Vampire stories vary in style and interpretation and are told all over the world, and Japanese anime is no exception.

From serious to horror, grotesque to comical and fantastical, and even romantic at times, Japanese vampire anime has a unique brilliance that sometimes goes beyond our imagination.

Therefore, we have selected 15 recommended vampire anime of all time from all genres including rom-com, horror, action, slice-of-life, and more.

If you were once that teenager who had a fantasy of getting bitten by a (hot) vampire and becoming immortal, this is the perfect article to you!

2. Seraph of the End

If you are looking for an anime where vampires and humans are fighting against each other, Seraph of the End could be the one. What makes this show so interesting is that the two main characters grew up together as brothers.

Yuuichirou and Mikaela Hyakuya, two young boys that are taken captive from an orphanage, along with other children whom they consider family. Discontent with being treated like livestock under the vampires’ cruel reign, Mikaela hatches a rebellious escape plan that is ultimately doomed to fail. The only survivor to come out on the other side is Yuuichirou, who is found by the Moon Demon Company, a military unit dedicated to exterminating the vampires in Japan.

Seraph of the End is a post-apocalyptic supernatural shounen anime that follows a young man’s search for retribution, all the while battling for friendship and loyalty against seemingly impossible odds.

• Kagami himself did script writing for the anime involving events that were not yet published in the source material
• The anime is licensed by Funimation for both video and streaming in North America
• The source material has also spawned several other adaptations including two different light novel series, a voice comic, two video games and a spin-off manga

3. The Case Study of Vanitas

The Case Study of Vanitas takes place in France that adheres to a steampunk fantasy. Studio Bones helms the show with director Tomoyuki Itamura at the steering wheel. You’d think a guy who has been involved with the Monogatari franchise brings its witty dialogues to this show. However, The Case Study of Vanitas sells beyond talking and character interactions.

Noé Archiviste meets Vanitas, a human claiming to be a vampire’s doctor, curing them of the malnomen, which causes vampires to behave predatorily against their will. The book with which he heals, The Book of Vanitas, is connected to the original Vanitas, the Vampire of the Blue Moon, hated by the Vampires of the Red Moon who form the traditional vampire society.

The plot twists haven’t begun yet so without counting that they can expect an original story with a few tropes here and there, good dynamics, great music and a developing mystery.

• When you see Bones attached to an anime, you expect quality and that is exactly what we get. Vanitas looks great with good animation and some great art style
• Well, it certainly sounds very French, which is very thematic, considering the setting. While it can sound generic, it does at least try to vary itself so it does not blend into one another
• The OP and ED are both next-level beautiful, and the OST makes each dramatic scene a little more captivating

4. BLOOD+

Okinawa Japan, known for its rich history, wonderful delicacies, and creatures from hell? This anime combines vampires and the military to create what can only be described as a “hood classic”, or a situation where we take on our sleep-paralysis demons and win.

Saya Otonashi lives with her adoptive parents, her life is pretty stale and has nothing of grand substance. She has bouts of amnesia and her greatest mystery is her life beyond the previous year. One night while walking home, She’s attacked by a hellish creature. While stunned, a man named Haji appears and forces her to drink his blood, she powers up and slays the creature with ease. Teaming up with Haji, they take on these hellish beasts under the organization “Red Shield”.

What every viewer must realize first off is that this is NOT just an anime about vampires. The fact that the characters often require blood to survive is used as an effective plot device, but it is not the entire focus of the show. What this means is that it appeals to both those who love vampire animes and those who do not, creating, as a whole, an extremely balanced well-crafted anime.

