BONUS 1979-1990 Anime PrimerVampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)After a nuclear apocalypse ravaged the
BONUS 1979-1990 Anime PrimerVampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)After a nuclear apocalypse ravaged the Earth, vampires emerged from the shadows to rule over the remains. Known as the Nobility, their cruel reign lasted centuries… but as all races—even immortal ones—eventually must, they fell into decline. Humans, once mere livestock, have turned against their former masters. Still, they struggle to defend themselves against the surviving Nobles and their genetically-engineered demon minions. Enter D: an ephemerally beautiful and brutally powerful half-vampire, or dhampir. His heritage makes him the ideal hunter of the undead… and an outcast among the living. With only the chatty parasite living in his left hand for company, D wanders in search of bounties…In Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, D is hired to recover a young maiden that was whisked away by a rogue Noble. Time is of the essence, as D must catch up with the vampire’s carriage before the girl is turned. Complicating matters is a group of rival hunters competing for the reward, and the shocking revelation that this is not a kidnapping so much as an elopement… Can D prevent the birth of another dhampir like himself?This film was released in 2000… which makes it not, technically, an 80s anime. But I’d like to argue the case for its inclusion. You see, the original Vampire Hunter D OVA came out in 1985. Based on Hideyuki Kikuchi’s series of novels, the stoic lead, genre-blending setting and gruesome fight scenes made it an otaku favorite on both sides of the Pacific. That said, unlike the other entries on this primer, it hasn’t aged too well… to the point where it wouldn’t be exaggeration to say that Bloodlust improves on every positive it contains by 110%. This picture has it all: gorgeous animation, heart-racing action, pitch perfect pacing, detailed character designs (that much better reflect the Yoshitaka Amano originals), macabre creatures and a fully-realized world. Veteran director Yoshiaki Kawajiri (who helmed other Kikuchi adaptions such as Demon City Shinjuku and Wicked City) crafts an experience that encapsulates the classic 80s anime movie formula, a feat at the turn of the 21st century when the industry was moving in distinctly different directions. For this reason, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is also significant as a last hurrah of sorts for a fleeting style.Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is available on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Discotek. -- source link
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