When I saw the trailer for this film on the original "Vampire Hunter D" DVD, I knew that there was something special in the works from our buddies at Urban Vision. I was not disappointed. "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" is a bona-fide thrill ride of an anime adventure, and totally worthy to wear the title as a true sequel to the classic that spawned it's existence.

"Bloodlust" continues the story of 'D' the Dunpeal, a half-human, half-vampire, in his quest to rid the world of vampires; for a price. The story surrounds the plight of a kidnapped noblewoman, Charlotte. She is taken from her bed by the mighty vampire, Meier Link, and 'D' is called in by her family to save her if possible; kill her, if necessary.

'D' has competition in the form of the Markus Brothers, a vampire hunter clan that packs a massive array of weaponry. As the story progresses, we see the development of these hunters, and they are almost as entertaining as 'D' himself. A herione, Leyla, an associate of the Markus Brothers, becomes 'D's primary partner/competitor/love interest.

Like it's hall-of-fame predecessor, "Bloodlust" is really not about plot or script. Instead, the main focus is on the visuals and surprisingly good character development. I noticed several reviews criticising the character depth; on the contrary, I found it to be a strength. For instance, we have two villians who we get to know fairly well in the form of Meier Link and Carmila. Further, the Barbarios, a band of crazed mutants and monsters, provide a nice counter-balance to the age-old vampire. And wait until you see the half-human, half-ghost Markus Brother.

But the star here is the beautiful visuals of hand-drawn artwork. No cartoon's here; instead, we have paintings that come to life. This is what anime should look like, and I was awe-inspired. The sound, too, while bright is effective; especially if you happen to have a 5.1 home theater.

Urban Vision has done a nice job on the DVD's extras, too, with a nice making-of documentary, and trailers.

If you love vampires, anime, or just want a good action romp, I can't think of a better way to light your fire.

One note of caution; this is NOT for kids. The theme is mature, and intended for teenagers and above only. Unlike feature films like "Titan A.E." or "Final Fantasy", "Bloodlust" deals with extremely dark subject matter, and should be treated accordingly.



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older