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I love vampires and I try to watch anything related to vampires so I was very happy to see this film after seeing such anime hits as Vampire 
Hunter D and Blood: The Last Vampire. This anime a first, at least in my realm of knowledge, to take the time to devote an entire series to vampire mythology and other assorted creatures of the night. After viewing the first 100-minute tape, containing four episodes, I want to become a nightwalker, too.
Shido is a 300-year-old vampire detective who specializes in cases that involve the occult, specifically, creatures of the night. Unfortunately for him, while he is investigating so many other cases, he has not really taken the time to learn more about his own life. He doesn't even remember how life was before he was turned, and while he may have been an evil bloodsucker once, Shido is now on the side of the good, helping one woman officer, Matsumaga solve the strange cases that no one wants to touch (For more Vampire turned Vampire Hunter Anime read Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and Vampire Princess Miyu Review).
Like the legendary D Shido has an imp sidekick that blurts out the funniest of lines; Riho is a young female mortal who acts as Shido's sidekick and unknown love. Shido took her under his wing when a night breed killed her family. Unaware that Shido is one of them, she blindly does everything she can to make him love her. However, Shido seems to have a little thang for Matsumaga who lets him suck enough blood to quench his thirst.
The first four episodes deal with Riho's discovery of Shido's secret. After Shido gets through that, he must deal with a woman who wants to become a star so much, she allows a night breed to possess her. Her hunger for stardom also translates to a hunger that can only be satisfied through cannibalism as she struggles to achieve stardom and her sanity. Lightness and darkness cannot coexist, and Shido knows that better than everyone as he struggles to maintain the balance everyday.
Shido goes from case to case, but must also deal with his past demons. He must confront Cain, his maker, who warns him that the Golden Dawn is coming. Will Shido rejoin his dark mentor or will he fight him in what could be a battle that determines the fate of the world?
These four episodes were awesome. I loved the character of Shido. This series was wonderfully animated and beautiful to look at. The dubbing was so superb, that I really didn't miss the Japanese subtitles at all (The same can be said for Vampire Hunter D. However, this series is a little lighter than D). I really sympathized with Riho and I thought Matsumaga was a very well illustrated character. Nightwalker reminds me of Forever Knight, my favorite show that was cancelled several years ago for no good reason. Nick Knight was a vampire cop who struggled with the same things Shido struggles with. The show was a classic, but I think Nightwalker: Midnight Detective has more possibilities going for it with an endless supply of ideas only limited by the artist who brings them to life. If you like vampires, if you enjoy mysteries of the occult, if you miss shows like Forever Knight then this is the anime for you. I can't say enough about this series. Take a walk into the darkness and become one of the millions of nightwalkers around the world.
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