Castlevania is an animated, dark fantasy drama series produced by Kevin Kolde and Fred Siebert. Based on Konami's 1989 Japanese game Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, the show follows Trevor Belmont as he defends the county of Wallachia from Dracula and his army of demons.
Castlevania was initially planned as a movie but was eventually developed by Netflix as a series, where its art style is heavily influenced by Ayami Kojima's art and Japanese animation.
What Is Castlevania About?
In Castlevania, the legend goes that every 100 years, the fearsome Vlad Dracula would rise from the dead to take over the entire Earth. The only ones capable of stopping the threat are the members of the Belmont family, also known as Count Dracula's hunting clan.
When his wife is burned at the stake after being accused of witchcraft by the town's bishop, the vampire Count Vlad Dracula Tepes declares that all the people of Wallachia will pay with their lives.
He summons an army of monsters and demons that invades the county, causing the people to live lives of fear and distrust.
To combat this, disgraced monster hunter Trevor Belmont takes up arms against Dracula's forces, aided by the mage Sypha Belnades and Dracula's dhampir son, Alucard. Now, these brave warriors embark on a dangerous mission in order to save the world from the hands of the vampire.
Shows Like Castlevania
If you enjoyed the series and are looking for a new show to accompany you on a marathon evening, check out our list of shows like Castlevania that we've put together.
Follow the Hellsing organisation, made up of several special troop members, as they deal with multiple attacks from supernatural creatures. Continue to the story of a boy who is the love child between a human and the legendary dark knight, who ironically hunts demons at the request of people who hire him in a ruthless underworld of darkness.
Also, check out the story of a man who calls himself “The Black Swordsman” and spends his days serving a group of mercenaries, the Falcon's Gang. Led by an ambitious, cruel, intelligent man, they battle to cross the path to the royal court, yet are forced into a fate that could change their lives.
Check out our list of shows like Castlevania, and we're sure you'll find your new series of choice.
OUR LIST OF SHOWS LIKE CASTLEVANIA
Devilman Crybaby
A relatively faithful adaptation of the long-running Manga series, Devilman Crybaby still doesn't hit the mark for those not already converted to the anime-horror genre. If however, it's your thing, you'll probably love it!
Arcane: League of Legends
With stunning animation and an intriguing plot, Arcane: League of Legends is like Game of Thrones meets World of Warcraft. Brilliantly created, scripted and well worth a watch.
Bitten
Elena Michaels is the only living female werewolf but leaves her pack in search of a normal life, until she is called home to help defend the family against an outside threat. A perfect fantasy horror show for fans of Grimm or The Originals.
Dracula
From the creators who brought you Sherlock comes Dracula, following his origins in Eastern Europe to his battles with Van Helsing's descendants and beyond. Entertaining but has its downsides!
Hellsing Ultimate
In the Hellsing anime adaptations, the Hellsing organisation are like the Belmonts of Castlevania. They are completely dedicated to fighting against vampires or other creatures of the night, with the main focus being on Alucard himself, the original vampire.
Beserk
Based on Kentaro Miura's manga series of the same name, Beserk follows Guts as the “Black Swordsman”. Once a wandering mercenary, he was taken in by the Band of the Hawk but escaped when the leader, Griffith, sacrificed his followers to become one of the God Hand. Now Guts is hunting down Griffith in a quest for vengeance.
Sirius the Jaeger
An original anime, Sirius the Jaegar tells the story of Yuliy, a vampire hunter of the Sirius werewolf race whose village was ruined by vampires. The Sirius royal family was selected to keep an enigmatic holy relic called “The Ark of Sirius”, a gift from God and now Yuliy and the Jaegers must engage in a lethal war against the Vampires for control of the Ark.
Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry is a Japanese anime series based on the video game series. The series follows Dante, the half-demon son of Sparda, the legendary Dark Knight (a demon) and Eva (a human). He operates as a private investigator, mostly accepting jobs involving the supernatural.
We hope you enjoy our shows like Castlevania – if you'd like to watch more animated shows – click here.
How Many Seasons Does Castlevania Have?
Castlevania premiered on Netflix in July 2017 with four episodes. Quickly gaining fans worldwide and turning into one of the most-watched anime series, the show was renewed for a second season, which aired in October 2018 with eight episodes.
In March 2020, the third season was released with ten episodes, and the fourth and final season came out in May 2021.
With the natural end of the story, Castlevania concluded with four seasons for a total of 32 episodes.
Is Castlevania A Good Anime?
Castlevania is not only for followers of the video game but a true adventure for those who have never even heard of the game and its rich history.
As well as being an impressive success among fans, it quickly became the top 10 most-watched Netflix series in the category.
The animation quality is incredible, and the voice acting is perfect in every way. The art, animation, sound design, and soundtrack are exceptionally well produced, making the series delightful to watch.
The action in the series is rough and bloody but not without meaning. The genuinely magnificent fights, including horrific deaths of innocents, graphic violence and no mercy shown, deliver content from a true horror and dark fantasy genre.
The story grows and flows correctly, with its unique rhythm making the series all the more captivating and exciting.
The villain is humanised immediately, which gives him a sense of cause and feel, not just being a mindless killer.
The hero has many anti-hero qualities, making him more interesting. Castlevania unfolds with a number of incredible battles and discussions that question morality, cause and purpose. A series not to be missed!
What Is The Appropriate Age To Watch Castlevania?
Although Castlevania is an engaging story with genuine twists and surprises, it is notably violent.
Adapted from the classic video game about vampire hunters, there are explicit torture scenes, with characters stabbed, disembowelled, dismembered or burned at a stake by an inhuman creature.
Many episodes call into question the morality of religious officials, as well as strong and inappropriate language. There are also frightening gothic images, such as bats, skeletons and fire tornadoes, which may frighten young or more sensitive viewers.
While it is up to parents to decide what content they let their children watch, we recommend this series for more mature teenagers and adults, never under the age of 16.
