Vampire Knight is back in the conversation: creator Matsuri Hino is drawing a new one-shot for LaLa magazine's 50th anniversary, on sale August 4, 2026, showing the cast before their Cross Academy days, per Anime News Network. If that's pulled you back toward the 2008 anime, here's where to watch it, whether the classic still holds up, and where it lands on our board.
Quick answer
According to SenpaiRanks, Vampire Knight is a 2008 supernatural-romance anime from Studio DEEN, adapting Matsuri Hino's shoujo manga. The story runs across two 13-episode seasons — the original Vampire Knight and its darker sequel Vampire Knight Guilty — following Yuki Cross between the human Day Class and vampire Night Class at Cross Academy, torn between childhood protector Kaname and hot-tempered Zero. SenpaiRanks tracks the original series at a 7.03 adjusted score and Guilty a notch higher at 7.19, marking it as a durable gothic-romance pick. The news hook: a new anniversary one-shot by Hino drops August 4, 2026 in LaLa's September issue.
What's new in August
The one-shot is a nostalgia beat, not a revival — it depicts the characters before they entered high school, celebrating LaLa magazine's 50th anniversary. Hino's main sequel manga, Vampire Knight: Memories, wrapped in 2020, so this is a standalone treat for longtime readers rather than a new serialized arc.
Where to watch Vampire Knight
Both seasons are available on Crunchyroll, subtitled and dubbed — though catalog availability shifts by region, so check your local listing. That platform-neutral honesty is the point: we tell you where a show actually lives instead of steering you toward one streamer's storefront. Watch order is simple — the original Vampire Knight (13 episodes) first, then Vampire Knight Guilty (13 episodes).
Does it still hold up?
Mostly, yes — if gothic shoujo romance is your lane. It's a mood piece: lush character art, a love triangle with real stakes, and a second season that goes noticeably darker. SenpaiRanks tracks it at 7.03 on the board, and our dual-axis read explains the appeal better than a single number would — its Quality score (how satisfied finishers are) rewards viewers who came for the romance and atmosphere rather than action pacing. Rate it yourself on the Vampire Knight ranking page and see where your taste lands versus the crowd. If you like the supernatural-shoujo flavor, our best romance anime 2026, ranked is the next stop.
If you like this, try
Fans of Vampire Knight's supernatural-romance register tend to click with Kamisama Kiss for the softer side and Code Geass when they want the same 2000s-era dramatic intensity with a heavier plot.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where can I watch Vampire Knight?
A: Both the original series and Vampire Knight Guilty stream on Crunchyroll, subtitled and dubbed; availability varies by region.
Q: What order do I watch Vampire Knight in?
A: Watch the original Vampire Knight (13 episodes) first, then Vampire Knight Guilty (13 episodes).
Q: Is Vampire Knight good?
A: Yes, for gothic shoujo romance fans. SenpaiRanks tracks the original at 7.03 and Guilty at 7.19.
Q: Is there a new Vampire Knight manga in 2026?
A: Matsuri Hino is drawing a one-shot for LaLa's 50th anniversary, on sale August 4, 2026, set before the characters' high school years.
Q: How many episodes of Vampire Knight are there?
A: 26 total — 13 in the original series and 13 in Vampire Knight Guilty.