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Is The Case Study of Vanitas a BL Anime?

Traditionally, anime hasn't been great when it comes to lgbtq+ representation.

Published: Mar 01, 2022, 11:47 am Updated: Mar 01, 2022, 4:43 pm

Traditionally, anime hasn't been great when it comes to lgbtq+ representation , as relevant themes have been often been played for laughs if they were there at all. This is slowly changing, with more works featuring lgbtq+ couples or characters that are actually competent and interesting to watch, as is the case with anime like Requiem of the Rose King .

When The Case Study of Vanitas first came out, many thought it was going to be a shonen-ai, or boys' love anime, as the promoting materials portray the two male main characters very close, suggesting at least a bromance. But is The Case Study of Vanitas really a BL love anime?

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About The Case Study of Vanitas

The Case Study of Vanitas is based on an ongoing manga by Jun Mochizuki. It follows Noé Archiviste, a young, enthusiastic vampire, and Vanitas, a bitter human who uses a cursed grimoire to restore vampires' true names and rescue them from unnatural bloodlust. The two start off hating each other, as Vanitas is very obnoxious and his behavior brings him in direct conflict with the friendly, optimistic Noé.

Despite that, the two embark on a journey to heal vampires and prevent tragedies like the ones they themselves experienced, growing closer in the process. But there's a catch; Noé, who is narrating this story retrospectively, after an undefined passage of time, admits that he ended this joint journey by killing Vanitas .

Unfortunately for fans of the romantic sub-genre, The Case Study of Vanitas is not a BL anime, though it might appear as such if you look at certain scenes out of context. The banter between Vanitas and Noé is often permeated by an almost romantic or sexual tension. However, the two never really pursue a romantic path, and, Vanitas, in particular, is explicitly romantically interested in Jeanne , a female vampire, who shares his feelings, although it takes a while for this romance to become clear.

Does this mean that the tense scenes between Vanitas and Noé are queer-baiting? Lgbtq+ viewers should be the ultimate judges of that. The show has not been explicitly advertised as BL, and it has no BL tag on streaming platforms and databases, so it doesn't withhold promised representation, though some viewers might still consider the lack of romance between the two main characters as a missed opportunity.

Related: Who Is The Strongest Character In The Case Study of Vanitas?

The good news is that The Case Study of Vanitas, while far from perfect in its representation of gender and sexuality, has a few interesting elements in that regard. Dominique, one of the main female characters, is bisexual, and, while her romantic life isn't a plot point at this time, there are a few queer coded scenes. In a masquerade ball early on, there's a dance between characters of the same gender, which, while far from being considered groundbreaking representation, is quite interesting as a directing choice. At the end of the day, romance is not the shonen show's main element, so fans are free to interpret character interaction in their own way and even create fan works about them.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for shonen-ai works, we have compiled and updated list of 15 BL anime to watch in 2022 .

Related: When Will The Case Study of Vanitas Be Dubbed in English?

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When it came out in 2021, The Case Study of Vanitas barely made ripples, much less waves; its first season reached a tepid score of 7.91 and only ranked #709 on MAL. However, the anime’s story about 19th-century vampires fighting against a spreading malady was captivating enough to grant the series a loyal audience. Currently, The Case Study of Vanitas has over 400 thousand members on MAL -- more than Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, which is ranked #2 on the website. Its protagonist Vanitas, a human 'doctor' who wishes to cure vampires from the 'curse' affecting some of them, joins forces with vampire Noe, who decides to fight alongside him on his journey.

The strong bond building between Noe and Vanitas, as well as their chemistry, has caused some fans to wonder whether the anime may be moving toward a BL development . Similarly, when looking up the show online, some people seem to think that the anime is in fact a BL, without the plot ever proving that assumption correct. Is it all a matter of wish fulfillment, or is there some truth to the idea that there might be more to Noe and Vanitas’ relationship than is made explicit?

RELATED: Dakaichi Was Almost the Perfect BL Anime – Here’s Why It Fell Short

The Case Study of Vanitas Looks Like a BL Anime

The author of The Case Study of Vanitas is known for her stunningly handsome male characters -- as well as their beautiful female counterparts. When looking for a potential relationship to support, fans may be drawn to anime with pretty characters, especially if they are the protagonist duo. When the anime promises to center around the alliance between two men as handsome as Noe and Vanitas, potential fans will inevitably wonder where that relationship is going to go.

It doesn’t help that there is a lot of 'yaoi bating.' In Episode 7, upon discovering that Jeanne has bitten Vanitas, unwillingly marking him as her own, Noe admits to feeling "anguish" at the thought of them. Whether he is jealous of Vanitas is left up to interpretation, especially since he declares that he regrets that "Jeanne got to [Vanitas] first." Dominique -- Noe's childhood friend and love interest -- seems to think nothing of it. However, in a world where sucking blood is often depicted as a highly erotic sexual encounter, Noe’s thirst for Vanitas’ blood is curious, to say the least.

RELATED: The Summer Hikaru Died Is a Chilling BL Horror Worthy of Mainstream Success

The Series Focuses on Vanitas and Noe's Relationship

While Dominique and Jeanne are strong and self-assured, as well as well-rounded characters with peculiar quirks and fun personalities, their relationship with the main duo is secondary to the one between them. The show is clearly more concerned with what Noe and Vanitas feel for each other than what they might look for in their volatile attraction to the two women. For instance, while Vanitas spends a sexually charged night with Jeanne in Episode 14, the next morning, Vanitas seems unbothered by what happened between them, more preoccupied with finding Noe and saving him than being with Jeanne.

