Best Vampire Anime

Inspired by urban legends and mythology, creatures of the night haunt nearly every genre of anime. They can be love interests, fearsome foes, or celebrated heroes. However, few monsters in anime captivate viewers like vampires.

A vampire’s reliance on and isolation from others makes them a paradoxical promise of intimacy, eternity, and new possibilities. They are terrifying yet beautiful and uncannily human, and their lives demand to be seen even in the darkness. The complexity of vampires and the mysteries of the night constantly inspire new vampire stories, but these vampire anime have achieved immortality in more ways than one.

Castlevania
is not included since, technically, it is not an anime. That said, it is amazing. Also,
Bungo Stray Dogs
has been left out since vampires are introduced very late in the story.

Updated November 22, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The Fall 2024 anime season is well underway at this point, and the only vampire series is Delico’s Nursery, which is a leftover from Summer 2024. While a bit weird, the anime is worth a try.

As there are not many airing shows that fit the bill, two older vampire anime have been added as recommendations, including one series that ended in Summer 2024.

18 Mayonaka Punch

MyAnimeList: 7.38

Somewhat polarizing, Mayonaka Punch was either one of Summer 2024’s most underrated anime or a complete misfire, depending on the viewer. The characters are charismatic but also kind of obnoxious, and the humor is all over the place in terms of execution. Still, there is a lot to like about this vampire streamer anime.

After being thrown out by her NewTube partners, Masaki is determined to start an even more successful channel. In pursuit of this goal, she stumbles upon Live, a vampire who takes a quick liking to the girl’s blood. Desperate for revenge, Masaki makes an offer that Live cannot refuse: Help me gain 1 million subscribers and I am yours.

Mayonaka Punch improves considerably once the character roster expands beyond Masaki and Live, paving the way to something resembling an ensemble comedy. The vampire aspect is central, and the anime does dive a bit into that culture.

17 Undead Murder Farce

MyAnimeList: 7.90

Admittedly, labeling Undead Murder Farce as a vampire anime is a stretch since only one character fits the bill. Despite being essentially a secondary antagonist who appears in only a handful of episodes, Carmilla is enigmatic and captivating enough to justify a recommendation. More importantly, the show is an all-around fantastic monster mash filled with fun twists on classic archetypes, including literary figures like Sherlock Holmes. The story revolves around an unorthodox trio who travel the world taking on supernatural-themed cases while simultaneously pursuing their own goals. The group’s supreme detective is Aya Rindo, an immortal being who has been reduced to just a head; luckily, her mind is still sharper than a chef’s knife.

Undead Murder Farce blends Gothic imagery, engaging murder mysteries, and charismatic characters to create an anime that is constantly entertaining. While not a comedy, the show has a good and dark sense of humor that arises naturally from its cast’s big personalities, and that extends to the villains. Carmilla largely acts as a center for the main group’s powerful maid, and like every other figure in the story, she is larger-than-life.

16 Vampire Knight

MyAnimeList: 6.87 (Season 1)

Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are prefects at an academy that accepts vampire students at night. To protect the daytime students and the status of the academy, they both take their position seriously. However, their situation and feelings become complicated when Yuki, Zero, and the vampire students realize they are more connected than they thought.

Vampire Knight is a shojo take on vampires with drama and romance. However, while fans have mixed feelings about how Vampire Knight handled its love triangle, it might very well be the most well-known vampire-themed romance in anime. However, if someone is not fond of the genre’s shojo tropes, they will likely not enjoy this series.

15 The Vexations Of A Shut-In Vampire Princess

MyAnimeList: 7.19

A Fall 2023 anime that went by somewhat unnoticed, The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess follows Terakomari Gandesblood, a girl of noble blood who is pushed into a leadership role that she is widely unprepared for. While not completely incompetent, Komari has largely lived as a hikikomori, and she has no real affinity for magic due to being a vampire who would rather not drink blood. Still, if she wants to fulfill her role and survive, she must bluff her way through war speeches, battles, and plenty of encounters with powerful people who want to use her.

The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess is one of those anime that people will either love or hate. The show jumps back and forth between dark humor and straight-up drama, and the tonal inconsistency gets exhausting after a while. The harem aspect can also be hit or miss, especially since the protagonist is pursued quite aggressively by her love interest. Still, this anime has plenty of strong positives. For one, Komari is a fantastic lead and a fun twist on the vampire trope. Vilhaze is also entertaining and by far Komari’s best partner, even if she does transition from the second protagonist to a supporting character as the season progresses.

14 Noblesse

MyAnimeList: 6.89

Noblesse, the manhwa, is phenomenal. Noblesse, the anime, is a mildly amusing mess that should have been way better. While the latter is somewhat worth a watch, it is by no means a replacement for the former. They should not even be compared.

