Best Anime For Fans of Vampires (2024)

Japanese anime and manga often feature fiendish, blood-sucking vampire characters as dark antiheroes or terrifying villains, while others portray vampires as charming, surprisingly relatable and likable people, including cute vampire girls here and there. Vampires are more popular than ever in media, and anyone who loves stories about the occult or the supernatural are encouraged to try a handful of great vampire anime series.

While the powers, weaknesses, and origin myth/stories of vampires can change over the years according to each creator, vampires are always instantly recognizable as fanged children of the night, and anime fans can't get enough of them. In anime, there's plenty of room for reinterpretation of vampires or even desconstructions of them, from half-vampire antiheroes to vampires who have more in common with high school students than with the likes of Dracula and Nosferatu.

Update on March 11th, 2024 by Chelsea Steele: Vampires have always been a popular topic in media, and that includes anime. Anime vampires come in a variety of forms and they're often very different from the traditional monsters portrayed on tv and in movies. From bloodthirsty villains to badass anti-heroes to adorable school girls, the vampires of anime are all unique and interesting, starring in some of the best titles within the medium. We've updated this list to meet CBR's current publication standards, offering more info on some of the greatest vampire anime series fans should check out.

20 Blood-C Stars A School Girl Who Lives A Double Life As A Vampire Hunter

Blood-C Rating Scores

Though this anime is part of the Blood franchise released by Production I.G. it has no relation to the earlier Blood+. Actually, it's far darker than that 2005 series. Additionally, Blood-C's twist throws the life of protagonist Saya Kisaragi into a tailspin.

Saya has a Buffy vibe to her. By day, she's a high school student. By night, she battles creatures that feed on human blood called Elder Bairns. As these monsters begin to attack in the daytime, Saya realizes something isn't right with her environment. When she learns the truth, everything will be forever changed.

19 Vampire Princess Miyu Follows A Vampiric Princess On A Quest To Save Humanity

Vampire Princess Miyu

NR

Horror

Drama

Supernatural

Action

Miyu, a vampire girl, acts as a guardian, sending stray demons known as Shinma back to the darkness while publically posing as a high school student.

Release Date

October 6, 1997

Cast

Shin'ichirô Miki , Megumi Ogata , Miki Nagasawa , Chiharu Tezuka , Asako Shirakura

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

AIC

Creator

Toshiki Hirano

Number of Episodes

26

Streaming Service(s)

Peacock , The Roku Channel , Plex

Vampire Princess Miyu Rating Scores

Vampire Princess Miyu actually has a thread of hope to it, no matter its fairly dark narrative. This is despite the main character, Miyu, wanting to remain in the darkness after she completes her quest. Still, her main goal is to provide a gift of eternal happiness to the human race.

She intends to do this by using her skills as a hybrid vampire— one of her parents is human— to hunt down and destroy evil demons known as Shinma. She does this with her best friend, Larva. In fact, in the original video animation (OVA) of Vampire Prince Miyu, it's Larva that saves his friend from letting her vampire blood kill her.

Karin Rating Scores

Karin Maaka, the protagonist of the series also known as Chibi Vampire, is the middle child in a family of vampires. However, she doesn't act like a normal representative of the undead. She goes out during the day, attends high school, and sees herself in the mirror.

The truth is, she doesn't even bite humans to take their blood. Karin makes too much of it, to the point she gets enormous nose bleeds. This gets worse when a new transfer student, Kenta, makes her blood race. Needless to say, Karin is a coming-of-age romantic comedy about a teenage vampire.

17 Shiki Is A Chilling Vampire Series With A Frightfully Dark Story

Shiki

TV-MA

Anime

Drama

Horror

When many deaths occur in the quiet village of Sotoba, Doctor Toshio Ozaki initially suspects an epidemic but soon becomes convinced that something else is causing them.

Release Date

June 27, 2010

Cast

Tôru Ohkawa , Koki Uchiyama , Kazuyuki Okitsu , Wataru Takagi , Yasuaki Takumi , Izumi Sawada , Nozomi Sasaki , Haruka Nagashima

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

Daume

Creator

Fuyumi Ono

Number of Episodes

22 + 2 OVAs

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Shiki Rating Scores

Shiki isn't a bubbly anime about good-hearted vampires trying to adjust to normal lives. Based on a horror novel by Fuyumi Ono, it goes beyond the standards of the sub-genre. It explores survival in a world where good and evil can't be distinguished.