As in many romance stories, Noe and Vanitas start off as enemies. When they meet, they immediately fight and, even once Vanitas’ good intentions are uncovered, Noe still states that he doesn’t like him. Their antipathy hides an evident interest on both parts, which soon morphs into admiration and respect. Noe especially, who has no problem being earnest about his feelings, declares that he "is interested" in Vanitas and wants to follow him wherever he is going to go next. With the dawn on the horizon and a tender smile on Noe’s lips, it’s hard to resist the temptation to see more than the start of a platonic friendship.

Noe saves Vanitas numerous times and vice versa, Vanitas being the only obstacle between Naenia -- the curse-inducing antagonist -- and Noe. What is initially a lukewarm friendship quickly becomes a vital bond, and one that often forces one of them to risk their lives in order to get the other out of trouble. In Episode 16, Vanitas reciprocates Noe’s initial confession by promising that he will follow him to where he wants to go, despite disagreeing with him on the matter at hand. From such a closed-off character, it’s as good as a declaration of undying love.

RELATED: Why Given's BL Status Is Crucial to the Story

If Noe and Vanitas Ended Up Together, It Wouldn't Be Surprising

The anime wants the audience to believe that Vanitas and Jeanne will end up together, and that is probably what will happen. However, clues are hidden in off-hand comments and character traits that suggest other possibilities. For instance, Vanitas is very firm when he declares that he has no interest in someone who might love him; he also admits to not knowing what love is. Nonetheless, he keeps making exuberant confessions to Jeanne at every turn, never stopping even when she seems to be reciprocating his feelings.

Does he actually love Jeanne? To a shrewd viewer, it might look like Vanitas is very fond of his own buffoonery but struggles when it comes to articulating honest feelings. When he is worried about Noe or wants to give him his support, he always tries to avoid a direct approach. When it really matters, Vanitas is shy and awkward. If Noe and Vanitas were suddenly to pursue a romantic relationship and the anime had a homoerotic turn, it wouldn’t be all that strange. After all, both Noe and Vanitas are quite inconsistent about their attitude toward Jeanne and Dominique. Noe refers to Dominique as a friend and often compares his relationship with her to what he had with her brother Louis. Vanitas, for his part, goes from extravagant declarations of love to utter coldness, with Jeanne having to navigate the rollercoaster of his moods as if he were a bratty child.

While The Case Study of Vanitas is not officially a BL -- and won’t likely turn into one in the canon -- one can see why many think that it could or should be one. Noe and Vanitas’ intense relationship shows more chemistry than that of many couples in other romance anime. If The Case Study of Vanitas were to suddenly change its course, it would therefore be unlikely to encounter significant resistance from its audience.

The Case Study of Vanitas

Alt title: Vanitas no Carte

Rumors revolving around The Book of Vanitas, a clockwork grimoire of dubious reputation, draw Noé, a young vampire in search of a friend's salvation, to Paris. What awaits him in the City of Flowers, however, is not long hours treading the pavement or rifling through dusty bookshops in search of the tome. Instead, his quarry comes to him...in the arms of a man claiming to be a vampire doctor! Thrust into a conflict that threatens the peace between humans and vampires, will Noé cast in his lot with the curious and slightly unbalanced Vanitas and his quest to save vampirekind?

Source: Yen Press

• 19th Century
• Human Experimentation
• Non-Human Protagonists
• Supernatural
• Based on a Manga

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Oh where to begin. My simple review is: It was made for people who haven't read the manga. The story was lacking. In the best way, it was too soft. Vanitas' issues were downplayed. Especially during the ball and he was reduced to "Silly looking Vani wants to play doctor." It's supposed to be bread crumbs. A slow fall. Important things were dropped. Things in the catacombs were dropped. Foreshadowing is a key player here. Animation was good. It kept the pretty boy style and didn't rob Jeanne of her shape. I really have nothing to say about sound. Characters, characters, characters. Yes I love the characters but not as much here. Vanitas went from angry at him self to sad boi. Domi had more to her character. Her obsession with Jeanne was not simply to dance and make Noe upset. Olivier... I won't start on him. Characters had corners chisseled off. They were ironed out. They were watered down. It's disappointing. What saves this and gives it a better review? Animation and sound. But a note to everyone getting upset about the ending being given away in the beginning: It's a history. That's why episodes and chapters are called memiors. Adding on as RIPAnime suggests: I find the characters watered down because there wasn't enough time to explain the issues they have. Parts that could help were skipped. Vanitas has issues with his past and he has those issues today. Dominique isn't upset simply because of Noe not returning her feelings. She likes and cares for Jeanne genuinely, but the affection isn't there enough. Character development does happen later, but it seems like it will be harder without these starting pieces. While we don't get to the bottom of their past at the beginning, we haven't gotten far from the surface when we should be digging a hole.

this shit is fucking amazing. good job bones for doing the manga justice.

