime for beginners, Castlevania is the perfect place to start. Netflix's series is based on the eponymous video game, and follows the complex main characters Trevor Belmont, Alucard, and Sypha Belnades as they defend the country from the violent Dracula and his army.

A dark medieval fantasy, Castlevania is gorgeously animated and flawlessly scored, transporting fans to a different period in time. Even those who never played the games will be able to appreciate this massively popular series, which breathes new life into Dracula's tragic story. For those who've finished Castlevania and are left wanting more, a sequel to the series titled Castlevania: Nocturne with more interesting vampire characters is also available on Netflix.

Watch on Netflix

1 'Hellsing Ultimate' (2006 - 2012)

Created by Kouta Hirano

When malicious creatures of the night threaten the citizens of England, it's up to the top-secret Hellsing Organization to annihilate these menaces and restore peace without delay, an effortless task considering the organization possesses a trump card, that of the most powerful vampire alive, Alucard.

Upon learning that a Nazi paramilitary organization called the Millennium is the primary culprit behind humans turning into vampires on a grand scale, Alucard's unabridged omnipotence will be unveiled in the dark and gritty vampire anime series Hellsing Ultimate — but will it be at the expense of mankind's complete eradication? Alucard is a complex and morally ambiguous character, so viewers will have a lot of fun trying to uncover the main character's motivations and allegiances. It's a vampire anime for viewers who like watching intense action and learning more about morally challenging characters.Watch on Hulu

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