Directed by: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Starring: Andrew Philpot, John Rafter Lee, Pamela Segall, Wendee Lee, Michael McShane

My Advice: Don't Miss It.

In 1985, the original Vampire Hunter D came on the anime scene as a near-instant classic. Standing for the horror genre in the same position as Akira for straight-up sci-fi or Ghost in the Shell for cyberpunk, it set a standard for dark, gothic horror storytelling in Japanese animation. Despite the years gone by and the improvements in animation technology and technique, the film still holds up remarkably well.

So when it was announced that there would be a new movie about the exploits of every otaku's favorite half-human, half-vampire vampire hunter, a bit of trepidation ran through the ranks. Having seen my fair share of classics spoiled by remakes, retreads, and sequels, I was one of the nervous ones. It only took moments, though, before this new entry had won me over. It not only stays true to the vision and dystopian future of the original, but it extends the mythos established by the original, improves on the depth of its leading character, and above all manages to tell a tight, well-focused story that is engaging even to the uninitiated anime viewers of the audience.

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