Even the least popular anime vampire characters are still fairly popular. New seasons bring more examples of the fascination that anime appears to have with vampiric characters. Western entertainment media have long been obsessed with the idea of the vampire and as the concept of the blood-sucking monster is found in legends across the globe, it's unsurprising that Japanese anime would embrace the idea so thoroughly.

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While recent releases have brought in popular characters that rapidly gain attention and an audience, there are still a few anime series out there that never quite gained the popularity that they deserved. Whether it be the unique animation style, characters, or plot, there are still good anime vampires out there to find.

5 Vampiyan Kids (1999)

vampiyan kids

Vampiyan Kids tells the story of a vegetarian vampire family who is exiled from Monster Land due to their inability to scare humans. They move into a house next to a human family and the plot moves (somewhat) predictably from there with Papa creating new inventions to scare 1,000 humans and return to their former place in Monster Land.

While the concept of Vampiyan Kids revolves around a labored premise, a father preoccupied with work and a daughter who falls in love with a human, there are a few things that make this story stand out. As Masaaki Yuasa's directorial debut, the pilot episode of the series includes a few of Yuasa's idiosyncrasies visible in his other, more popular works such as Devilman Crybaby, Ping Pong, and the Tatami Galaxy.

Vampiyan Kids appears to be aimed at a younger audience but includes some adolescent humor including some nudity and jokes around flatulence. While this anime could never be accused of being too highbrow, the animation quality is incredible, especially for the time, and is a wonderful example of Masaaki Yuasa's expertise.

4 Hipira-kun (2009)

hipira

This anime would have likely passed under most viewers' radar as the short run time (5 minutes per episode) does not tend to allow a thorough development of character or world. It can be somewhat disappointing to enjoy an episode only to find that it is over almost as soon as it has begun. Hipira-kun does a lot with what it has and features some incredibly beautiful art that also contains substantial depth and detail.

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The use of computer graphics on the characters is used with a light touch and while it is noticeable if a viewer looks for it, the animation can be subtle enough to blend in with the world that is created. Similarly, while some anime lean heavily on music to set a mood or scene, Hipira-kun uses minimal music that allows the sound design to be more clearly distinguished. Combined with the excellent performance of the voice artists, this is a series that creates a fantastic world despite its shorter length.

3 Kyuuketsuhime Miyu (1997)

Kyuukestuhime Miyu

The series adaptation of the OVA Kyuukestuhime Miyu, the series runs for 26 episodes and follows the fairly standard monster of the week structure that sees the protagonist, the vampire princess Miyu using her powers to defeat evil monsters with the aid of her companion Larva. Most episodes feature Miyu attempting to fit in with her classmates until the monster of the episode appears, and she is required to defeat it.

While the series can seem somewhat formulaic, there is enough to keep the viewer occupied with the secondary plot of Reiha as Miya's rival and how their story intertwines with Miyu's. Things also take a more intense turn in the later episodes and the story builds to an entertaining climax. Though Kyuuketsuhime Miyu possibly runs long with 26 episodes, the core elements can still be fun to watch.

2 Vampire Hunter (Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge) (1997)

Demitri Morrigan

While many computer games are not successfully adapted into another medium, Vampire Hunter (also known as Darkstalkers) manages what few have and through its short run of 4 episodes, it manages to build on the game lore and provide a fascinating look at the characters involved in Capcom's 2D fighting game. 4 episodes may seem like an inadequate amount of time to fully engage in the story of Vampire Hunter, it manages it perfectly with enough time to focus on each of the characters without overstaying their welcome.

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As the anime is based on the fighting game, it assumes a certain amount of knowledge on behalf of the viewer which can prove a barrier to entry, as well as the somewhat over-the-top and confusing storyline. What Vampire Hunter excels at is its incredibly detailed artwork, especially during its impressively designed fight sequences. A fair amount of the story is dedicated to each character's fight with those of vampire Dimitri Maximoff being exceptional.

1 Nyanpire The Animation (2011)

nyanpire

The story of a vampire cat may seem slightly bizarre to a casual viewer, however, they would be missing out on a cute, funny, and heartwarming vampire story that missed out on the popularity it deserved. The 4-minute long episodes provide enough time to enjoy the scenario and get to know the characters and leave the viewer wanting more. Although its 12-episode series can be watched in short order, it manages to give so much in that time.

What makes this story special is the characters as the series takes similar supernatural tropes and gives them a humorous spin. Aside from Nyanpire themselves, there is also a cat vampire hunter Masamune and the angel Nyantenshi who involve themselves in many of the episodes and are simply too adorable to not enjoy. Nyanpire leans heavily on the idea of these cute characters and while the animation is relatively simplistic, the characters are full of expression and make the episodes what they are.

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