View source for Blood: The Last Vampire

{{Short description|2000 film by Hiroyuki Kitakubo}}
{{For|the 2009 live-action adaptation of this film|Blood: The Last Vampire (2009 film){{!}}''Blood: The Last Vampire'' (2009 film)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Blood: The Last Vampire
| image = Blood-The-Last-Vampire.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| genre = {{plainlist|
*[[Action fiction|Action]]<ref name="Genre"/>
*[[Horror fiction|Horror]]<ref name="Genre">{{cite web|last1=Bustard|first1=Jason|title=Blood: The Last Vampire|url=https://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=62|work=THEM Anime Reviews|access-date=August 10, 2018|archive-date=September 22, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030922101910/https://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=62|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->
}}
| creator         = [[Production I.G]]<!--- Credited as "Original Creator (原作, Gensaku)" --->
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = film
| director        = [[Hiroyuki Kitakubo]]
| producer        = {{ubl|Ryuji Mitsumoto|Yukio Nagasaki}}
| writer          = [[Kenji Kamiyama]]
{{Infobox 
| child           = yes
| decat           = yes
| label1          = Starring
| data1           = [[Youki Kudoh]]<!--- Credit per poster billing block. Total of one. --->
| label2          = Cinematography
| data2           = Miki Sakuma
| label3          = Edited by
| data3           = Hiroshi Okuda
}}
| music           = [[Yoshihiro Ike]]
| studio          = {{ubl|Production I.G|IG Plus}}
{{Infobox 
| child           = yes
| decat           = yes
| label1          = Distributed by
| data1           = [[Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan|Sony Pictures Entertainment]]
}}
| licensee        = {{English anime licensee
  | [[Northern America|NA]]/[[United Kingdom|UK]]|[[Manga Entertainment]]
}}
| released        = {{film date|2000|11|18}}<!--- Japanese release only to avoid confusion with Fantasia festival release and licensed English release.--->
| runtime         = 48 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eiga.com/movie/39236/|title=BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE|date=June 15, 2021|website=eiga.com|language=ja|access-date=June 15, 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| title        = Blood the Last Vampire 2002
| author       = [[Benkyo Tamaoki]]
| publisher    = [[Kadokawa Shoten]]
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher
  | NA  = [[Viz Media]]
}}
| magazine     = Monthly Ace Next
| published    = April 2001
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = light novel
| title        = Night of the Beasts
| author       = [[Mamoru Oshii]]
| publisher    = Kadokawa
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher
  | NA  = [[DH Press|Dark Horse Press]]
}}
| imprint      =
| published    = November 2000 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type      = light novel
| title     = The Blood Which Invites the Darkness
| author    = [[Junichi Fujisaku]]
| publisher = Kadokawa
| imprint   =
| published = January 2001 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type      = light novel
| title     = A Tragic Dream in Shanghai
| author    = Junichi Fujisaku
| publisher = Kadokawa
| imprint   =
| published = December 2005 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Game
|developer        = [[Sony Computer Entertainment Japan]]<ref>{{cite web |year=2021 |title=JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 2000年～1999年 |trans-title=List of Japan Studio works 2000–1999 |url=https://www.playstation.com/ja-jp/corporate/playstation-studios/japan-studio/history-1999-2000/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225205011/https://www.playstation.com/ja-jp/corporate/playstation-studios/japan-studio/history-1999-2000/ |archive-date=25 February 2021 |access-date=1 March 2021 |publisher=[[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] |language=ja}}</ref>
|publisher        = [[Sony Computer Entertainment]]
|genre            = [[Horror game|Horror]], [[Adventure game|Adventure]]
| platforms        = [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation Portable]]
|released         = December 21, 2000<br/>January 26, 2006 (PSP)
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
|title            = Related
|content          =
* ''[[Blood+]]'' (2005–06 anime television series)
* ''[[Blood: The Last Vampire (2009 film)|Blood: The Last Vampire]]'' (2009 live-action film adaptation)
* ''[[Blood-C]]'' (2011 anime television series)
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}

'''''Blood: The Last Vampire'''''{{efn|In [[katakana]]: ブラッド•ザ•ラスト•ヴァンパイア (''Buraddo Za Rasuto Vanpaia'')}} (stylized in [[all caps]]) is a 2000 [[Anime|Japanese animated]] [[Action film|action]] [[horror film]] directed by [[Hiroyuki Kitakubo]] and written by [[Kenji Kamiyama]]; the film is created by [[Production I.G]], who also produced the film alongside their IG Plus division. Distributed by [[Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan|Sony Pictures Entertainment]], a girl named [[#Saya|Saya]] ([[Youki Kudoh]]),<!--- Kudoh is the only cast member billed in the poster billing credits, so no further cast members should be listed and added. ---> who hunts the [[Hematophagy|hematophagous]]-[[bat]]-like creatures called [[#Chiroptera|Chiropterans]], is tasked to eliminate the creatures at [[Yokota Air Base]] by her handlers.