It starts with the death of Megumi Shimizu in a small Japanese village. This causes a pandemic that turns normal people into vampires who eventually call themselves the Shiki. As this happens, a doctor within the village commits to foregoing his humanity to see how he can stop the terror. He pairs up with an anti-social youth to keep things from collapsing into Armageddon.

16 Call Of The Night Sees Two Lost Souls Bond While Searching For Happiness

Call of the Night

TV-14

Animation

Comedy

Fantasy

In Call of the Night, Ko Yamori finds himself disillusioned with life and gives up on trying to find joy or purpose. After wandering in the streets, he happens upon Nazuna, a vampire who sees his predicament and decides to show him the perks of the nightlife. When Ko decides he wants to become a vampire like her, she reveals that the only way for this is for him to be bitten by someone he's genuinely in love with. For Ko to finally engage in a life worth living, he decides to fall in love with Nanazuna with the intent of becoming a full-fledged vampire. Call of the Night is an anime adaptation of the manga series which began back in 2019 and is still an ongoing series. The animation debuted on July 8 2022, with no season 2 officially announced as of October 2022.

Release Date

July 8, 2022

Cast

Gabriel Regojo , Natalie Rial , Jade Kelly , Brandon Hearnsberger , Daniel Regojo , Andrew Love , Katelyn Barr , Juliet Simmons

Main Genre

Fantasy

Seasons

1

Characters By

Kotoyama

Creator

Kotoyama, Michiko Yokote

Distributor

HIDIVE, Sentai Filmworks

Main Characters

Ko Yamori, Nazuna Nanakusa, Akira Asai, Kiyosumi Shirakawa, Mahiru Seki, Akihito Akiyama, Anko Uguisu, Seri Kikiyo

Producer

Griffin Vance, John Ledford (English)

Production Company

Liden Films

Writers

Kotoyama , Michiko Yokote

Number of Episodes

13

Call Of The Night Rating Scores

Call of the Night is a vampire comedy anime that, for all its supernatural antics, has very grounded and relatable themes about finding one's purpose in life and the power of friendship. 8th grader protagonist Ko Yamori feels alienated from mainstream society, so he wanders the nighttime streets.

There, Ko will meet a playful rogue vampire named Nazuna Nakakusa, who takes a liking to him. She may be a vampire who loves the taste of Ko's blood, but her lifestyle isn't so glamorous after all. She feels lost and lonely, just like Ko, and she knows that finding happiness won't involve turning Ko into one of her own kind.

15 Seraph Of The End: Battle In Nagoya Follows A Young Man On A Mission To Help His Childhood Friend

Seraph Of The End: Battle In Nagoya Rating Scores

Seraph of the End is all about vampires. In fact, in this thrilling series, an entire cadre of the blood-suckers is ready to battle Tokyo's Demon Army. In the second season, titled Seraph of the End: Battle in Nagoya, the show focuses on the power of friendship and the lengths protagonist Yuuichirou Hyakuya will go to in order to help his loved ones.

Though he presumed his friend Mikaela was dead, Yuuichirou is finally reunited with this childhood companion. Unfortunately, Yuuichirous finds out Mikaela has been turned into a vampire. Now, with dozens of undead heading toward him and his Moon Demon Company, Yuuichirou is doubly determined to get stronger to help his friend and his comrades.

14 Rosario Vampire Is A High School Romance With A Vampire Twist

Rosario + Vampire

TV-14

Animation

Comedy

Fantasy

Romance

Original title: Rozario to banpaia.
Tskune accidentally gets on a bus to a school of monsters.

Release Date

January 3, 2008

Cast

Todd Haberkorn , Ian Sinclair , Colleen Clinkenbeard , Brina Palencia , Monica Rial , Alexis Tipton

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

2

Creator

Akihisa Ikeda

Production Company

Gonzo, Yokai Gakuen Shinbunbu

Number of Episodes

26

Rosario Vampire Rating Scores

In Rosario Vampire, Teenager Tsukune Aono discovers that it's tough to get into a good high school when someone like him has bad grades. His only hope is Youkai Academy, an institute that seems normal on the surface. However, it's filled with all forms of monsters in human form.

This includes the lead female of the series, Moka Akashiya, who takes an immediate liking to Tsukune. Though she looks average, she's actually a vampire and wields some pretty impressive powers. Now at the mercy of his monstrous new classmastes, Tsukune endures his new school life and makes sure the staff of the academy doesn't know he's human. If they find out, then they'll follow the school's rules and execute him.

