FEATURE: 7 Surefire Ways To Spot A Dracula — Anime Edition

Paul Chapman (@gooberzilla) struggling in the jaws of a life-sized model hippo.

 

Ever since Bram Stoker published his landmark non-fiction text, Dracula, in 1897 and alerted the modern world to the presence of the hungry nightwalkers in our midst, the public has grown increasingly interested in identifying the noxious Nosferatu who walk among us, even going so far as to name May 26th of each year as World Dracula Day.

 

In order to raise public awareness, I (with the aid of consulting physician Dr. Acula Alucard) have compiled a handy reference to help viewers determine whether their favorite anime have been infiltrated by vampires. With no further ado, we present a bullet-proof, seven-point guide on How To Spot A Dracula — Anime Edition.

 

Fangs

 

Kirino Kosaka flashes a smug smile in a scene from the Oreimo TV anime.

 

In order to feed their monstrous thirsts, your average Dracula needs some sort of sharpened implement to pierce the lovely, lovely veins of their unsuspecting victims. This most commonly manifests in the form of pronounced canine teeth, as demonstrated above by the character of Kirino Kosaka from Oreimo, whose chances of being a Dracula are thus extremely high. A note of caution, gentle readers: sometimes these fangs can be retractable. Trust no one!

 

Bizarre Fashion Sense

 

Marin Kitagawa is excited by the results of her cosplay in a scene from the My Dress-Up Darling TV anime.

 

It goes without saying that vampires have risen from their eternal sleep, and with no natural life spans, many Draculas can prolong their accursed existences indefinitely. This property is often a major giveaway because long-lived vampires tend to grow entrenched in their habits and develop tastes for fancy, flamboyant, and outdated clothing styles.

 

Just look at Marin Kitagawa (above) from My Dress-Up Darling. Doesn't that outfit just scream “slave of the night?” Dracula tendency: 99.3 percent!

 

Sleeps In A Coffin

 

Akari Amano discovers an embarrassing hug pillow inside Sophie's coffin in a scene from the Ms. vampire who lives in my neighborhood. TV anime.

 

Everyone knows that a Dracula has to sleep in a coffin lined with soil from their native land. That's just science. But don't get it twisted, dear readers. Merely sleeping in a coffin alone is not a foolproof indication of Dracula infiltration. For example, you'll notice that Sophie Twilight from the alarmingly named Ms. Vampire who lives in my neighborhood. TV anime sleeps in a coffin stuffed with dakimakura hug pillows, and no self-respecting succubi would ever be caught doing that, right?

 

RELATED: The 5 Most Loved And Hated Vampires In Anime

 

Summons Bats, Wolves, Etc

 

Mai Vlad Transylvania takes a nap with a large group of animals that she helped to escape from the zoo in a scene from the VLAD LOVE TV anime.

 

“The children of the night! What music they make!” Draculas frequently demonstrate an uncanny ability to control and communicate with bats, wolves, armadillos, and other often unfairly maligned mammals. However, no matter how Gothic their animal magnetism might be, no reasonable person ever would categorize hippos, giraffes, and flamingos as “children of the night,” and so Mai Vlad Transylvania (above) from VLAD LOVE is thus officially cleared of any suspicion of fraternizing with the supernatural.

 

No Reflection In A Mirror

 

Hikari Takanashi needles her twin sister, Himari, for not realizing that she casts a reflection in a mirror in a scene from the Interviews with Monster Girls TV anime.

 

Perhaps the easiest way to spot a Dracula is through the use of reflective surfaces, as vampires are traditionally incapable of seeing themselves in mirrors. This may lead readers to wonder: How can so many Draculas have such perfect hair and make-up? (The answer: Renfield’s major in cosmetology. Get yourself a Renfield.) Since Hikari Takanashi (above) from Interviews with Monster Girls casts a reflection, her likelihood of being a Dracula in disguise is minimized.

 

RELATED: Anime's Top 10 Vampires Of All Time!

 

Vulnerability To Sunlight

 

Youko Shiragami sports a rich but accidental tan in a scene from the Actually, I Am TV anime.

 

 In general, the greatest threat to a Dracula's existence is nourishing, wholesome sunlight. Some Draculas turn to ash when exposed to the happy rays of Mr. Sun. Others rot, or explode, or in some cases, their unholy powers are severely diminished. As a result, it's safe to say that if you see someone walking around in the daytime – or sporting a nice tan like Youko Shiragami (above) from Actually, I Am — then chances are good that they are not, in fact, a Dracula.

 

Thirst

 

Mio loses her entire mind after her friend, Yuko, ruins all of the food for the camping trip in a scene from the Nichijou - My Ordinary Life TV anime.

 

“I never drink … coffee.” No, there is only one delicious liquid that can slake the thirst of the irrepressible anime Dracula, and that is innocent, human blood! While catching a Dracula red-handed (and red-mouthed, honestly) in the process of feeding is a sure-fire way to identify the Gothic lifestyle of a member of the restless, sometimes it's enough evidence for them merely to express an interest in the viscous red liquid belonging to someone else. When Mio from Nichijou – My Ordinary Life demands to know the color of Yuko's blood, she's expressing dangerously Dracula-like tendencies. Any reasonable individual would be breaking out the garlic and the wooden stakes, just to be on the safe side.

 

Nyanpire, a vampiric kitten, is saved from starving to death by being transformed into a creature of the night in a scene from the Nyanpire - The Vampire Cat TV anime.

 

And there you have it, dear readers, a definitive guide to determining whether or not your favorite anime characters are, in fact, Draculas. Follow the above tips closely and you may just avoid finding a pair of unwelcome fangs in your neck. Vigilance in the face of vampirism is a never-ending duty, and as surely as the day follows the darkest night, it's clear that the anime medium is absolutely crawling with Draculas.

 

Which anime characters do you suspect of secretly being Draculas? Let us know in the comments section below, and be sure to have a safe and vampire-free World Dracula Day. Now, if you'll excuse me I have to take an appointment with a mysterious Eastern European aristocrat who wishes to purchase some property in London …

 

Crunchyroll-Hime poses for a Crunchyroll ad banner.

 


 

Paul Chapman is the host of The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast and GME! Anime Fun Time.

Leave a comment
Stay up to date
Register now to get updates on promotions and coupons.

Shopping cart

×