The second cour of Vanitas no Carte.
It’s 19th-century Paris, and young vampire Noé hunts for the Book of Vanitas. Attacked by a vampire
driven insane, a human doctor called Vanitas tempts Noé with a mad crusade to “cure” the entire
vampire race. While allying with him may be dangerous, news reaches Vanitas that the Beast of Gévaudan
has returned, and Noé is being brought along to investigate this phantom from the past.
(Source: Funimation)
~~~_Disclaimer: The anime has caught up with the manga_ The case study of vanitas is nothing short of a complex story done right. From small wholesome moments to complex character relationships and psychological moments not to mention the mysteries themselves. The strength of this Cour particularly lies with the progression of plot and unexpected revelations and character moments. img(https://images8.alphacoders.com/115/thumb-1920-1154920.jpg) What the author basically excels at is balance. Mostly complex stories dont take there time and throw a bunch of stuff at your face(I am only talking about the majority here) However Mochizuki is basically devoid of that. Taking a slow but pre planned approach not only makes it intriguing but immersive at the same time. However that's where the main complain lies Vanitas is "slow" The first Cour is needed to establish your link with the characters for delivering the main flavour in the 2nd one. For the most part, the story has still Just begun ___Strengths:___ __Character relationships: __Its very common for people to actually misinterpret the relationships between the characters since the writer is fond of writing complex, eccentric yet extreme relationships. Her approach is basically related to psychological trauma and self worth of the characters. However due to these things even friends can be mistaken for love interests since the depiction of "love" in her stories is completely different from what one might expect. Which kinda explains why people often ship Vanitas and Noe and of course some people due to their misinterpretation or biasness use it to criticise the series. Sadly people who actually do that dont understand her works or what she tries to potray however But back to the question, why would you consider it as a strength? It establishes an emotional connection of the viewer to the degree they might not expect, if you truly understand their bonds and psychology that is. If there is one thing the anime was able to depict properly, it was these relationships. img(https://images2.alphacoders.com/117/thumb-1920-1177490.jpg) img(https://images7.alphacoders.com/117/thumb-1920-1177437.png) img(https://images.alphacoders.com/117/thumb-1920-1177489.jpg) img(https://images.alphacoders.com/121/thumb-1920-1219722.png) Simply put, the writer explains the extent of a bond, whether its between siblings, friends or something entirely different in its most pure yet extreme form and that is its main appeal. The characters have conflicts but what results after that is nothing short of a worth it pay off due to these "relationships" __Characters: __OfCourse these relationships are great because the character themselves are written well. Every character in the story has a unique distinct personality that develops gradually and also they are always opposite of what a viewer might initially expect them to be(most of the time. For example ~!Jeanne was shown to be quiet submissive in the drama of the "supposed" relationship between her and vanitas only to be proven false when they actually develop feelings for each other.!~ img(https://images3.alphacoders.com/115/thumb-1920-1154917.jpg) Same goes for Vanitas. Who was actually the exact opposite of "the cool quirky character" he was shown in the start. img(https://images2.alphacoders.com/117/thumb-1920-1177458.jpg) And some characters are written in such a beautiful manner that you cant help but love them(yes i am talking about you Noe) img(https://images8.alphacoders.com/117/thumb-1920-1179460.jpg) From the mysterious "teacher" and creepy yet adorable Mikhail to the lovable "Vampire of the blue moon" every character has interesting characteristics and they are not just empty shells (Except Doc he is pretty annoying an i just want him to suffer) However the anime did not do justice to some characters(Mainly dominique) __ Plot and Worldbuilding: __No work is great till the writing itself is something to behold. Vanitas as i mentioned above vanitas is still developing and even then the twists, conflicts are planned and executed with care. (the anime was a bit fast in depicting that however so it did not give the same experience in contrast with some parts of the manga) Its unpredictable, different and intriguing, opposite to a Typical mystery. The careful approach with all the things done with drip feeding, not to mention unique world building which takes inspiration from real historical events(Beast of gevaden, de sades and several other things) makes you realize how much care is put into the plot. And well that's all there is to it img(https://images2.alphacoders.com/117/thumb-1920-1177451.png) __Final Judgement:__ Surprisingly the adaptation was good since i truly believe that Mochizuki works are hard to adapt. Even though the anime rushed at some parts. However i should mention that the beast of gevaden could have been much better considering the amount of cut content. However even though the Manga is still much better, the anime did a great job(especially with the last arc) and i would obviously recommend it. If you read it this far then thankyou and have a great day img(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/86/54/c8/8654c8df546007076249f9da565b2355.gif) ~~~
