The 30 Best Anime Like Vampire Knight
- 1601 VOTESPhoto: Kamisama Kiss / TMS Entertainment
If your favorite element in Vampire Knight was the supernatural love interest with a human protagonist, then Kamisama Kiss is a must watch. With the same relationship dynamics and 2000s romance tropes, this series is sure to give you the same nostalgic fantasy vibes that Vampire Knight does.
After being abandoned by her father, a girl becomes a deity.More Kamisama Kiss
- #61 of 246 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
- #5 of 182 onThe 50+ Best Romance Anime Ever Made (2024 Update)
- #134 of 186 onThe 100+ Best Anime Intros Of All Time
- 2451 VOTESPhoto: Fruits Basket / TMS Entertainment
Like Yuki Cross, Fruits Basket's protagonist Tohru Honda is a lovable MC who means well - even if she doesn't make the best decisions all the time. Along the way she connects with a supernatural love interest with some complicated familial bonds... just like those in Vampire Knight.
Orphan Tohru Honda moves in with a classmate and his cursed family.More Fruits Basket- Dig Deeper...The Best Fruits Basket Fanfiction, Ranked
- #77 of 246 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
- #91 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- 3516 VOTESPhoto: Maid Sama! / J.C.Staff
Want some secrets mixed in with your 2000s romance? Then try Maid-Sama. Misaki might not be in as complicated of a situation as Yuki, but there are definitely some similarities to be had. If you also need a slightly dramatic and stand-off-ish love interest that your teenage self would be head over heels for, you'd be able to find that in Maid-Sama's Usui.
A student council president secretly works as a waitress in a french maid uniform part-time.More Maid Sama!- #44 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #4 of 182 onThe 50+ Best Romance Anime Ever Made (2024 Update)
- #33 of 80 onThe 50+ Best First Anime To Watch For New Fans, Ranked
- 4403 VOTESPhoto: Dance with Devils / Brain's Base
Like Vampire Knight, this anime features a supernatural romance between a human girl and supernatural beings (in this case, demons). It also has a school setting with a secret supernatural class for Vampire Knight fans to enjoy.
A devilish tale of high school seduction. Ritsuka discovers some of her male classmates are demons.More Dance with Devils- #90 of 182 onThe 50+ Best Romance Anime Ever Made (2024 Update)
- #174 of 219 onThe Best English Dubbed Anime of All Time
- #4 of 16 onThe 16 Best Vampire Romance Anime
- 5532 VOTESPhoto: Diabolik Lovers / Zexcs
Diabolik Lovers is a great anime to try out if you're a fan of the gothic aesthetic in Vampire Knight. Of course, this series also has some vampire and supernatural elements to enjoy, too.
Yui Komori transfers to a new school and begins to learn new things about her own history.More Diabolik Lovers- #157 of 186 onThe 100+ Best Adult Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- #62 of 133 onThe Best Supernatural Anime
- #35 of 56 onAnime You Wish Was Streaming on Netflix
- 6416 VOTESPhoto: Ouran High School Host Club / Bones
Although this doesn't seem like a great recommendation off first glance, give it a try! Ouran High School Host Club is another romantic high school anime classic from the 2000s, and Haruhi has an interestingly similar personality to Yuki.
Haruhi is recruited into the Ouran Host Club after breaking a vase.- #64 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #16 of 182 onThe 50+ Best Romance Anime Ever Made (2024 Update)
- #54 of 80 onThe 50+ Best First Anime To Watch For New Fans, Ranked
- 7220 VOTESPhoto: Seraph of the End / Wit Studio
Seraph of the End does lean further into the shonen and serious side when compared to Vampire Knight, but there are a lot of elements that Vampire Knight fans would enjoy. Aside from featuring vampires of their own, Seraph of the End incorporates vampire hunters and engaging supernatural politics.
Seraph of the End (Tokyo MX, 2015) also known as Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign or Owari no Seraph, is a Japanese dark fantasy anime series based on the manga by Takaya Kagami and Yamato Yamamoto from Wit Studio animation studio. After a manmade virus kills everyone over age 13, Hyakuya joins a vampire extermination unit to avenge the deaths of his family and reclaim his best friend Mikaela Hyakuya from the vampires.More Seraph of the End- #41 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #44 of 86 onThe Best Shounen Anime Of All Time
- #120 of 186 onThe 100+ Best Anime Intros Of All Time
- 8295 VOTESPhoto: Black Butler / A-1 Pictures
Any fan of Vampire Knight should have seen Black Butler and vice versa. These 2000s anime not only share similar art and gothic vibes, but also connect with supernatural elements, too.