''Blood: The Last Vampire'' first premiered at [[Fantasia International Film Festival]] on July 27, 2000, and later in Japan on November 18. [[Manga Entertainment]] licensed the film and released it theatrically in the United States in Summer 2001, and later on August 3 through [[home media]] release.

''Blood: The Last Vampire'' spawned a [[sequel]] [[manga]], three [[light novel]]s and a [[video game]] from 2001 to 2006. It also spawned two anime series: ''[[Blood+]]'', which aired from 2005 to 2006, and ''[[Blood-C]]'' in 2011. A [[Live action|live-action]] [[film adaptation]] [[Blood: The Last Vampire (2009 film)|with the same title]] was released in 2009.

==Plot==
The story is set in 1966. Its main protagonist is a girl named Saya, who hunts [[bat]]-like [[vampiric]] creatures called Chiropterans. Saya is introduced on a subway train, where she assassinates a man in a suit. Her American contacts or handlers arrive. One of them, David, begins to brief Saya on another mission, while the other, Louis, discovers that the man Saya has just killed was probably not a Chiropteran.

Saya's next mission begins at the American [[Yokota Air Base]], which is active in the buildup to the [[Vietnam War]]. At least one Chiropteran has managed to infiltrate the air base, and it is only a matter of time before they feed again, go into hibernation, and become untraceable. Saya is to pose as a school girl, infiltrate the high school adjacent to the base, and then track and kill the Chiropterans.

At the school, Saya runs into a meek nurse, Amino Makiho, on the eve of the school's annual Halloween party. Two of Saya's classmates, Sharon and Linda, make a visit to Makiho at the nurse's office. Suddenly, Saya bursts into the room, killing Linda and wounding Sharon, breaking her sword in the process. Both girls are revealed to be Chiropterans. Makiho goes into shock at the revelation. Meanwhile, a third Chiropteran reveals itself and begins making its way to the base. Back at the school, Makiho regains her nerve and pursues Sharon into a room full of dancing Americans in costume, where she finds Sharon transformed. Saya saves her and both flee into a nearby motor pool. The Chiropterans trap them inside and attack.

David delivers a new sword, and Saya uses it to kill Sharon. The final Chiropteran then decides to flee, attempting to stow away on a departing cargo plane. David and Saya give chase and she manages to strike the Chiropteran and mortally wound it. She then stands over the dying creature and lets some of her blood trickles into its mouth. Louis arrives and recovers Makiho before the local police reach her.

Afterward, Makiho is seen in an interview with government officials who question her about the night's events. However, it's revealed that all evidence of the battle between Saya and the Chiropterans has been covered up and both David and Saya have disappeared, leaving Makiho with nothing to prove the veracity of her story. Her interviewer then asks her to identify Saya in a picture which has a girl that looks identical to her, except the picture was taken in 1892. The only other description of the picture is the word "VAMPIRE". Makiho then returns to the school, where she narrates that she never really discovered the full truth behind Saya and the Chiropterans, and wonders if she's still out there fighting them.

==Characters==
*'''{{nihongo|{{visible anchor|Saya}}|小夜|Saya}}''' hunts chiropterans using a [[katana]]. It is implied that she is the last remaining vampire and called "the only remaining original". Saya has no weakness to sunlight, although it is unknown if she has any of the other [[Vampire literature#Traits of vampires in fiction|vulnerabilities]] often attributed to vampires. However, she does, become distressed when she encounters religious paraphernalia and angry when people mention God in her presence. Saya displays superhuman senses and strength, as well as cunning, resourcefulness, and skill. The manga series suggests that she was a [[Dhampir|human-vampire hybrid]]. Her age is unknown, but a picture of her with nine other people is shown in the film with the date 1892 and the word "vampire" attached to it. Though she holds most humans in contempt, she seems to have some sort of respect for David. Voiced by [[Youki Kudoh]].<ref name="StaffCast">{{cite web|url=https://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/14_/s03_/index.html|title='Blood: The Last Vampire' STAFF & CAST|date=June 22, 2020|website=[[Production I.G]]|language=en|access-date=June 22, 2020}}</ref>
*'''David''' is a man working for the U.S. government.<!--- Red Shield is an government organization created for "Blood+" continuity, so for this continuity, he just works for the U.S. Government.---> He relays missions to Saya and helps her at various points in the film. He is a [[Korean War]] veteran. Voiced by [[Joe Romersa]].<ref name="StaffCast" />
*'''Lewis''' is David's partner that works for the U.S. Government. Voiced by Stuart Robinson.<ref name="StaffCast"/>
*'''Amino Makiho''', a stout, soft-spoken, middle-aged nurse working at the High School. Initially a target of the Chiropterans posing as students, she manages herself well despite her abject terror, pursuing the monster Sharon and even being the one to save herself and Saya from the burning jeep hangar. Voiced by [[Saemi Nakamura]].<ref name="StaffCast"/>
*'''{{visible anchor|Chiroptera}}''' (chiropterans or, as spoken in the film, chiropterates), from the Greek for "hand wings" ({{nihongo krt||翼手|yokushu}} in Japanese), are [[Hematophagy|hematophagous]] [[bat]]-like creatures, comparable to humans in intelligence. They disguise themselves as people and can gradually transform, becoming large, monstrous, and long-limbed. In this form, a further transformation produces leathery wings that allow the creature to glide, but not fly freely. Chiroptera live by feeding on human [[blood]]. They possess extraordinary speed and strength. They heal almost instantly from any non-lethal wound. Because of this, the only way to easily kill them is to cause them to lose a sufficiently large amount of blood from one attack.

