Vampires are mysterious creatures, they feed on blood and enjoy eternal life, while being able to turn humans into similar.
This isn’t always true with anime, as many of them describe these mythological creatures as funny and sometimes chill.
Vampires don’t always incarnate the stereotype of ruthless and hungry monsters, they also have sentiments and weaknesses.
This list will show you the best vampire anime out there, ranging from gore and supernatural to slice-of-life and romantic comedy.
This theme is quite appreciated in Japan and they did a good job of portraying vampires in a different light.
Our rankings are subjective and based on our personal opinions.
Table of Contents
20. Blood Blockade Battlefront
Also known as Kekkai Sensen in Japan, Blood Blockade Battlefront is a fairly well-known Sci-Fi and supernatural anime, especially for its excellent visual compartment.
The story is set in the city of Hellsalem’s Lot, which stands on the ruins of New York City, destroyed by the collision of our world and the monster-populated world of Beyond.
In fact, three years before the events began, a portal from another world opened on earth, thus causing all kinds of creatures, including vampires and zombies to attack our world.
It’s up to the secret society Libra, composed of superhumans, to solve the problem.
A good action and fight-focused anime to watch without commitment given its average length of 24 episodes.
We enjoyed the animations, the excellent soundtrack, and the simple but effective plot.
The only reason it is so low in the rankings is that it’s not so much focused on vampires, as the focus is more on monsters.
Blood Blockade Battlefront features vampires too, so rest assured this is the right choice if you want more generic anime.
19. Vampire Knight
Vampire Knight is an anime based on a shojo manga, as is recognizable from the character design of the characters.
The story is set in an unusual school, divided into 2 sections: the Day Class and the Night Class. The former is attended by ordinary human students, while the latter is attended by vampires.
But this isn’t public knowledge, and indeed this secret must be kept hidden in every way, for the preservation of the 2 species.
For this, there are guardians, 2 students charged with maintaining the balance between both classes, and they happen to be the main characters, Yuuki and Zero.
Vampire Knight is one of the best vampire romance that you really can’t miss. You won’t miss the typical horror atmosphere and a lot of action, but at the same time, expect some lighthearted scenes.
18. Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut
Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut is a science fiction and supernatural series that came out in 2021, with just 12 episodes.
Space exploration is gaining momentum, with the Republic finally announcing the first human-led explorations.
What no one knows is that in secret the Republic has decided to send Vampires to explore, like real lab rats.
Liev Lepus, a young man who thanks to an accident is promoted from cadet to lieutenant, is ordered to supervise Irina Luminesque, a vampire girl who is a guinea pig for the Nosferatu Project.
Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut is an anime that starts from interesting premises, but probably ends up being too ambitious as well.
The dynamics are interesting, as well as the technical aspect is excellent, but the story ends up being rather simple and stereotypical despite the innovative premise.
17. Strike the Blood
Strike the Blood is a 2013 anime released in 24 episodes that makes action and fighting its strong point, all in a school setting.
The main character is Kojou Akatsuki, the most powerful vampire in the world, so strong that he is considered a legend. Opposed to him is Yukina Hiramegi, a girl with the task of eliminating every vampire.
Lots of action, interesting animation and music, and romantic interludes, forget horror or dark atmospheres. Strike the Blood does in fact have vampires, but they are just a plot device.
Nonetheless, we appreciated its originality and fun premises, so we recommend you give it a try if you want anime where vampires don’t play a crucial role.
16. Blood +
Blood + is a moderately well-known horror and action genre series released in 2005 with as many as 50 episodes.
The world is infested with Chiropterans, a race of immortal monsters that draw sustenance from blood like Vampires. It will be up to the Red Shields to fight them.
The main character is Saya Otonashi, a high school girl who lives her life except for one detail: she does not remember her past.
One day, a monster will appear before her, along with a young and handsome cellist who hands her a Katana. Will Saya be able to find her true identity?
Blood + combines fairly well horror environments with gore scenes with slice-of-life moments, set in Okinawa, Japan.
15. Blood-C
Blood-C is a good anime that goes for a good mix of action and horror, with some very dark, mood-setting environments.
The plot follows the adventures of Saya Kisaragi. The girl lives a split life being a regular schoolgirl on the day and an exorcist slayer equipped with a ceremonial sword in the night
She fights terrifying blood-feeding vampire-like creatures called Elder Bairns when night approaches.
But beyond that, Saya is haunted by visions of her past of which she has no memory.
Will Saya be able to protect what is dear to her from monsters, and what is the truth about her past?
The problem with this series is that it’s not supposed to be ruined by bad pacing and a terrible start.
On the other hand, if you love gore and want to see some sleek action, Blood-C is a valid choice.
14. Rosario x Vampire
Rosario to Vampire follows the story of Tsukune Aono, an ordinary boy who, because of his bad grades, sees every one of his high school applications rejected.
