Vampire Knight

Cross Academy separates its students into a Day Class of humans and a Night Class of vampires, and the school's Disciplinary Committee keeps a fragile peace between them. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu serve as the committee's enforcers, patrolling corridors and defusing clashes while carrying complicated personal histories. Yuki is outwardly devoted to protecting humans, yet she wrestles with lost memories and loyalties that make her role emotionally fraught. Zero, haunted by a violent past with vampires, maintains a fierce resentment that clashes with his duties. At the center is Kaname Kuran, an enigmatic vampire whose interventions raise questions about power, protection and trust, and a web of secret ties slowly tightens around the trio.

Aired in 2008, Vampire Knight adapts Matsuri Hino's shojo manga into an animated series, featuring voice work by Daisuke Kishio, Yui Horie and Mamoru Miyano among others. The animation translates the manga's gothic visuals to the screen and stayed close to the source material's tone.

It didn't collect major mainstream awards, but the series became a staple among shojo anime fans and helped the original manga reach a wider audience. Its releases on DVD and music tie-ins kept interest alive, and it remains a frequent reference point in discussions of romantic vampire anime.

Vampire Knight left a clear mark on anime fandom, popularizing a melancholy, stylish take on vampire romance that encouraged cosplay, fan art and fanfiction. Its visual design and character pairings have been especially influential in online fan communities, and the show's atmospheric aesthetic is often imitated.

Critical and fan responses have been mixed yet generally favorable, reflected in an 8.3/10 vote average from viewers. Reviewers tended to praise the series' mood, character dynamics and art, while some criticized uneven pacing and melodramatic turns. Major themes include identity, memory, loyalty, and the moral gray area between predator and protector.