==Production==
Production I.G's president [[Mitsuhisa Ishikawa]] wanted to produce a new project that was an original concept rather than being an adaptation of an existing anime or manga series. He approached [[Mamoru Oshii]], who ran a series of lectures known as the "Oshii Jyuku" for teaching new filmmakers how to create their own projects, about his idea and asked him to have his students submit ideas. The submissions of [[Kenji Kamiyama]] and [[Junichi Fujisaku]] became the basis for the upcoming film: a girl in a [[sailor suit]] wielding a [[samurai sword]].<ref name="Animerica" /> Ishikawa suggested [[Yokota Air Base]] for the film's setting, referring to it as the "state of California within Japan".<ref name="Animerica" /> [[Hiroyuki Kitakubo]] was selected as the film's director, a position he accepted on the condition he be given artistic license with the material.<ref name="Animerica">{{cite journal |title=Animerica Interview: Hiroyuki Kitakubo |journal=[[Animerica]] |date=December 2001 |volume=9 |issue=12 |page=37 |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |location=San Francisco, California |issn=1067-0831 |oclc=27130932 }}</ref>

After titling the work ''Blood: The Last Vampire'', Kitakubo chose video game designer [[Katsuya Terada]] to work on the character designs, and [[Kazuchika Kise]] as the animation director.<ref name="Animerica" /> When asked why he chose Terada instead of a regular character designer, Kitakubo stated "I personally felt he had an amazing talent; his characters have a feel to them that is universal and that is probably why he has drawn characters for video games played by people all over the world."<ref name="Animerica" /> He goes on to note that he wanted both Terada and Kise together, and would not have hired Terada had Kise not agreed to work on the project.<ref name="Animerica" /> The resulting film uses completely digital animation. Rather than following the tradition of using [[animation cel]]s, the entire film was inked, colored, and then animated with computers. It also uses primarily "low light" settings, with much of the film featuring large amounts of grey and brown.<ref name="Fantasia2000" />

In directing the film, Kitakubo notes that his having read ''[[Dracula]]'' and watched the American television series ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', they may have had some influence on the film as the rest of his life experiences have.<ref name="Animerica" /> Production I.G broke new ground in ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' by being the first company to film an anime series almost entirely in English, with Japanese subtitles, feeling that it would help the film reach foreign markets more easily.<ref name="Fantasia2000" /><ref name="AnimeEncyc">{{cite book |last=Clements |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Clements |author2=Helen McCarthy  |title=The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917 |date=2001-09-01 |publisher=Stone Bridge Press |location=Berkeley, California |isbn=1-880656-64-7 |oclc=47255331 |pages=38 |edition=1st |author2-link=Helen McCarthy }}</ref>

The resulting film is very short for a theatrical work, spanning only 45 minutes.<ref name="Animerica" /> Kitakubo stated in a 2001 interview with ''Animerica'' that he had the remaining story of "Saya's past present and future{{Sic}}" in his own mind, but that it was up to the others involved in its making as to whether there would be a sequel.<ref name="Animerica" /> Production I.G noted that they deliberately intended for it to be a three part story, with the rest of Saya's story to be carried through in a light novel trilogy and a two-volume video game.<ref name="AnimeEncyc" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-09-26/details-on-blood-project |title=Details on Blood Project |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2000-09-26 |access-date=2008-09-18 }}</ref>

==Release==
The film first premiered at the 5th annual International Festival of Fantasy, Action and Genre Cinema, nicknamed Fantasia 2000, in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]] where it was screened for attendees on July 29, 2000.<ref name="Fantasia2000">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-07-04/fantasia-2000-holds-press-conference |title=Fantasia 2000 Holds Press Conference |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2000-07-04 |access-date=2008-09-18 |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706153518/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-07-04/fantasia-2000-holds-press-conference |url-status=live }}</ref> The film aired in Australia on August 26, 2000 at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-07-05/more-sydney-olympics-arts-festival |title=More Sydney Olympics Arts Festival |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2000-07-05 |access-date=2008-09-18}}</ref> It made its theatrical debut in its home country of Japan on November 16, 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/14_/s00_/index.html |title=Blood: The Last Vampire Overview |publisher=[[Production I.G]] |access-date=2008-09-18 |archive-date=February 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227041011/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/14_/s00_/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Manga Entertainment]] released the film theatrically in North America in the summer of 2001, followed by VHS and DVD releases on August 26, 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-06-07/blood-pr-theatrical-web-and-dvd-info |title=Blood PR: Theatrical, Web, and DVD info |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2001-06-07 |access-date=2008-09-18}}</ref>

