Search - Blood+, Vol. 1 on DVD

Blood will tell

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 12/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Vampires are usually portrayed as sexy mysterious people, or as bloodthirsty monsters. In "Blood+," you get two for the price of one.



And this unusual vampire anime gets off to a solid start in the first volume -- there's plenty of gory, taut action scenes, as well as some mystery and slow exposition. While it's technically a spinoff of a movie, this series stands easily on its own -- lots of action, monsters, and gallons of vampiric blood.



Saya Otonashi is anemic, and she doesn't remember anything about her life before she was adopted by a kindly veteran, George, and his sons Kai and Riku. Other than that, she's a perfectly normal Okinawa schoolgirl. Then a monster attacks her, one night at her high school.



She's saved by a beautiful, mysterious man carrying a cello case, who forces her to drink a little of his blood. She destroys the monster in a matter of seconds -- unaware that her punky, overprotective brother Kai also saw the monster. Soon American military forces arrive to clean up, and everything is hushes up.



And Saya's confusion only grows when she finds that George is discussing her mysterious past with a man named David. She goes on a search for answers -- both from the cellist, Haji, and from George. But then George is attached by one of the monstrous, vampiric Chiropterans, and Saya finds that she may be the only one who can stop it.



Technically "Blood+" is actually a spinoff from an older anime movie, "Blood: The Last Vampire." But while that movie concentrated on action and monsters, the show seems to be more interested in exploring a young vampire girl's growing problems, and exploring this unique vampire mythos. And it IS pretty unique -- it's more like a disease than a supernatural unlife.



The first few episodes basically set up the rest of the series, introducing mysterious organizations, vendettas, and monsters that will drag you up into a tree and rip off your head. There are some warm'n'cuddly moments in the Otonashi family, but they're outweighed by Saya's sinister past, bloody slayings, and David's organization. And the amazing thing is, there's still plenty of unanswered questions.



It also has really gorgeous animation, which is more realistic than many anime series have. Very sleek, dark, sharply-defined, and vaguely gothic in appearance, and given extra beauty by the cello melodies that Haji is always playing. The script is pretty good as well, although most of the best lines are stolen by Kai ("Time to have fun.... without YOU!").



Saya is a likable heroine at the start -- she's an optimistic, ordinary schoolgirl who only has one real problem (amnesia). But we do get to see some of her darker sides when she's fighting, and Kari Wahlgren does an excellent job with both sides of Saya's personality.



Most of the other characters aren't explored yet, but George's tragic past and Kai's punky, protective attitude make them seem very well-rounded. And though we don't get much information about Haji, the cello-playing vampire is an intriguing character. Being voiced by Crispin Freeman doesn't hurt either.



The first volume of "Blood+" is a nice introduction to this gory, unique action anime, with lots of vampires and buckets of blood. But don't watch it after dark."

I Love This Anime

Margaret J. Pierson | Felicity, Ohio USA | 01/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blood + is more than just a gory vampire show. It shows a long history of two sisters, those who serve and protect them and why they are trying to kill each other. It also shows the struggling relationship between Saya and Kai. Kai knows that Saya is a Vampire like monster but still says that she is still his little sister and he will protect her no matter what. There are many underlieing stories combined in the siries than just the main one. I would recomend this to everyone who likes Anime. It is excelently drawn, and very realistic. The move that came before it though, I would not recomend that you watch it. It does not cover anything about the siries, just shows what would be a two part episode, very poorly drawn and not life like at all. This sieries is MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH, 1000 TIMES MUCH BETTER!"

Great Show

Sinthor | 01/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great show, amazingly drawn, and everything that happens has an actual purpose rather than a filler. My most favorite anime and would highly recommend it to anyone who watches anime."

Lovely, armed, Japanese and with fangs

Michael Valdivielso | Alexandria, VA | 05/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What more could you want in a girl? Saya is back but she is missing her memory. What happened so long ago to cause her to forget everything? Now, after living with a family for a year, she is needed to fight again. The Chiropterans, just another name for vampires, are back. And it looks like the American Army may have something to do with them. Can Saya and those who fight the darkness that may spread over the Earth stop the vampires before it becomes too late? Will Kai go out with Mao? Will Julia wear anything outside of that bland doctor's outfit? Will David ever smile? Well, let's move on.

Great music, great artwork, kind of lame opening credits, but the overall setting is perfect. Just the right amount of hope and fear, of dreams and nightmares. What is normal and what is just under the surface of reality? And five episodes on one DVD! Get it.



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