`Note: This reviews both part one and part two, since Vanitas no Carte (VnC) is a two cour series. Plot spoilers are marked.` ~~~Enjoy the OST sample as you read.~~~ ~~~youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsGJsbjxYwk&list=TLPQMjUwMzIwMjKMC6AeoLovtg&index=8)~~~ . . # __Pedigree__ There are quite a few big names in this production. VnC adapts the manga of the same name by Jun Mochizuki, mangaka of the highly rated manga Pandora Hearts (RIP the anime). VnC is animated by Bones, which has a history with action (_My Hero Academia, Bungo Stray Dogs, Mob Psycho 100_), and directed by Tomoyuki Itamura, known for his flamboyant style in the _Monogatari Series_. The queen of anime music Yuki Kajiura (_Magical Girl Madoka Magica, Demon Slayer, the Fate franchise, Sword Art Online_, and of course _Pandora Hearts_) composes the OST. The two leads of the story–Vanitas and Noe– are narrated by Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro in _Demon Slayer_) and Kaito Ishikawa (Naofumi in _The Rising of the Shield Hero_). Now, how well did these big names come together? . # __Story__ img820(https://i0.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/The-Case-Study-of-Vanitas-ep2-12.jpg?fit=3840%2C1623) _Adventures of human Sherlock, vampire Watson, and friends in steampunk Paris._ Vampires are going berserk. A self-proclaimed vampire doctor, who is himself human and goes by the name Vanitas, journeys to save those vampires using the Book of Vanitas. After vampire Noe meets Vanitas, he joins Vanitas’s adventures and the two become embroiled in the developing conflict between humans and vampires. Now, I wish I could elaborate more on the last sentence. But the story is incomplete with the manga ongoing for the long haul. Mochizuki has said that she wants to write about ~!death that is not rewarded; no major character has (yet?) died.!~ Vanitas himself is one of the mysteries that drives the show and more remains to be revealed. Some bombs ~!(such as Ruthven’s hold over Noe)!~ are planted but not yet triggered. The rollercoaster has not yet reached the top of the ramp so while I have high expectations, I’m withholding judgment on this front. . #__Characters/Development/Relationship__ This is a double protagonist story. Noe and Vanitas are opposites of each other from their personalities to their world views. Noe is cheerful, naive, wears his heart on his sleeve and is openly caring. Vanitas is brooding, shrewd, purposefully ostentatious and guarded. ~!Noe was raised by adoptive human grandparents, then befriended vampires. Having received kindness from both, he loves both humans and vampires. Vanitas, having experienced cruelty from both races, says that both humans and vampires are "monstrous and endlessly selfish creatures” (ep 9).!~ They are attracted to each other’s differences, and as they work together to save vampires, Noe and Vanitas learn from each other and teach each other something new. This dynamic makes their interactions ever interesting and their growth heartwarming. Throughout the two cours, Noe learns from Vanitas to be more tactical and assertive in the face of a foe ~!(against Roland in the Catacombs, Astolfo in Gevaudan)!~, and Vanitas learns from Noe to open up to and rely on others ~!(Roland in the Catacombs, and of course, Noe!)!~, however little. In addition to the protagonists, most other characters also have deep and meaningful relationships. Mochizuki has expertly balanced Dominique’s vulnerability and her strength. While she appears strong at first, viewers eventually learn that she has been putting on a tough front to hide her trauma and self-doubt to protect Noe’s feelings. Her caring nature and love (romantic and platonic) are the real sources of her strength. The fact that she and Noe have always been secretly watching over and caring for each other is both sweet and precious. It’s clear that Domi is very protective of Noe because she blames herself and never wants to see Noe hurt again. ~!She has scared off anybody who may cause Noe harm, which is perhaps why 19 year old Noe remains so innocent and precious, as Vanitas conjectures (ep 4). !~ However, their relationship and Domi’s character have been undermined in the anime because some clarifying details never made it into the anime, leaving Domi in a misunderstanding light for anime-onlys.~! The collar Domi put on Noe to prevent him from getting lost (ep 3) is a gift from Veronica. The torture room in ep 4 belongs to Veronica, not Domi. !~ Other character details that the anime left out have also left the characters and their relationships more shallow and less believable. Domi’s popularity with women and her potential bisexuality (tho she loves Noe), cuts of Noe that suggests that he has a small crush are Jeanne, Riche’s (do people even remember her?) nerdiness, and Marquis Mechina’s appearances, are all small details that add life to the characters which I wish made it into the anime. The large side cast, to no one’s surprise, suffers the most from all the cuts and was left bland. Back to the pros. Many shounen anime suffer from female characters who are only defined by their relationship to the male protagonist. That is not the case in the Case Study of Vanitas (ok fine that was a bad poun). Female characters live their own lives as much as the male characters ~!(and agender character)!