Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a hauntingly beautiful piece of animation film, which merges traditional painting techniques with state-of-the-art CGI. This 2000 spectacle builds on the universe of its predecessor, the original Vampire Hunter D movie from 1985. Director Yoshiaki Kawajiri, a pivotal figure in the anime industry, creates a fascinating gothic narrative infused with horror, action, and romance. The English version of the movie features voice performances of Andrew Philpot, John Rafter Lee, and Pamela Adlon, breathing life into its darkly atmospheric world.

The film catapults you into a post-nuclear holocaust future where humankind co-exists with various supernatural beings. The remnants of humanity live under the specter of night-fearing vampires, who, albeit a declining species, remain a formidable foe. Among their feared adversaries is the enigmatic and iconic character D, a Dunpeal - a cross-breed of a vampire and a human, who draws his strength from both worlds.

As a Dunpeal, D (performed by Andrew Philpot) is less vulnerable to traditional vampire weaknesses while possessing superior strength, agility, and resilience compared to humans. He earns his living as a bounty hunter in a world filled with mutants and monsters. However, D constantly grapples with his dual nature and an insatiable bloodlust, which is embodied in his Left Hand, a symbiotic entity that offers comic relief amidst the film's mainly somber tone.

The underlying plot of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust gets triggered when D is hired by an affluent family for what could be his ultimate contract - to rescue the younger daughter, Charlotte, who's allegedly been abducted by the handsome vampire Meier Link (voice of John Rafter Lee). Meier Link, unlike his monstrous kind, possesses a romantic aura and a certain nobility that blurs the line between heroes and villains throughout the narrative.

Complex complications arise with the introduction of the Markus Brothers, a group of human vampire hunters who also seek to retrieve Charlotte and claim the bounty, resulting in a thrilling storyline filled with race-against-time chases, grand battles, and subtle character revelations. Notably, the character of Leila (voiced by Pamela Adlon), one of the Markus Brothers, provides an emotional dimension to the tale with her backstory intertwining with D's lonely journey in surprising ways.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is far more than just its surface-level intrigues; it masterfully echoes themes of love, loss, loneliness, and the cost of immortality. Additionally, it offers a critique of human prejudice against the vampire world, subtly touched upon through D's internal struggle and society's ostracization of Dunpeals.

The visual artistry of the film is spellbinding. Richly detailed backgrounds and atmospheric lighting capture everything from eerie desolate landscapes to extravagant vampire castles with a palpable sense of dread and awe. The character designs range from Gothic elegance to grotesque horror, showcasing the best of both hand-drawn and CG techniques. The jaw-dropping action scenes, often set against surreal sunsets or under menacing, starlit skies, are a testament to the film's brilliant animation.

Finally, yet importantly, the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, composed by Marco D'Ambrosio, enhances the film's atmosphere, inspiring a wide spectrum of emotions from fear to sorrow and occasional exhilarity.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is an intense, emotionally charged film with intriguing character relationships and awe-inspiring visual aesthetics. It dignifies its genre with maturity and depth, making it not merely a great anime but a remarkable cinematic experience. The film is a treat for lovers of the anime medium, vampire genre, or anybody partial to darkly romantic adventures. It's a story of a tragic hero in a complex world, a testament to the best anime has to offer in terms of narrative, art, and storytelling. Both fans of the original Vampire Hunter D and newcomers will find much to appreciate in this atmospheric masterpiece.