Vampires in Paris, The City of Flowers, beware, something evil lurks, hunting for your true name. Child or elder, it matters not. Parade of Charlatan will twist you, make you a monster. You're own family will be your feast.   Your only salvation is the infamous clockwork grimoire, The Book of Vanitas or death. Noé Archiviste searches for the book, only to have it come to him via a charismatic, unhinged young man calling himself Vanitas, a vampire doctor. Whitty, bloody, and sexy (but not ecchi); it's quite the fun ride. As the series progresses we learn more about the characters' dark, blood splattered pasts all with beautiful art and comedy mixed in.  If you like this series, I recommend reading the manga of the same title to get deeper into these characters. The anime is nearly all canon, but there are a few things that are glossed over.   I rate it 16+. A child is beheaded right in front of their friend. Lots of blood and thoughts of suicide. 

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• 2015-12-22 - - ?
• Vol: 11 - Ch: 63+

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The Summer 2021 Preview Guide The Case Study of Vanitas

How would you rate episode 1 of the case study of vanitas community score: 4.4, what is this.

Rumors revolving around The Book of Vanitas , a clockwork grimoire of dubious reputation, draw Noé, a young vampire in search of a friend's salvation, to Paris. What awaits him in the City of Flowers, however, is not long hours treading the pavement or rifling through dusty bookshops in search of the tome. Instead, his quarry comes to him...in the arms of a man claiming to be a vampire doctor! Thrust into a conflict that threatens the peace between humans and vampires, will Noé cast in his lot with the curious and slightly unbalanced Vanitas and his quest to save vampirekind?

The Case Study of Vanitas is based on Jun Mochizuki 's manga and streams on Funimation on Fridays.

How was the first episode?

The first episode of the The Case Study of Vanitas suffers heavily from a problem I've come to call “proper noun-itis.” Proper nouns are thrown around with no real explanation or context. Worse yet, there is no viewpoint character around to ask the dumb questions that would clear things up and clue us into what's going on.

From what I can piece together, vampires are real and have basically existed living in the shadows of society ever since mankind tried to exterminate them all. Now, however, there is some sort of “Malady” that is corrupting vampires and making them go berserk. It does this by messing with their “True Names”—and only the “Book of Vanitas” can repair the damage.

I'll be the first to admit this is a surface level understanding at best. When it comes down to it, all this first episode really does is show us what happens when a vampire goes berserk and how to cure them. It then tells us that the latter is an amazing feat. It doesn't, however, explain why this is the case.

But that's only the start to the confusion. Usually with long-established fictional entities like vampires, we can assume certain rules: sunlight is bad, a stake through the heart can kill them, etc. But this episode breaks rules right away by having one vampire feed on another, leaving me wondering if any of the normal vampire rules apply beyond the blood-drinking part. Then we have Vanitas himself, who claims to be human but should be dead several times over from the damage he takes throughout the episode if that were true.

Amid all the confusion, there is, however, one major redeeming quality: this anime is beautifully animated. The lines and colors are crisp and clean while the action is dynamic and fluid. This is somewhat to be expected given that the anime's director is Tomoyuki Itamura , who's been one of the directors on pretty much every iteration of the Monogatari Series.

It's solid eye-candy, at the very least. However, I'm not sure that's enough to keep me watching long term. At this point, I'll give the series one more episode to hook me and if not, well, there are plenty of other anime this season for me to pick up.

I am extremely pleased to report that the premiere of The Case Study of Vanitas has officially delivered everything the trailers promised: stylish animation and design work supporting a fantastically detail-oriented representation of old Paris, lush music including a catchy opening theme song, and two beautiful young men with some powerful homoerotic chemistry between them. I did well to choose it as my second most-anticipated, I think.

Things started strong with “Sora to Utsuru” by sasanomaly , which is an absolute bop that stands to be the best opening of the season. The accompanying video, featuring Vanitas and Noé going on a date (or outing, if you really insist on ignoring the subtext) through well-known Paris landmarks, sets the tone for the show and creates expectations of just who the two protagonists are. It's a lot of fun and I'll definitely be watching it with every episode.

The episode itself dabbles a bit more into vaguely gothic/steampunk imagery, with children's book illustrations at the start to explain just what vampires are in this world (they are born, not sired, and weak to the light of the blue moon), airships flying over the city, and baroque, ornate fixtures everywhere you look. It is in this world that Noé, a dead-ringer for Blood Blockade Battlefront 's Zapp Renfro, seeks the Book of Vanitas, which can supposedly bring ruin to vampires. He encounters a young lady vampire who turns out to be suffering from a terrible illness, but both of them are saved by Vanitas, a young man carrying the book that Noé seeks.

It's a feast for every sense, but the main draw for me, and I suspect many other potential audience members, is the dynamic between Noé and Vanitas. It's no secret that there's a lot of gay subtext between them, and they're pretty as all get-out, but that alone isn't enough. It would be so easy to fall into the same sort of relationship as Holmes and Watson, the highly intelligent one solving cases while the other one assists, but things between Noé and Vanitas are much more balanced. Yes, Vanitas is smart and capable, but he's also a klutz and kind of a doofus when he's not curing vampiric illnesses. Noé seems to be a good foil, but he is neither straight man nor dunce, just intelligent and goofy in his own ways that play well off Vanitas. Oh, and he has a cat. Natsuki Hanae and Kaito Ishikawa do excellent jobs portraying both of them, with their quirks and foibles.

The Case Study of Vanitas is the third premiere I've watched, and the first one I'm excited to continue watching.