Noblesse refers to Raizel, a powerful vampire who is trying to keep a low profile. Consequently, he decides to attend a school and pretend he is just a normal teenager rather than a superpowered immortal being. The plan might have had potential, but Raizel is not exactly great at blending in, nor does he try all that hard to avoid attracting attention.

Despite ending with a series of battles, Noblesse is arguably at its best when focusing on Raizel’s fish-out-of-water antics at school. His deadpan demeanor can be quite funny, making for a pretty entertaining watch.

13 Blood Lad

MyAnimeList: 7.25

Blood Lad is a refreshing change from serious vampire anime. Its light-hearted story follows Staz Charlie Blood, a powerful vampire who loves humanity and considers himself an otaku. It’s the best moment of his life when a human accidentally wanders into the demon world.

Sadly, the human dies before Staz gets to speak to her, so he decides to go on a quest to bring her back to life. As Blood Lad is predominantly a comedy, Staz often tries to take the easy way out and ends up in bizarre situations. Frustratingly, the anime ended after only 10 episodes, so there is very little payoff to anything the plot sets up. Still, the available content is fun.

12 The Vampire Dies in No Time

MyAnimeList: 7.27 (Season 1)

The Vampire Dies in No Time was somewhat of a disappointment when it debuted. A new Madhouse production is always likely to attract attention, and the studio does not dip into the comedy genre all that frequently. While far from terrible, The Vampire Dies in No Time can come across like a one-joke show during its opening few episodes when the focus is almost exclusively on Draluc (the vampire) and Ronald (a vampire hunter). Due to the latter destroying the former’s home, they wind up living together, although that hardly means they are on the same page. In fact, Ronald hates Draluc.

Once new characters start to pop up and the show turns more into an ensemble comedy, things improve considerably, especially in season 2. The Vampire Dies in No Time has a fairly expansive roster of personalities that cover quite a few mythological and supernatural creatures, and it is usually a blast to see them interact since they are mostly idiots. As the main vampire, Draluc is fine and likable enough, even if his dying gag gets old rather quickly.

11 Blood+

MyAnimeList: 7.62

Saya Otonashi doesn’t know she is a vampire until a monster attacks her school one night. However, encouraged by a mysterious man playing the cello and her family, Saya slays the beast, awakening to her vampiric powers before joining a demon-fighting organization to protect others.

Blood+ is an action-packed story about Saya’s past and determination. Its characters are charming and compelling, and the series gives them time to process the events they are going through. Altogether, Blood+ backs up its fights with a strong story.

10 The Case Study of Vanitas

MyAnimeList: 7.90 (Season 1)

The Case Study of Vanitas is a supernatural anime that begins with a misunderstanding. According to legend, the Book of Vanitas is a magical tool used by a vampire born under a blue moon to curse and destroy vampirekind. However, when the vampire Noé Archiviste comes across the grimoire, not only is a human using it, but he is using it to cure vampires from corrupt forces.

The Case Study of Vanitas can be light-hearted, but its use of misunderstandings propels its plot and characters toward meaningful growth. The story starts slow but builds momentum well, culminating in a particularly strong second season.

9 Seraph Of The End

MyAnimeList: 7.49 (Season 1)

After a disease killed everyone older than thirteen in Yuichiro Hyakuya’s hometown, vampires stepped in to care for children in exchange for blood. Hyakuya and his friends spent years under their unjust rule until they decided to escape. However, he was the only one to survive, and since then, he has sworn his revenge on vampires.

Seraph of the End works because it’s similar to Attack on Titan, and it impresses with its fight scenes in humanity’s last stronghold as Hyakuya and others train to fight the vampires.

8 Blood Blockade Battlefront

MyAnimeList: 7.79 (Season 1)

Hellsalem’s Lot is a brutal yet magical town where reality and other worlds have combined. Aliens, demons, and humans coexist, but only the toughest can survive. Driven to protect the city, the organization Libra fights against those who would harm its citizens. The newest member of Libra is Leonardo Watch, who received the power of the “All-Seeing Eyes of God” against his will.

Blood Blockade Battlefront is a story of betrayal and familial love. Vampires and other creatures threaten not only the city but Leonardo’s friends as well. Along with colorful characters, the anime really delivers in its action sequences, which are brilliantly animated and creative.

7 Mignon

MyAnimeList: 8.02

Created by a Korean company that generally focuses on original boys love anime, Mignon tells an incredible story and does not waste any time doing so. While consisting of 12 episodes, each one is only 5 minutes long, meaning the overall series is just an hour in length. Consequently, this vampire anime only requires a short investment from viewers, and they will get to experience a mature and powerful tale about love, abuse, and dependency.