• The story is dark, sad and action-packed. I like how they present everything with a sad setting; it’s not like it’s just one big brawl after another; it is emotions and resolve-strengthening, it battles which have a reason other than just being yet another battle
• The animation style in Blood+ is really cool. It’s got good shading details, and the characters look good too; they’ve got a nice variation of character designs, some detailed and some maybe not so detailed
• What I like about Blood+ is that despite being about vampires, it focuses on almost anything but the vampire aspects of the characters, with the latter being used mainly as a MacGuffin

5. Bakemonogatari

The Monogatari series has to be one of the most unique and interesting of any anime series (not including fate for obvious reasons.) Everything from the random flashing text, to the monologues that never get boring and everything in between, is near perfection with only a few hiccups throughout the entire series so far. If you like a good mystery/fantasy/action story then this anime is for you.

The Monogatari series revolves around Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student who has almost restored his humanity after briefly becoming a vampire during spring break. One day, a classmate of his, the reclusive Hitagi Senjōgahara, falls down a flight of stairs at school into Koyomi’s arms. Thus begins Koyomi and Hitagi’s adventures together.

Truly amazing direction by Shinbou Akiyuki left us with so many memorable scenes, and this will definitely be a series to be remembered. It’s a love-or-hate type of anime, in my opinion, and if you are the type of person this show caters to, you will come to thoroughly appreciate every aspect of the show, besides just Senjougahara.

• The unlikely toggling of comedy roles was delivered extremely well, and this back-and-forth interaction between the leading couple is a key part of this show’s appeal
• Visuals for the anime got somewhat of an “art house film” treatment. There were many abstract and surreal scenes, unconventional cuts, and intriguing camera angles that made the viewing experience very pleasant
• Truly amazing direction by Shinbou Akiyuki left us with so many memorable scenes, and this will definitely be a series to be remembered

6. Hellsing

Hellsing was based on Kouta Hirano’s manga of the same name. The anime utilizes the same characters but the story strongly deviates from the manga, which was still ongoing at the time of the anime’s creation.

Hellsing is named after and centred around the Royal Order of Protestant Knights originally led by Abraham Van Helsing. The mission of Hellsing is to search for and destroy the undead and other supernatural forces of evil that threaten the queen and the country. This organization is currently led by Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who inherited the leadership of Hellsing as a child after the death of her father.

If you’re a fan of Dracula, you’ll love the series. If you’re a fan of stylish anime, you’ll love the series. If you like action, but also like compelling characters, you’ll love the series. Flawed animation and story aside, it’s definitely a must-see.

• Oozing coolness, its excellent musical score and characters hook you in, and the story keeps you interested enough to watch all the way through
• The story is a breath of fresh air from the normal generic vampire story tripe that pollutes Hollywood and cheap horror novels, and the strong connections to religious symbolism and Bram Stoker’s Dracula were a real treat for me
• Overall, the memorable cast, great music and cool story bit me (hahaha, vampire humour) and left me with a serious desire for human blood (or a better ending)

7. Blood-C

It is the second anime series in the Blood franchise following the series Blood+. Blood-C was designed to share only thematic similarities with earlier Blood projects.

Saya Kisaragi is leading a split life. Equipped with a ceremonial sword given to her by her father for sacred tasks, she vanquishes every monster who dares threaten her quiet little village. Tormented by unexplainable visions and her world unravelling around her, we travel with Saya through her struggle to find a way to the truth in a village where nothing is as it seems.

Thus while certainly not the best vampire anime, Blood-C is nevertheless a solid anime. Saya may not be the most likeable or emotionally realistic character this season, but I still find myself intrigued by the story.

• The fighting is excellent, Saya sure knows how to handle a sword! I’ve seen about six/seven fights in the series so far, and each one makes my heart pound when I watch it
• The art is brilliant, the character designs are very fresh, and go easy on the eyes when you look at them
• Don’t even get me started on the music, the opening (combining both Japanese, English, AND french) is just amazing

8. Devils Line

Thia Anime has a sequel series so it can fulfill your binge-watching needs. The series is directed by Hideaki Nakano at the animation studio Platinum Vision, with Ryouma Mizuno serving as assistant director.

Vampires walk among society, existing as part of its underbelly. They do not require blood to survive, but extreme emotions can immensely increase their bloodlust, turning them into uncontrollable monsters. Tsukasa Taira, a 22-year-old university student, learns of the existence of vampires when her longtime friend reveals himself to be one of them after a tense confrontation with Yuuki Anzai—a human and vampire hybrid.

