5/5 Classic
  by SouthernMuse (MS, USA)
Vampire Hunter D is one of my favorite stories of all time. I first discovered it back when I was 14, and I just fell in love with the character. So glad they brought this to DVD!! The DVD itself is really good quality, considering how old the original film is. My only complaint is that I find the English voice acting to be annoying on everyone except for D. Totally prefer the subtitled!

3/5 Not sweetened with time...
  by Ana Mardoll (United States)
Vampire Hunter D / B00004Y7JH

*Spoilers*

When I reviewed Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust, I noted my frustrating with the character of "D" who is, in "Bloodlust" so perfect as to be an uninteresting cipher. Here, on the other hand, "D" is a much more interesting character - although still immensely powerful, he makes the occasional mistake, and he is capable of becoming emotional when dealing with a vulnerable woman and her frightened young brother, even going so far as to reach out and befriend them. For that character development alone, I'll give "Vampire Hunter D" a better rating than "Bloodlust".

Having said that, I should take this opportunity to note that if you're not already a fan of this particular anime, this movie probably won't convert you. The animation is very dated, and while I don't demand classic anime to look or feel 'modern', it is still crucial to be able to tell what's going on. The "ubiquitous monochromatic colored background" effect is used liberally, especially in fights and fleeing scenes, and I'm afraid watching a woman run jerkily in place while a blue "background" streaks behind her just doesn't get my pulse pounding. D himself flings himself over cliffs and through haunted castles, but often in such a manner that the viewer is faintly confused - how did he know where the castle was located?

Then again, it may be possible that the castle's location was posted as the nearest cross-roads - the movie can't quite decide how it wants to treat vampires. The setting here is "Futuristic Western", but the only 'futuristic' aspects are the electric fences around the ranches. Vampires seem to be less of a breed and more of a nobility in this world, and the movie seems uncertain whether or not humans can be turned. Does Doris face vampirism in her future, or is she just to be used up as a human play-thing? ("Bloodlust" takes the more common route in this regard and is very plain and upfront that the ingénue *can* be turned and that this is a fate to be avoided.) On the other hand, again like "Bloodlust", minor characters can be turned into vampire slaves at the convenience of the baddies. It's not even clear what constitutes being a half-vampire like D - the local Count boasts a daughter who is revealed, to her surprise and disgust, to be half-human, but you'd think she would have NOTICED that fact about herself if it meant she had different abilities and/or limitations. You could say that she's only "half-human" in the sense of origin - i.e., that her mother was a human-turned-vampire and not a born-vampire, but then it seems odd that the same Dhampir label would be applied to her.

Finally, I really don't think it's too much to ask that at least one of these "Vampire Hunter D" movies explain D's talking, magical hand. It's not exactly a standard item, and I don't think I'm being unreasonable to expect a bit of backstory on that.

If you're a fan of the Vampire Hunter D series, I think it's safe to say you'll like this movie, but if you're just looking for a new, fresh anime movie to get into, I'd pass on D, unless you can find it at budget price.

5/5 "Old school" anime never fails.
  by Orbital101 (Richmond, VA)
I first started developing a serious interest in anime in 1999. I was in a record store called Plan 9 and came across this title while looking for another anime called Vampire Princess Miyu. I was skeptical at first, but then thought, "What the heck?" I'm glad I made that purchase, because this anime is dark, bloody, risque and a landmark achievement. The introduction itself gives me chills just THINKING about it! Considering that this anime was made in 1985, WAY before I even knew what anime was, or what it stood for, I think everyone who was apart of the Urban Vision team were YEARS ahead of their time. And interestingly enough, Vampire Hunter D takes place years ahead in the future. But not quite the future one would come to expect as far as technological advances are concerned. The firearms that some of the villagers posses are quite futuristic I guess, but don't expect to see an atmosphere that's comparable to let's say, The Jetson's. Overall it's an epic anime, and it's now 24 years old. So do yourself or another anime fan a favor and buy it. I swear you won't regret it.

5/5 Great Anime!!!!
  by Silent (Escondido, CA United States)
This has to by one of if not my favourite animes off all time. The first time I saw this movie was back in the early nineties, (my sister and brother-in-law rented it) and I again saw it on the Sci-Fi Channel in 1993. Great story and great character design. I enjoyde "BloodLust" too. It would be cool if they made a live action movie of this.

5/5 Oldschool...
  by Bindy Sue Frønkünschtein (under the rubble)
VAMPIRE HUNTER D was made in 1985. So, if you cannot handle animation that looks "dated", beware! As for me, I love this movie w/ its dark, caustic atmosphere, vampires, werewolves, mutants, and monsters! I like Doris, her brother Dan, and the Doctor. Of course, the title character is the best thing about VHD. He's sort of a Clint Eastwood / Van Helsing hybrid w/ a dark secret of his own. The first time he took off his left glove, my jaw hit my knee! Fabulous stuff for all true ani-monsters...