Mignon, the title, refers to an underground fighter who is under the thumb of his awful coach. After fights, he tends to be treated by Young-One Oh, a doctor who works for the arena. One day, Mignon stumbles into a pretty shocking secret: Young-One is a vampire. This “twist” happens early on, but it is hardly the only big reveal. Mignon is expertly paced considering its short length, managing to deliver a fairly complex story while also finding the time to properly flesh out its main characters.

Mignon
is very much designed for adults.

6 Call of the Night

MyAnimeList: 7.97

Call of the Night goes through a few phases, and they are all captivating. Suffering from insomnia and generally disenchanted, Kou spends his endless nights wandering Tokyo’s streets, mindlessly searching for something that injects a fire into his life. One evening, he stumbles upon Nazuna, a strange and seemingly otherworldly woman. Naturally, she is a vampire, a situation Kou not only takes in stride but also wishes to replicate for himself. Hesitant to make that happen, Nazuna lets Kou know that a transformation can only happen if he falls in love with her. So, their friendship gets underway.

Initially, Call of the Night comes across as a slow-moving slice of life with a supernatural twist. While their relationship can be divisive, Nazuna and Kou are both charismatic characters in their own right, with the former being surprisingly relatable. As the first season progresses, the anime begins to dive into the larger vampire society, leading to some surprisingly tense scenes (and the introduction of a fantastic vampire hunter).

With season 2 confirmed to be in the works, Call of the Night could and should continue to get better. And, it is already one of the best vampire anime.

5 Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

MyAnimeList: 7.89 (Season 1)

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the most well-known action anime in the world. The series is broken into parts that each focus on a different descendant of the Joestar family tree. While vampires are only the main antagonists for the first three parts of the series, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Stardust Crusaders brought the series to fame with Jotaro’s quest to defeat the power-driven vampire Dio Brando. Its subsequent parts may not be about vampires, but Jotaro and Dio’s influence is present throughout the series.

That said, the best JoJo sagas are arguably the ones that follow Stardust Crusaders, and they move away from the concept of vampires. Even the entries that do feature these creatures feature long stretches without them in the forefront.

4 Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)

MyAnimeList: 7.92

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a cult-classic sequel to the animated film Vampire Hunter D (1985). Both films follow D, a dhampir with a symbiotic left hand who hunts down other creatures of the night in exchange for rewards. While fans of the series love both films, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust has a more complex plot with forbidden love and other hunters pursuing D’s target.

For those looking to enjoy an animated vampire film, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a beautiful yet action-packed story that uses the often-overlooked dhampir. The anime’s gothic aesthetic produces some genuinely jaw-dropping visuals and backdrops.

3 Shiki

MyAnimeList: 7.73

Shiki has an inconspicuous opening that leads into a medical horror series and a psychological thriller about trying to cure vampirism and prevent a murder spree in a small town. As the vampire forces grow larger each night, the town doctor becomes more apathetic toward the town’s concerns and loses, and the feeling of being watched becomes prevalent.

Shiki uses a slow-burn approach to its horror, allowing the terror of each moment to set in before moving on to show vampires, and humanity, at their darkest. The anime’s second half is filled with hard-to-watch sequences that blur the lines between the two sides, showing that humans can be just as vicious as monsters.

2 Hellsing Ultimate

MyAnimeList: 8.35

Hellsing Ultimate is an original video animation retelling of Hellsing. Aside from having longer episodes and revamped animation, fans consider Hellsing Ultimate a faithful version of the vampire hunter Alucard’s struggles against other vampire-hunting organizations because it more closely follows the manga.

Alucard’s story is brutal, violent, and stunningly created. He by no means hides his love of vampire hunting, even as a first-class vampire himself, and has unshakable confidence in his skills. Hellsing Ultimate is exceptional from the beginning, making it one of the best vampire anime available.

1 The Monogatari Series

MyAnimeList: 8.33 (Season 1)

The main protagonist of the Monogatari series, Araragi, is an ex-vampire who manages to retain some of his superhuman qualities. Although he remains connected to the vampire who cursed him, his primary goal is to help others who have experienced supernatural, personal, and spiritual challenges. Monogatari has a distinct and engaging animation style that uses changes in aspect ratio, text on still frames, and a combination of photography and animation at different times. While the art is memorable, the characters and the story’s focus on helping others made the series skyrocket in popularity.

Visually creative and narratively dense, Monogatari is a one-of-a-kind anime with no direct peers, and it is arguably Shaft’s crowning achievement. Araragi carries the story well as the connective tissue that ties the diverse arcs together, nearly all of which revolve around a different girl who has a supernatural affliction. While not always the primary focus, vampirism is a central theme of the franchise, and Shinobu is one of the most famous anime vampires of all time.