Nightwalker
Reviewer: Seraphim [email]Overall Rating: C+
Media Reviewed: DVD
Creator: Ayana Itsuki
U.S. Licensed: Yes
Released by: Central Park Media
Run time: 12 episodes
BL Content: Ambiguous (yaoi heavily implied)
Genre: Horror/Mystery
Other media: Japanese hentai game (source)
This series focuses on the mystery of the supernatural, also known as "night breeds" in the anime. These nightbreeds include anything from phantoms to witches to demons; they are parasites to human bodies, which are used as hosts for the nightbreed to survive and feed. The main storyline is drawn to a vampire detective named Shido who is determined to rid the city of the nightbreeds that feed off the souls of humans. Unlike the stereotypical vampire, Shido is able to draw blood from his finger tip and form a sword, whip, or piercing shards with many droplets. These vampire abilities that Shido possesses help him to fulfill his destiny of eliminating evil.
The episodes are short stories within themselves of Shido and his partners trying to stalk out and exterminate all the nightbreeds that roam the city. Some of the episodes are flashbacks, some parts are memories, and some are of the present reality. There is very little connection between each episode, however, we are allowed occasional glimpses of Shido's past, which seems to be the main plot. For Shido the hauntings of his past are difficult. He cannot recall all of it and has forgotten much of it, but from what he remembers, he is ashamed and regretful of. The lives of humans and loved ones he had once taken from spite, anger, hunger, and a deception of superiority torment his eternal existance. Hence, Shido swears to atone for his sins by saving the human race from the nightbreeds.
Although we do see a reasonable amount of Shido's past, I would have to say that there was no real plot of this series other than the usual "trying-to-rid-the-world-of-evil" archetype of the protagonist's character. On a different note, we can put into perspective that this anime parallels the movie Interview With the Vampire, in which they share many similarities. If you have seen and found that Interview With the Vampire was pretty slashy, then we can say that Cain, the vampire who gave Shido birth and eternal life, resembles the infamous Lestat who is constantly chasing after his companion, Louis, who parallels Shido for this instance. However, Cain is more straightforward with his feelings towards Shido, claiming that they used to be lovers, and proclaiming his love for Shido again and again, persisting for his return to his side. Again, like Interview With the Vampire, Shido makes the mistake (?) of turning a dying girl into a vampire and we are led to see the consequences of immortality (i.e. Claudia's refusal of her new life).
The yaoi parts would come into play in Shido's reminiscence mostly, but Cain also appears before Shido on different occasions. (One just before the end where he gives the angry and reluctant Shido a kiss before disappearing with the impact of the words: "I love you.") We also see a scene where the vampires, Shido and Cain, are naked on a bed. In between them is a woman looking near death as the two feast on the last drops of her life. In any case, Cain is protective and obsessive of having Shido, he even whips him into shape (literally) in hopes of having Shido realize that he belongs by his side--they are alike, they are akin, and they must live out eternity together. In truth, Cain's relationship with Shido is only one-sided; in the past it could have been different, but now Shido despises Cain's blood-lust and need to kill, denouncing his declaration as ruler of humans.
The 12 OAVs are on 2 DVDs containing 6 episodes each in either English dub or Japanese with English subtitles, additional features are also included. There's a lot of nudity (upper portions of females quite a few times); despite it being a PG-13 it's pretty hentai. The gore factor is mild but blood does spray. In addition, the fight scenes really suck, lasting for only a few seconds and without much action from the enemy side, creating a very undramatic reason for the fights at all. As for character design it is pretty, but the animation is plain and the color seems old-fashioned. The songs and music are fit for a vampire theme (especially the dark and eerie opening song), but not great. Nevertheless, Shido's (Japanese) voice is very alluring. One can't help but fall in love with his character, whether its for sympathy, temptation, or just the thought of a bishounen vampire. The plot seems to move slowly, or not at all, there is no elaborate climax or any notice of suspense building because the episodes seem to drag. Also, there are plot holes or some things left unexplained, which is kind of annoying. If the series were longer and less enigmatic, it could have been great. Yet in retrospect, NightWalker's compelling moments are sweet and meaningful, even melancholy given the situation. For the vampires in the story, the despondency in their forlorn and cursed lives is enough to satisfy for a dramatic ending.
