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Castlevania: Nocturne

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Castlevania: Nocturne
Release poster for Season 1
Genre
Created byClive Bradley
Based onCastlevania: Rondo of Blood by Konami
Written byClive Bradley
Zodwa Nyoni
Temi Oh
Testament
Directed bySam Deats
Adam Deats
Voices of
ComposersTrevor Morris
Trey Toy
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
AnimatorDR Movie
Running time24–31 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseSeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28) –
present (present)
Related
Castlevania

Castlevania: Nocturne is an American adult animated dark fantasy action television series created and written by Clive Bradley and led by producer Kevin Kolde for Netflix. A sequel to the Castlevania animated series, it is based on the video game series of the same name by Konami and adapted from the 1993 entry Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and its 1997 sequel Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Set in 1792, during the French Revolution, it follows Richter Belmont, a descendant of the Belmont family fighting against vampires and night creatures. The series stars Edward Bluemel, Thuso Mbedu, Pixie Davies, Richard Dormer, Sydney James Harcourt, Nastassja Kinski, Zahn McClarnon, Aaron Neil, Sophie Skelton, Elarica Johnson, Franka Potente and Iain Glen in the voice cast.

Announced in May 2021, a new series with a new cast of characters set in the Castlevania universe was being planned by Netflix, but that it would not be a direct spin-off of the original Castlevania series. Instead, it would focus on Richter Belmont, Trevor and Sypha's descendant, and Maria Renard, set during the French Revolution. During Netflix's 2022 Geeked Week virtual event, the series' official title was announced.

Castlevania: Nocturne premiered on Netflix on September 28, 2023. The series received critical acclaim, with praise for its animation, directing, writing, themes, and voice cast, while its pacing and character development drew some criticism. In October 2023, the series was renewed for a second season that is set to premiere in January 2025.

Premise

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Set in 1792 during the French Revolution, primarily in the French commune of Machecoul, the series follows the young Vampire hunter Richter Belmont and his adoptive sister Maria Renard as they make new allies and attempt to prevent the apocalyptic rise of a godlike Vampire Messiah.[1]

Voice cast

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Further information: List of Castlevania: Nocturne characters
  • Edward Bluemel as Richter Belmont, a descendant of Trevor Belmont and the current wielder of the legendary "Vampire Killer" whip. Benjamin Plessala voices Richter Belmont as a child.
  • Thuso Mbedu as Annette, a former slave with incredible powers of an African earth god who escaped from slavery in the French Caribbean.
  • Pixie Davies as Maria Renard, a young aristocrat-turned-revolutionary during the French Revolution and a Speaker who can summon animal spirits to aid her.
  • Richard Dormer as Emmanuel / The Abbot, a clergyman of the Order of Saint John and a Forgemaster who works to maintain the Church's power.
  • Sydney James Harcourt as Edouard, an opera singer and Annette's closest friend who aided her in a slave uprising before journeying together to France.
  • Nastassja Kinski as Tera Renard, a Speaker magician, Maria's mother, and Richter's adoptive mother.
  • Zahn McClarnon as Olrox, an ancient Aztec vampire from the new world and an adversary of the Belmont clan. He travels to France to witness the rise of the "Vampire Messiah".
  • Aaron Neil as Mizrak, a knight serving under the Abbot with an unshakable faith in God, and Olrox's lover.
  • Sophie Skelton as Julia Belmont (season 1), a vampire hunter and Richter's mother.
  • Elarica Johnson as Drolta Tzuentes (season 1), Erzsebet's second-in-command and most devoted follower who prepares the vampire aristocracy for her master's arrival.
  • Franka Potente as Erzsebet Báthory / Sekhmet, an ancient vampire queen and self-declared "Vampire Messiah" drawn to France by the ongoing revolution who claims to be the reincarnation of the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet.
  • Iain Glen as Juste Belmont, Julia's father, Richter's grandfather, and a former vampire hunter once famously gifted in magic.
  • James Callis as Adrian "Alucard" Țepeș, the dhampir son of Dracula and Lisa Țepeș, who previously fought alongside Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades three centuries prior. Callis reprises his role from Castlevania.

Production

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On April 16, 2022, Deadline reported that Netflix was planning a spin-off series set in the Castlevania universe, following the conclusion of its original animated series, with a new cast of characters.[2][3][4] Kevin Kolde and Clive Bradley were announced as the showrunners and executive producers under Kolde's Project 51 Productions banner.[5] Powerhouse Animation was also announced to return as the primary production studio while Sam and Adam Deats would direct episodes from the first season.[6]

On June 10, 2022, during Netflix's Geeked Week virtual event, it was announced that the series is titled Castlevania: Nocturne.[7] The voice cast of the series was revealed on July 27, 2023.[8][9]