~ do. Domi’s obsession with Noe is not superficial; it is deeply rooted in their shared traumatic experience. She is popular with the ladies and befriends Jeanne, who has her own life and struggles. Jeanne is also multi-faceted, even though she is the least well-written character of the main cast in my opinion. Jeanne is another character with a tragic past that chains (pun intended for Pandora Hearts fans) her, but as she breaks free she also proves to be strong and assertive. She is a bit of a push-over (as Domi comments) but bold when she knows what she wants. As for her relationship with other characters, although some moments are hilarious, I absolutely hate that her relationship with Vanitas started with his sexual harrassment (so go make him regret it by wrapping him around your little finger, girl!). img820(https://i0.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/The-Case-Study-of-Vanitas-ep11-11.jpg?fit=3840%2C1623) _But until the tides turn, the joke’s on you Jeanne_ In contrast to the main cast, the side cast has little time to be fleshed out, as previously mentioned. Nevertheless, they are given enough attention and contribute to the setting. img820(https://i0.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/The-Case-Study-of-Vanitas-ep20-18.jpg?fit=3840%2C1623) _The side characters are cool and they know it_ . #__Setting__ img190(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtfzDCoXQAMpgwv.jpg) img460(https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/16/0a/39/160a393adf6578be825d412d95365ddf.jpg) _If they aren’t trying to promote tourism, idk what else they’re trying to do here_ 19th century France in an alternative steampunk timeline where vampires are created makes for a wild setting. There are many terminologies and details that can be overwhelming but are tied together neatly to contribute to the rich world building, lore, and conflicts. In addition to completely fictional details, there are some real world references that help you to keep track of them. - The Beast of Gevaudan is a real myth that VnC has its own explanation on. - Dominique de Sade quotes a real life Marquis de Sade (ep 7). - Doctor Moreau is based on a fictional character from a real book called the Island of Doctor Moreau. - Roland Fortis comes from the Song of Roland, which includes an Olivier and a character who doesn’t make it into the anime. - Vanitas? A still life artwork which includes various symbolic objects designed to remind the viewer of their mortality and of the worthlessness of worldly goods and pleasures. - Noe? Noah’s Ark. - Jeanne? Joan of Arc. - The d'Apchiers? The d'Apchiers. - Astolfo? Astolfo. Vanitas’s birth flower is the blue forget-me-not; Noe’s is the purple aster. Noe Archiviste’s name hints to his memory reading ability and his role in the story. He is an archiver to remember the forget-me-not and a witness to other people’s experiences. TLDR: Mochizuki crafted an incredible amount of details into the setting. Some of them refer to a character’s role in the story, some of them just exist for the world building. There’s a lot to interpret (but don’t look up the Song of Roland if you don’t want to see flags). For viewers who enjoy digging and analyzing, VnC can be a very rewarding experience. For those who just want to relax, VnC can be overwhelming and very confusing. . #__Storytelling__ Luckily, Mochizuki introduces the numerous terminologies by drip feeding. She slowly unravels the world, which works well for a mystery story. Many details are well-thought out. And although VnC is not yet complete, the small arcs so far have been cohesive, revealing, and building up to something greater. The storytelling balances serious plot with light-hearted moments often by alternating between them. While the shifts are abrupt, they give viewers a break from the heavy content and make the happy moments all the brighter while making the sad moments all the more gut-wrenching. Still, even the darkest moments have happy parts to them, making VnC heartwarming on its rainiest days. img820(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/862937986857828403/956767360763723826/unknown.png?width=1165&height=656) _The calm before the storm_ . ~~~_Mochizuki goes_ img420(https://i0.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/The-Case-Study-of-Vanitas-ep5-8.jpg?fit=3840%2C1623) _before_~~~ ~~~_hitting us with depression_~~~ img820(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNWE2YzJhYTItMWUxMy00YWM3LTg3YzUtMjVjNWU0Y2NjMmI1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc4OTAwMjU@._V1_.jpg) . While the larger narrative has been smooth, the moments that tie it together have been bumpy. A lot of the slapstick humor did not work for me and unfortunately, the anime added some and exaggerated some. Although the characters are young, VnC is a fairly mature piece of work and much of the screaming feels out of place. Thankfully, the screaming and overflowing chibi cuts tone down and abate over the two cours. The anime also did not have time for some of the larger conflicts building up behind the scenes. The pacing is sometimes rushed, especially near the ending. Still, considering that the manga is both very dense and often amounts to more than 40 pages a chapter, it’s a very difficult job to pace the content into bite-sized 20 min episodes in 24 episodes. . #__Art/Animation__ There are other stylistic choices that didn’t fit the aesthetic, in my opinion. A lot of the art, animation, and voice acting are over the top. Mochizuki has gifted VnC with eye candy character designs, and she plays with the style and goes off-model to convey the mood ranging from wonder to horror. Bones, though, perhaps in trying to capture her dynamic style, chooses some odd moments for going off-model. img820(https://i2.