This is with the exception of Youkai School, where he is unexpectedly accepted without any problems.
The school turns out to be a den of vampires, werewolves, angels and other mystical creatures.
Tsukune has to fend for himself while attending school and soon discovers that the girls are not as scary as he thought.
This is especially so for the beautiful vampire Moka Ashina, who seems to accrue a great deal of interest in him.
Rosario to Vampire is a vision with comic elements, very funny and light. If you want to watch a school and a slice-of-life anime mixed with romance, ecchi, and harem, then this is the perfect vampire anime.
13. Seraph of the End
This is an anime that aired in the spring of 2015 and it is set in a world where a mysterious virus is starting to appear.
This disease begins to kill every human above the age of 13 so mankind is enslaved by a vampire race that promise to protect the survivors in exchange for donations of blood.
But contrary to how it may seem this is anything but good, but rather is a true realm of terror and oppression.
Yuuichirou and Mikaela Hyakuya are two orphans who get sick of living under the vampire’s reign of terror so the two of them try to escape the orphanage but Mikaela ends up dying in the process.
Yuuichirou is found many years later, now a Japanese Imperial Demon Army member determined to take revenge on the creatures that slaughtered his family.
But that’s just the beginning of the plot, full of action, mysteries, and much more.
This time we go away from the classic horror atmosphere despite the presence of vampires, going instead to embrace a story of revolt against the system.
It’s not the classic vampire story, the reason why we included it lies is that we find it enjoyable. The plot per se ends up being somewhat already seen but unless you have high expectations, Seraph of the End is fine.
12. Blood Lad
If you want an alternative take on the mythical vampire figure, this anime is for you. Blood Lad follows the story of Staz, a strong vampire that couldn’t care less about sucking blood and being evil.
The main character is interested in playing videogames and reading manga all day long. Staz is no different from the average high schooler until he will be dragged into a spiky situation.
Fuyumi Yanagi, a Japanese girl, will accidentally visit the demon world, home to Staz. In the meanwhile, the demon world is attacked and Fuyumi dies by accident.
Staz promises to resurrect her and visits the human world to find a solution.
Blood Lad is a comedy anime with a few action elements, perfect if you want to watch a vampire-themed show that is totally different from the usual and out of the box.
A change of scenery every once in a while is good for you, and this is the best option to start doing so.
11. Karin
Karin Maaka is an unusual vampire that suffers from polycythemia, a disease that increases blood production. For this reason, she has to force her blood into strangers, making them livelier in the process.
While her siblings Anju and Ren will try to keep the nature of their sister hidden, things will soon change as the newly transferred student Kenta Usui makes an appearance.
Karin falls in love with Kenta and this will form the basis of this cute romantic comedy.
The main problem with Karin is that it’s not a faithful adaptation of the manga, although some may not care about this fact since the changes don’t alter the message of the anime.
We recommend this show if you want an unusual blend of romcom and vampires.
10. Trinity Blood
A vampire show with a post-apocalyptic setting that follows the story of humanity after they move to Mars.
The world is split into factions that want to take over society. The vampires, dubbed Methuselah, form the New Human Empire. On the contrary, humans are now part of the so-called Vatican Papal State and they go by the name of Terrans.
The premises are captivating but the story doesn’t have a steady development.
There are too many explanations as the plot thickens and the early excitement will be soon lost.
But despite this, the figure of the vampire itself is very well realized and captivating, and on this there are no mistakes, being one of the few things well done.
9. Vampire Princess Miyu
A vintage gem from 1997 based on the 1988 4-episode OAV. This adaptation gives more room for character relationships while sacrificing the briefness of the original OAV.
The protagonist Miyu Royal is in charge of banishing Evil Tenma, dangerous shapeshifting creatures that threaten the Earth.
She will be assisted by Larva, an ex-Evil Tenma that is now her companion. Vampire Princess Miyu shows how it’s possible to create a haunting mood with such a creepy couple.
This anime is one of the best vintage vampire anime and it’s highly recommended to those who enjoy this particular retro style.
8. Call of the Night
Call of the Night is an anime released in 2022, currently having 1 season with 13 episodes. It’s the usual supernatural and romance anime with a touch of comedy.
Kou Yamori, the main character, suffers from severe insomnia that does not allow him to live life as he would like. Therefore, bored, he goes for long walks every night.
During one of these nights, however, he meets Nanakusa Nazuna, a strange girl who offers to solve his problem by sleeping at her house.
But when her vampire nature soon comes out, it becomes clear that the exchange is not a one-way street.
Call of the Nigh doesn’t have settings relatable to the vampire genre, with castles or capes, but it does a masterful job in this area anyway.
The atmosphere of this anime is very dreamlike, with very striking colors that will help create a truly unique mood while watching.
7. Shiki
Shiki is an anime with pronounced horror scenes and atmosphere, with some nice heavy splatter moments as well.