==Reception==
''Blood: The Last Vampire'' received multiple awards at various film festivals around the world. In 2000, it was selected as "Public's Prize Best Asia Feature Film" at the Montreal Fantasia Film Festival where it debuted,<ref name="ProductionIG Awards" /> it won the Grand Prize in the animation category at the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs' Media Arts Festival,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-12-23/japanese-agency-for-cultural-affairs-announces-award-winning-media-works |title=Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs announces Award Winning Media Works |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2000-12-23 |access-date=2008-09-18 }}</ref> and it won the Ofuji Noburo Award at the Mainichi Film Competition.<ref name="ProductionIG Awards" /> In 2001, it won Special Prize at the akasaki Film Festival<ref name="ProductionIG Awards" /> and it was selected as the Best Theatrical Feature Film at the World Animation Celebration.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-08-24/blood-awarded-first-prize-at-world-animation-festival |title=Blood Awarded First Prize at World Animation Festival |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2001-08-24 |access-date=2008-09-18 }}</ref> Director Hiroyuki Kitakubo won an award for his work on the film at 6th Animation Kobe.<ref name="ProductionIG Awards">{{cite web |url=http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/14_/s09_/000049.html |title=Recognitions |publisher=[[Production I.G]] |access-date=2008-09-18 |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608035154/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/14_/s09_/000049.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It received the Grand Prize for animation at the 2000 [[Japan Media Arts Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013082036/http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/2000/|archive-date=October 13, 2007|url=http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/2000/|title=Award Winning Works|publisher=Japan Media Arts Festival|access-date=July 13, 2016}}</ref>

In the first week of its North American release, more than 70,000 DVD and 30,000 VHS copies of ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' had been sold.<ref name="ICv2 Streaming" /> Within the first month after its release, it became [[Manga Entertainment]]'s top selling title in the company's history.<ref name="ICv2 Success" /> The film also appeared on both the ''Video Business, Billboard, Video Store Magazine'' and ''Entertainment Weekly'' lists of top DVD sales.<ref name="ICv2 Success" /> The company attributes this success to their use of two unconventional marketing methods: a limited theatrical release before the DVD release to market the title and offering the entire film for free on the day the DVD was released through a streaming video broadcast on Sputnik7.com where it was downloaded by more than 61,000 viewers.<ref name="ICv2 Streaming">{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/678.html |title=Streaming Blood Yields Sales |publisher=ICv2 |date=2001-09-04 |access-date=2008-03-14 }}</ref><ref name="ICv2 Success">{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/835.html |title=Blood: The Last Vampire Sets Manga Record |publisher=ICv2 |date=2001-10-30 |access-date=2008-03-14 }}</ref> Marvin Gleicher, then president of Manga Entertainment, stated that the film's "success has proven to be a landmark time in the history of Manga Entertainment."<ref name="ICv2 Success" />

Michael Stroud of ''Wired News'' praised the film's blend of [[2D computer graphics|2D]] and [[3D computer graphics|3D]] elements and quoted [[Academy Award]] winning director [[James Cameron]] as saying: "Digital imaging has entered a new era. The world will come to consider this work as the standard of top quality in digital animation."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,46312,00.html |title=Marketing First for Last Vampire |last=Stroud |first=Michael |date=2001-08-27 |publisher=[[Wired News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205062449/http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0%2C1412%2C46312%2C00.html |archive-date=2006-12-05 |access-date=2016-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In ''[[The Anime Encyclopedia]]'', [[Jonathan Clements]] and [[Helen McCarthy]] praised the film for its groundbreaking use of English, its "stunning animation" and its high end action sequences, but criticized its short length and lack of a conclusion.<ref name="AnimeEncyc" /> ''[[Animerica]]'' reviewer Urian Brown called it a "piece of superb animation" that a "pretty and gritty...sleek, dark, and sexy" film that will make a viewer forget its lack of "story, depth, and character development."<ref>{{cite journal |title=Reviews: Best of the West - Anime |first=Urian |last=Brown |journal=[[Animerica]] |date=November 2001 |volume=9 |issue=10/11 |issn=1067-0831 |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |page=63 }}</ref>

