Television series
Blood+
Other titles called Blood+: the 2018 series (Virgin Media One).
Blood+ is a 50-episode anime that weaves historical tragedy into a vampire-hunting epic. Saya, a Japanese schoolgirl with amnesia, discovers she's central to a centuries-old war against shape-shifting immortals. It's operatic and violent, anchored by genuine emotional stakes and a protagonist discovering her own terrible purpose. For viewers who want their action wrapped in mythology and dread.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy slow-burn mysteries where the lore unfolds across dozens of episodes, and a monster story soaked in melancholy and quiet dread sounds like your kind of heartache.
Skip it if you want tight, self-contained episodes, since the fifty-episode run is slow to commit and some stretches drift before the bigger picture takes shape.
What it asks of you: Around fifty episodes of roughly twenty-two minutes each, it takes its time, leans into bloody violence, and rewards viewers who keep track of who is who.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Vampire Hunter D1985
A moody, atmospheric anime about hunting undead across gothic wastelands. Influenced the entire visual language of modern vampire fiction. Lean, gorgeous, and genuinely eerie.
But Only 80 minutes long, which means it's cryptic rather than thorough. Some plot threads are deliberately left obscure.
Hellsing Ultimate2006
Another long-form anime about exterminating supernatural evil with weaponised style. Balances grotesque body horror with moments of real tenderness. Unapologetically committed to its own excess.
But The gore and sexual imagery is extreme and gratuitous. Some viewers find the tone whiplashes jarring rather than thrilling.
Claymore2007
A woman with a terrible power hunts monsters while slowly losing her humanity. Shares Blood+'s obsession with the cost of fighting evil, and builds toward something genuinely tragic.
But The pacing is glacial in places. The ending diverges sharply from the manga, which frustrates fans of the source material.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Blood+
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story2020
Both feature young women discovering they're not who they thought they were, bound by forces older than history to fight a war with no possible peace.
A deceptively cute magical-girl anime that pivots into existential horror. Shares Blood+'s obsession with the cost of inherited power and what it means to fight a war you didn't choose. Visually inventive and genuinely shocking.
But Deliberately misleads you for three episodes. Some find the tonal whiplash from cute to devastating a betrayal rather than a strength. The metaphysical ending alienates viewers seeking clarity.
More like this (6)
Demon Slayer2019
A modern anime that proves the formula still works: young warrior discovers superhuman ability, joins an order of killers, fights for the person they love. Visually stunning and emotionally genuine throughout.
But A phenomenon property with two seasons already out. If you hate joining a crowd, this isn't it. Also very shonen in its structure.
Fate/Zero2011
Blends historical intrigue with supernatural warfare across a vast ensemble cast. Explores what ordinary people will do to win a war against immortals. Dense, gorgeously made, intellectually ambitious.
But Very complicated mythology front-loaded in the first episode. You'll need to pay close attention or feel lost. Assumes some anime familiarity.
The Witcher2019
A monster-hunter saga split across time periods, layering myth and consequence. Strong cast and production design. Explores how violence echoes through history.
But The first season's timeline structure confuses many viewers. Tone wobbles between grittiness and camp. Book purists dislike the liberties taken.
Castlevania2017
Adapts the video game into a gothic revenge saga with real character development. Lush animation and a willingness to let its cast suffer meaningfully. Respects the source while building something new.
But Only four seasons total, and each one varies wildly in quality. The story doesn't always justify its length, with repetitive plotting in season two.
Record of Ragnarok2021
Gods battle humans for the fate of humanity across tournament matches. Wildly entertaining spectacle with surprising emotional beats. Unapologetically fun without being dumb.
But Leans hard into shounen tropes. Character designs are garish. If you want subtlety or restraint, look elsewhere.
Ergo Proxy2006
Both explore what remains of humanity when you're designed—or cursed—to outlast everyone else. Loneliness as the true opponent.
A post-apocalyptic journey through a dying world where humans and androids question what it means to exist. Philosophically dense but visually meditative. Moves at its own pace and trusts you to feel rather than understand.
But Deliberately obscure and symbolic. Plot is minimal; much of it won't cohere until you sit with it afterward. If you need clear narrative momentum, this will frustrate you deeply.
