In 1985, the first true horror film of Japanese animation made it to American shores - VAMPIRE HUNTER D. Hailed as a classic of the genre, VAMPIRE HUNTER D also spawned a sequel - BLOOD LUST - sixteen years later, which may actually be better then the original...

The original D opens upon a scarred and desolate world in the year 12090 A.D. It is a world of darkness and demons, pawns of the vampire lords. A young girl named Doris walks through a bleak cornfield, in pursuit of a mutant creature. She manages to destroy it, but is then attacked by a werewolf! However, it only rips away her crucifix, leaving her at the mercy of the feudal vampire lord Count Magnus Lee. Later, as the wind whips around her, Doris confronts a solitary rider. Shown the throat wound inflicted upon her by the count, the loner agrees to hunt down the vampire, for he is the infamous VAMPIRE HUNTER D! Doris introduces D to her little brother Dan, and they head into town, where her "condition" is revealed to all by the mayor's son Greco, whose advances Doris has denied. The town council wants to exile her to a confinement camp, but the village doctor tells them the last time they did that, the Count slaughtered 31 villagers in a rage.

D tells the crowd he will kill the Count and Doris will be normal again. As Doris gathers supplies, D encourages Dan to have a brave heart and support Doris during the coming days of turmoil. That night, D has a "chat" with his hand, which is enchanted and bears the face of a demon. His hand admonishes D for being kind. Soon after, two of the Count's assassins arrive at Doris' farm to take her to be the Count's unholy bride. D struggles with the Count's lackey Rayginsay, who can twist space, causing D to stab himself! But D heals right up - he is a half-vampire, half-human hybrid! D manages to rebuke both Rayginsay and the Count's daughter Ramica's attacks and forces them to retreat back to the Count's castle empty handed. D goes to the decaying castle, where is trapped by three sisters, who are actually lamia (snake-beings).

Doris, who, of course, has fallen in love with D, gets herself captured, but D gives into his vampire side and frees himself from the lamia and Doris from the Count. Rayginsay kidnaps Dan, but his plan fails and D cuts off his hand. Ramica tries to kill Doris because she feels Doris is a commoner unworthy of her father's affection, but this plot fails when a "vampire-paralyzing" candle is used by the devious Greco. D arrives in time to save the girls, and sends Ramica away to ponder the meaning of "honor." Doris tells D she loves him, and a tempted D starts to change when she exposes her neck. He resists the temptation, but Rayginsay shows up with the paralyzing candle and kicks D's butt, and cuts off D's demon hand in revenge. Back in the Count's clutches, and a maimed D about to be finished off by a mist monster, who will save Doris now?

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