In the distant future it's the year 12,090 where vampires and the undead who caused terror through the night are falling at a rapid rate, because of a Dunpeal; half-human, half-vampire bounty hunter called D. On this quest he's hired for 20 millions dollars by a father of a young girl who was kidnapped by a powerful vampire who plans to take her with him to the stars. But D learns that his not the only one on their trail, as the man informs him that he also hired a group of vampire hunters know as the Mark Brothers. So now the two are in competition to who can get their hands the on the girl (dead or alive) before they get to their destination. But D also suspects that maybe the girl went by her own accord, which throws a spanner into the mix.

I used to always watch anime when I was a kid, but it kinda died off me when I got into my late teens. Well, that was until it picked up momentum again when I caught the brilliant 'Neo Genesis Evangelion' anime series a couple years ago. So, now I'm a on and off viewer, but I was glad that I was switched on for this particular one. Being a horror fan and reading the synopsis for the film I thought it sounded great and it was most definitely. But I also learned it was a sequel, which I was worried that I wouldn't have a clue what was going, but that's the not the case here with certain things about our protagonist being explained because they crop up into where the story is heading. It does feels kinda different, especially in the terms of violence by keeping it within the story's limits then going out fall ball with a pointless mess. The stimulating violence is done rather graciously with the easy-going pace suddenly moving like a speeding train when the action occurs. The animation is breath-taking, it's simply eye-candy with distinguishable details and sharp imagination that's pure film-craft at its best. The heavy blanket of Gothic atmosphere that's created breaths down on you with it's dark, grimy apocalyptic feel where there's a wonderful mix of ghoulish terror and sweet innocence. While, this anime has terrifically, garnished up visuals. The story was not to be forgotten, as it's a lyrically, thoughtful tale that's richly developed with an emotional pull that's truly enticing. You could call it a hybrid with a galore of ingredients worked into the story's structure; Horror, Medieval, Western, Fantasy and Sci-fi. These adventurous aspects truly made sure that there were plenty of nifty surprises and a range of highly spirited standoffs between foes with a kicking soundtrack to boot. The moralistic tale builds up an allegory you could say about racism and that of never trusting that of perception, but to look on the inside to find the person's true meaning. The smooth dialogue is quite meaningful and there's patches of dry humour sprinkled across it. The fruitful characters are well-rounded and they add their own little parts to the story. But the star here is the quietly spoken, but extremely deadly D; who's dressed up in his black overcoat and wide-brimmed hat that hides his face. He's not alone as his accompanied by his black horse and that of a talking parasite embedded in his hand.

A really compelling and exciting anime piece that delivers all the goods in a marvellous blend.

The Dunpeal (half vampire half human),Vampire Hunter D (voiced by Andrew Philpot) has been hired to find and reclaim Charlotte (Wendee Lee) who's been kidnapped by the vampire Meier Link (John Rafter Lee). The fee is $20M and he's not the only one in on the hunt. He has to compete with a band of hunters called the Marcus Brothers and they are formidable in their own right.

Meier has ensured that he won't be easily captured even by day. He's hired his own protection--a few supernatural creatures from Barbaroy. He and Charlotte are on their way to Carmila's castle where he will have better protection against hunters.

This hunt isn't as cut and dried as others. Meier isn't interested in Charlotte as food or even a vampire bride, he loves her and she loves him.

This anime got based on a novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi and got made into a movie for the first time in 1985. That movie, the anime "Kyûketsuki hantâ D", to me was a great one to watch due to its great dark atmosphere and intriguing characters. This longer and also more expensive movie however could never grab me with its story or even characters.

The story felt like a mess at times and was the foremost reason why the movie just couldn't always hold my intension. It also was the reason why the movie really felt like it was dragging at times and was definitely being overlong. With a different and more dark style I'm sure that the movie would had come out as a better one still though.

I just wasn't too impressed with the animation style this time, though I can certainly dig a good anime movie from time to time, so I'm familiar with its animation style and are often also quite fond of it. Its action but also its concept and character seemed far from original, which makes this a bit of a redundant movie, especially after the much better 1985 production.

Because the movie just never grabbed me, everything else in the movie just basically also fails to fully work out. It wasn't a movie that entertained me or was one that I enjoyed watching, though it's also far from the worst thing that you'll ever see.

5/10

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