Old School Week : Vampire Hunter D

Old School Week starts up again and this time I thought we would take in an anime.  Hmm this title will do nicely as we seem to have the need for supernatural and science fiction so let’s get to it.

So grab a refreshing soda, maybe a savory treat and find your favorite sitting chair.   This is Vampire Hunter D.

 

There he goes on a horse with no name.

Count Magnus Lee: What a wonderful night this has been! For the first time in one hundred years I haven’t been spoiled once!

From the Japanese novels of same title Hideyuki Kikuchi (Vampire Hunter D, Raiser of Gales, Demon Deathchase, Tale of the Dead Town, The Stuff of Dreams and The Rose Princess) written well over 25 novels in regards to this character and the world surrounding it.  Some time in 1999 a nuclear war occurred and the population suffered for it.  Vampires knowing all along it was only a matter of time when humanity would do such; uses their vast technology to shield certain pockets of humanity around the planet. Keeping the human population to a steady amount and given their technology is less advanced, the vampires walk among their “cattle” and causing them to live in fear and torment.  They postulate and preen that they are of great nobility and should be treated as such.

Optic blast fire!

The year is 12,090 AD; a young sheep herder named Doris Lang is making guard rounds her farm to insure no predators get to her herd when she is attack by the lord of the land Count Magnus Lee, a 10,000 year old vampire who intends on making Doris his new bride, leaves cackling as he plots, schemes and prepares for his new concubine.

Hungry Hippos: A Gothic Fairy tale.

A day later a man shrouded in black the name of D riding a cybernetic horse sees Doris is in trouble and offers her his help for 100 pieces of gold.  She even offers herself to him because she is completely desperate to fight the vampires.    Our young vampire hunter assures her that will not be necessary and he will take the job.   The counts’ minions and even the count’s own daughter Lamika feels utter distain to bringing a country bumpkin human into the House of Lee and she is torn between her loyalty to her father and her disgust for her would be stepmother.

And now I just have a few points about this anime.  Lead animation designer Yoshitaka Amano(Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, 1001 Nights, Gatchaman and Angel’s Egg)and animation character designer/animator Noriyasu Yamauchi (City Hunter, Gunbuster, Megami Paradise, Agent Aika and Cowboy Bebop) were given this challenge to create not only this post-apocalyptic vision but to give off elements of terror and gore.  I say now this IS NOT for the kids, people.  With depictions of extreme violence, some nudity and more than a fair share of snark, this is truly an adult themed animation.  

Batter up!

We have elements of mystery, intrigue, violence and the animosity between the human working class and residing authority.  The realm is almost a new dark age with technology cobbled from the previous years prior to the nuclear holocaust.  This gives of the feel of a sci-fi fantasy and old west theme which makes for a decent tale of our unknown vampire hunter and why he alone must step into the darkness to destroy it.