This 1985 adaptation of the novel series is distantly connected to the 2000 one due to the fact that Vampire Hunter D is basically an anthology series. I was initially worried about which to watch first, and now that I've seen both I can safely say it doesn't matter and that people are better off just jumping into the better movie (2000, no surprise there). 1985 Vampire Hunter D (hereby referred to as "1985 VHD") doesn't have more exposition or anything of the sort, and is maybe even slightly less descriptive of the setting. Vampire Hunter D takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting 10,000 years into the future and combines elements of Gothic horror, dark fantasy, and occult science. It's a warped, chaotic mix but takes itself dramatically and outside of its action scenes plays everything off with a cool sense of calm. Like said earlier, atmosphere is the key of both movies. 1985 VHD features the same captivating designs as 2000: various monsters, creatures, twisted castles, blood red moons, and advanced technology mixed into a regressive society akin to that of the Dark Ages in Europe. While the imagination of the world still runs through you with its various mysteries and surprises, it's less evocative in 1985 VHD due to its inferior stylistic rendering. 1985 VHD features brighter colors, less detailed stills, stiffer and more inconsistent animation quality, and lower production values all around. It is by no means a lazy work, just on a lower scale perhaps more necessary for its era and not as willing to indulge in the bleakness of the setting, as an 80s audience probably would've been as well.
1985 VHD is lacking a sense of beauty that 2000 VHD had. It's not as well directed and the images it conjures aren't as memorable. For dramatic effect a lot of simple techniques are used like mono color scenes, and the animation in general features a lot of solid, broad color strokes that lack the finer details of 2000 VHD that gave the world a sense of enveloping realism. It's a good example of how two things can share the same strengths and ideals but be so far apart in their goals because of how they're displayed. 1985 VHD is still worth watching for those same sensibilities, as those won over by 2000 VHD's world will enjoy seeing the additional context 1985 naturally gives. You see more of how average humans survive and learn more about D, and there's a bit more sci-fi used in the building designs. The story and writing themselves are a somewhat weaker this time around as well. This may just be an issue with the story chosen to adapt, but the side cast isn't nearly as memorable as the other hunters from 2000 VHD. There's a lack of mystery regarding the plot because it's so basic. A local vampire claims a human girl as his next bride, and she hires D to protect her, but the core story is as basic as that. The villain is generic and doesn't feature much, unlike 2000 VHD's which offers some sympathy and curiosity as to his relationship with his human victim. The action scenes suffer for the earlier simple reason of weaker art and animation, but the powers on display are less interesting as well. No real surprises like Grove, and the climactic battle is settled quickly and easily. The story's structure is rather odd too. While 2000 VHD was more of an adventure story that allowed the movie to show off more exotic locations and designs, 1985 VHD sticks to a smaller setting and alternates between a ranch, town, and castle. 2000 VHD also escalates better as D travels closer to his target, but 1985 VHD enters an awkward lull as D enters the castle for the first time early in the movie on a rescue and then returns 50 minutes later for a final confrontation.
For an extended tour of a marvelously broad dark fantasy universe, going back to 1985 VHD is well worth the trip for big fans of the later movie, but it suffers in the ways you'd probably expect. At the same time, I'd like to restate that it wasn't as big a step back as I thought it would be. The things I loved about 2000 VHD were all still here albeit in a smaller dose. Given the fact that these are the only two existing anime of Vampire Hunter D, even watching this feels like a blessing and I was once again completely affectionate towards its aesthetic and tone. It's also worth mentioning that the dub was handled in 2015, and although it features different cast members than the great 2000 VHD dub, it's still professionally done with experienced actors.
