The Case Study of Vanitas

Ever since Bram Stoker's Dracula film was released way back in 1992, the concept of Vampires has become widely used in all forms of media. While there were other interpretations of Dracula himself, there were just as many other Vampires featured in all sorts of tales. Everyone had their own unique story, personality, appearance, and voice that won the hearts of many different kinds of fans. Anime has no shortage of Vampires either, across almost all its genres, and their portrayal alongside blood and violence is something else.

“The Case Study of Vanitas,” also known as “Vanitas no Karte,” “Vanitas no Shuki,” or “Memoir of Vanitas,” is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from the 3rd of July until the 18th of September, in Summer 2021. It was produced by Aniplex, Square Enix, Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures, and Contents Seed, licensed by Funimation, and brought to life by Studio Bones.

The main staff behind it include Itamura Tomoyuki as Director, Wakabayashi Kazuhiro as Sound Director, Deko Akao on Series Composition and Takayo Ikami on Script. Featuring the Supernatural genre alongside the themes of Historical and Vampires, this series targeting the Shounen demographic received a Rating of R - 17+ for its violence and profanity, being best suited for adult audiences.

The Anime is based on the Manga series of the same title, which began publication on the 22nd of December 2015. Serialized in Gangan Joker, this work is still in publication thanks to Author and Artist Mochizuki Jun. It was simultaneously published in English via Yen Press right alongside the Japanese release, and the physical release started in December 2016.

Two Special episodes were also released in the form of Recaps. “The Case Study of Vanitas Episode 12.5 – Recap” (Vanitas no Karte: En Route Pour le Gévaudan) aired in January 2022, which summarized the first 12 episodes alongside Tomoaki Maeno’s narration and gave a sneak peek of the second cours. December 2021’s “The Case Study of Vanitas Recap” (Vanitas no Karte: Le Chemin Parcouru Depuis la Rencontre) summarized the first cours under Toshiyuki Morikawa’s narration and also included a short preview of the second cours.

The sequel series, titled “The Case Study of Vanitas Part 2”, aired in the form of a 12-episode TV Anime series from the 15th of January until the 2nd of April, in Winter 2022.

The Vampire Vanitas was scorned by others of his kind solely due to being born under a Blue Moon, thus growing both afraid and lonely in his lifetime. As per legend, he had forged a cursed Grimoire known as the "Book of Vanitas," and it is said that he would someday utilize it to bring down retribution upon all the Vampires of the Crimson Moon.

The Story now looks to Paris in the 19th century, where protagonist Noé Archiviste is searching for the abled Book of Vanitas. Fate takes an abrupt turn when an airship he was traveling onboard gets subjected to a vampire attack, only to be saved by a somewhat eccentric doctor. Calling himself Vanitas and in possession of the very Grimoire, Noé seeks, this doctor could possibly hold the key to everything. Ironically, he is a mere human who inherited both this name and tome from his master, the Vampire Vanitas of legend.

However, this self-proclaimed vampire specialist does possess the ability to restore sanity to cursed Vampires via the recovery of their true names. As the odd case of the Charlatan's Parade continues to crop up, this peculiar ability proves to be quite beneficial.

After their seemingly destined meeting, Noé grows fascinated by Vanitas and decides to join him in his endeavors to save all cursed Vampires. This lays a solid foundation for the series to set off on regarding how Vanitas will save the vampires and all the duo's misadventures.

The plot is extremely well structured into smaller arcs, each of them featuring different cases related to Vampires, and there is always a bigger picture to all of them. All the arcs are different and aid the world-building to a great depth, as viewers will progressively discover more secrets and revelations about this world where humans and vampires seem to coexist. The story is solid and has multiple exciting narrative points, but there is no overarching narrative that acts as a core pillar. Instead, this tale thrives upon its moments, particular scenes, and character interactions.

This is not to say there are no interesting narrative discoveries either because these serve as interesting plot points that give the series a future. At surface value, Vanitas no Karte may seem inconsistent. But it has a nice balance and follows a quirky and humorous tone from the onset, which is one of its many charms.

The characters are the best aspect of the show. Of course, Noé and Vanitas take the spotlight in this department for being an incredibly dynamic duo with brilliant chemistry. Noé is thoughtful and curious, leading him to be fascinated by Vanitas and his antics. On the other hand, Vanitas is arrogant, self-absorbed, and a magnet for trouble.

While these traits may not seem to work so well together on paper, they actually bounce off each other really well and make up the best scenes of the whole show. The two are incredibly distinct and separate entities with clashing personalities and moralities, who clash now and then, leading to character development and helping them understand their partner. The supporting characters are no small fry either because they all have personalities and traits that are at odds with the MCs and help maintain the show's quirkiness. Jeanne, Domi, Roland, and Louis are prime examples of attractive qualities and distinct characteristics.

Jeanne is a powerful and dangerous vampire, a total lady boss, BUT she is liable to get smitten by Vanitas’ words. This is the best example of lovable chemistry outside of the leading duo, unique in its own way. No matter the size of their role, all the characters leave a memorable impression and attract audiences to them.

When it comes to Art and Animation, most questions are automatically answered when the name Studio Bones pops up. Good animation and excellent art style are guaranteed with utmost quality. Bones’ distinct style is evident in every frame, and they all look fantastic.

The Animation is solid and expertly uses photography to make scenes more dramatic. The animation of Vanitas using the Grimoire is exceptionally breathtaking, and viewers wouldn't get sick of seeing it. The Vampire biting scenes look far more erotic than they need to be, adding something more into the mix. The backgrounds are pretty impressive; the view of Paris at night is breathtaking and very thematic as per the era. The character designs are distinct, symbolic, vibrant, and memorable, adding greater depth to each cast member.

The Sounds and Music sound very French, which is quite thematic. The OSTs are varied amidst themselves despite using similar instruments and are overall good. They match the situational tones well by virtue of the pacing used. The opening is "Sora to Utsuro" by sasanomaly, which successfully portrays the show's quirkiness and the characters' personalities well.

It gives an idea of what to expect from character interactions and the world itself from the onset, with the best aspect being its Visuals. The ending theme is "0 (zero)" by LMYK, which is simply superb. The vocals, rhythm, visuals, symbolism, and music make it so catchy and unskippable.

The Case of Vanitas is a masterpiece of an Anime that is excellent in every aspect. Characters and Art make it worth the watch. Overall, it is well-rounded and solid in all departments. Highly recommended; the pros outweigh the cons.