On October 6, 2023, one week after the release of the first season, Netflix renewed the series for a second season[10] that is set to premiere in January 2025.[11]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"A Common Enemy in Evil"Sam Deats and Adam DeatsClive BradleySeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
As a child in Boston in 1783, 10-year-old Richter Belmont witnesses his mother, Julia, killed at the hands of powerful Aztec vampire Olrox, who spares his life. He flees to France, where he is raised by Speaker magician Tera Renard alongside her daughter, Maria. In 1792, during the French Revolution, Maria rallies the rebellion against the aristocratic bourgeoisie, many of whom are vampires, while Richter continues the vampire hunting legacy of his Belmont bloodline, though he is unable to use his Belnades bloodline's magic. They hear the vampires speak of an ominous vampire messiah and report this to the church's Abbott Emmanuel. Encountering Night Creatures, demonic beings created by a Forgemaster, they are rescued by the arrival of Caribbean sorceress and former slave, Annette, and free mixed-race opera singer, Edouard, who are seeking Richter based on a vision from a seer, warning of the vampire messiah. Meanwhile, Olrox arrives in France.
2"Horror Beyond Nightmares"Sam Deats and Saren StoneClive BradleySeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
Drolta Tzuentes arrives as an emissary of the vampire messiah, Erzsebet Báthory, to secure the alliance between the vampires and Abbott Emmanuel, revealed to be the Forgemaster. Emmanuel fears the revolution and seeks to crush it by allying with the vampire's forces. Upon hearing of Erzsebet from Annette and Edouard, Tera reveals that she fled Erzsebet in Russia in her youth after failing to rescue her younger sister from her. The four youths make a plan to attack the vampire aristocrats at their palace, but lose the element of surprise when Annette sees Vaublanc, the vampire who enslaved her and her mother, among the partygoers. They find themselves overwhelmed and flee, but Edouard is killed. His body is then used to create a new Night Creature.
3"Freedom Was Sweeter"Sam Deats and Tam LuZodwa NyoniSeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
Annette grieves for Edouard and recalls her past under Vaublanc's cruelty, his murder of her mother, and the awakening of her magical powers, whereupon she fled and found refuge with Edouard. Together with other freedom fighters, led by seer Cécile Fatiman, they lead a slave rebellion in Saint-Domingue, until Cécile has a vision and sends them to France to seek Richter. Olrox arrives at the church, but is intercepted by Emmanuel's right-hand man, knight Mizrak. He warns Mizrak that Erzsebet will turn on their alliance eventually. Maria introduces Annette to the other revolutionaries to inspire them, but their meeting is set upon by Night Creatures, including the one made from Edouard. However, when Annette is endangered, it kills its fellow Night Creatures to save her and is brought back to the church.
4"Horrors Rising from the Earth"Sam Deats and Adam DeatsClive BradleySeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
The group strategize in the wake of the possibility that Emmanuel and the church are in league with the vampires. With Tera's guidance, they infiltrate the church's catacombs. Drolta tours Emmanuel's Forgemaster chambers as they discuss the terms of their alliance, while Olrox secretly observes them. Emmanuel has built a machine to create Night Creatures to aid Erzsebet, and hopes Erzsebet will embrace her role of messiah to quash the revolution. Emmanuel locks Edouard in the catacombs for his disobedience. The group encounters Emmanuel and Drolta, and Tera is shocked, given Emmanuel's previously kind nature. A fight ensues, as Annette locates Edouard and realizes he remembers who he is. Olrox reveals himself, causing Richter to lose his nerve and flee, and the others retreat, Annette vowing to return for Edouard.
5"The Natural Order"Sam Deats and Adam DeatsTemi OhSeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
Drolta persuades Olrox to ally with Erzsebet, and explains that Erzsebet now has the godly ability to block out the sun, allowing vampires to rule the earth. Enraged at Richter's cowardice, Annette tracks down Vaublanc and interrogates him before killing him, learning that Erzsebet drank the blood of Sekhmet. Emmanuel visits Tera and Maria, and admits his role as Forgemaster and ally of Erzsebet, out of fear for preserving the church and Christianity against the larger threat of the violent atheism of the revolutionaries. In a heated exchange with Tera, Emmanuel reveals himself to be Maria's father, shocking and angering Maria. Richter, having fled, encounters an old man, who reveals himself to be Juste Belmont, Richter's grandfather.
6"Guilty Men to Be Judged"Sam Deats and Adam DeatsClive BradleySeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
Erzsebet arrives and is celebrated by the vampire public as their messiah. Edouard communicates to the other Night Creatures, who slowly begin to remember their former human lives as well. Juste describes to Richter how he fell from grace, and two bond over memories of Julia, but are beset by minions sent by Drolta. The battle awakens Richter's fearsome dormant magical powers. Olrox tells Mizrak his history of experiencing colonization by the conquistadors, and his one true love, a Mohican man, who he turned into a vampire, only for him to be killed by Julia. Annette communes with Cécile, who encourages her to forgive Richter and to find power in herself and her ancestors. Drolta discovers that Maria is Emmanuel's daughter.
7"Blood Is the Only Way"Sam Deats and Adam DeatsTestamentSeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
Erzsebet and her followers celebrate as she elaborates on her plans to conquer Europe and—with Olrox's begrudging assistance—the Americas. Drolta traps Emmanuel by revealing his relationship to Maria to Erzsebet to force him to prove his loyalty. Richter returns and apologizes to Annette, vowing to help her rescue Edouard. They plan an attack on the church, and are interrupted when Olrox appears, bringing with him Emmanuel's infernal tome that he uses to create Night Creatures in his machine. He asks them to destroy the machine, as only humans may do so, in order to stop Erzsebet's plans, though Richter is distrustful of him. Maria sneaks into the church to warn Emmanuel to flee beforehand. He instead has her captured to be sacrificed to Erzsebet to prove himself. Tera studies the tome and realizes that the machine cannot be destroyed, but can be sent back to Hell. Mizrak, disgusted by Emmanuel's actions, informs the group that Maria's life is in danger. They race to the church as Erzsebet uses her powers to cause a solar eclipse, plunging the city into darkness.
8"Devourer of Light"Sam Deats and Adam DeatsClive BradleySeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
Erzsebet fully incarnates as Sekhmet. Emmanuel attempts to sacrifice Maria, but Tera and the others stop him. Drolta and her minions arrive and Richter, Maria, Mizrak, and Olrox hold them at bay as Tera reads the incantation to send the infernal machine back to Hell, while Annette locates Edouard. Edouard tells her to leave him, as he believes he can reawaken the other Night Creatures. Annette journeys below to push the machine into the portal, but the incantation is interrupted upon Erzsebet's arrival. Erzsebet easily defeats them all, and seeks to turn Maria into a vampire. Olrox expressed his love for Mizrak, and urges that they abandon the others, but Mizrak refuses. Olrox leaves alone. Tera offers herself to Erzsebet instead, and she accepts, recognizing the value of Tera's Speaker powers on her side. Tera begs Richter to flee with her daughter. Emmanuel realizes that Tera's sacrifice will not spare Maria or the others from Erzsebet's forces, but is helpless. To his horror, Tera becomes Erzsebet's vampire servant. Richter, Annette, Maria, and Mizrak flee, but are chased down by Drolta. However, Drolta is suddenly killed by the newly arrived Alucard, the son of Dracula.