According to ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'', ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' was one influence behind the "striking visuals" of the video game ''[[Crackdown (video game)|Crackdown]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Crackdown: Cracking the case |first=Greg |last=Ford |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff-Davis]] |date=April 2007 |issue=214 |pages=41 }}</ref> ''[[Cinefantastique]]'' listed the anime as one of the "10 Essential Animations".<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Persons|first1=Dan|title=The Americanization of Anime: 10 Essential Animations|journal=[[Cinefantastique]]|date=February–March 2004|volume=36|issue=1|page=48|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ly0nAQAAIAAJ&q=editions:0AFLRE736LO1AnqYXhN92VLUi3o6sFT1GgYU-Fw2cLmjwIZk1c7q9_ZE|access-date=April 28, 2017}}</ref>

The [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported that 50% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 5.03/10.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blood_the_last_vampire |title=Blood - The Last Vampire (2001) |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] |access-date=2019-12-18}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 44 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/blood-the-last-vampire-2001 |title=Blood: The Last Vampire (2001) Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=2019-12-18 |archive-date=August 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805123138/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/blood-the-last-vampire-2001 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Related media==
===Manga===
Using a concept from [[Mamoru Oshii]], Production I.G had [[Benkyo Tamaoki]] write a sequel to ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' to complete the story.<ref name="BtLV ANN Interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2000-08-01 |title=Interview: Production I.G. |first=Christopher |last=Macdonald |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2000-08-01 |access-date=2008-04-10 }}</ref> It brings Saya to the year 2002, with a new generation of handlers and continuing her quest to destroy chiropterans.<ref name="VizBLTV" /> Appropriately named {{nihongo|''Blood: The Last Vampire 2000''|ブラッド ザ・ラストヴァンパイア2000|Buraddo Za Rasuto Vanpaia 2000}}, the single-volume title was published in Japan by [[Kadokawa Shoten]] on May 1, 2001.<ref name="Manga Release">{{cite web|url=http://www.production-ig.co.jp/contents/goods/04_/04_0770_/index.html |title=Blood: The Last Vampire books |publisher=[[Production I.G]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927012535/http://www.production-ig.co.jp/contents/goods/04_/04_0770_/index.html |archive-date=2011-09-27 |access-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was licensed and released in English in North America by [[Viz Media]] under the title ''Blood: The Last Vampire 2002'' on November 5, 2002.<ref name="VizBLTV">{{cite web|url=http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?series_id=34 |title=Blood: The Last Vampire |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706221838/http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?series_id=34 |archive-date=2009-07-06 |access-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the manga, David has retired and Saya has a new handler who makes it abundantly clear that he has no respect for her. He sends her to Jinkōsen Shūritsu Valley High School under the name of "Saya Otonashi". There, she learns that chiropterans co-existed with humans, until humans began experimenting on them in the 19th century to try to gain immortality. The experiments increased the chiropterans' killing instinct and removed their former regard for humanity. Scientists, in turn, developed twin anti-chiropteran weapons. Maya, a prototype, still required blood and could transform like other chiropteran. The second, Saya, did not need to drink blood and had no transformation abilities so she was considered the perfected weapon. Maya searches for Saya, desiring to have Saya eat her so they can become one pure-blood chiropteran. After this meeting, Maya's body cannot be found, but it is never shown if Saya granted her request. Saya kills her handler and walks off into the night.

===Light novels===
A [[trilogy]] of [[light novels]] have been created in relation to ''Blood: the Last Vampire'' and published by [[Kadokawa Shoten|Kadokawa]]. Published in Japan in October 2000, {{nihongo|''Blood: The Last Vampire: Night of the Beasts''|ブラッド・ザ・ラストバンパイヤ 獣たちの夜|Kemonotachi no Yoru}} was written by [[Mamoru Oshii]]. It was published in English in North America by [[DH Press]] on November 23, 2005.<ref name="novels">{{cite web|url=http://www.production-ig.co.jp/contents/goods/04_/04_0770_/index.html |title=Blood the Last Vampire manga and novel releases |publisher=[[Production I.G]] |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927012535/http://www.production-ig.co.jp/contents/goods/04_/04_0770_/index.html |archive-date=2011-09-27 |access-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The second novel, {{nihongo|''Blood: The Last Vampire: The Blood Which Invites the Darkness''|ブラッド・ザ・ラストバンパイヤ 闇を誘う血|Yami o Izanau Chi}} was written by [[Junichi Fujisaku]], who also directed the spin-off ''[[Blood+]]'' anime series. This was published in January 2001.<ref name="novels" /><ref name="IGRecognition2">{{cite web | url=http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/20_/s03_/index.html | title=Blood+ Staff and Cast | publisher=Production I.G | access-date=2007-12-16 | archive-date=May 2, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502064221/http://productionig.com/contents/works_sp/20_/s03_/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

The third novel, also written by Fujisaku, is {{nihongo|''Blood: The Last Vampire: A Tragic Dream in Shanghai''|ブラッド・ザ・ラストバンパイヤ 上海哀儚|Shanhai Aibyō}} and was published in July 2001.<ref name="novels" />