I am one very happy Victorianist – The Case Study of Vanitas , based on the manga of the same name by the creator of Pandora Hearts , is an exquisite picture of late 19th century France. The visuals for this episode are spectacular, even if we discount the smooth movements of the fight scene between Noé and Vanitas on the airship, the period details are beautifully ornate, right down to the one thing that almost no anime gets right, the number of petticoats under a woman's full skirt. It isn't 100% perfect, but when it looks this nice, that hardly matters.

It's also another type of personal rare beast: a vampire story that intrigues me. While we don't get much vampire lore in this episode, what little there is makes it look as if The Case Study of Vanitas is working with its own mythology, one a bit similar to the manga Dead Girl Murder Farce's in how vampires are born, not made, and live among the general population in relative openness. They don't run around attacking humans willy-nilly, either – if they do, it's a sign that there's something wrong with them, sort of like how nocturnal animals walking around in daylight is a sign that they're rabid. And honestly, that's feeling like a fairly close comparison at the moment; when Amelia gives in to her illness (as Vanitas terms it), she immediately bites Noé, a bite that he fears is poisoned by whatever's ailing her. That doesn't do anything to Noé's determination to save her, but it does give him pause, which is when Vanitas comes rushing in to the rescue.

Vanitas is, at this moment, the biggest obstacle for the series to overcome. He's the off-key instrument in the orchestra, frantically frolicking through the show like a, well, stereotypical anime character, when everyone else is moving to a more stately, gilded beat. While this is doubtless purposeful and meant to establish that Vanitas is his own person not bound by the constraints of society, he's also an effective mood killer, which may not be a great thing, either here or going forward. But hey, at least he looks gorgeous.

Even if Vanitas is annoying, he may be worth dealing with for the rest of the package this episode gives us. There was clearly consultation with someone fluent in French, as the newspaper headlines are all in real, readable condition, as is young Noé's book of fairy tales, and the French words scattered about are also fitting – the airship is called “La baleine,” meaning “the whale,” and the Church's vampire- vanquishers are called “chasseurs,” which means “hunters.” The characters also pronounce “vampire” the French way, “vampeer” not “vampire,” which is a nice bit of setting establishment. This is definitely a show worth keeping an eye on, because it has style, worldbuilding, and characters who all have definite potential – even if Vanitas proves to be the worst aspect of his own series.

After a couple of awkward, run-of-the-mill nonstarters, premiere season has now truly kicked into gear. While Vanitas here is by no means rewriting the formula on vampire anime or supernatural action series at large, this first episode steps up to the plate with such confidence and flair it's hard not to get caught up in it all.

A big part of that is its presentation – Director Tomoyuki Itamura has brought every ounce of the visual flair and experimentation that characterized his work on the Monogatari series to Studio Bones, and painted both a lavish and attractive picture with it all. The mix of different visual styles, ornate environmental designs, and over-the-top direction melds perfectly with Vanitas ' world of steampunk technology, gorgeous vampires, and ridiculous fashion. While the action is largely subdued for this introductory story, what little we see here is as sharp and on point as one could ask for, and in general this premiere just looks fantastic at every opportunity.

The story is a bit closer to average, at least so far. There are some interesting twists to be sure – rather than the dark-haired waif being a vengeful vampire, he's a human seeking to heal the vicious maladies turning otherwise peaceful vampires into rampaging monsters. Our assumed everyman perspective character is himself a vampire, with seemingly a history and secret all his own. But otherwise this story is fairly typical for this sort of supernatural action fantasy. But the series also seems fully aware of that and self-consciously soaks in its own silliness, both embracing its gothic aesthetic and occasionally undercutting it with comedy at just the right moments. In tone, it's actually similar to Studio Bones' Sk8 the Infinity from earlier this year – it's silly, it knows it, but it also wants to have as much fun as possible rather than apologizing for it.

More than anything, that's what this premiere promises to be: fun. It strikes an almost perfect balance with its tone and indulgent setting, and when a show looks this nice that's just about everything you could ask for. I'm very much looking forward to sinking my teeth into Vanitas , both the man and the show at large.

I love it when an anime comes along so early in the Preview Guide to blow my expectations out of the water, because it's always nice to know that you'll have at least one kickass new show to look forward to in a new season. From the scratchy and stylish line art of the fairy tale prologue, to the gorgeous alternate-history Victiorian era aesthetics of the show's world, to the delightful characters and intriguing story — The Case Study of Vanitas is a premiere that basically does everything right when it comes to getting its blood-soaked hooks into its audience so it can leave them begging for more.

For one, Noé makes for an excellent perspective character to follow as the events on the airship unfold; not only does he have a floofy cat named Murr, but we learn that he is a vampire himself, which makes a lot of sense of his desire to protect his new friend Amelia and keep her from losing control and feasting on the blood of innocent humans. Even though Vanitas is a Bones production, the distinct visual flair of director Tomoyuki Itamura comes through clear as day by the time the premiere is done. Not only does the titular Vanitas flash that signature Monogatari grin all over the place once he shows up to put a stop to Amelia's rampage, but Vanitas is positively brimming with animation flourishes and confident direction that makes the whole thing sing, even before the fantasy action set pieces get going in the second half.

