“Vampire Hunter D” (吸血鬼ハンターD), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1985, Artwork by Yoshitaka Amano, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) S166
This is an original Japanese B2 release poster produced for Vampire Hunter D (吸血鬼ハンターD), the landmark 1985 dark-fantasy anime directed by Toyoo Ashida (芦田豊雄) and adapted from Hideyuki Kikuchi’s bestselling novel series. The film was released in Japan on 21 December 1985, receiving theatrical exhibition alongside its home-video launch—an unusual release model characteristic of the rapidly developing OVA market of the period. The production credits Yoshitaka Amano with the original character concepts, with animation character design by Noriyasu Yamauchi and Indori-goya, and music by Tetsuya Komuro.
Set in the year 12,090 AD, the story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world ruled by vampires known as the Nobility. After village girl Doris Lang is bitten by the ancient Count Magnus Lee, she hires the mysterious vampire hunter D, himself a dhampir—half human and half vampire—to destroy the Count and free her from his curse. The film became one of the formative screen adaptations of Japanese gothic fantasy and an enduring cult title internationally.
Poster design
An extraordinary original composition by Yoshitaka Amano (天野喜孝), whose unmistakable signature “y. amano” appears at the lower right of the artwork itself. The theatrical poster artwork is independently documented as Amano’s work, making this not simply a poster featuring characters he originated, but an original Amano movie-poster illustration.
At the centre, D appears in his immense black cloak and characteristic wide-brimmed hat, cradling Doris against him. Amano’s delicately elongated figures, intricate jewellery, armour and textile detailing contrast dramatically with D’s almost completely black silhouette, while a wash of crimson-red atmosphere fills the upper background.
The result has far more in common with a fantasy art print than conventional commercial anime advertising: fine, fragile line work; huge areas of negative space; pale flesh tones; and the almost abstract mass of D’s sweeping cloak. Amano’s combination of Gothic European imagery and Japanese illustrative refinement would become inseparable from the visual identity of Vampire Hunter D.
The upper-right campaign copy reads:
「ダークプリンスD、魔界の荒野の果てに見えるのは光か闇か——」
— approximately “Dark Prince D — at the end of the demon world’s wilderness, is what awaits him light or darkness?”
It also announces 「菊地秀行ベストセラー初の映画化」 — “The first film adaptation of Hideyuki Kikuchi’s bestseller” and promotes the picture as a major spectacle romance.
The lower section is anchored by the vivid red 吸血鬼ハンター title and enormous green D, accompanied by the English VAMPIRE HUNTER branding and credits for Kikuchi, Ashida and the film’s theme music.
It is over 40 years old!
Condition
Excellent+. An exceptionally well-preserved example of this highly collectible 1985 poster. The delicate Amano artwork remains beautifully clean, with rich blacks, strong crimson tones, crisp turquoise promotional copy and vivid red-and-green title printing. The sheet is unfolded, with no significant damage affecting the artwork and a remarkably clean verso. Only extremely minor age / storage handling is visible.
Please review the front and reverse photographs carefully—they show the exact poster for sale.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
