Laura Zaetz

For being the basis on which the Blood+ universe was created, it has atmospheric animation and creative monster design. However, there are many ideas that are introduced and yet fail to be fleshed out. I look at it as a very bare-bones first draft, because in the end, there is still very little understood about the main character and why she is the way that she is, or how she came to start on this mission, or what her connection is to this agency she's a part of. It's best enjoyed as an experimental pilot into the Blood universe, where Blood+, although very different, takes those ideas and presents them much more cohesively and adds more dimension to the characters.

One of the far-too-few shonens led by a female protagonist, Blood+ is a series that balances horror, action, romance, drama, and mystery into a near-masterpiece. Though at times hindered by lower-budget animation, the anime deserves its flowers. The gothic themes, the sensitivity with which the characters are portrayed, and the stellar music all contribute to a viewer experience I haven't felt since Batman the Animated Series.