About “Vampire Knight” in a few words:

Vampire Knight is an anime and manga series that follows Yuki Cross, a young girl who attends Cross Academy, where vampires and humans coexist. Yuki is a guardian of the Day Class, tasked with protecting the secret of the Night Class, who are all vampires. Alongside her fellow guardians and the enigmatic Pureblood vampire Kaname, Yuki uncovers dark secrets and conspiracies within the academy while navigating her complicated relationships with both humans and vampires.

Meet the characters from Vampire Knight

Zero Kiryu

Zero is the eternally broody anti-hero who looks like he was carved from gloom and bad decisions — but, like, in a very attractive way. He’s a vampire hunter turned vampire (yes, tragic irony) and is forever tight-lipped, wearing his trauma like a too-tight jacket while secretly being ridiculously loyal to the few people who matter. Gets nitpicky about uniforms and has this weird soft spot for old-fashioned teacups, which feels wrong but somehow fits? Often he’s icy and sarcastic, then five minutes later he’ll be stumbling with awkward concern and you’re like, oh no, he’s softening, stop it. He swears he hates vampires but then there are these tiny moments where he looks almost… affectionate — confusing but classic Zero.

Hanabusa Aido

Aido is the dramatic, flirty little chaos sprite of the Night Class who treats every encounter like a fashion show and a comedy sketch rolled into one. He flounces around, yelling “darling” at everyone and somehow makes flirting look like a competitive sport, but also he’s surprisingly sharp in a pinch — don’t let the glitter fool you. Obsessed with cuteness and smiles, yet will loudly squeal if something remotely gross happens (courage is flexible here). He insists he’s fearless and then hides behind the nearest pillar when things get intense, which is somehow endearing rather than annoying. Also, he collects perfume and probably bakes cupcakes at midnight for emotional reasons?

Kaname Kuran

Kaname is the cool, impossibly composed center of gravity — aristocratic, a little dangerous, and always three steps ahead in that “I always know” way. He’s regal and protective, especially where Yuki is concerned, which comes off as both soulmate-level devotion and quietly terrifying manipulation depending on the episode. He drinks tea like every moment is a vintage portrait and smiles to disarm people, which works, because then you forget he might be centuries old and not to be messed with. Occasionally he’s soft and shockingly domestic — has a favorite chair, organizes flowers — but then he’ll switch to this shiver-inducing calm and you remember to keep your distance.

Senri Shiki

Shiki is the wild card — cute, sharp, and a little bit feral, with this adorable habit of making faces right before he does something shocking. He’s playful and boyish, loves teasing, and also has this unpredictable predator vibe in battle that makes everyone nervous (smiles, then chaos). He’s the kind of friend who brings snacks and a very questionable plan at 2 a.m., and somehow both things will be essential. Shiki can be heartbreakingly sincere one minute and then inexplicably moody the next; inconsistency is practically his aesthetic.

Yuki Cross

Yuki is the gentle, stubborn heart of the story — sweet, determined, and forever being rescued while also rescuing everyone else, which is exhausting and admirable. She started out with a foggy past (amnesia, sigh) so she’s got this constant search-for-self vibe, but when push comes to shove she turns into a fierce protector in shoes that definitely weren’t made for running. She’s endlessly compassionate, but also has secret stubborn streaks where she refuses help and then immediately regrets it — classic Yuki. Oh, and she changes her hair a lot depending on mood, which is a small but telling detail about how she reinvents herself.

Takuma Ichijo

Takuma is the elegant, quietly steady presence who radiates old-money charm and is inexplicably good at making you feel calmer — like warm vanilla in human form. He’s dignified and polite, a real gentleman, but also drops surprisingly sharp observations when you least expect it, so he’s not just pretty manners. He collects little trinkets (pocket watches? postcards? small regrets?) and has this soft laugh that betrays a maybe-too-deep well of feeling. Sometimes he’s aloof and unreadable, other times he accidentally spills his emotions in the most clumsy, adorable ways — very human, very Takuma.