Vampire Knight Volume 2   Starring (voice): Daisuke Kishio, Mamoru Miyano and Yui Horie Manga Entertainment RRP: £12.99 MANG9041 Certificate: 15 Available 13 December 2010

Yuki Cross finds herself stuck between two worlds as a ‘Day Class’ Guardian at the Cross Academy, run by her adoptive father Kaien Cross. Her job is to protect the female students of the day class from the boys of the night class. It’s not just their womanhood that needs protecting as the attractive boys of the night class are all vampires, led by Kaname Kuran. The principle, Kaien Cross, hopes to foster understanding between the two races, but some cannot forgive the vampires for what they are, including Yuki’s partner and childhood friend, vampire hunter Zero Kiryuu...

Vampire Knight: Volume 2 (2008) is a gothic romance, based on a manga written by Matsuri Hino. The show was directed by Kiyoko Sayama, and produced by Studio Deen and Nihon Ad Systems.

For volume two we get a very slight three episodes, which is one less than last time. That said the quality of the show remains high, with distinctive character designs and a narrative which sticks closely to the original manga. The tone is very much in the Twilight vein or depicting the vampires as introspective and attractive. The 1.78:1 anamorphic picture is one of the better I’ve seen recently, even the English dub and Japanese original 2.0 tracks are suitable clear.

The disc kicks off with episode five Moonlight Festivities wherein Yuki is given an amulet, which will work in combination to restrain Zero, should his vampire desires, once more, become uncontrollable. The romantic side of the story is served with the new teacher, Toga Yagari, who immediately attracts the young female student’s attention. Yuki, meanwhile, takes a trip into town, only to be attacked by an E-Class vampire, unlike the erudite night students this vampire is feral and almost mindless. Rescued by a couple of night class students, they invite Yuki back to their rooms to explain why one vampire would kill another.

Episode six Their Choices, and Zero’s vampire nature continues to grow stronger, making him a threat to Yuki and the other humans. Although Toga the Vampire Hunter feels that the only solution is to kill Zero, Yuki desperately tries o find another solution for her friend. When she comes up with a solution it proves to be not only dangerous but also unpopular with both humans and vampires alike.

The last episode The Scarlet Maze and Yuki must come to terms with the outcome of her decision, when things start to become difficult she seeks solitude where she can remember her past and her first introduction to zero.

The show is squarely aimed at a young female demographic, but surely that is still no reason to put out a disc with only three episodes and no extras, if they think that this group is less discerning than their male counterparts, I fear they will find themselves mistaken.

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Charles Packer