Vampire Hunter D (2000)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Directors:

Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Jack Fletcher

Writers:

Yoshiaki Kawajiri (writer)
Hideyuki Kikuchi (novel)

Release Date:

28 September 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

When the Sun Sets... The Hunt Begins

Plot:

Hunters race to save a girl stolen from her home by a vampire.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Bounty Hunter | Future | Monster | Kidnapping

Cast

Hideyuki Tanaka	...	D
Ichirô Nagai	...	Left Hand
Kôichi Yamadera	...	Meier Link
Megumi Hayashibara	...	Leila (voice)
Emi Shinohara	...	Charlotte Elbourne
Yûsaku Yara	...	Borgoff
Hôchû Ôtsuka	...	Kyle
Rintarou Nishi	...	Mashira
Keiji Fujiwara	...	Benge
Yôko Soumi	...	Caroline
Toshihiko Seki	...	Grove
Ryûzaburô Ôtomo	...	Nolt
Chikao Ôtsuka	...	Barbarois Elder
Takeshi Aono	...	Polk
Motomu Kiyokawa	...	John Elbourne

Also Known As:

Banpaia hantâ D (Japan) (DVD title)
Vampire Hunter D (USA)
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (USA) (DVD box title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence/gore.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Japan | Hong Kong | USA

Language:

Cantonese | English | Japanese | German

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | UK:18 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | New Zealand:R13

Company:

BMG Funhouse

Trivia:

The character Carmilla is based on the novel with the same name by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. It was first published in 1872.

Quotes:

Left Hand: Did you ever hear the expression "Too close for comfort"? That was damn uncomfortable.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Land of the Dead (2005)

One of the greatest adult animated films ever

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...