Common Sense Media Review
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful girl battles vampires in gory anime.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Blood+
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say this show is highly inappropriate for younger viewers due to its intense violence, graphic scenes, and mature themes, including sexual content, which many reviewers found disturbing. While some appreciate the story and characters, the overwhelming consensus is that it is not suitable for children or teens under 16, making it a polarizing experience among audiences.
- inappropriate for children
- intense violence
- graphic content
- polarizing experience
- mature themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In BLOOD+, the seemingly normal Saya (voiced by Kari Wahlgren) lives with a loving adoptive family, goes to school, competes in track and field events, and discusses politics with her friend. But a flashback to her previous life shows that she was once involved in a bloody massacre and wielded a sword against terrifying, vampire-like beasts called chiropterans. As her memory returns, young Saya faces her fate as savior of her family, friends, and countrymen.
Is It Any Good?
The story is compelling, mysterious, and complex. But be forewarned: Though it's animated, Blood+ isn't for kids. Violent scenes go beyond a simple dead body or stabbing -- be prepared for dramatic, slow-motion beheadings and gallons of red blood spurting out of amputated limbs. And it's not just the bad guys who wreak havoc; in a flashback scene, Saya slashes her way through a group of people, and it's unclear what her motive is and whether she's only killing bad guys.
Anime is known for its sexual portrayals of young female characters, and while this isn't an X-rated series, Saya and other underage female characters also wear exaggeratedly short schoolgirl skirts, which sometimes pop up to reveal a glimpse of underwear. The girls' sexualized nature extends to other parts of the series, too -- in one scene, an older male kisses Saya by surprise, and possibly against her will, but the kiss then turns romantic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about different styles of animation. What characterizes an "anime" series like Blood+? If you're familiar with anime, what themes do you see repeated in different series? In general, how is animation different in kids' shows and more adult-oriented shows like this one? Why use animation to tell grown-up stories in the first place? How does animation affect the story being told?
Why do anime series so often sexualize the female characters?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 11, 2007
- Cast : Crispin Freeman , Kari Wahlgren , Olivia Hack
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Anime
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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