===Video games===
In 2000, Production I.G and [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony Computer Entertainment Japan]] co-produced a two-volume ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' video game. The game features a musical score by [[Yuki Kajiura]] with [[Youki Kudoh]] reprising her role as the voice of Saya, and over two hours of theater quality animation. It is a [[graphical adventure]] that brings Saya and her hunt for Chiropterans to Tokyo in 2000. There she meets a seventeen-year-old boy who begins wondering about Saya and the history of "Blood". Both volumes of the game were released to the [[PlayStation 2]] in Japan on December 21, 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/28_/index.html |title=Blood: The Last Vampire (Game Edition) |publisher=[[Production I.G]] |access-date=2008-03-14 }}</ref><ref name="IGNPreview">{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/135/135483p1.html |title=Blood: The Last Vampire: Obscure, unusual, and never coming to the states, but perhaps of interest to Production I.G. fans |author=IGN Staff |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=2000-10-13 |access-date=2021-08-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629133010/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/135/135483p1.html |archive-date=2011-06-29 }}</ref> ''[[Famitsu]]'' magazine scored the first volume a 33 out of 40.<ref>''プレイステーション2 - Blood: The Last Vampire 上巻''. Weekly Famitsu, no. 915, pt. 2, p. 59. 30 June 2006.</ref> ''[[Animerica]]''{{'s}} Dr. Brown called the original game "boring", but did compliment it for having "beautifully animated sequences".<ref>{{cite journal |first=Dr. |last=Brown |date=March 2001 |title=Anime Radar: News |journal=[[Animerica]] |volume=9 |issue=2 |page=77 |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |location=San Francisco, California |issn=1067-0831 |oclc=27130932 }}</ref>

In 2006, Production I.G and Sony re-released the game. Both volumes were combined into a single game for the [[PlayStation Portable]] (PSP). The game was called {{nihongo|''Yarudora Series Vol. 5: Blood: The Last Vampire''|やるドラ ポータブル Blood the Last Vampire|Yarudora Potaburu: Buraddo: Za Rasuto Vanpaia|{{lit.}} "''Yarudora Portable: Blood: The Last Vampire''"}} and was released in Japan on January 26, 2006. The combined game included new cover art and additional features, including a strategy flow chart, a [[CG artwork|digital art]] gallery, and some exclusive films.<ref name="IGNPSP">{{cite web |url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/673/673514p1.html |title=Sony Brings Blood to PSP: PS2 adventure title going portable with promise of single-handed play. |first=Anoop |last=Gantayat |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=2005-12-05 |access-date=2021-08-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404091701/http://psp.ign.com/articles/673/673514p1.html |archive-date=2012-04-04 }}</ref><ref name="PSPSite">{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/yarudora_blood/ |title=やるドラ ポータブルシリーズ 〜Blood the Last Vampire |publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment Japan |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129173515/http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/yarudora_blood/ |archive-date=2010-01-29 |access-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Live-action film===
{{Main|Blood: The Last Vampire (2009 film){{!}}''Blood: The Last Vampire'' (2009 film)}}
In May 2006, [[Bill Kong]], producer of ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]'' and ''[[Hero (2002 film)|Hero]]'', announced that he was producing a live-action film adaptation of ''Blood: The Last Vampire,'' directed by [[Ronny Yu]], and, like the source anime film, primarily filmed in English rather than Japanese.<ref name="LAAnnounce">{{cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/8704.html |title='Blood: The Last Vampire' Live Action |publisher=ICv2 |date=2006-05-19 |access-date=2008-03-14 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202205520/http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/8704.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The film's setting is 1970 at a United States Air Force Base in [[Tokyo]], during the [[Vietnam War]]. Early reports indicated that the film's plot will feature Saya as a 400-year-old [[Dhampir|half human-half vampire]] who hunts full blooded [[vampire]]s, both to rid the world of them and as they are her only source for food. She works with an organization known only as "The Council". Normally a loner, Saya forms a friendship with a young girl she meets at an American military base while preparing to battle Onigen, the highest ranking of the vampires.<ref name="Beyond1">{{cite web |url=http://www.beyondhollywood.com/more-blood-the-last-vampire-images/ |title=More Blood: The Last Vampire Images |publisher=BeyondHollywood.com |date=2008-01-22 |access-date=2008-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227172756/http://www.beyondhollywood.com/more-blood-the-last-vampire-images/ |archive-date=2008-02-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-20/live-action-blood/the-last-vampire-new-clips-posted |title=Live-Action Blood: The Last Vampire's New Clips Posted |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2009-05-20 |access-date=2008-03-14 }}</ref>

