Because I rather like vampire hunters (sorry Twilight folks), this particular anime caught my eye. Also, it had Vic Mignogna voicing a (two) character(s) so I wanted to see it. Yes, this anime is technically classified as a Shojo anime, meaning that it is geared specifically towards girls, but I’m a girl; so it’s fine.
The story takes place at Cross Academy, an elite school that has day and ‘night’ classes. The day class is obsessed with the night class, and the (majority) of the night class couldn’t care less. The two classes are patrolled by only two students: Yuki Cross, adoptive daughter of the headmaster; and Zero Kiryu, her moody partner. In the very first episode, it is revealed the night class is comprised entirely of aristocratic vampires, under Kaname Kuran, a pureblood vampire. Kaname seems to have an obsession with Yuki, which both scares and excites her; and just plain pisses Zero off. The hostility between the two men is palpable whenever they cross paths, mostly on Zero’s part, but Kaname sometimes exhibits his own irritation.
When you first meet her, Yuki Cross appears to be a love struck, clumsy girl. She has a special connection to both Kaname and Zero. Her connection to Kaname began when he rescued her from another vampire that attempted to kill her when she was a child. He then visited her after he took her to Master Cross. Her connection to Zero came a little later, when he was brought to her house after his family was brutally murdered by a vampire. She tried to help him as best she could, and finally, he opened up to her a little. Yuki wants to help both men whenever she can, but sometimes, she trips over herself in the process.
For Zero Kiryu, it is almost ironic that he works as a mediator between humans and vampires. He comes from a long line of vampire hunters, and hates all bloodsuckers with a passion. Oh, and the irony continues when it is revealed that Zero is also a vampire, slowly descending to what is called a Level E: a purely animal vampire breed. Zero doesn’t show affection for much, except for Yuki. He cares for her, but he feels threatened by Kaname because he sees how the other vampire looks at her, as well as how she feels about him. Zero is torn between the girl he cares about and his own predilections.
Kaname Kuran is mysterious and hardly ever reveals what he’s feeling. He’s used to people bowing and scraping to him because of his pureblood lineage. That’s why I actually think he kind of likes Zero’s insolence on occasion. It’s nice to not have everyone kissing your *ss. Now, occasionally, Kaname shows his displeasure, usually with Hanabusa Aido, but it’s never actual anger. Kaname is always calm and collected, a true leader of vampires. His love for Yuki is incestuous (as is revealed later in the second season) and he will literally do anything to protect her. Even working with his rival (Zero) to keep her safe.
The anime was ‘fun’, but I wished that Yuki had made a different choice when it came to men. She left Zero in the end and he promised that if he ever saw her again, he would have to kill her, because he is first and foremost, a vampire hunter. If you’re a girl, you’re probably going to enjoy this anime; if you’re a guy, probably not.
And on that note, it’s been real!
It's Been Real! 