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/The-Case-Study-of-Vanitas-ep3-37.jpg?strip=info&w=1744&ssl=1) VnC, especially in the beginning, also makes some disorienting color and filter choices. This is a scene where ~!Vanitas invites Noe to work together (ep 10)!~, yet the color choices force the viewer’s focus onto the art instead of the significance of the duo's relationship. img820(https://i0.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/The-Case-Study-of-Vanitas-ep10-20.jpg?fit=3840%2C1623) _Imagine a scene with all the saturated colors and they appear every episode. My eyes…_ Moving on to the animation that jump cuts for too much dramatic effect…It’s a style that Itamura brought from the Monogatari Series and now overpopulates the first cour of VnC. ~~~img400(https://c.tenor.com/gJ632Og2gvsAAAAC/vanitas-no-carte-case-study-of-vanitas.gif)~~~ ~~~_maybe that’s how much Noe doesn’t like Vanitas /j_~~~ Natsuki Hanae’s voice acting of Vanitas feels at times goes over the board with Vanitas’s emoness. Granted, Vanitas is an emo character and he is young, as Mochizuki remarks of Hanae’s performance. Still, I personally wish Hanae toned down a little (pun intended) so that Vanitas’s more nuanced moments can shine. img520(https://c.tenor.com/TZks33TtZ7YAAAAd/vanitas-no-carte-vanitas.gif) img130(https://i.imgur.com/JtokZVdl.png) _“I will save you vampires, muahaha, ahaha”... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ↑ so who this :/ ?_ The reason that I wish that these elements are less ostentatious than they are is because VnC is great at its relationships, storytelling, and characters. It doesn’t need such blinding colors to cover the joy shared by its characters, dramatic jump cuts to garner attention, or overblown voice acting to inflate its characters. In fact, the loud flamboyant style drowns out and distracts from the quiet moments where VnC is at its best. It’s exactly what critics have said of _The Great Gatsby_ movie. >While certainly ambitious—and every bit as visually dazzling as one might expect—Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby emphasizes visual splendor at the expense of its source material's vibrant heart. —Critics Consensus, Rotten Tomatoes Luckily, the style improves during the second cour, perhaps because they ran out of time or budget. Eventually, the stylistic choices do add to the emotions of the scenes rather than overwrite them. That said, there are also many aspects of the production I appreciate. Although some details have to be lost when they are adapted, the designs and backgrounds are still stunning. img275(https://64.media.tumblr.com/a05d68734138350b8f516cfebda016c6/tumblr_inline_pashswJF2b1vfdt3j_500.png) img385(https://i0.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/A-Case-Study-of-Vanitas-ep1-8.jpg?fit=3840%2C1623) _Well hello, gorgeous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hey there, still gorgeous_ img800(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0e/3e/6a/0e3e6a1d5481b68aee1964121cadf170.jpg) _If only we had more of these beautiful backdrops in cour 2 as well. They forgot to promote tourism for the woods of Gevaudan._ Graphic content warning and ep 5 spoilers ~!img800(https://i0.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/The-Case-Study-of-Vanitas-ep5-40.jpg?fit=3840%2C1623) _No I don’t enjoy Louis dying I’m celebrating the art_!~ Many aspects of the show dropped in cour two. In cour one, Bones also used CGI in VnC in a way that contributes to the story’s narrative. CGI on the Book of Vanitas (which, given its already ethereal design it must be really difficult to animate) gave it an otherworldly aura. Bones probably liked the outcome and used CGI again in cour two for the landscape of Gevaudan. As a result, Gevaudan certainly doesn’t look as breathtaking as Paris in cour 1 does. img800(https://image.myanimelist.net/ui/wsU6l_ESDA_gxeboYl6FT4aWgGp0NoetGDTQ5MYwEg98-Gp_wQK4HrhqW6H7IOYvW2ZGDlsXYearWuls09EYZ-F5lyJmfvSOqQliTIOxTARrwsIhIAa2hneq3bq0qsi_92sMvbQtkwzvXyHjcOeH_Vru_hmLwkfkFId6rKJ1_Ci7ZY2rsxeWamg6E-agZmwo) _Magical ~~girl~~ book transformation music playing_ For those who love fight scenes, the fight sequences are also well animated in both cour one and cour two. While VnC isn’t a battle shounen, so the fight scenes were rarely the focus, Bones gave them the budget to look gorgeous and exciting. There are some minor errors and poor transitions (ep 1, where Amelia almost pulls off Noe's bowtie but it magically went back), but one would really have to rewatch and look to notice. And did I mention the fights are synced with Kajiura’s music? It really accents the historical tone and polishes the fantasy setting of the show. ~~~img400(https://c.tenor.com/X1EkzhSq__gAAAAC/vanitas-vanitas-no-carte.gif)~~~ Considering the vampiric setting, the fan service scenes shouldn’t have surprised me as much as they did. This is because readers get to pace themselves when reading the manga, but when viewers watch the anime they just sit when the production decides to dial up the sensuality and listen to 30 seconds of moaning. But hey, Bones has got to make sure the DVDs sell. And shared sexual activity (although the coercive nature of Jeanne and Vanitas’s relationship ought to be critisized) is arguably better than boob cuts. I