I really love the whole concept of a secret community of somewhat benevolent vampires, and the malnomen curse that corrupts their true nature and causes them to become the monstrous bloodsuckers that humans have come to fear in their myths. This makes Vanitas a kind of trickster vampire hunter/healer combo, which is a great spin on the usual dynamic, and it makes his relationship with Noé that much more interesting, especially given the ominous foreshadowing that caps off the episode. An odd-couple pair of vampires whose friendship may or may not lead to soul-crushing tragedy? With a boatload of stylish action and fun comedy in between? Hell yes, absolutely, give me more of this as soon as (in)humanly possible, please!

this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history

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Appearance [ ]

Vanitas is a slender, androgynous young man of average height. He has pale skin, large, expressive eyes, a round face, and a small chin. So blue are his eyes that they are used as an immediately identifiable trait, compared to the color of copper sulfate . An upper left canine tooth is especially pronounced, giving the appearance of fangs when his teeth were visible, though they are not as pronounced as vampires' fangs. His hair is long, black, and irregularly cut, his bangs falling into the center of his face. On either side of his face, his hair is straight cut, the left side to one level and the right side to two. Though he at times appears to wear a ponytail, his hair usually sits freely, the hair on either side of his head cut shorter than that down the middle. One cowlick sticks up from the right side of his head. Both of his ears are pierced, a simple stud worn in his right ear, while his left ear is pierced with a silver (gold, in the anime) hourglass-shaped earring that he inherited from Luna, and two rings through the helix.

Vanitas's reference sheet from volume 2.

While Vanitas wore several outfits over the course of the series, he usually wears a white shirt over black pants, a dark blue striped vest, a large blue bow tie, and an oversized black coat. As accessories, he wears a long, wide ribbon tied into a bow as a belt, short boots with white spats, and black gloves with claws embedded at the fingertips. His coat is long, with a wide collar and a single button, large enough to frequently fall over one shoulder. At its hem, it takes a baloon-like form, and is joked to float "through some mysterious power." Its sleeves are someone based on those of a furisode kimono . To his belt, he straps the Book of Vanitas, two knives, and two tool cases. His outfit is called "the outfit nobody understands." [5]

As a child, he looked much the same, though his hair was less cleanly cut. He was thin and physically diminutive, despite his active training as a chasseur. Prior to being Marked by Vanitas of the Blue Moon, his eyes were a darker shade of blue.

Personality [ ]

Vanitas seems to take nothing seriously, and almost always has a playful grin on his face. He acts impulsively most of the time, and his plans are normally reckless. Vanitas carries a mischievous air around him. He finds utmost amusement in Noé's abnormal reactions to things. However, he is capable of showing seriousness when the situation called for it, as well as anger. He is very flirtatious, as seen in the way he behaves around Jeanne.

Beneath his flippant attitude, Vanitas is a broken man who despises both humans and vampires, but hates himself more than either. Vanitas hates being vulnerable around people, refusing to go to sleep around anyone he doesn’t trust. He likes high places and is often seen hanging around rooftops.

Powers and Abilities [ ]

General: As a mere human, Vanitas is more often than not significantly less powerful than those around him who are Vampires , at least physically so. While he is demonstrably fit, athletic, and spry, his strength, speed, and endurance are only that of an average human being and no more. The exception is the rate at which he heals from injuries, which is accelerated due to Doctor Moreau 's experimentation. [4] To compensate for his generally inferior physical strength, Vanitas is extremely sharp, clever, and resourceful in battle. He can analyze situations and come up with appropriate solutions and counterattacks very fast, even in the middle of a dangerous battle. He makes use of every resource available to him and is not afraid to use underhanded tactics, to the dismay of those around him. [6]

Weapons: Vanitas's main weapons are a pair of knives whose hilts are rigged with wires. In addition, stored in some pockets on his belt are various "cheaters' implements" which he uses both in and out of battle. He has a tendency to try and keep his weapons and tools hidden, to allow himself the additional element of surprise should he need it, adding to his devious trickster-like fighting style. [5] He is also skilled in gathering information about his enemies and putting that to use in battle against them. [7] He favors being prepared and constantly having the upper hand against his enemies.

Chasseur Training: Vanitas's proficiency in combat seems to have originated from his training as a Chasseur. In addition to his combat abilities and weapons training, his brief time with the Chasseurs taught him in great detail the methods of fighting a Vampire. He knows that, as their eyes are the conduit with which they can access and rewrite the World Formula , the first step is to aim for a Vampire's eyes. [8] He has utilized this knowledge not only against Vampires he's attacked [2] but also against Chasseurs who have attacked him. [9] He also, through unknown means, has access to the drugs Chasseurs use to boost their physical abilities. He only uses them in the rare scenario where he has no choice but to fight a Vampire to the death. [10]

The Book of Vanitas : The main source of Vanitas's power is the Book of Vanitas and his control over it. The main method in which he uses the Book is in healing curse-bearers with what he calls an "Inverse Operation" ( 逆 ( ぎゃく ) 演 ( えん ) 算 ( ざん ) , Gyaku Enzan ). Contrary to Vampires' common belief and fears about the curse of the Blue Moon and the related Book, Vanitas uses the Book to interfere with True Names and heal them, extracting the Maladies that warp them into Malnomen . [1] He can also, before doing so, use the Book to identify exactly what Malnomen it is, though just as often Vanitas can name said Malnomen at the top of his head. This inverse operation requires a high amount of proficiency from the user, as the only other to own a Book of Vanitas cannot interfere with True Names on such a level. [11] On rare occasions the Malnomen will be too strong for him to heal on his own, and he will require the curse-bearer in question to reject it of their own volition and call upon the power of his Mark of Possession to complete the operation. [12]