In a remote rural village in Japan, the lives of the inhabitants are suddenly disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious epidemic.
As Toshio, the village doctor, tries to discover the causes of the disease, the number of deaths begins to increase and how these occur become increasingly strange.
Is this an epidemic or is the truth related to the world of the supernatural?
As already mentioned, this anime is marked by very gruesome and horror scenes, with intense splatter moments.
But rest assured that it is not one of those splatters so absurd that they almost make you want to laugh, achieving the opposite effect.
Shiki has one of those gruesome splatters that makes the viewer feel uncomfortable, very unsettling. And that, of course, only goes to contribute to the already excellent atmosphere of the anime, making it one of the best horror anime you can find on Hulu.
6. The Case Study of Vanitas
The story is set in an alternate 19th-century Steampunk Paris, where technology has taken a different path. We recommend it to all those anime fans who love anime set in France.
The protagonist Noah is a vampire called upon to investigate mysterious attacks by his fellow humans. Despite being fully integrated into society have for some time now begun to carry out random assaults caught up in a kind of feral state.
The key to stopping them seems to be possessed by a doctor and it is the mysterious Book of Vanitas.
This series is from the same author as Pandora Hearts, with the difference that this anime adaptation is quite good compared to Pandora’s.
This is one of the best productions released in recent years, thanks to its excellent animation, a good cast, and a plot that while nothing complex works. And no wonder we consider it as one of the best vampire romance anime.
5. Castlevania
An interesting recent anime inspired by the great videogame franchise of Castlevania.
The anime follows the adventures of Trevor Belmont, a famous monster hunter, in his battle against the fearsome vampire Dracula, a terrible vampire who wants to kill all humans.
Accompanying Trevor in his adventure will be Sylpha, a powerful sorceress, and Alucard, the son of Dracula with opposed ideas to his father.
Undoubtedly an anime not to be missed thanks to the graphic quality and an awesome story full of twists.
Not to mention the costumes, atmosphere, and themes, which pretty much embody the stereotypical story with vampires.
4. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
The story is set in a dystopian future where the world is controlled by vampires. Many people have been abused by them, including Charlotte, who has been recently kidnapped by them.
Desperate to rescue her, her father hires D, a vampire-human hybrid that hunts other vampires.
Such is the plot of the dark film directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri based on Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Light Novel.
This is one of the best movies and anime about such mysterious creatures and we recommend you the other Vampire Hunter movie from 1985 as well.
The true beauty of this movie lies in its charming gothic and gory style. One element that makes this product outstanding is the representation of vampires, is it correct to think they are all ruthless beasts?
The theme of doomed love shows their frailty, and how these beings can be either weak or extremely powerful and dangerous.
3. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (Phantom Blood & Battle Tendency)
The first 2 series of the famous JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure feature vampires as prominent characters.
The antagonist of Phantom Blood, Dio Brando, manages to transform into a vampire and uses his power to fight against Jonathan Joestar, the protagonist.
Battle Tendency continues this trend with a new cast that will fight vampires too.
Although just these 2 deal with these creatures, it’s worth noting that JoJo is a real cult and should be watched anyway.
This theme was abandoned with Part 3 as we see the introduction of Stands, manifestations of the spirit of a person.
The first 2 seasons must be watched in order to have a holistic understanding of JoJo, especially if you plan on reading Part 7.
This is also true for Part 3, as there are clear connections and references that you want to understand.
2. Monogatari Series
The story deals with the events of Koyomi Araragi, a generous boy attending high school who sees his life change after meeting Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade, a vampire.
The main character will save her by giving away some of his blood, and this will make the boy a vampire too.
After becoming almost human again as a result of these events, he begins to find himself in the midst of various affairs involving spirits, gods, and demons while living his private life.
Don’t be fooled by the plot, this anime is far from one of the classic stories of monsters and ghosts that must be defeated to preserve peace on earth.
Monogatari is a more unique than rare anime, almost impossible to categorize, combining so many genres and elements, including psychology and a great romance with demons and spirits in its setting.
1. Hellsing Ultimate
The name of the series comes from the homonym secret organization Hellsing, whose duty is to hide the existence of Vampires and to keep the population safe.
It’s financed and supported by the British government and its current leader is Integra Hellsing.
The main character Alucard works for Hellsing as a vampire exterminator, being himself a member of the vampire race. He is supported by his new assistant Seras Victoria, a former policewoman that he saved in the past.
Integra is worried about a new wave of vampire attacks and the problem seems much bigger than she expected.
The mysterious group called Millenium is plotting to throw England into disarray, and maybe threaten even the entire world.
Hellsing Ultimate is an anime recognized as a hidden gem. And this is certainly because of its excellent action, its gorgeous and recognizable settings, and an excess of gore that just works.
This is also easily one of the best vampire anime on Hulu, if not the best, so you have no excuses.
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