13 Blood Lad Follows The Titular Hero On A Journey To Restore A Young Girl's Humanity

Blood Lad

TV-14

Animation

Comedy

Sci-Fi

A vampire punk falls in love with a kind human girl, and when she is killed and turned into a ghost, he sets out on a quest to resurrect her.

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

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Studio

Brain's Base

Creator

Takeshi Konuta

Production Company

Brains Base, D.N. Dream Partners, Docomo Anime Store

Number of Episodes

11 Episodes

Blood Lad Rating Scores

Blood Lad isn't a teen hero in the Legion of Super-Heroes. Instead, he's Staz Charlie, a powerful vampire that rules a part of Demon World. However, he doesn't have the urge to drink any blood. On the contrary, the protagonist of Blood Lad would rather spend his time reading manga and playing video games.

One day, Staz meets Fuyumi Yanagi, a human girl that accidentally enters the portal to Demon World. She and Staz feel an immediate attraction. Unfortunately, an attack on his territory causes her death and transformation into a ghost. Joined by a magician and half-wolfman, Staz and Fuyumi journey across Demon World to find the magic to restore the girl's humanity.

12 Strike The Blood Is The Coming-Of-Age Story Of A Human Who Gains Vampiric Powers

Strike The Blood

R+

Comedy

Action

Fantasy

Supernatural

A powerful vampire causes chaos in Japan. Yukina, an apprentice Sword Shaman, encounters Akatsuki Kojou, the Fourth Primeval.

Release Date

October 4, 2013

Cast

Asami Seto , Hisako Kanemoto , Yoshimasa Hosoya

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

5

Creator

Gakuto Okamoto

Production Company

Silver Link, Connect, ASCII Mediaworks, AT-X, Movic, Showgate, The Klockworx, Warner Bros.

Number of Episodes

61

Main Cast

Risa Taneda

Strike The Blood Rating Scores

Strike the Blood is based on a light novel series. Still, it has enough violent content that it was banned in China. This doesn't mean it's constant blood and gore, however. Rather, Strike the Blood is a coming-of-age story shrouded in the supernatural. In the Demon District of Itogami Island, student Kojou Akatsuki gains the powers of a vampire after a fateful incident.

It's later revealed that he's the Fourth Primogenitor, an extraordinary being of legend. To ensure Kojou doesn't take over the world, a secret society sends an apprentice sword-shaman to keep watch and kill him if needed. Though there's animosity, Kojou and the apprentice team up to battle Itogami Island's numerous creatures.

11 Servamp Follows The Everyday Adventures Of A Lazy Vampire Shut-In

Servamp Rating Scores

Anime vampires come in all shapes and sizes. Some are intent on ruling whatever world they reside in, using their powers to the fullest extent. Meanwhile, others would rather sit around and do nothing.

Such is the case in Servamp. High school student Mahiru Shirota picks up a stray cat on the way home and names it Kuro. One day, he finds a young man sitting on his couch instead of the cat. When Mahiru accidentally exposes the boy to sunlight, he transforms back to Kuro. Thus begins a journey between the amazed boy and the lazy-for-nothing vampire.

10 Noblesse: Awakening Is An Early Adaptation Of The Popular Manhwa Series​​​​​​

Noblesse: Awakening Rating Scores

This half-hour-long OVA is based on Noblesse, a South Korean web manhwa (digital comic) written by Son Jeho. Centuries ago, the "nobles," an olden race of undying supernatural human-resembling creatures that were admired as sovereigns and gods, thrived. Amid the nobles was the "Noblesse," a prevailing individual cloaked in obscurity called Cadis Etrama di Raizel, or "Rai."

Upon arising in South Korea after an 820-year-long slumber, Rai embarks to track down his faithful and dedicated servant, Frankenstein, whom he finds as the present director of Ye Ran High School. Rai registers as a student to understand life in the contemporary world.

9 Black Blood Brothers Stars A Powerful Pair Of Vampire Brothers

Black Blood Brothers Rating Scores

Black Blood Brothers is based on the light novels by Kohei Azano. It narrates the tale of the Mochizuki Brothers, Jirou and Kotaro. They are Old Blood, the final and only descendants of a formidable line of vampires. Jirou was the hero of the Holy War, the man who singlehandedly defeated the Kowloon Children, a powerful vampire bloodline.