am happy that the production didn’t frame the female characters as just parts of their body which would irreparably damage their characters. Rather, when they are portrayed in sexual light, it is done in a realist manner that impacts the male characters. . #__Verdict__ img800(https://i0.wp.com/www.animefeminist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/SUGOI.gif?resize=600%2C338&ssl=1) _Looking at VnC gifs has become my new hobby_ Personally, VnC’s strengths spoke to me and its weaknesses pale in significance. I’ve always placed more significance on the story elements such as character growth and plot than production elements such as animation anyway. The adaptation didn’t exactly handle the differences in media well, but I’m still happy to watch the story told in anime format. VnC is a story on the more mature side, with complex worldbuilding, well-thought out characters, and dynamic relationships. The amount of details it packs and leaves out can make the show difficult to process, but analyzing it is its most rewarding part for those who enjoy analysis. The show is ambitious but not without its flaws. There are poor stylistic elements that gradually improve, production values that decline somewhat, but neither of these problems are significant enough to make the show unenjoyable thanks to the strength of the source material. It has moments where it shines, moments where it shines too much, moments of hilarity, moments where the humor falls flat on its face, moments of beauty, and moments of pain. Pacing issues aside, the overall story structure builds up wonderfully to, uh, a climax that is not yet reached, because the journey is ongoing. But you can still enjoy VnC, because it’s not the destination that matters the most, it’s the journey! That’s the point VnC makes by telling you how the entire story ends in the very first episode. VnC is not for everyone. But if you enjoy depth, emotional rollercoasters, rich characters, good storytelling, and cute cats, don’t sleep on this one. ~~~img300(https://i0.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Vanitas-ep13.gif?fit=510%2C270&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200)~~~
As someone who watched this anime as a manga reader, my review will be reflective on that bias, just an FYI. Personally, I thought this was a good anime adaptation. I liked a lot of the art direction and the score is absolutely to die for (I purchased the CD). I love the casting of the actors in both the Japanese and English dubs of the anime. The first cour (1-12) were adapted from the manga very well! Some scenes were moved around to flow better. I don't have any serious negative thoughts about the first 12 episodes. Moving onto the second cour (13-24) here is where I began to see some issues in terms of pacing and removing scenes. The Beast of Gévaudan was very rushed. The team made sure to hit vital points, but a lot of information was more in depth and detailed in the manga, while the anime glazed over certain terms and information--sometimes choosing to ignore all together. In the midst of that, one extremely big omission from manga to anime is scenes with two specific characters. Loki (Luka's Brother) and Veronica (Domi and Louis's Half-Sister). I believe this was cut simply because they didn't see Loki or Veronica's scenes to be relevant to the overall timeline as they were trying to cover the arcs and stick to the 4 major characters. This is the most negative qualm I have about the anime adaptation. __MAJOR SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 24__ Moving onto Misha and the amusement park arc. I honestly didn't think we'd get this arc covered in the anime. I am happy we did, but I fully expected Beast of Gévaudan to take up the entire season and then cut off right before Misha. This arc was much shorter than Gévaudan and I'm presently surprised with the pacing. While in the manga, there is more focus on Domi's inner conflict, as well as a couple important details about Luna and their relationship to both Vanitas and Misha, I'm content with the adaption of this arc. I just wish Teacher's reveal was more impactful. In the manga, the way Jun drew this reveal sent chills down my spine. I'm including manga panels below to press my statement: ~~~img220(https://xfs-010.batcg.com/7002/702/61db69a66577047539189207/12491588_1800_1350_494086.jpeg?acc=EVDrLqcRszbpHDwCWPHpKg&exp=1649025889)~~~ ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/gcLtYeJ.png)~~~ Moving onto the end. I will not hide it, I love Vanoé. I personally think, be it romantic or platonic, they're soulmates. I think they are what each other need and both help each other to become better versions of themselves. This end scene solidified it, and I was afraid, once I realized we'd be getting this animated, that the team would sugar coat it and not do Jun's drawings justice. I think they did a wonderful job with the material they received and turning it into an animation format. ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/0ydcZxE.png) img220(https://i.imgur.com/fR3ME7q.png)~~~ RATING: __I give the anime adaption of The Case Study of Vanitas a solid 75__. I think it is well worth the watch as I think it does a great job being an anime adaption. My only advice is to now go read the manga, starting at the beginning of Beast of Gévaudan if you don't wish the start from the beginning (which I always recommend, no matter what.) I hope more people will now begin to read the manga, and give the support that VnC deserves!
