Vampires are a constant troupe in multiple forms of media and have been ever since their creation and adaptation into stories based on the mythos that have been carried over hundreds of years. As one of the most popular media forms, Vampires have appeared in hundreds of series, games, and even anime, having varying different histories, types, and subtypes. While there are some universal consistencies, such as Dracula being the first vampire or their weakness to sunlight, Vampires have evolved since their early conceptions and sometimes even serve as the heroes of stories.
Anime is no stranger to vampires, as some of the most popular surround the vampire troupe and involve some of the most beloved characters in the anime community. Among the many different types of anime vampires, the leading males leave impressions for their unforgettable designs and epic accomplishments in their respective series. Here are some of the most iconic male vampires in anime, ranked.
8Jirou Mochizuki
The Well-Dressed Slayer
Black Blood Brothersis an anime where humankind and vampires have been allies for many years in pursuit of a common goal. However, this alliance has not been without its hardships as tensions continue to spark conflict between humans, known as red bloods, and vampires, known as black bloods.
Jirou is a hero of the vampires and humans who was pivotal in the conflict against a dark threat, and as a descendant of an ancient vampire bloodline, he’s incredibly powerful. Subverting all familiar troupes of vampires, Jirou is very fond of humans and will go out of his way to protect them, wielding his silver katana.
Mikaela started off as a young boy, just happy he had found a home after being abandoned by his parents and winding up in an orphanage. But when the mysterious virus that capped the average lifespan to fifteen, the world changed when the vampires arose and subjugated humankind in order to keep their food supply alive. After leading a failed escape from the vampires, Mikaela lost his second family and became a vampire instead. Mika’s story inSeraph of the Endgrows even more tragic as he tries to reunite with the only family he has left while fending off the adverse effects of his transformation.
Abel Nightroad is a unique type of vampire called a Crusnick inTrinity Blood. Granted much more powerful abilities than regular vampires, Abel is a creature of the night that can feed off other vampires. Falling in line with his subtype, Abel became a vampire hunter to put an end to the cruelty that vampires impact on humans. This is fueled by his hatred for his brother Cain, who is at the root of his deeply traumatic past and the loss of his beloved sister, Lillith. Abel is a kind and considerate man unless he is angered or bloodlusted, then he becomes something much more frightening.
Cadis Raizel serves as the main character ofNoblesse. In the series, he is more than two thousand years old, and a subtype of vampire noble called a noblesse. As a noblesse, Cadis stands at the peak of vampires as one of the purest and most powerful vampires. With a calm and reserved personality, Cadis' responsibility is to be the protector and punisher of his kind. After being asleep for nearly another thousand years, he awoke in the present day and decided to enroll in high school to learn about the current state of the world, where he made new friends, human and not.
Dio Brando is the main antagonist ofJojo’s Bizarre Adventureand one of the most powerful beings in the series. As a direct rival tothe Joestar bloodline, Dio makes it his business to be a constant threat on their side for all eternity. After being turned into a vampire, Dio can eternally take vengeance on the Joestar family for their wealth and prosperity, which drove him to become their enemy after being adopted and brought into their home. On top of being a vampire, Dio is also a powerful stand user, wielding The World, which can stop time at will.
Vampire Hunter Dis a classic animated film based on the novels by Hideyuki Kukuchi that follows D, a half-vampire, half-humanvampire hunterwho wanders the frontier searching for a group of vampires called the Nobility. After Nuclear War took the world and pushed humanity to extinction, a small sect of vampires took advantage and began rebuilding the world in their image.
D seeks out any and all clues to the Nobility to end them and free humanity from their influence. V is one of the pillars of original vampire media coming from the East that has shaped the majority of preceding media alongsideCastlevania, among others. D stands a the blueprint for many main characters that cam after him.
Alucard is one of the main characters ofHellsing, an anime series where vampires lurk in the shadows and terrorize humanity. In this world, the Hellsing organization based in London, England, is responsible for eradicating the vampire threat. Alucard serves this organization and isthe number one vampire killer.
Fueled by a need for combat and to feel the exhilaration of facing off against a worthy opponent, Alucard hunts his own kind in hopes of his thirst for battle being satiated. While a very complex character, Alucard can be considered a bloodthirsty dog who feeds off conflict. As the original vampire, he passes ungodly abilities and strength that make him a cut above most, if not all, natural vampires.
Dracula exists within several different media, one of which istheCastlevaniafranchise. In this universe, Dracula is the source of vampirism and the king of darkness. As the strongest vampire in the universe, he is constantly the series’s main antagonist. Holding a strong hatred for humanity due to his wife’s death, Dracula has tried to wipe out humanity and plunge the world into chaos on multiple occasions. As the oldest and wisest of his kind, he utilizes magic, science, and even powerful allies, such as the spirit of death, to accomplish his task.
