Welcome back, ghouls and ghosts, to the third annual installment of SpookyJawn! It’s our horror takeover of MovieJawn, and this year we are wall to wall with monsters!

by Britny Perilli, Staff Writer

Whether you like them brooding or sparkling, cruel or charming, there is no way to escape a vampire’s glamour or their influence on every corner of pop culture. From the page to the golden, silver, and phone screen, most of us could name at least one famous vampire that isn’t Dracula. Though Japan has no native legends about these blood-thirsty creatures, anime cannot deny itself the pull of the lore and mythology. There are nearly no limits to the creativity and audacity of anime, and vampire anime is no different with humorous coming-of-age stories, shonen-vibes romps with tons of action and, of course, the horrifying but somehow still freaking beautiful anime. Vampire characters are pretty common in anime, but in order to highlight just five titles, this list only features anime where the vampire is the protagonist. 

So grab your garlic and some holy water (or pop open your collar, I won’t judge) as you sink your teeth into these anime titles.

Vampire Princess Miyu (1997)

The daughter of a vampire and a human, Miyu stands as a guardian between the two worlds. Alongside her servant and friend Larva, she tracks down and banishes any supernatural beings who wish to do humans harm while posing as a normal high school girl during the day. This is a classic ‘90s anime, and the animation is pretty fantastic. There are 26 episodes, but no real overarching plot. Instead, it relies on recurring characters to connect events together. If that isn’t your cup of tea, well, then you have been warned. This is a great anime to watch if you are looking for something interesting but not sure if you want to commit at the moment.

Vampire Hunter D (1985)

Set 10,000 years in the future, a young girl is bitten by Count Magnus–a powerful vampire lord who has ruled for thousands of years–and chosen as his new bride. She seeks out help from a mysterious stranger named D. Lucky for her, D is one of the world's best vampire hunters–as well as a dhampir or half vampire–and he accepts her request to help her escape her fate and put an end to the Count's rule. A cult-classic vampire anime film that, surprisingly, also served as many anime fans’ first foray into the medium. While the vampire might be a classic baddie, the vibes of the film are one-of-a-kind: bleak apocalypse meets gritty sci-fi meets Gothic romance. Plus, if you like this, then you can check out it's loosely connected sequel Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

Hellsing: Ultimate (2006)

The rogue vampire Alucard is the Hellsing Organization’s deadliest instrument in its mission to protect the British Empire from satanic ghouls and Nazi freaks. Policewoman Seras Victoria accepted Alucard’s gift of dark salvation after falling in the line of duty, and now the remnants of her human soul struggle against her growing vampire urges. Hellsing is considered a classic that most anime fans have at least heard of even if they haven't seen it. This 20-episode series is a remake of the original that–much like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood–sticks to the manga much more closely than the 2003 version. It delights in showing blood, gore, and carnage, but it looks so good you won't even think of looking away. That said, this is definitely intended for mature viewers only.

Vampire Knight (2008)

Cross Academy seems like a normal boarding school full of teens, but Yuki Cross, a first-year general education student, knows better. The school is divided into two classes: the Day Class and the Night Class. As a member of the Disciplinary Committee, along with her childhood friend Zero Kiryu, her duty is to keep the infatuated Day Class students away from the beautiful Night Class students. Why? Because all of the Night Class students are vampires! This is a classic drama-filled shojo anime and really what pairs better with complicated romances than vampires? There is definitely some big sexual tension in this anime, and it can be a touch cringey and problematic at times, but if we are being honest, what vampire media isn’t?  No spoilers, but I promise that it fits the criteria of this list. 

Blood Lad (2013)

If you like your vampires with a little more humor, then look no further. Staz Charlie Blood is a powerful vampire who rules the Eastern district of Demon World, but really he is completely uninterested in human blood and would rather spend his days lazing around, indulging in anime, manga, and video games. Until a Japanese girl accidentally wanders into the demon world and through a series of unfortunate events, becomes a ghost. Staz vows to resurrect her to set things right and to get the chance to achieve his dream of seeing the human world. Subversive and playful, this is a great vampire anime with just the right amount of comedy and action: perfect if you need a bit of a break from all the drama, grit, and melancholy that follows vampire media like a miasma. While there isn’t any mature content, there is a lot of fanservice so fair warning. 

The Case Study of Vanitas (2021-2022)

According to legend, a vampire born under a blue moon will create a cursed grimoire and will one day use it to bring retribution upon all vampires of the crimson moon. In 19th century Paris, humans and vampires co-exist, and vampire Noé Archiviste is searching for the same fabled grimoire known as the Book of Vanitas. While traveling aboard an airship, he meets an eccentric human doctor who calls himself Vanitas and carries the book Noé has been searching for. Even more odd, is that Vanitas is using the book to heal and not curse vampires. The two join forces and soon find themselves facing a larger menace lurking in the shadows of the city. From Studio Bones, a rising star in the anime world, this is sure to be a new classic vampire anime for its slick animation and fantastic story. With fantastic diversity, detailed backstories, and some possible Achilean romance (it’s not canon, but the boys love vibes are strong), this is a great place to start if you are looking for a fresh vampire story.