Dark Moon: Tsuki no Saidan (The Blood Altar) Introduction, Episode 1 Review and Verdict

Upon further research, the anime (and the manhwa it is based on) is part of an initiative by HYBE (a South Korean entertainment company, popularly known for managing BTS) to create a multimedia universe around one of the boy groups under their management, ENHYPEN.

As such, there are seven male leads, each lead corresponding to a member of the group. The opening and ending themes of the anime were also performed by ENHYPEN.

The first episode of the anime was, in my opinion, a little misleading. The first scene was a narration, describing the revelation of vampires to humans twenty years ago. The ambience was dark, the music was somber and the narration was severe. The seven male leads appeared on the screen in a tinge of red, their faces silhouetted by the light from the blood moon. 

The opening theme then played, which I enjoyed. 

After the theme, we are then taken to Decelis Academy, where we meet Sooha, our main character. She has been newly admitted and is being escorted to her quarters. The preceptor accompanying her explains the rules of the school, stating that she is not to leave the campus after dark, especially as a murder investigation (with a vampire suspect) is underway. The preceptor also apologises for the room she has been offered, as they typically do not accept transfer requests at this time in the semester. 

For all the warnings and severity of the anime up until now, once she is left alone in her room, the mood of the anime changes, becoming light and more playful. I did not expect the change; however, I welcomed it, thinking it would add another dimension to the anime. 

As she tries to arrange the leftover furniture and books littering the room, she is interrupted by Heli, a student she’d passed on her way to the room. He catches her as she lifts an entire bed over her head, and she pauses, haunted by previous accusations of vampirism. 

She lowers the bed and tries to explain the unusual sight to Heli. Apparently, he just wants to pick up a book?

My question is: Why didn’t he knock?

After he assures her that he does not think she is a vampire, she helps him to search for the book. She finds it on the floor and hands it over to him. 

Mind you, he never told her the name of the book or even described what it looked like. The entire interaction seems forced, like the writers are trying to impose their chemistry on us. 

Heli then meets with the other members in Solon’s room to tell them about this new student. They are mostly accepting of Sooha, with the exception of Solon, who is staunchly against a friendship with her. Heli, though, mentions to the others that he feels a special kinship with Sooha. 

As Sooha takes in the school environment, she sees Heli and the others gathered in the hallway. She rushes to say hi to Heli, but overhears Solon saying that they should maintain a distance from her. 

I thought this conversation ended in the room?

She is distraught, but that lasts for all of one second, as the boys, with the exception of Solon, all crowd her, welcoming her to the school and offering her a tour. As they walk around the school, they introduce themselves and their classes, including Jakah and Noa, who are currently on the athletic field. 

Heli reveals that the boys are close, despite being in different classes, because they all grew up in the same orphanage. When they arrive at the athletic field, a stray ball thrown by Noa and Jakah flies towards the group. In typical romantic fashion, the boys snap to attention and protect her, with Heli wrapping a protective arm around her. 

After meeting with her, the boys debrief in what seems to be Solon’s room. They all remark that they feel a certain way towards Sooha, like they want to give her everything she wants. Of course, Heli shows up to escort her to her first class. 

As he does, he reveals his telepathic power, speaking to her in her mind. The boys then offer to help her clean up her room, as they were using the space as a storage before her admission and enrollment. 

Trying to help, she casually lifts a box full of weights to the shock of everyone, except Heli. To reassure her that her secret is safe with them, they all display their powers. 

The episode ends with Solon confronting Heli about his choice to reveal his powers to Sooha. 

“We should stay away from Sooha—no, from all humans,” he says. “We’re vampires.”

Verdict

Dark Moon: The Blood Altar seems like a basic reverse harem romance with fantastical elements sprinkled in for dramatic effect. 

The story so far reads like a fanfiction written by ENHYPEN fans for ENHYPEN fans. And it follows the typical fan fantasy of seven extremely handsome boys all vying for the attention of one girl, who feels like she is out of place. 

The dialogue is simple, the animation works well enough for the story, and the opening and closing themes are quite catchy. 

However, the storyline seems quite shallow and invites the audience (ENHYPEN fans) to imagine themselves as the main character, a girl who is instantly attractive to seven boys. While this is not the typical form of fan service, it is immediately clear who the intended audience is. 

As such, I will be dropping this anime.