Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Review

4 stars, a blood soaked banquet for the senses.

Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp is a Japanese animation film and the prequel to Bakemonogatari, the TV series. Originally released as three films,  Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu, Kizumonogatari Part 2: Nekketsu and Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu, it is based on the 2008 light novel of the same name by Nisio Isin.

The story has been reformatted into a new single feature length film, with Tatsuya Oishi returning to direct and the original voice actors lending their talents to this project.

It is available to own in the UK on Collector’s Edition Blu-ray from 11th May 2026, courtesy of MVM Films.

“But, while lit by a streetlight, despite her blonde hair being almost too bright to look at…she had no shadow, so they say.”

Koyomi Araragi (Hiroshi Kamiya – Attack on Titan(TV Series)) is a teenage highschool boy and a bit of a loner. It’s the summer holidays and while out walking, a wardrobe malfunction leads to him to meet Tsubasa Hanekawa (Yui Horie – Zone of the Enders (Video Game) a buxom young woman from his class. The conversation turns to the possible sighting of a vampire in the local area, a beautiful blonde woman, although Koyomi is not really interested. Tsubasa gives him her phone number and they go their separate ways.

Later that evening, unable to take his mind off her considerable assets, he heads out to purchase some adult reading material. While in town, he spots a trail of blood leading into the subway. Curious, he follows and it leads him to the aforementioned vampire (Maaya Sakamoto – Fate/Grand Carnival, Black Butler) , lying in a pool of her own blood and missing her limbs, taken by three powerful vampire hunters. She demands and then begs that he give her his blood to save her life.

Believing this is will kill him, he reluctantly agrees but to his surprise he wakes up. He runs outside in a panic, only to find out when he suddenly bursts into flames that he is in fact now a vampire. Now in the form of a child, the vampire rescues him and introduces herself as Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. She explains that if he can retrieve her limbs she can return him to his human form. With the help of new ally Meme Oshino (Takahiro Sakurai – Blame!), he must take on Dramaturgy (Masashi Ebara – Perfect Blue), Episode (Miyu Irino – A Silent Voice) and Guillotine Cutter (Hôchû Ôtsuka – Edge of Tomorrow). Can he prevail against all the odds and regain his humanity?

“You, I will allow you to save me. Did you not hear me? I am saying that I will allow you to save me.”

Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp  is a very enjoyable film, compelling to the end. Not having seen the original films, I can’t make a direct comparison, but it certainly doesn’t feel as if anything is missing. The character development is good and the story flows well, with lots of high impact moments and fast paced fight sequences.

The animation style is absolutely gorgeous, amazing use of light and shade, lots of realism in the backgrounds and a great film noir feel to it. It also has a chilled out swing soundtrack which compliments it perfectly.

While die hard fans might miss the extra details in the original films, for the uninitiated this is a great way to enjoy this unusual and atmospheric vampire tale. A great package and well worth adding to your collection.

“Seriously, what idiot would go out into the sun all of a sudden?An ordinary vampire would’ve evaporated in an instant.”

Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp is available to own now on Collector’s Edition Blu-ray.