Netflix’s first-ever Drop livestream not only announced and showed a sneak peek of a couple of new animated shows -Pluto anime adaptation, Devil May Cry, Tomb Raider- but also the first few Castlevania: Nocturne anime series.

The Netflix adaptation of the 90s classic 2D action title Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (Dracula X) focuses on Richter Belmont, her kid friend Maria Reynard, and a few others as they deal with the upcoming vampire uprising led by the vampire messiah in France, during the French Revolution era. The first three episodes showed off a ton of vampire-slaying action, a tragic death and transformation, a good amount of gore, and backstories galore. Plus, the show’s animation is decent, at least for the combat side of things.

To recap, the first episode is Richter’s origin story and how he got the whip, along with the introduction of smart-for-her-own-good little girl buddy Maria Reynard who knows magic, as well as magician Annette (a far cry from her original Rondo of Blood appearance).

The second episode alludes to the Vampire Messiah and her army gathering in a French chateau, along with some revelations and plot twists. The third details the backstory of Annette from her days being a slave for a plantation to her own uprising in the island of Saint-Domingue. And more monster-killing action.

All we can say is that it’s worth catching when the show’s out on Netflix later on 28 September 3pm GMT+8, especially if you like the previous Castlevania series with Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard. Castlevania: Nocturne is a fresh and interesting take on Dracula X’s straightforward anime storyline, blending the dark tone of the previous show from Warren Ellis while still keeping the action intense with its vampire/night creatures killing portions

You can check out Richter as a kid and his mom in action against one major vampire in the Castlevania series, Olrox, in the Netflix trailer below.

The Rest

Castlevania: Nocturne wasn’t the only highlight of the Drop livestream. We get a couple more first looks and extra trailers like the Devil May Cry anime, Scott Pilgrim Takes off, the Pluto anime adaptation (a retelling of Astro Boy), Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon remix with Ubisoft cameos like Rayman and Beyond Good & Evil characters, and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Animation fans will be eating plenty this year and in 2024.