~~~img7700(https://ic.pics.livejournal.com/joyousmenma93/38772952/53752/53752_800.jpg)~~~ (This review covers parts one and two) Ah, vampires. Stories about them have been around since the mid-19th century. From the very first vampire novella _Carmilla_, Bram Stoker's _Dracula_, the God-awful _Twilight_ series, Anne Rice's _The Vampire Chronicles_ series, to the newest TV series on Netflix, _First Kill_. Vampires and their lore are rife for all kinds of storytelling ideas, and the anime/manga industry is no different, offering stuff like the dark, violent _Hellsing_ series alongside more sweet and wholesome vampire fare such as _Ms. Vampire Who Lives In My Neighborhood_. I remember when the _Twilight_ series was huge, but I was never into it, or the vampire trend in general, so I mostly stayed away from vampire-themed stuff. But as of recently, one show I initially missed out on caught my attention, called _The Case Study of Vanitas_, more so when I learned that it was a new series by Jun Mochizuki, known for her other manga _Pandora Hearts_. I remember reading and owning 12 volumes of _Pandora Hearts_ when it was first being brought to the US, but I dropped it due to other obligations and sold my copies on Ebay. I really need to get back to it some time. A podcast I follow was praising the English dub for Vanitas up the wazoo, and I thought "Eh, why not? I'm bored. I might as well watch something new." So I decided to watch Vanitas, since the series' second half had ended around that time. As of this writing, I've only read three volumes of the manga, but now that I've finished the show, I can say...it's actually pretty good! Though not without its issues. In an alternate 19th century Paris, humans and vampires have co-existed for centuries, though that's because humans believe vampires have been wiped out long ago. A young vampire, Noe Archiviste, is on a mission to find the mysterious Book of Vanitas, a clockwork grimoire that is said to corrupt vampires and turn them into bloodthirsty, out of control curse-bearers. The Book of Vanitas is the creation of the feared Vampire of the Blue Moon, considered a monster by the regular vampire society. Luck seems to be on his side, as he finds the book on the very first airship he boards, in the possession of a mysterious human man who refers to himself by Vanitas and claims to be a vampire doctor. Their first meeting is awkward, but through a series of circumstances, Noe and Vanitas find themselves joining forces to heal cursed vampires, but there lurks the threat of an unknown being called Charlatan, the one likely responsible for corrupting them in the first place. And is Charlatan the only force at play here? Most anime studios tend to favor a particular type of series. Sunrise likes its mecha, JC Staff and Doga Kobo like moe girls, Studio Deen has its bishounen anime, and Hal Film Maker is often into slice-of-life. _The Case Study of Vanitas_ is animated by BONES, and many of that studio's shows are very different from one another. This is the same studio that made anime such as _Angelic Layer, Kurau Phantom Memory_, the _Cowboy Bebop_ movie, and _Ouran High School Host Club_, among many, many others. The fact that their shows are so diverse is really one of BONES' biggest strengths, alongside the effort they put into their execution, even if their attempts don't always land. The animation they did for Vanitas is surprisingly smooth, and even when it isn't, the colors are sharp and bright, the fight scenes are well choreographed, the backgrounds are beautifully rendered, and even the costumes are well designed. Sometimes the anime employs some artfully creative cut out sequences or charcoal art with watercolor backgrounds for added atmospheric effect. This is because some of the staff that worked on this worked at Shaft, and you may know them for stuff like the Monogatari series or Madoka Magica. Granted, Jun Mochizuki's artwork is highly detailed and intricate, so there was no way BONES could really replicate it in an animated medium without possibly going bankrupt, so it's inevitable that some things had to be simplified. But for what it's worth, the animation still remains true to the manga as a whole, and what the anime lacks in some details, it makes up for with smoother motion and colors that pop. Also, Vanitas has much more of a budget than the _Pandora Hearts_' anime ever did. Yeah, I remember when people utterly lambasted _Pandora Hearts_' animation, even though there are plenty of anime that had far worse animation and had even less of a budget, even when PH first aired. Though...there is one thing about the character designs that bothers me: Why the hell are everybody's eyelashes the same color as their hair?! It just looks weird to me! It looks fine on characters with darker hair like Vanitas, Dominique, and Olivier, but seeing yellow or pink eyelashes on the characters just looks off to me. Unfortunately, this is also in the manga too, so I can only assume this was a deliberate style choice on Mochizuki's part. Ehhh, I don't