10 Vampire Anime That Balance Fantasy With Humor and Drama

Where to stream: Apple TV

"Hellsing Ultimate" is widely considered to be one of the best, if not the best vampire anime ever. It's technically a remake of the original video animation, and like the former series (simply titled "Hellsing") it follows the original manga series, albeit more faithfully.

"Hellsing Ultimate" has political intrigue, frightening character design and the supernatural thrills fans have come to expect from the genre.

It follows a vampire-killing corporation run by Integra Hellsing ultimate, a vampire hunter with a major asset: the vampire Alucard, whose vampiric powers are the world's strongest. They join forces to thwart an evil plot that involves the creation of a vampire army.

Where to stream: Apple TV, Hulu

"Vampire Knight" incorporates the romantic dimension of the vampire stories, featuring Yuki Cross, a young woman who is both a vampire hunter and part of a volatile love triangle with two men: her adopted brother Zero Kiryu, and Kaname Kuran, a pure-blood vampire who saved her life as a child.

As Yuki the vampire hunter fights her enemies, she comes to learn more about the Cross Academy, which her adoptive father heads, as well as her own history. The familiar trope of the lethal-but-cute school girl is on full display in "Vampire Knight."

Where to stream: Currently not available to stream. Check your local library!

"Vampire Hunter D" is a throwback, having been released in 1985, but its stature has only grown with time. Based on the light novel series of the same name, it follows the exploits of D, a mysterious vampire hunter and powerful vampire in own right (he's actually a dhampir, a half-human, half-vampire hybrid) who traverses a post-apocalyptic world where vampires run riot.

D is hired by Doris Lang, a maiden who was bitten by the ancient vampire count Magnus Lee, and hopes that she can be saved from an eventual transformation into a vampire herself.

In 2000, "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust," a sequel, was released, and is considered a worthy successor.

Where to stream: Crunchyroll

"Strike the Blood" takes place on a man-made island off the coast of Japan, home to various monsters, where Kojo Akatsuki has arrived after being transformed into a vampire. Yukina Himeragi, an apprentice sword shaman, is charged with observing and containing Kojo, but the two soon join forces.

Full of bloodshed and swordplay, "Strike the Blood" is noted for being an exceptionally violent entry in the vampire anime canon. Anime fans with a taste for action (and who aren't afraid of gore) are likely to find a lot to enjoy in this one.

Where to stream: Apple TV, Hulu

"Blood Lad" is a fun, playful twist on vampire fiction. Staz Charlie Blood, who rules over a section of Demon World, is laid-back and uninterested in the usual vampire film tropes of gothic scares and drinking blood.

The plot really takes off when this vampire punk falls for a human girl who happens to wander into his realm.

Unfortunately, she's quickly killed, and Staz finally has a defining mission: to resurrect her. Fans of anime vampire stories will appreciate this novel and creative spin on classic tropes.

Where to stream: Retrocrush, Asiancrush

In anime terms, this one is a golden oldie; the horror-tinged, supernatural fantasy release date was in 1988, based on the manga of the same title.

The main character is a half-vampire girl from another dimension, charged with hunting down Shinma, demon creatures who have escaped from a shadow world known as the Darkness.

Miyu is a classic example of horror anime: It's spooky, but also full of a complex mythology and action. It was updated and expanded in 1997.

Where to stream: Netflix

An exception to the rule that anime series are adapted from manga series. Vampire in the Garden is an original anime, released in 2022 on Netflix. It depicts the story of the vampire queen Fine, who is the reluctant leader of a race of vampires locked in a seemingly endless battle with humans.

Momo, a kind human girl who is also an enlisted vampire slayer, encounters Fine and the two form an unlikely bond. Vampire in the Garden plays with the trope of the powerful vampire and the war between the human race and the forces of evil, delivering a satisfying (if short) spin on the genre.

Where to stream: Hulu, Apple TV, Crunchyroll

"A Case Study of Vanitas" is another unconventional take on the vampire genre.

In the world sketched by the series, vampires are still otherworldly creatures controlled by their thirst for blood, but they aren't lost causes. Vanitas, the titular character, is in possession of a book with which he can cure vampires of their violent, antisocial qualities.

The series takes place in alternative Belle Époque France with steampunk features. Noé Archiviste is a vampire who meets Vanitas and teams up with him in the quest to solve the plague of vampirism. As they set out to cure those who hear the call of the night, things become more complicated than either could have imagined.

Where to stream: Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Netflix

"Jojo's Bizarre Adventure" is an anime series with different parts, all exploring a fantasy world with menacing creatures, some of which are vampires. While it doesn't always focus specifically on undead blood fiends, the vampire-centered plots are notable for originality and thrills.

At the beginning of the series, Dio Brando, the main antagonist, discovers the Stone Mask, which endows him with the supernatural powers of the vampire. This narrative culminates in the third section of the series, Stardust Crusaders, featuring supernatural combat.

Where to stream: Currently not available to stream. Check your local library!

"Blood+" is another anomaly, a series adapted from a movie (the 2000 anime film "Blood: The Last Vampire"), rather than a manga. The series' protagonist, Saya Otonashi, is at first a normal high school student with the usual ups and downs of teenage life.

After she's attacked by a monstrous creature called a Chiropteran, she finds that her fate is to battle these creatures, as well as uncovering their origin, which — surprise! — has connections to the hidden secrets of her own past.

As you can see, the anime genre is both broad and deep: there's a massive catalogue of content, with everything from the purely formulaic to the exceptionally inventive. Some vampire anime will make for a fun, creepy romp; some shows have a touch of romance, some are wildly fantastical, while others are futuristic. Still others hew closely to the gothic roots of the genre.

Here, we looked at a representative list of some of the best vampire anime available. These stories are admired by fans and critics alike for being especially high-quality, offering thrills and chills, as well as the satisfaction of good storytelling.