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Studio Madhouse might be known for animatingDeath Note, Frieren, One Punch Manand several other popular franchises, but in 2000, the studio produced the most iconic gothic film,Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. It has been more than two decades since the film was released, but the recognition it received never died down.
Bloodlust is the second anime adaptation of Hideyuki Kikuchi’s light novel series and it presents a powerful visual style to its audience. Taking place 10,000 years after a nuclear war, the anime shows vampire survivors called Nobles who begin to enslave humanity. As a countermeasure, humans take the help of Vampire Hunters, and our protagonist is a vampire-human hybrid who travels the world to kill vampires as well as other monsters.
Why is Madhouse’sVampire Hunter D: Bloodlust(2000) the Pinnacle of Gothic Anime?
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlustbelongs to thegothic horrorgenre. Not just because of its obvious vampire antagonists but because the studio created a perfect mix of old European aesthetics with supernatural machinations. Yoshiaki Kawajiri, the co-founder of Madhouse, himself directed and wrote the screenplay for the film.
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While the humans inBloodlustare shown in Old West American style, the Nobles, or vampires, evoke an ancient style. The humans live in arid areas where the sun is bright, and most of their scenes take place during the day. Despite having guns and technology, it is apparent that they need more to survive against these monsters.
In its very opening scene,Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlustpresents a stunning visual of Gothic architecture. It is obvious thatMadhouse put their heart and soulinto it. The Nobles have monuments that will give you a glimpse into their fallen civilization. These giant, sprawling castles as well as their futuristic technology, are all depicted in a dramatic gothic style. From the high ceilings to the long-tailed gowns and even the ornate carriages and castles, the dark Victorian aesthetic is pushed throughout the movie.
Why D is the Perfect Embodiment of a Goth Anime Protagonist
Like stated before, D is a dhampir, which means a half-vampire and half-human. The protagonist is also gifted with superior strength, skill and knowledge in comparison to other dhampirs. D primarily dresses in a faded black long coat. He also wears a wide-brimmed hat and a combat utility belt. The curved longsword that he carries around adds to his gothic style as well as intimidating look.
Being a dhampir, D faces plenty of discrimination, and despite his successful results, he is oftentimes driven out with scorn and hatred. Thus, he is the classic stoic hero who rarely ever talks, and when he does, it’s very little. However, his actions speak louder than his words. He expresses himself only when the situation calls for it.
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D does not spare those who threaten him and demonstrates a fierce determination to survive hardships. His exterior is as cold as ice, and he never expresses his feelings, though he does experience them deeper than most people. Another characteristic that makes D highly mysterious is that little is known about where D is going and who or what he is searching for. All in all, he is the perfect protagonist for the legendarygothic horror anime movie.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlustis currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Aaheli Pradhan
Anime Content Writer
Articles Published :1557
Aaheli is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with 1300+ published articles. With five years of experience under her belt, she is a living, breathing encyclopedia for anime and manga. From Shonen and Shojo to the most niche anime, nothing escapes her radar. Her poisons of choice are Assassination Classroom, Gintama, Ouran High School Host Club and every Ghibli movie ever. She believes in living a slow life, surrounded by incomplete art projects and her beloved cats.
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