Vanitas does not only use the Book for saving however, it is also his main weapon in battle. As the Book of Vanitas is able to rewrite the World Formula at will, he can use it to a variety of purposes. He can stun Vampires and render them immobile for a short period of time, [13] though a Vampire strong enough may be able to gain mobility sooner. [6] He can also interfere with Astermite , which allows him to manipulate automatons to do his bidding, go haywire, [14] even explode at his will. [15]

Menial: Aside from combat, Vanitas also has a number of skills in other areas of expertise. Despite his status as a doctor being largely self-proclaimed, Vanitas has had clear medical training and experience, likely from being raised by his doctor of a father. [2] He knows how to perform first aid, how to treat poisons, [16] and carries various medicines around with him. [5] He also knows a number of other practical skills, including how to cook, how to clean, [2] and has various knowledge about French history and culture, [17] even minor trivia such as different apple desserts. [18] He is familiar with the Latin language, likely the result of both his upbringing in the Church and his medical knowledge.

• “—Non! I am a doctor. One who specializes in Vampires. I came… to heal her!” [1]
• “I am Vanitas. I inherited this Book and the name from the Vampire of the Blue Moon, and I am… an average human being ! Lend me your strength, Noé!” [1]
• “I’ll do as I please… use methods I choose… and, no matter what you people want… I will save you without fail!!” [1]
• “You gave yourself something to protect. That’s why you’re weak.” [6]
• “But rest assured. There’s nothing to fear. You are truly fortunate! I—! I, who am Kin to the Blue Moon!! I tell you I will use the Book of Vanitas not to slaughter but to save you!! All you have to do… is tremble with humiliation and be saved!!” [19]
• “…No real reason. Right now… you could say I don’t much care what happens.” [20]
• “I have absolutely no interest in the sort of person who would fall for me.” [21]
• “Listen! I never act against my own wishes. The fact that I’m with the Vampires, that I infiltrated this place, that I just hurt you—I did it all of my own free will!” [9]
• “…If you ask me… there’s not much difference between humans and Vampires. They’re all terribly ugly, endlessly selfish creatures.” [14]
• “I… am a doctor. I am here to save Vampires!” [22]
• “Once there were no more curse-bearers, I stopped caring.” [22]
• “If that time comes, I’ll kill you. I promise… I’ll kill you. I love you. I’m the one who’ll make your wishes come true. It has to be me. So, Jeanne… there’s nothing to worry about.” [17]
• “I’m going. If there’s a chance I might find a curse-bearer, I’ll go anywhere.” [23]
• “‘Archiviste.’ I’m only going to say this once, so listen up. If you so much as try to drink my blood… I’ll kill you. Is that clear?” [23]
• “I came here to save Vampires. Are you here for some other reason?” [7]
• “‘Revenge is pointless, so don’t attempt it. It won’t make anyone happy.’ Is that what you’re getting at?” [24]
• “I’m telling you I’ll act on the assumption that you’re going to convince me . If you want them treated… make me feel like treating them.” [24]
• “I love you. I’m the one who’ll make your wishes come true. It has to be me. So spit it out. Tell me what you really want. No matter how trivial it is. Whether it’s an ugly emotion… or even a curse… I’ll accept it for you!” [25]
• “I know that face . It’s self-satisfaction… and self-absorption. The face of someone who’s made an arbitrary decision to die alone. It makes me sick!” [26]
• “Chloé d’Apchier!! Either vanish with this world… or live on in humiliation! Choose however you like!! Even if you survive, you’ll never regain your honor. The Church will never admit to the truth of the past, and you’ll continue to be hounded as the Beast. It’ll be hell either way! Even so—you make the choice!!” [12]
• “Don’t hesitate, Noé. Don’t think about whether Astolfo’s hate is justified or not. Both humans and Vampires act on their own concepts of justice. One’s just can be someone else’s evil. ‘Being right’… is ‘power.’ It can easily turn into violence that’s much harder to deal with than malice. Don’t brandish it. Keep it inside. Justice should merely be the light that illuminates the path ahead of you.” [12]
• “This isn’t about what’s ‘right.’ Base what you do on what you can’t concede. At any rate… in your case, that will work.” [12]
• “It’s revolting! The thought of someone falling for a person like me…” [27]
• “I’ll never become your Kin. No matter what. Even if I knew I’d die tomorrow… I want to stay human until the end.” [2]
• “Bring them… back to life? Don’t even joke about that. I’ve been working to erase their existence entirely. Do you have any idea… how much I’ve—!!” [10]
• “Enough of that. You’ve gotten the wrong idea about something. You and I were only working together because our interests happened to align. We’re strangers. If the other stops being useful, cut him loose. If he gets in the way, kill him. That’s all we are, and you know it.” [10]
• “‘If anyone tries to take my memories… no matter who they are… kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Without fail. Kill… Noé. Kill that Vampire !!’” [10]
• “…Why… can’t I… kill… Why!? Wh… why…?” [28]
• “I’ll never forgive Luna. I’ll erase every last fragment of the Vampire of the Blue Moon’s existence. I’ll consign them to oblivion. That… is my ‘revenge.’” [29]
• “If I— …get to choose how I die… If I can… wish, then… If I’m going to be killed I want Noé to do it.” [29]
• “As for the rest… nothing will change. I am a doctor. I’ll keep on treating curse-bearers. I’ll do as I please. I’ll save the Vampires, for the sake of my revenge.” [29]
• “He acts as if he prefers to resolve problems by talking them out… but he gets violent first thing. He marches right into others’ personal space with his muddy boots. He’s much too stubborn. What can I do but back down!?” [30]
• “The world’s brimming over with discrimination. Some think that’s how things naturally should be. Others aren’t aware that they discriminate. The targets of discrimination often discriminate against others, too.” [31]
• “When you interact with someone… you look straight at that ‘individual.’ Their race and social position don’t matter. You look and talk to them for yourself, and accept what you’ve felt just as it is. Most people aren’t like that, though. They focus on the person’s ‘category,’ not the individual. Are they a man or a woman? An adult or a child? How do they dress? Are they human? Vampire? Dham? In and of itself, that isn’t a bad thing. In order to decide whether the person you’re facing is a threat, you need that information.” [31]