know. As for the soundtrack...Come on. It's Yuki Kajiura. Does she really need an introduction at this point in time? What else is there to say about her and her work that hasn't been said already? She's one of the most prolific composers for a reason. The last thing I watched that she did the music for was Fena: Pirate Princess, and I didn't think her soundtrack was very memorable there. Then comes Vanitas and she brought her A-game once more, with her trademark violins, female vocals, gregorian choirs, and pretty much everything else she's good at. Since the anime specifically takes place in an alternate steampunk version of Paris, there's one instrument that gets top usage here: Accordions. Lots of them. Because you can't have France and Paris without accordions, right? Hell, the second opening has an impeccably, fluidly animated five-second shot of some dude playing an accordion in tune with the song! I don't think I can add much to praise Yuki Kajiura's soundtrack here that hasn't been said already, but there is one thing I can say that absolutely needs to be said: Where in the world can you find a composer who manages to both incorporate accordions into battle music and make accordions sound absolutely BADASS? Because she pulled out all the stops here, and it's fucking fantastic. Just watch episode 23 to see (or in this case, hear) what I mean. I have to admit, I am kinda surprised Kajiura was put on yet another anime based on Mochizuki's work. Was it because BONES knew she worked on PH and brought her on for that reason, or did Mochizuki-sensei like her work for PH so much that she wanted her again for Vanitas? Who knows? The characters are where things start to get thorny. A lot of the more prominent characters, like Noe, Vanitas, Dominique, Jeanne, Chloe, and Astolfo are pretty nicely developed, all with their own unique flaws, strengths, idiosyncrasies, backstories, and so on, even if the anime wasn't able to adapt all of them to the screen. But there are just as many characters that either aren't utilized enough or are just flat-out forgotten after they're introduced. Roland's partner Olivier doesn't really do much except for help everyone in the Gevaudan arc and be Roland's perpetually angry babysitter, that's it. Dominique's older sister Veronica is just there to be a callous bitch and doesn't do anything for the plot, and speaking of not doing anything, poor Luca got it the worst. Out of all the characters, he was the one I wanted to learn more about the most, as he has the highest governmental authority in the vampire world, but due to being a child, he can't really do anything with said authority, so he's basically relegated to being a puppet figurehead. That makes for a lot of interesting story ideas that both the anime and the manga really could have built on, but after his initial introduction, he pretty much disappears. The poor kid doesn't even do anything in the second season other than be used for a one-note gag in episode 20, for God's sake!! Then again, the manga has this issue with Luca as well, and for all we know, Mochizuki might address this problem, but since the manga is on hiatus for the time being, that might not change any time soon. Tl;dr, the cast is pretty large, and while some characters get the right amount of development, others are very mismanaged. Of course, underutilized characters aren't the only problem Vanitas has as a show. I only just started reading the manga, but the anime cuts out some minor yet important details that make things in the anime seem more nonsensical than they were in the manga. In episode 4, Dominique lures Vanitas into what's essentially a torture chamber, and the anime somehow makes it seem like she managed to tie Vanitas up to a giant wheel. The manga actually shows the process, explaining that she had two attendants restrain him and tie him up. Not sure why the anime chose to leave this out, probably for the sake of faster pacing, but it just feels jarring. Also, from what I've heard, the anime's adaptation of the Gevaudan arc, which covers four whole manga volumes, leaves out a significant amount of content, such as additional backstory information for a certain character, and even whole scenes that were meant to set up future arcs and plot points. Hell, apparently one particular character is said to have set up the events of the Gevaudan arc in the manga, but in the anime, he only has one small part, which is in the Bal Masque arc, and never appears in the anime after that. Jeez, way to leave out a lot of important context, anime. I've only read up to volume 3, so I can't confirm whether all this is true or not, but based on the research I did and from what fans of the series have said...yeah, I can understand wanting to catch up to the manga and end at a certain point rather than go for an anime original ending, but BONES, there were probably better ways to do it. Furthermore, the series also sets up a plot point in episodes 11-12 involving one of the antagonists (Any Vanitas fans will know it when they see