Release

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Castlevania: Nocturne premiered on Netflix on September 28, 2023.[12][13] The first three episodes were screened a day early during the Netflix virtual showcase "DROP 01".[14]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season of Castlevania: Nocturne holds an approval rating of 96%, based on 24 reviews with an average score of 7.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Bringing great flair to a struggle against demons both literal and metaphorical, Nocturne is a promising return to the world of Castlevania."[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 77 out of 100 based on seven critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]

The series was nominated for "Best Adaptation" at The Game Awards 2023.[17]

References

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  1. ^ McWhertor, Michael (June 10, 2023). "Castlevania returns to Netflix with new animated series, Nocturne". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 16, 2021). "'Castlevania' To End With Season 4 As Netflix Eyes New Series In Same Universe". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Kim, Matt (April 16, 2021). "Castlevania to End in Season 4, New Series Planned at Netflix". IGN. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Amaya, Erik (June 11, 2022). "Netflix Announces a New Dragon Age Animated Series, a Shadow and Bone Game, and the Name of Its New Castlevania Series". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (June 11, 2021). "Netflix Geeked Week Day 5: All the Biggest Video Game Adaptation Announcements". IGN. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2021-06-11). "'Castlevania' Universe Expands With New Netflix Series Set During French Revolution Led By Descendant Of Trevor & Sypha". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  7. ^ Skrebels, Joe (June 10, 2023). "Castlevania: Nocturne Announced - a Spin-Off of the Beloved Netflix Show". IGN. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  8. ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (July 27, 2023). "Castlevania: Nocturne Hits Netflix This Fall, First Look Unveiled". CBR. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Llewellyn, Tom (July 27, 2023). "Castlevania: Nocturne plot, voice cast, release date, trailer and streaming". HITC. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  10. ^ Rice, Lynette (October 6, 2023). "'Castlevania: Nocturne' Renewed For Second Season By Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  11. ^ Squires, John (September 16, 2024). "'Castlevania: Nocturne' Season 2 Teaser from Netflix Announces 2025 Premiere". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Wolinsky, David (July 26, 2023). "Netflix's Castlevania: Nocturne Premieres September 28, Teaser Trailer Coming July 27". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  13. ^ Egan, Toussaint (July 27, 2023). "Castlevania: Nocturne whips its way onto Netflix in September, watch the first trailer". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Brandt, Oliver (September 8, 2023). "Castlevania: Nocturne To Have Early Premiere". Yahoo!. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  15. ^ "Castlevania: Nocturne". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "Castlevania: Nocturne". Metacritic. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  17. ^ Spangler, Todd (2023-11-13). "The Game Awards 2023 Nominations: Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3 Lead the Pack With Eight Noms Each (Full List)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
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