Kong and Yu originally planned to finance the project themselves, but in November 2006, Production I.G officially consented to the film and began offering financial support.<ref name="CoolFilm">{{cite web |url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30049 |title=Ronny Yu and Quint discuss Fearless, Jet Li's retirement and Blood: The Last Vampire!! |publisher=[[Ain't It Cool News]] |date=2006-09-14 |access-date=2008-03-14 |archive-date=March 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310220407/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30049 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AnnFilm" /> Through ties to [[Manga Entertainment]], the French company [[Pathé]] became the film's production company.<ref name="AnnFilm" /> Yu was retained as its producer, but [[Chris Nahon]] took over as the film's director.<ref name="AnnFilm2">{{cite web |url=http://www.filmsactu.com/news-cine-blood-the-last-vampire-photo-exclusive-161.htm |title=Blood : The Last Vampire : photo exclusive! |first=Caroline |last=Leroy |publisher=Mixicom |work=FilmsActu.com |language=fr |date=2007-10-15 |access-date=2008-03-14 |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509085140/http://www.filmsactu.com/news-cine-blood-the-last-vampire-photo-exclusive-161.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-10-16/1st-live-action-blood-the-last-vampire-production-still-posted |title=1st Live-Action Blood: The Last Vampire Still Posted |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2007-10-16 |access-date=2008-03-14 }}</ref> [[Korea]]n actress [[Jun Ji-hyun]], who adopted her English screen name Gianna Jun for the release, plays the role of Saya.<ref name="Beyond2">{{cite web |url=http://www.beyondhollywood.com/jun-ji-hyun-changes-name-to-gianna-jun-for-blood-the-last-vampire/ |title=Jun Ji-hyun Changes Name to Gianna Jun for Blood: The Last Vampire |publisher=BeyondHollywood.com |date=2007-05-22 |access-date=2008-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113180051/http://www.beyondhollywood.com/jun-ji-hyun-changes-name-to-gianna-jun-for-blood-the-last-vampire/ |archive-date=2009-11-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rather than being paid a straight license, Production I.G will receive a percentage of all revenues generated by the film.<ref name="AnnFilm" />

Originally slated to be released worldwide in spring 2008,<ref name="AnnFilm">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-11-03/live-action-blood-the-last-vampire |title=Live Action Blood: The Last Vampire |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2006-11-03 |access-date=2008-03-14 }}</ref> the film premiered in Japan on May 29, 2009 under the title {{nihongo|''Last Blood''|ラスト・ブラッド|Rasuto Buraddo}}.<ref name="Teaser">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-03-03/live-action-blood/the-last-vampire-teaser-gets-450000-accesses |title=Live-Action Blood: The Last Vampire Teaser Gets 450,000 Accesses |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2009-03-03 |access-date=2009-03-03 }}</ref> The film was released in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-25/2-new-live-action-blood/the-last-vampire-clips-posted |title=2 New Live-Action Blood: The Last Vampire Clips Posted |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2009-06-25 |access-date=2009-06-25 }}</ref> [[Sony Pictures]] licensed the film for release in North America, where it was released to theaters by [[Samuel Goldwyn Films]] on July 10, 2009.<ref name="US Film License">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-01/sony-acquires-live-action-blood/the-last-vampire-u.s-rights |title=Sony Acquires Live-Action Blood: The Last Vampire's U.S. Rights (Update 3) |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2009-05-01 |access-date=2009-06-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-04/ponyo-to-open-on-800-u.s-screens-blood-on-at-least-11 |title=Ponyo to Open on 800 U.S. Screens, Blood on at Least 11 |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2009-06-04 |access-date=2009-06-09 }}</ref>

