Editorials
[Anime Horrors] Discovering the Sci-Fi Gothic Classic ‘Vampire Hunter D’
Welcome back to Anime Horrors!
From Dracula and Nosferatu, to 30 Days of Night and Underworld, vampires have provided many scares and thrills for audiences. Given how popular these nightmarish beings have been all throughout time, it is no surprise then that they’ve also made their way into anime. My first introduction to vampires in anime was that of the Hellsing OVA (a series I will absolutely be covering later in this column). For now, though, I want to bring your attention to an anime that is considered a classic.
Recently I discovered the 1985 film of Vampire Hunter D; with only a slim understanding of the series, I decided to dive in and give the film a shot. Come to find out it didn’t take long for the atmosphere and characters to win me over. After the credits rolled, I knew I wanted to share this series with others, as well as speak to what I enjoyed about the film.
Vampire Hunter D originally began as a series of novels in 1983, written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano. Not only have the novels expanded since their inception, Vampire Hunter D has also been adapted into manga, an audio drama, art books, and films.
The series’ overall story follows D, who happens to be a dhampir; this is a being who is half human and half vampire. This combination allows D extraordinary vampire powers, as well as some immunity to vampire weaknesses. He is able to live among humans and walk during the day, but can suffer from a sun related illness depending on circumstances. Along with his massive sword and physical prowess, D is able to utilize various magical abilities. On his left hand lives a symbiotic being that has various magical abilities as well, including the power to suck up matter.
D travels through a post-apocalyptic world set in the far future; the land makes for a unique blend of science fiction and high fantasy. From D’s robotic horse to gothic castles, to beings with psychic abilities, Vampire Hunter D’s world is truly unique. Along with said creatures, the world is built upon a fascinating history involving vampire nobility and war.
The 1985 film involves a story that one can enjoy without requiring a deep knowledge of the series. We are introduced to a young girl named Doris who ends up being bitten by a powerful vampire noble. Doris eventually meets D, the latter taking on the job of defeating the vampire noble that aims to make Doris his wife.
The animated action is a delightful blend of cheese and gore. Back around the time the film was released, action animation relied on repetitive static imagery to present the allusion of speed; while utilizing this style, the Vampire Hunter D film delivers on excitement in each action set piece. This is because the film’s overall presentation permeates an exciting and creepy mood throughout its runtime. The melodrama infused in some of D’s encounters lends itself to thrills and suspense; watching as D blends sword combat with touches of magic provides a fun element to fights.
Along with the 1985 film, there’s also a 2000 animated film titled Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust that involves a higher level of animation (looking forward to checking it out myself). At the time of this writing, there have been plans to start a new Vampire Hunter D animated series, with the script for the pilot nearing completion back in 2018.
While there are so many awesome anime out today, with more on the horizon, it is always wonderful discovering a classic. Even though I had briefly heard of the series before, having the chance to sit down and actually watch Vampire Hunter D was a joy; its unique science fiction and gothic world allows for an awesome presentation, all while offering fun action sequences. Vampire Hunter D is a classic in the world of horror anime; whether you are looking for a solid vampire story or some nostalgic joy, I would certainly encourage starting out with the 1985 film and exploring the anime from there.
Editorials
‘The Vampire Lestat’ Concert Event Launches New Season With The Ultimate Expression Of Fandom
There are thousands of passionate fans decked out in gothic chic and champing at the bit like feral creatures. They’re screaming for Lestat, a legendary vampire-turned-rock star, as if the entire crowd has been glamored into submission.
The entire experience is magic, but not because some supernatural thrall has been activated. What’s going on is even more special. It’s the power of the effusive fandom that’s been authentically assembled by AMC’s sublime Immortal Universe, namely Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, now, The Vampire Lestat.
The Vampire Lestat is far from the first Anne Rice adaptation, and it’s not as if there’s been a lack of erotic vampire material for audiences to sink their teeth into. On June 2nd, during a one-night-only spectacle, New York City’s prestigious Beacon Theatre shook from Sam Reid’s bravado performance and an audience full of adoring fans who had already memorized Lestat’s songs.
It’s clear that The Vampire Lestat just hits differently than its predecessors. It’s become more than just a TV series at this point, and this opulent display of ego, swagger, and pure sex is the perfect way to premiere the new season and give back to the fans who helped make Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat such a breakout success. It’s exactly the sort of hyperbolized hedonism that would make Lestat cackle.
For all intents and purposes, AMC has successfully created the illusion that this concert/premiere is just one of the many destinations on Lestat and his band’s 54-stop tour that is simultaneously playing out on this season of television. It’s such a sophisticated and thorough level of interactive fan engagement that the audience doesn’t just understand, but also manages to accentuate through its involvement.
It’s a level of seamless synergy that’s not unlike the give-and-take relationship of vampire and victim.
Before the concert started, “LeStans” were sitting in the Beacon and flipping through a fake Rolling Stone issue with Lestat emblazoned on the cover, complete with interviews with the undead frontman inside. Other fans were admiring the vinyl pressing of Lestat’s EP as they walked past a section of undead band merch. Fandom and fantasy blur together, and it all becomes this elaborate, immersive experience. Fan celebration, erotic gothic fantasy, and a lavish rock concert transform into one beautiful thing.
To this point, AMC Global Media’s Chief Content Officer and President of AMC Studios, Dan McDermott, introduced the event by reiterating to fans, “You are the heartbeat of the series.” That’s abundantly clear on nights like this as that heartbeat collectively pulses to this performance. In terms of how AMC engages with The Vampire Lestat’s fans, it’s as bold a reinvention as the season itself.
This intuitive gamble speaks to AMC’s creativity in this department and a fandom that is eager to seize such opportunities. It’s the same innovation that led to zombie walks for The Walking Dead and real-life Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant pop-ups from Breaking Bad. It’s a great way to pump up the audience for The Vampire Lestat and then maintain that enthusiasm for the whole season.
For most series, a rock ‘n’ roll concert just doesn’t make any sense as a promotional tool. The Vampire Lestat finds itself in a very unique position where it can deliver an excellent concert at an iconic theater, but also use it to showcase The Vampire Lestat’s music by Daniel Hart (who was shredding on stage alongside Reid and the rest of their band) and, more than anything, Sam Reid’s endless charisma.
The way in which Reid feeds off of the crowd’s energy, modulating his performance and giving different sections of the Beacon life, is a perfect distillation of the series’ thoughtful relationship with its audience and how it’s become such a breakout success for AMC. AMC Studios President Dan McDermott emphasized that the fans are the reason that the show is still here and why an event like this is even possible. It’s rare to see a series in which every single cog in the machine is so perfectly attuned to its fans. Reid’s fans already cheer whenever they see him, so why not translate that to a concert setting?
It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.
Now bring on the encore and get this show on the road!
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