I could say that Devil’s Line isn’t a masterpiece, but it did well in many aspects and satisfying the romance, mystery anime fans. Do give it a try for at least finishing half of the whole series and don’t judge the book by its cover. Perhaps at the end, you may appreciate this series.

• At first glance, it gives off twilight vibes and looked like fanservice anime, but it gets really good
• Naturally, this story is “edgy” but I think it has the right amount of edge and isn’t just edgy for the sake of being edgy
• To describe the atmosphere as best I can I would say it reminds me of old detective stories where everyone is smoking heavily

9. Strike the Blood

I remember discovering the ecchi genre as a wee lad, when I found Strike the Blood, it was the biggest dopamine rush I had back then. If you want to watch a normal guy who stumbles upon ridiculous powers and then proceeds to save the world and get a lot of female attention; then here you go.

Kojou Akatsuki’s days as an ordinary high school student in the Demon District of Itogami Island come to an abrupt end after a fateful encounter leaves him with the remarkable abilities of a vampire. Due to his newfound powers, a sword-shaman named Yukina Himeragi is sent to monitor him in case he grows mad with power. The two form an unlikely alliance as Kojou comes to terms with his abilities and they both struggle to protect the city from various emerging chaotic forces.

I would say that your enjoyment of this anime is very dependent on how much you enjoy action and/or harem and/or supernatural genres.

• This anime is produced by Silver Link who produced the comedy “Baka & test” which I enjoyed a lot. This anime is directed by Hideyo Yamamoto
• You have all your “dere” type of characters in one show
• If you like rock-like Japanese songs then you’ll love those openings. The OST of the anime is really great too and feat perfectly with each kind of situation in it

11. Tokimeki Tonight

An oldie but a goldie, this retro anime warms the heart. If you ever wanted an anime version of the Addams Family with your typical shoujo clichés thrown in, this is the closest you’re going to get. Due to the episodic nature of the series, don’t expect any significant progress.

On her first day at a new school, Ranze meets the beautiful Shun Makabe and falls head over heels for him. While he remains oblivious, this does not stop Yoko Kamiya, the daughter of a yakuza boss, from becoming jealous. Furthermore, Ranze’s parents despise the idea of her dating a human. On top of all that, Ranze has to cope with the manifestation of a new power—the ability to shapeshift into anything she bites!

Tokimeki Tonight is a mixed bag. Sometimes it’s bad, and sometimes it’s good. Some stories are entertaining, while others can be borderline snooze fests. Like most everything else with this series, my enjoyment was about average.

• I was rather taken aback by the score on Tokimeki Tonight. The score was quite infectious, to the point that some of it played in my mind while I was trying to fall asleep
• One of the most unusual aspects of Tokimeki Tonight is the background art. While the series presumably takes place in Japan, most of the signs are in English and the architecture has an old European flair to it
• Tokimeki Tonight is a mixed bag. Sometimes it’s bad, and sometimes it’s good. Some stories are entertaining, while others can be borderline snooze fests

12. Servamp

Normal High School student is met with the supernatural and pulled into a whole different world. However, I have not yet encountered a story in which said supernatural creature is literally THE most lazy person in the show, which often helps loosen the ‘deep’ mood that the story is going for with an amusing comment about how he’d rather take a nap than do anything ‘bothersome’.

One day, Mahiru returns home to find something quite strange: a mysterious young man he has never seen before. His subsequent panic results in the uninvited guest being exposed to sunlight and—much to Mahiru’s shock—transforming into Kuro! One disaster after another leads to Mahiru accidentally forming a contract with his new freeloader, dragging him into a life-threatening battle of supernatural servants and bloodthirsty beings that is anything but simple.

If you’re someone who enjoys an anime with a pretty art style and bright colours, an anime that is somehow ‘deep’ but still manages to bring in funny and amusing scenes (sometimes when you least expect it), then I highly recommend this to you.