Appearances [ ]

• Mémoire 1: Vanitas — In the Event of Rusty Hopes (First Appearance)
• Mémoire 2: Noé — In the City of Flowers
• Mémoire 3: Jeanne — The Hellfire Witch
• Mémoire 4: Femme Fatale — Love
• Mémoire 5: Archiviste — Fangs That Reveal Blood
• Mémoire 6: Altus — Other World
• Mémoire 7: Bal Masqué — Night of Sneering Masks
• Mémoire 8: Louis — Sinking in a Pool of Blood
• Mémoire 10: Salvatio — Uncertainty
• Mémoire 11: Deux Ombres — Point of Departure
• Mémoire 12: Pause 𝄻
• Mémoire 13: Glissando — Glissando
• Mémoire 14: Catacombes — Where the Dead Sleep
• Memoire 15: Chasseur — Those Who Hunt Crimson
• Entracte: Chambre d'enfants — A Dream of the Sound of Rain
• Mémoire 16: Galop — At the End of the Riot
• Mémoire 17: Cicatrice — No. 69
• Mémoire 18: Dos à Dos — The Shape of Salvation
• Mémoire 19: Serment — Spell-bound
• Mémoire 20: Serment — Promise (Part One)
• Mémoire 21: Serment — Promise (Part Two)
• Mémoire 22: Hurler — A Calling Voice
• Mémoire 23: Au Pas Camarade — Pace
• Mémoire 24: Forêt d'argent — Chance Encounter
• Mémoire 25: Endroit Approprié — Melee
• Mémoire 26: Dissonance — Creaking Laughter
• Mémoire 27: Cage de Neige — Dregs
• Mémoire 28: Dal Segno — Question Mark
• Mémoire 29: Chateau de Sorcière — The Witch and the Youth
• Mémoire 30: Strascinando — Tremolo
• Mémoire 33: Cauchemar — Rumble
• Mémoire 34: Jean-Jacques — The Vampire of the Chastels (Part One)
• Mémoire 34.5: Jean-Jacques — The Vampire of the Chastels (Part Two)
• Mémoire 35: Louisette — Pillar of Justice
• Mémoire 37: Vengeance — Hands That Touch a Nightmare
• Mémoire 38: Naenia — She Who Harbors Death (Part One)
• Mémoire 38.5: Naenia — She Who Harbors Death (Part Two)
• Mémoire 39: Poupée Fissurée — The Essence of the Witch
• Mémoire 40: Avec Toi — Alone Together
• Mémoire 41: Canorus — Snow Flower
• Mémoire 42: Encore une Fois — Love
• Mémoire 43: Encens Restant — Lingering Scent of the Dream
• Mémoire 44: Mal d'Amour — The Incurable Illness (Part One)
• Mémoire 45: Mal d'Amour — The Incurable Illness (Part Two)
• Mémoire 46: Un Autre — Scar
• Entracte: Jours Bruyants — Tales of Lost Children
• Mémoire 47: Hétérogène — Sneering Laughter*
• Mémoire 48: Rencontre — Blue Night*
• Mémoire 49: Douleur — Kind Child
• Mémoire 50: Petrichor — The Thread That Reels in the Past
• Mémoire 51: Tempest — A Silent Scream
• Extra: The Case Study of Vanitash!!!! —Expanded Edition— (Non-Canon)
• Mémoire 52: Sens Unique — Fall
• Mémoire 53: Pleuvoir — Rain Which Doesn't Know the Sky
• Mémoire 54: La nuit sans lune — Dark Night (Part One)
• Mémoire 54.5: La nuit sans lune — Dark Night (Part Two)
• Mémoire 55: Après la pluie — His Wish (Part One)
• Mémoire 55.5: Après la pluie — His Wish (Part Two)
• Mémoire 56: Faire un gâteau — Bittersweet
• Mémoire 57: Au Revoir — Again, Someday
• Mémoire 58: Observation — The Darkness in Between
• Mémoire 60: Bonne journée — Sweets, Complaints, and Reconciliation
• Entracte: Couche — On Clothing
• Mémoire 61: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part One)
• Mémoire 61.5: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part Two)
• Mémoire 62: Bourdonnement — Wingbeats of Scattered Thought (Part One)
• Mémoire 62.5: Bourdonnement — Wingbeats of Scattered Thought (Part Two)
• Mémoire 1: Vanitas -In the Event of Rusty Hopes- (First Appearance)
• Mémoire 2: Noé -In the City of Flowers-
• Mémoire 3: Archiviste -Fangs That Lay Bare Blood-
• Mémoire 4: Bal Masqué -Night of Mocking Masks-
• Mémoire 5: Réminiscence -Friends-
• Mémoire 6: Salvatio -Questions-
• Mémoire 7: Femme Fatale -Love-
• Mémoire 8: Catacombes -Where Death Slumbers-
• Mémoire 9: Chasseur -Those Who Hunt Crimson-
• Mémoire 10: Cicatrice -No.69-
• Mémoire 11: Serment -Promises-
• Mémoire 12: Deux Ombres -Point of Departure-
• Mémoire 13: Forêt d'argent -Chance Encounter-
• Mémoire 14: Château de Sorcière -The Witch and the Young Man-
• Mémoire 15: Oiseau et ciel -The d'Apchiers' Vampire-
• Mémoire 16: Chasse aux Vampires -The Beast-
• Mémoire 17: Vengeance -Hands Upon a Nightmare-
• Mémoire 18: Avec Toi -Just the Two of Us-
• Mémoire 19: Canorus -Snow Flower-
• Mémoire 20: Mal d'amour -The Incurable Disease-
• Mémoire 21: Un Autre -Scars-
• Mémoire 22: Rencontre -Blue Night-
• Mémoire 23: Pleuvoir -Tears like Rain-
• Mémoire 24: Après la pluie -His Wish-