A young orphan searches for his parents' killers with the help of a demonic butler.More Black Butler- #60 of 246 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
- #61 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #8 of 42 onThe Best Current Anime Airing Right Now
- 9215 VOTESPhoto: S.A: Special A / Gonzo, AIC
If the high school dynamics with "elite" or "pretigious" classmates was one of your favorite aspects in Vampire Knight, then you'll be happy to know that its found in S.A.: Special Agent too. While this show is more of a casual watch, it's still one enjoy with the similar nostalgia and animation style.
S.A: Special A (Chiba TV, 2008) is a Japanese romantic comedy shojo anime series based on the manga by Maki Minami from Gonzo and AIC animation studios. Hikari Kanazono and Kei Takishima are the top students at the elite Hakusenkan school; while Hikari is always trying to win against Kei, he secretly has feelings for her.More S.A: Special A- #172 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #48 of 182 onThe 50+ Best Romance Anime Ever Made (2024 Update)
- #162 of 219 onThe Best English Dubbed Anime of All Time
- 10141 VOTESPhoto: The Earl and the Fairy / Artland
Maybe you weren't a huge fan of the gothic vibe of Vampire Knight, but enjoyed the supernatural element. The Earl and the Fairy may be a great next watch. Its aesthetic leans more into a Victorian time period, so it still has fantasy components without the dark visuals.
The Earl and the Fairy is a completed series of light novels written by Mizue Tani. An anime adaptation was broadcast from September to December 2008. A visual novel for the PlayStation 2 was released on April 30, 2009. The story, set in Victorian Britain, follows the adventures of 17-year-old Lydia Carlton, nicknamed the "Fairy Doctor" due to her interest and understanding of fairies. - 11102 VOTESPhoto: The Betrayal Knows My Name / J.C. Staff
This anime is great if you liked seeing Yuki caught between two different supernatural factions. Said factions in Betrayal Knows My Name are ghosts and reapers as opposed to vampire and hunters, but a lot of the enjoyable dynamics are still present.
An empathic orphan seeks answers about his past while struggling to control his dangerous powers.- #208 of 246 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
- #38 of 45 onThe Best Gothic Anime Series Of All Time
- #38 of 112 onThe 100+ Best Anime That Start With 'B'
- 12122 VOTESPhoto: Blood+ / Production I.G
Blood+ is similar in the way that the human main character gets caught up in a supernatural world with interesting dynamics and politics. However, it should be said that Blood+ is lacking in romance compared to Vampire Knight and instead leans into the action genre. If that interests you, then give this anime a shot.
Japanese student Saya Otonashi is destined to destroy Chiroptera, immortal blood-sucking creatures.More Blood+- #187 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #15 of 69 onThe Top Horror Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- #34 of 50 onThe Top 50 Vampire Shows, Ranked
- 13135 VOTESPhoto: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion / Sunrise
Code Geass has more similarities to Vampire Knight than you may think. They both have a gothic aesthetic, start in high school, have an authoritative male main character, and utilize a plot twist that no one saw coming.
Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian student, uses the mystical "Power of Kings" to take down Britannia.- #15 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #24 of 186 onThe 100+ Best Anime Intros Of All Time
- #18 of 143 onThe Best Anime Streaming On Netflix
- 14160 VOTESPhoto: Rosario + Vampire / Gonzo
This series also involves a human and vampire romance, except the genders are switched, which introduces a new dynamic. If you also enjoyed the high school aspect to Vampire Knight, you'll be happy to know that this anime shares a similar setting.
A boy is enrolled at a high school for supernatural monsters and mythological creatures.More Rosario + Vampire- #98 of 246 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
- #112 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #95 of 182 onThe 50+ Best Romance Anime Ever Made (2024 Update)
- 15223 VOTESPhoto: Death Note / Madhouse
Of course, Death Note is a lot darker than Vampire Knight, but it's a great recommendation if you're a fan of the fantasy themes - especially with 2000s nostalgia tied in. Give it a try if you're one of the few who hasn't watched this supernatural classic.
A high-school student discovers a supernatural notebook that grants its user the ability to kill.More Death Note- Dig Deeper...The Best Death Note Fanfiction, Ranked
- And Deeper...12 'Death Note' Fan Theories That Change The Entire Scope Of The Series
- #20 of 246 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
- 1671 VOTESPhoto: Pandora Hearts / Xebec
If your favorite thing about Vampire Knight was the use of secrets, then give Pandora Hearts a go. Not only is that a theme used in this anime, but there are also gothic visuals to appeal to viewers, and - of course - some vampires.