• The main character is your everyday hero who wants to protect his friends and do everything right, which comes across as a bit generic at times
• The animation is great, and the character design is a very favourite of mine. Bright colours, and distinctive character designs so that you don’t get confused about who is who
• Characters you can fall in love with easily

13. Rosario + Vampire

Rosario + Vampire is a supernatural school comedy that explores Tsukune’s romantic exploits, experiences, and misadventures with a bevy of beautiful but dangerous creatures. The source material’s popularity has also led to the creation of drama CDs, visual novels, internet radio shows, and a novel adaptation.

Tsukune Aono is an average teenager who is unable to get into any high school because of his bad grades. His parents inadvertently enroll him in Youkai Academy as a last-ditch effort to secure his education. As Tsukune unknowingly enters this new world, he has a run-in with the most attractive girl on campus, Moka Akashiya. Deciding to stay in the perilous realm in order to further his relationship with Moka, he does not realize that beneath her beauty lies a menacing monster—a vampire.

Sure there’s a lot of fanservice in this show…it is an ecchi comedy after all. Take this show for what it is…a fun ecchi comedy with great characters, fun fight scenes, and hilarious fanservice.

• Fan service; Fan service; Fan service; Fan service! That’s the theme for this anime so don’t start having high hopes for an amazing story or whatnot (at least nothing in comparison to the manga original)
• The anime is considered pretty episodic (ie. standalone episodes) with a few exceptions near the end of the series
• Plenty of character developments and showing their inner feelings toward each other (especially near the end when certain secrets were discovered)

14. My Monster Secret

If you like comedy in your stuff, then you owe it to yourself to check this out. As with most things the first few episodes may seem a little shaky at first but stick with it, IT’S WORTH IT!

Asahi Kuromine, a normal high school student who supposedly cannot keep a secret, finds his demeanour quickly challenged when he spots his classmate, Youko Shiragami, unfurling a large pair of wings from her back. He learns that Youko is a vampire and that she is only able to attend a normal school on one condition: no one must discover her true identity. This secret becomes difficult to maintain, as Youko herself is an airhead and Asahi’s childhood friend Mikan keeps bullying the two of them.

A serious strong point in this anime is its comedic timing and various reaction faces. The reaction faces in particular are some of the funniest things I’ve seen as they vary wildly from situation to situation.

• The characters all develop very well and are highly unique and the author uses all of them hilariously
• Unlike many harem-type mangas not EVERY female character under the sun falls in love with the MC (which is kinda refreshing as those six-way love battles get old) a good chunk of them settle solidly into non-romantic roles
• The fan service is light, usually funnelled through a very specific character and even then it’s usually there more for a joke than anything else. You won’t find yourself being beaten half to death with it

15. DIABOLIK LOVERS

The DVD contained several mini-dramas depicting events that occurred to the Sakamaki’s off-screen during the anime. An OVA episode was bundled together with the Diabolik Lovers: Dark Fate game and released on February 28, 2015.

At the behest of her father, Yui Komori goes to live in a secluded mansion, home to the six Sakamaki brothers—Shuu, Reiji, Ayato, Kanato, Laito, and Subaru—a family of vampires. Though at first the siblings are confused as to why the girl has arrived, they soon realize that she is to be their new “sacrificial bride,” not to mention their other, more carnal intentions for her.

This show gives you so much snark bait to work with that you NEED to watch it with someone else just so that you can make fun of EVERYTHING that it has to offer.

• This anime is recommended for mature viewers as it contains lots of graphic content
• An anime that is soo bad, that it’s good
• A mediocre light novel adaptation

Summary

In this list, we went through a variety of vampire anime that may suit your tastes. Although your typical vampire content may feature a forbidden love or some sort of smut content, there are other subgenres like vampire comedy which can substitute.

One really cool aspect of the genre is that it can fit many audiences depending on the creativity behind the work. Be sure to keep checking back on our site for more great anime recommendations.