When the pair realize that some of the Kowloon Children survived and they want to enter the “Special Zone” (an affluent city shielded by a concealed barricade), they decide to re-enter the battle. Things become even more challenging when Kotaro is captured by the Kowloon. From there, Jirou goes to any lengths to rescue his brother.

8 Trinity Blood Follows The Ongoing War Between Vampires & Humanity

Trinity Blood Rating Scores

This 24-episode-long anime, based on the light novels by Sunao Yoshida, follows Abel Nightroad. He's a Crusnik, a vampire surviving on vampires’ blood. Nine centuries after a bloody struggle between vampires and humans, the world has been divided into two fronts that continue to engage in a Cold War between the Vatican and the New Human Empire.

Nevertheless, most yearn for a harmonious co-existence between humans and vampires. Abel fights on the Vatican’s side while opposing the Rosenkreuz Orden, a community of fanatics who manipulate the two blocs for their own goals.

7 Blood+ Stars Saya As She Discovers Her Destiny As A Vampire Slayer

Blood+

TV-MA

Horror

Under the care of her adoptive family, Saya Otonashi had been living the life of ananemicamnesiac, but otherwise ordinary schoolgirl. However, her happy life is shattered when she is attacked by a Chiropteran, a hematophagous bat-like creature that lives by feeding on human blood.

Release Date

October 8, 2005

Creator(s)

Junichi Fujisaku

Cast

Eri Kitamura , Katsuyuki Konishi , Hiroyuki Yoshino , Akiko Yajima

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

4

Studio

Production I.G.

Number of Episodes

50

Directors

Junichi Fujisaku

Blood+ Rating Scores

The Blood+ anime initially takes place in 2005 Okinawa, Japan and was an original anime inspired by the film Blood: The Last Vampire. The protagonist, Saya Otonashi, lives a happy life with her adoptive family as a regular schoolgirl. However, she has no memory of her past or her biological family.

Still, her life is transformed forever after being assaulted by a Chiropteran, a bat-like monstrosity that survives by drinking human blood. Saya discovers she is the single person who can defeat them as her blood is poison to them. She decides with her buddies to cleanse the world of the Chiropterans and learn about her origins.

6 Seraph Of The End Follows Yuuichirou On His Quest For Revenge

Seraph of the End

TV-14

Animation

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

Action

Adventure

Seraph of the End: In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a deadly virus, a young boy joins a resistance group to fight against vampires who have emerged as the dominant species. The narrative explores themes of survival, vengeance, and the struggle for humanity's future amid a backdrop of ongoing supernatural conflict.

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

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

3

Seraph Of The End Rating Scores

This 24-episode anime is based on the manga of the same name by Takaya Kagami. This thrilling series stars Yuuichirou, a 16-year-old boy, has dedicated his life to killing vampires to seek vengeance for certain events that took place four years prior.

In 2012, a manufactured virus depletes the world from populations above 13 and allows vampires to emerge from the depths of the earth and subjugate humanity. Only a few gain “protection” by providing the vampires with blood. Among this survivors is Yuuichirou Hyakuya, who barely escaped with his life at the age of 12, only to watch his friends and loved ones get murdered right before his eyes. Bitter and angry at their loss, Yuuichirou joins that Moon Demon Company and begins a perilous journey for revenge as he sets out to exterminate every last vampire.

5 Castlevania Follows A Rag-Tag Team Of Hunters As They Face Off Against Dracula

Castlevania

TV-MA

Animation

Horror

Fantasy

Drama

A vampire hunter fights to save a besieged city from an army of otherworldly creatures controlled by Dracula.

Release Date

July 7, 2017

Cast

Richard Armitage , James Callis , Malcolm McDowell , Bill Nighy , Marsha Thomason

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

4

Castlevania Rating Scores

This brilliant and spectacular Netflix original of gore and action is based on the game of the same name by Konami. When the human wife of Dracula is burned at the stake for supposed witchcraft, he unleashes demons upon Romania to exact his revenge.

Trevor Belmont, an excommunicated and disgraced monster hunter, joins forces with Sypha Belnades, a powerful magician and Speaker, and Adrian Tepes/Alucard, the dhampir son of Dracula who opposes his tactics. As Dracula raises his army of powerful vampire warlords in Castlevania's story, the odds seem stacked against the three protagonists, but they won't stop fighting until Wallachia is free from Dracula's grasp.

4 Vampire Hunter D Is A Dark, Post-Apocalyptic Story Starring The Titular Anti-Hero

Vampire Hunter D

Not Rated

Action

Fantasy

When Doris Lang is chosen as the next bride for the vampire Count Magnus Lee, she will hire a mysterious vampire hunter known only as D in an attempt to escape her ill-gotten fate.