Oz Vessalius leads a wealthy and privileged life as the heir to the Vessalius estate.More Pandora Hearts- #112 of 246 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
- #242 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #84 of 115 onThe Saddest Anime Series of All Time
- 1767 VOTESPhoto: 07-Ghost / Studio Deen
Ghosts are pretty close to vampires, right? The fantasy components are all there in this anime, as well as the darker themes compared to some others on this list. If you're looking for a throwback series, then look no further because this is one was released in 2009.
A young amnesiac discovers that demons are trying to invade the world.More 07-Ghost- #140 of 246 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
- #145 of 234 onThe Best Action Anime Of All Time
- #66 of 133 onThe Best Supernatural Anime
- 18104 VOTESPhoto: Dance in the Vampire Bund / Shaft
Maybe you really enjoyed the convoluted vampire politics in Vampire Knight. Dance in the Vampire Bund is here to bring that back to the screen. Even better, it does so while utilizing a gothic aesthetic similar to Vampire Knight.
Mina Tepes sets out to create a special area for her vampire people to live in peace.- #55 of 69 onThe Top Horror Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- #21 of 45 onThe Best Gothic Anime Series Of All Time
- #12 of 16 onThe 16 Best Vampire Romance Anime
- 1979 VOTESPhoto: Shiki / Daume
Both Shiki and Vampire Knight deal with the coexistence of humans and supernatural creatures - specifically vampires - and the resulting conflicts and power struggles. They also share a similar gothic, atmospheric style.
Supernatural horrors befall a small town when its population begins mysteriously dying off.More Shiki- #5 of 69 onThe Top Horror Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- #83 of 115 onThe Saddest Anime Series of All Time
- #22 of 59 onThe Best Psychological Thriller Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- 2063 VOTESPhoto: Ghost Hunt / J.C. Staff
Supernatural beings are present in this series, and the romance is there, too. If Yuki's personality was a high point for you in Vampire Knight, then you may find yourself getting attached to Ghost Hunt's Mai, as the two are similar protagonists.
A man investigates paranormal activity at a supposedly haunted school.More Ghost Hunt- #267 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #28 of 69 onThe Top Horror Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- #167 of 219 onThe Best English Dubbed Anime of All Time
- 2157 VOTESPhoto: Trinity Blood / Gonzo
This vampire romance not only features a human falling in love with a vampire, but it also shares a similar political conflict compared to that in Vampire Knight.
Abel Nightroad, a Vatican priest, protects the fragile equilibrium between humans and vampires.More Trinity Blood- #70 of 80 onThe 50+ Best First Anime To Watch For New Fans, Ranked
- #51 of 69 onThe Top Horror Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- #148 of 234 onThe Best Action Anime Of All Time
- 2278 VOTES
Karin
Photo: Karin / J.C. StaffEnjoyed the human and vampire romance, but wish the roles had been reversed? Then try Karin, which features a male MC falling in love with a female vampire. Aside from that, Karin also has the 2000s anime nostalgia and high school setting to enjoy.
Karin is a romantic comedy anime series about a family of vampires living in modern-day Japan. Karin Maka is the family's eldest daughter who has the unusual ability to produce excess blood instead of needing to drink it, leading to humorous situations as she tries to hide this secret.
- 2374 VOTESPhoto: Blood-C / Production I.G
Blood-C is another anime on this list to pick up if you appreciate the gothic aesthetic of Vampire Knight. Like many others on this list, it also has fantasy/supernatural elements to cater to Vampire Knight fans.
Saya is a seemingly normal girl who is called upon to protect her village from strange monsters.More Blood-C- #23 of 69 onThe Top Horror Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- #45 of 59 onThe Best Psychological Thriller Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- #12 of 55 onThe Best Gore Anime of All Time
- 2454 VOTES
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Photo: Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust / MadhouseIs Zero your favorite character from Vampire Knight? Then maybe this gothic film series is one you should pick up next, with a heavy emphasis on vampire hunters rather than just vampires themselves.
In a dark and distant future, when the undead have arisen from apocalyptic ashes, an original story unfolds. Ten thousand years in the future, vampires rule the night. They once ruled outright but their numbers are in decline. Vampire hunters now threaten the vampires with extinction.- #190 of 219 onThe Best English Dubbed Anime of All Time
- #37 of 68 onThe Best Madhouse Anime, Ranked
- #6 of 33 onThe Best Vampire Manga of All Time
- 2552 VOTESPhoto: Metaweb / CC-BY
Featuring a trio of two guys and one girl, this supernatural series might be great if you want something that's not a vampire romance. This series is obviously revolving zombies, but it also leans heavier into comedy as compared to Vampire Knight.
