Vampire Hunter D (バンパイアハンターD lit. Vampire Hunter D?) is a series of novels created by Hideyuki Kikuchi, with designs and illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano. These novels have become very famous in Japan since Kikuchi published the first one in 1983, which has already had countless reissues in Japan.
To date, twenty-six novels have been published in the main series - some novels comprise up to four volumes. The series has also been adapted into anime, radio plays, manga, Western comic adaptations, a video game, as well as a collection of short stories, art books, and a companion guide.
Specifically, the first film, released in 1985, was based on the first book and had the title Vampire Hunter D (like the novel). Until 2000, another adaptation of Vampire Hunter D was not made into an anime. This new film, directed by Madhouse, was called Vampire Hunter D 2000 in Japan, while in the United States and Europe it was called Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