===Spin-off anime series===
{{Main|Blood+{{!}}''Blood+''|Blood-C{{!}}''Blood-C''}}
In 2005, Sony and Production I.G announced the creation of ''[[Blood+]]'', a fifty-episode [[anime]] [[television series]]. It is held to be an [[Parallel universe (fiction)|alternate universe]] telling of ''Blood: The Last Vampire''; it has only minor connections and similarities to the film, and many differences. ''Blood+'' premiered in Japan on October 8, 2005 on [[MBS TV|MBS]]/[[Tokyo Broadcasting System Television|TBS]] and aired until September 23, 2006.<ref name="ANNUnvieled">{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-05-11/production-i.g-unveils-blood+ | title=Production I.G Unveils Blood+ | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2005-05-11 | access-date=2007-12-16 | archive-date=July 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729211946/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-05-11/production-i.g-unveils-blood+ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ANNRatings">{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-05/japans-tbs-confirms-animes-move-from-saturday-6-p.m | title=Japan's TBS Confirms Anime's Move from Saturday, 6 p.m. | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2008-02-05 | access-date=2008-02-05 | archive-date=July 2, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702050804/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-05/japans-tbs-confirms-animes-move-from-saturday-6-p.m | url-status=live }}</ref> The series was written and directed by [[Junichi Fujisaku]] and features original character designs by Chizu Hashii. Through Sony's international division, ''Blood+'' was licensed for distribution in multiple regions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=8241 | title=Blood+ Licensed | publisher=Anime News Network |date=2006-01-23 | access-date=2007-06-08}}</ref> In the United States, the series was broadcast as part of [[Cartoon Network]]'s [[Adult Swim]] from March 11, 2007 until March 23, 2008.<ref name="ANN Click">{{cite web |last=Hanson |first=Brian |date=2008-02-09 |access-date=2008-02-09 |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-click/2008-02-09 |title=The Click: February 9th - 15th] |publisher=Anime News Network}}</ref> The anime became its own franchise, with two light novel series adaptations, three manga adaptations, and two video games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blood.tv/comic/index.html |publisher=[[Production I.G]], [[Aniplex]] |title=Blood+ Game, Comics, & Novel Information |access-date=2008-02-07 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712112220/http://www.blood.tv/comic/index.html |archive-date=2013-07-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2011, [[manga artist]] group [[Clamp (manga artists)|CLAMP]] and Production I.G announced their collaboration of the twelve-episode [[anime]] [[television series]] called ''[[Blood-C]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-24/clamp-i.g-to-collaborate-on-blood-c-original-anime|title=CLAMP, I.G to Collaborate on Blood-C Original Anime|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=March 24, 2011|access-date=May 11, 2011|archive-date=July 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715234117/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-24/clamp-i.g-to-collaborate-on-blood-c-original-anime|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-08/clamp-blood-c-to-be-made-as-both-tv-series-and-film|title=CLAMP's Blood-C to be Made as Both TV and Film|publisher=Anime News Network|date=April 8, 2011|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-date=April 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405191432/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-08/clamp-blood-c-to-be-made-as-both-tv-series-and-film|url-status=live}}</ref> This spin-off series is also set in different universe from the film and the previous anime, and only shares the main character, having katana as her main weapon, and basic premise of her defeating monsters with that sword. CLAMP provided the story and original character designs, [[Tsutomu Mizushima]] directed the series, [[Nanase Ohkawa]] of CLAMP handled the series' scripts, and Junichi Fujisaku co-wrote the scripts and supervised the series. The series aired on Japanese television from July 8, 2011 to September 30, 2011. The sequel anime film, ''[[Blood-C: The Last Dark]]'' was released in theaters on June 2, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-04-02/blood-c/the-last-dark-anime-film-new-trailer-posted|title=Blood-C: The Last Dark Anime Film's New Trailer Posted|publisher=Anime News Network|date=April 2, 2012|access-date=December 29, 2019}}</ref> The anime also became its own franchise, with two novelizations, two manga adaptations, a stage play, and three live-action films.

==See also==
*[[Vampire film]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite journal | last1 = Perper | first1 = T. | last2 = Cornog | first2 = M. | doi = 10.1353/mec.0.0016 | title = Lurkers at the Threshold: Saya and the Nature of Evil | journal = [[Mechademia]] | volume = 2 | pages = 295–298 | year = 2007 | s2cid = 121975390 }}
*{{Cite journal | last1 = Looser | first1 = T. | doi = 10.1353/mec.0.0041 | title = Gothic Politics: Oshii, War, and Life without Death | journal = Mechademia | volume = 4 | pages = 55–73 | year = 2009 | s2cid = 52230541 | url = https://muse.jhu.edu/article/368619 }}
*{{Cite journal | last1 = Bolton | first1 = Christopher | doi = 10.1353/mec.0.0011 | title = The Quick and the Undead: Visual and Political Dynamics in ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' | journal = Mechademia | volume = 2 | pages = 125–142 | year = 2007 | s2cid = 119359495 }}
*{{Cite journal | last1 = Bolton | first1 = Christopher | doi = 10.1353/mec.0.0049 | title = Virtual Creation, Simulated Destruction, and Manufactured Memory at the Art Mecho Museum in Second Life | journal = Mechademia | volume = 4 | pages = 198–210 | year = 2009 | s2cid = 123136351 | doi-access = free }}
* <!-- Bolton 2018 --> {{cite book |last=Bolton |first=Christopher |title=[[Interpreting Anime]] |publisher=[[University of Minnesota Press]] |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-4529-5683-1}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080423030016/http://www.production-ig.co.jp/contents/works_sp/0770_/index.html Official Production I.G ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' website] {{in lang|ja}}
*[http://www.aniplex.co.jp/blood/ Official Aniplex ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' website] {{in lang|ja}}
*[http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/14_/index.html Official Production I.G ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' English website]
*{{anime News Network|film|7}}
*{{IMDb title|0275230|Blood: The Last Vampire}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes|blood_the_last_vampire}}

{{Blood: The Last Vampire}}
{{Production I.G films}}
{{Hiroyuki Kitakubo}}
{{Ōfuji Noburō Award}}{{Japan Media Arts Festival for Animation of the Year}}

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