Zombie-Loan is a Japanese manga series created by Peach-Pit: Banri Sendo and Shibuko Ebara. It is published by Square Enix and is serialized in the Japanese shōnen manga magazine GFantasy. The series is licensed in the United States by Yen Press. An anime adaptation produced by Xebec M2 was announced and started broadcast on the Japanese network TV Asahi on July 3, 2007. It contained a total of eleven episodes, with the final broadcast on September 11, 2007. Subsequent episodes 12 and 13 were released as part of the seventh volume of the DVD release in April 2008, but no official word for television broadcast has been made. The anime has been licensed by Discotek Media, who will release the complete series on DVD on September 30, 2014.More Zombie-Loan- #62 of 69 onThe Top Horror Anime Of All Time, Ranked
- #39 of 45 onThe Best Gothic Anime Series Of All Time
- #13 of 23 on10+ Good Anime Similar to Death Note
- 2677 VOTESPhoto: Hellsing / Gonzo
Let it be noted that Hellsing isn't for the lighthearted. The element of vampires is definitely present, but its a much darker anime as opposed to the high school romance series, so if that's what you're looking for then you've found it.
Vampires Alucard and Seras battle other vampires and the undead on behalf of a secret organization.More Hellsing- #86 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
- #142 of 186 onThe 100+ Best Anime Intros Of All Time
- #40 of 80 onThe 50+ Best First Anime To Watch For New Fans, Ranked
- 2758 VOTESPhoto: Black Blood Brothers / Group TAC, Studio Live
There are definitely some eyebrow-raising family dynamics in this series, so if that was something you appreciated in Vampire Knight, maybe give Black Blood Brothers a try. The series also incorporates vampires and some interesting supernatural politics.
Jirou and Kotaro are the last descendants of an elite clan of vampires. - 2858 VOTESPhoto: Peach Girl / Studio Comet
This might seem like a stretch to some people, but there are some connections to be made between Vampire Knight and Peach Girl. Both are 2000s romance anime, set in high school, and have a love triangle. Although those are some pretty common tropes, you can't deny that both shows are considered classics of their time period for a reason.
Peach Girl is a Japanese shōjo manga series by Miwa Ueda. A high school drama centered on character Momo Adachi, her love life, friendships and rivalries, it was published in Japan by Kodansha in Bessatsu Friend from 1998 to 2003 and collected in 18 volumes. The series was adapted as a Taiwanese drama in 2002 and a Japanese animated television series in 2005. The North American version of the manga is published in two parts by Tokyopop: Peach Girl, covering the first eight volumes of the Japanese release; and Peach Girl: Change of Heart, comprising the final ten books. The animated TV series is distributed by Funimation Entertainment in North America.More Peach Girl- #129 of 182 onThe 50+ Best Romance Anime Ever Made (2024 Update)
- #115 of 115 onThe Saddest Anime Series of All Time
- #14 of 29 onThe Best Josei Anime/Manga Series
- 2931 VOTESPhoto: A Dark Rabbit Has Seven Lives / Zexcs
This anime, like Vampire Knight, features a female protagonist caught up in a supernatural romance, with themes of vampirism and the power dynamics between humans and vampires.
A Dark Rabbit Has Seven Lives is a Japanese light novel series by Takaya Kagami, with illustrations by Japanese-Brazilian illustrator Yū Kamiya. A 12-episode anime adaptation aired between July and September 2011. Kurogane Taito continues to have a recurring dream. A 6-year-old Taito sees a girl who he cannot remember while they sit together in the playground. She tells him that she will give him her poison and afterwards they will always be together, enticing him when he becomes frightened with comforting words. - 3026 VOTES
Dazzle
Photo: Studio DeenDon't write this anime off just because it was created in the 90s. This series has its own fantasy elements to enjoy as well as a stoic yet lovable male love interest that parallels Vampire Knight's Kaname.
Dazzle is a Japanese manga by Minari Endoh. There have been thirteen volumes published in Japan as of March 24, 2012. The series was being published in English in North America by Tokyopop, however, when Tokyopop closed, 10 out of the current 13 volumes were published in English. The license has not been picked up by any other company. An anime adaptation under the original title Hatenkō Yūgi aired in Japan between January 5 and March 7, 2008 on the Kyoto Broadcasting System and contains ten episodes.