(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.

• "Vanitas" is an artistic term referring to a symbolic work of art showing the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death, often contrasting symbols of wealth and symbols of ephemerality and death. It derives from the Latin word "vānitās" which can translate to "emptiness," "nothingness," "falsity," or "vanity" in English. [32]
• Vanitas shares a character song with Noé, Le Formidable! , sung by their Japanese voice actors and composed by Sasanomaly.
• Around the Chasseurs, Vanitas uses the French name "Vincent" (in Japanese, ヴァンサン, Vansan ) as an alias. This is likely a reference to Vincent Nightray (using the English pronunciation, in Japanese, ヴィンセント, Vinsento ), a recurring antagonist from Mochizuki's previous series, Pandora Hearts .
• That said, oysters seem to be a favorite food of his. [33]
• When The Case Study of Vanitas was being first conceived, Vanitas was a vampire who took on the role of Holmes and Noé was a human who took on the role of Watson, inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes [34] novels. Mochizuki received criticism that this narrative setup was too standard and boring. Upon hearing the suggestion that she switch their races, she was captivated by the idea of a human Holmes and vampire Watson, resulting in the current story. The visible fangs in Vanitas's current design are an element that remained from the original idea for his race. [35]
• In the earliest drafts of Vanitas's design when he was still a vampire, he was supposed to look a bit older than his current version, and he smoked a pipe that he always carried attached to a chain and hung around his neck. He also carried around a fancy parasol, presumably to protect himself from the sun. Even after Mochizuki changed his race to human, she had him keep his parasol and pipe. [36]
• When coming up with Vanitas's personality, Mochizuki described him as "an unusual vampire with a bewitching smile, but a moron who falls in love with an idiot." [36]

References [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mémoire 1: Vanitas
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Mémoire 49: Douleur
• ↑ Mémoire 47: Hétérogène
• ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mémoire 48: Rencontre
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Volume 2 Additional Content: Vanitas reference sheet
• ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mémoire 4: Femme Fatale
• ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mémoire 25: Endroit Approprié
• ↑ Mémoire 14: Catacombes
• ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mémoire 15: Chasseur
• ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Mémoire 50: Petrichor
• ↑ Mémoire 54: La nuit sans lune (Part One)
• ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Mémoire 41: Canorus
• ↑ Mémoire 3: Jeanne
• ↑ 14.0 14.1 Mémoire 16: Galop
• ↑ Mémoire 51: Tempest
• ↑ Mémoire 27: Cage de Neige
• ↑ 17.0 17.1 Mémoire 21: Serment (Part Two)
• ↑ 18.0 18.1 Volume 3 Omake: "Apple desserts"
• ↑ Mémoire 7: Bal Masqué
• ↑ Mémoire 8: Louis
• ↑ Mémoire 12: Pause
• ↑ 22.0 22.1 Mémoire 18: Dos à Dos
• ↑ 23.0 23.1 Mémoire 23: Au Pas Camarade
• ↑ 24.0 24.1 Mémoire 34.5: Jean-Jacques (Part Two)
• ↑ Mémoire 39: Poupée Fissurée
• ↑ Mémoire 40: Avec Toi
• ↑ Mémoire 44: Mal d’Amour (Part One)
• ↑ Mémoire 53: Pleuvoir
• ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Mémoire 55.5: Après la pluie (Part Two)
• ↑ Mémoire 60: Bonne journée
• ↑ 31.0 31.1 Mémoire 62: Bourdonnement (Part One)
• ↑ Wikipedia: Vanitas
• ↑ Volume 5 Omake: "What Mademoiselle Amelia saw!"
• ↑ Wikipedia: Sherlock Holmes
• ↑ Anime da Vinci Interview
• ↑ 36.0 36.1 Volume 11 Special Edition Booklet

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The Case Study of Vanitas (Official)

The Case Study of Vanitas (Official)

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