New Vampire Hunter D Series!

I'm looking for a direct quote. I believe IGA said that D was a source of insperation for Alucard, but it will take some time to rediscover the article, as it is quite old.

However, in the meanwhile (while I scour Google for our mystery interview), in the artistic sense (and core plot sense), it seems to fit. Further, considering the fact that we know Yoshitaka Amano is a famous artist in Japan and around the world (he's even working on this project, firsthand. An unusual undertaking for him.), it is worth noting that Amano was entirely responsible for the visual creation of "D", in the first place.

After all, the story of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is based on the third novel in Kikuchi's series D - Demon Deathchase. The main character's design is by artist Yoshitaka Amano. Amano's art style was matched for the rest of the characters in the film by animation director Yutaka Minowa.

I also borrowed this from the Castlevania wiki, which points out several direct nods to the linking between franchises.
While not fully cited evidence to the situation, it does certainly lend a lot of weight to the matter.

Vampire Hunter D (吸血鬼ハンターD Kyūketsuki Hantā Dī) is a series of novels written by Hideyuki Kikuchi. The series has been running since 1983, and there are now 20 books in the series. The hero (the titular D) is a dhampir (half-human, half-vampire), and a wandering hunter of the Nobility - his world's term for vampires. The books are illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano, and as of November 2007, Kikuchi and the manga artist Saiko Takaki are adapting the novels into a manga/doujinshi format.

Several elements in the Castlevania series seem to be an homage to Kikuchi's novels. Doris Lang's choice of a whip as her weapon, for example, could well have inspired the Belmonts' weapon of choice; the uncanny beauty of Alucard, akiness of D and Alucard's personalities, as well as his parentage and less-than-close relationship with his father are similar to D's situation.

In Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, a more humorous reference is made to Kikuchi's famous dhampir in one of Hector's forgeable armours. The Vampire Hunter "Comesafter C" was known to wear a Clown Suit, which is filled with the rage of those he killed.


Additionally, here are some graphical comparisons between the series.
One other little fun fact.

Did you know that Hideyuki Kikuchi always worked with the same artists when it came to her novel cover art? One of those artists was Ayami Kojima. Kojima also worked on much of the art for Castlevania, most famously Symphony of the Night. A further nod to D was found in Genya Arikado (who is Alucard with his hair fully black, just like D; and his original concept by Kojima resembles the famed Damphir!)

Matthias Cronqvist (aka human Dracula) also resembles D, and possibly the "Great Ancestor" as well. Further, It is implied that D's mother is a lady by the name of Mina the Fair. Mina is also a key character that Soma (Dracula's Reincarnation) falls in love with. Their fate is left ambiguous, (with the exception being, that they survive) and is entirely up to the player to decide.

Here are the art comparisons between franchises. These are just a few, and there are likely others I am failing to recount at the moment.

Dracula (Super Castlevania IV)


Magnus Lee (Vampire Hunter D)



Sonia Belmont (top), compared to Doris Lang (bottom)
(Note: Their color palates are also interestingly inverted.)



Finally, D as compared to Alucard

Alucard (final design, SoTN, by Kojima)



Alucard SotN (early concept, by Kojima)


D (by Kojima)




Genya Arikado (Kojima)




D (by Yoshitaka Amano)







Matthias (By Kojima)


The physical appearance, core plot, demeanor, character personalities, and actions all mirror one another. Some even share names, as mentioned above.

Wow, this is spectacular news. I always thought it was a shame that D had been relegated to a couple of movies.

Ah, Bloodlust.

It's a good example of how a title can do a lot for something. I wonder if it would have done nearly as well if it were called Demon Deathchase....?

I was also always curious why they made the second movie out of the third book (was the second book not so good, or maybe just not good for adaptation to a movie)...?

You should rename yourself into "Vampire Hunter M"

I saw the anime movie, I like it! Need moreeeee!

I don't know if the Vampire D atmosphere can transfer to 3d. I really liked the 2d animation of the first one. I want to watch the new series tho.