it)...and then it just forgets about it a la A Wrinkle In Time. Like, why even bother setting it up if you're not even going to do anything with it for the rest of the series?! (And for anyone wanting to ask, yes, for all we know, Mochizuki might address this in the manga since its still ongoing, but since it's on hiatus, we don't know when that'll be) There's also the character of Vanitas himself. Personally, I like him as a character just fine, as he's wonderfully complex and flawed, with the series really going out of its way to show why he's the way he is, even if we still don't have all the answers, though I do like Noe better. But there are many people who may not like his eccentricities and initial arrogant persona, even if the series reveals there's more to him than that. The series takes a pretty big risk by making him a massive scumbag in the beginning, and I know episode 3 ruffled a lot of feathers, because in there, he flat-out kisses a woman without her consent, which we would consider some form of sexual assault. To be fair, the series does have a lot of its characters point out how utterly wrong this is, though you probably wouldn't know that from the way [the scene is animated](https://i0.wp.com/drunkenanimeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/The-Case-Study-of-Vanitas-ep3-14.jpg?fit=3840%2C1810). Many I know were pretty put off by this, and I can totally understand why. Personally, while what Vanitas did was genuinely wrong, I wasn't bothered by it because, 1. Again, like I mentioned, several characters call him out on this, even if Vanitas makes no effort to at least apologize, 2. Jeanne gets back at him for it in the very next episode when she drops him to the floor like a hot potato after rescuing him, 3. Both the manga and anime do explain why he pursues her and why he does what he does later in the series, and 4. I'm just happy Mochizuki didn't make him do anything like, say, grab her boobs. If that had happened, I would have dropped the series like a hot potato. So yeah, for anyone who wants to watch the series, your enjoyment of it will very much depend on whether you like Vanitas as a character or not. Though...come on. Look at this little shitgremlin. He can either be the sexiest man ever or he can make you want to punch that smug grin off his goddamn face. img600(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FZPe1lCUcAEmNAt?format=jpg&name=large) img600(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E99O8qhXMAE-Rs4?format=jpg&name=large) img600(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FZJlK6LWIAAyWbR?format=jpg&name=large) img600(https://animecorner.me/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Vanitas-OP-2.png) img600(https://www.animeclick.it/prove/img_tmp/202107/vanitas%2004.jpg) In all honesty though, The Case Study of Vanitas as a show is still a hell of a fun ride, incomplete story notwithstanding, and there's a lot about this horny goth parade that definitely appeals to my inner 12-year-old. Yes, I said horny because this series really goes all in on the "bloodsucking made to look sexy and sensual" tropes, complete with sex metaphors, but its sensuality and sexual imagery actually feels genuine and authentically intimate, more than any jiggling boobs, panty shots, or ecchi anime could ever hope to achieve. I mean, just watch these [two](https://twitter.com/ctlovesanime/status/1433876557932552195) [clips](https://twitter.com/BOAnimeDubs/status/1538907023261196289) to see and hear what I mean, as simply describing it doesn't feel like enough. But simply relegating Vanitas down to just sexy bloodsucking doesn't do the series justice. The story is always moving forward, even if it does get convoluted at points, the setting is very intriguing, and I'm genuinely interested in learning more about this crazy world Noe and his buddies live in along with the amassing mysteries the series sets up. If this had come out when I was a lot younger, I probably would have considered this one of my favorite anime of all time, if not my #1 favorite, but I'm glad I've seen it now, my criticisms aside. I bet I probably would have crushed hard on Noe in particular. I actually do a little bit, because Noe is a good boy who deserves all the love and tarte tatin! I would let him suck my blood! Noe is a better vampire than Edward Cullen will ever be! Suck it, _Twilight_! Also, I kind of hope Hot Topic eventually makes Vanitas merchandise, because that show would be absolutely perfect for that store. I mean, if they're doing it for _Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun_, I don't see why they can't do it for Vanitas! So yeah, _The Case Study of Vanitas_ is a fun, action-packed vampire goth parade of a show that's blunt, edgy, over-the-top, theatrical, gleefully campy, violent, sexy, and sometimes in poor taste. But if you're into that stuff, definitely check out Vanitas if you want a fun time. Oh, and I wholly recommend the English dub. Seriously, Zeno Robinson's Vanitas is such an absolute delight to listen to.