Director

Toyoo Ashida

Release Date

December 21, 1985

Runtime

1 Hour 20 Minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Characters By

Kaneto Shiozawa, Michie Tomizawa, Seizô Katô

Producer

David Del Rio, Hiroshi Katô, Mitsuhisa Koeda, Carl Macek, Yukio Nagasaki

Production Company

Ashi Productions Company, CBS Sony Group Inc., Epic/Sony, Movic

Vampire Hunter D Rating Scores

Vampire Hunter D is primarily a novel series dating back to 1983, though the franchise does have various adaptations, including audio dramas, a video game in 1999, a manga series in 2007, and two anime movies. In fact, the first Vampire Hunter D is a cult classic that any vampire fan should check out.

Vampire Hunter D's story is dark, taking place in a post-apocalytpic setting after a horrendous nuclear war, not unlike the Fallout games. Many brutal monsters and people roam this desolate landscape, including the half-vampire protagonist known simply as D. He's a gritty, lonely antihero with vast powers, which may make these anime movies highly appealing to seinen fans.

3 Vampire Knight Is One Of The Most Iconic Vampire Anime Romances

Vampire Knight

TV-14

Drama

Action

Yuki Cross, along with her best friend Zero, attempts to keep the peace between humans and vampires at Cross Academy, but personal issues soon threaten the situation.

Release Date

April 8, 2008

Cast

Yui Horie , Mamoru Miyano

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

Production Company

Nihon Ad Systems (NAS), Studio DEEN

Number of Episodes

26

Vampire Knight Rating Scores

The 26-episode Vampire Knight anime is based on a shojo manga series of the same name, and it's likely one of the most iconic vampire romances in all of anime. Written by Matsuri Hino, the story follows protagonist Yuki Cross, a high school-aged Guardian against vampires, a student of the Cross Academy, and the daughter of its Headmaster, Kaien Cross.

Yuki is a human highly trained to hunt vampires. Simultaneously, she's also in a love triangle with two vampires. These are Zero Kiryu, Yuki’s adoptive brother and vampire hunter who grew up as human but was transformed by an undead bite, and Kaname Kuran, a pureblood original vampire who saved Yuki when she was little.

2 Dance In The Vampire Bund Follows A Vampire Princess As She Attempts To Build A Vampire Utopia

Dance In The Vampire Bund Rating Scores

The 12-episode-long Dance in the Vampire Bund anime is an adaptation of the manga by Nozomu Tamaki. Mina Țepeș, Princess-Ruler of all vampires, has established The Bund, an artificial island off the coast of Tokyo. It's built by the Japanese government for vampires to live peacefully while their existence is hidden from humans.

Following a talk show that reveals their existence, Mina expresses her wish for harmonious, even friendly, co-existence. However, prejudiced humans and extremist vampires get in the way of resolution between the races. Mina has to defend The Bund against enemies and continue to fight for justice and peace.

1 Hellsing Ultimate Reigns As One Of The Greatest Vampire Anime Of All Time

Hellsing Ultimate

Animation

Action

Fantasy

The vampire Alucard, his master Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, and his newly sired ward Seras Victoria try to protect England from a war-crazed SS-Major who seeks to start an eternal war with his vampire army.

Release Date

December 5, 2006

Cast

Katie Gray , Crispin Freeman , Victoria Harwood , Ralph Lister , Jōji Nakata , Fumiko Orikasa , Yoshiko Sakakibara , Gildart Jackson

Main Genre

Animation

Rating

TV-17

Seasons

1

Creator

Kouta Hirano

Hellsing Ultimate Rating Scores

This 10-episode OVA adaptation is the second anime adaptation of the Hellsing manga by Kouta Hirano. It's a follow-up to the previous 13-episode run that aired between 2001 and 2002. In the end, Hellsing Ultimate was conceived as a more faithful adaptation than its predecessor (even though the first anime was excellent, too), and for most fans, it's the quintessential adaptation.

The story follows the Royal Order of Protestant Knights founded by Abraham Van Hellsing and now run by his descendant Sir Integra Hellsing, a formidable woman and vampire hunter. She's joined by Alucard, a mysterious and vastly powerful ancient vampire on her side, and his sidekick, newly turned vampire Seras Victoria, as they fight supernatural enemies that try to take over England.