Why Some Fans Think The Case Study of Vanitas Is a BL Anime

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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

Characters from The Case Study of Vanitas

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

Noe Archiviste The Case Study of Vanitas smile

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.

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List of Characters (The Case Study of Vanitas)

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The Case Study of Vanitas 10

Artist: Jun Mochizuki

Letterer: Bianca Pistillo

Translated by: Taylor Engel

Mikhail’s machinations have succeeded in turning Noé and Vanitas against each other—and in a desperate attempt to stop Noé, Dominique throws herself offff the Ferris wheel! Locked in a fifierce struggle against a relentless Vanitas, Noé cannot do anything but watch as his childhood friend plummets to her death…Are they doomed to end this sordid affffair exactly as Mikhail intended?

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The Case Study of Vanitas, Vol. 10

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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.

The Case Study of Vanitas BL Anime

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?

About The Case Study of Vanitas

is-the-case-study-of-vanitas-a-bl-anime

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 .

Bones

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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IMAGES

  1. The Case Study Of Vanitas Romance

    case study of vanitas romance

  2. noe get hug from domi and drinks domi blood

    case study of vanitas romance

  3. The Case Study Of Vanitas 1

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  4. Vanitas and Jeanne Kiss

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  5. The Case Study of Vanitas Anime Manga Poster

    case study of vanitas romance

  6. Watch The Case Study of Vanitas

    case study of vanitas romance

VIDEO

  1. 「Vanitas no Carte」The Case Study of Vanitas OST

  2. The Case Study of Vanitas #edit

  3. Cursed vampire (the case of a study vanitas)#vanitas #jin #thecaseofstudyvanitas #anime #animeedits

  4. The Book of Vanitas Tutorial

  5. the case study of vanitas edit

  6. || Haikaveh & Vanoe || my 2 fav ships || Audio name: lucy~ || Genshin & Case of study Vanitas ||

COMMENTS

  1. Vanitas/Relationships

    Vanitas has a strange relationship with Noé in which they are simultaneously best friends and frequently annoyed at each other. Vanitas behaves in an incredibly contrary way around Noé—begging the vampire to team up with him one minute and telling him to leave the next. The two have had plenty of arguments, as Vanitas is extremely protective of Noé but hates it when Noé tries to protect ...

  2. Is there romance? : r/vanitasnocarte

    A subreddit dedicated to Vanitas no Carte (Vanitas no Karte, Vanitas no Shuki, The Case Study of Vanitas, ヴァニタスの手記(カルテ)). The manga is created by Jun Mochizuki and published in Square Enix's Gangan Joker monthly magazine. The anime is produced by studio Bones.

  3. Why Would Anyone Love Someone Like Me?

    Ep 20: Love yourself... or else Roland will! Watch The Case Study of Vanitas on Crunchyroll! https://got.cr/Watch-TCSOV20 Crunchyroll Collection brings you...

  4. The Case Study of Vanitas' Shipping Situation

    The creator of The Case Study of Vanitas Jun Mochizuki has been known for her penchant for portraying melodramatic relationships ever since Pandora Hearts, and this is also a major selling point of The Case Study of Vanitas. The entangled romance aspect of the story is on full display in Episode 7 of the anime, appropriately titled "Love".

  5. The Case Study of Vanitas: Why Some See the Anime as Boys' Love

    Why Some Fans Think The Case Study of Vanitas Is a BL Anime. By Alice Gallo. Published Mar 11, 2023. 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 ...

  6. How Could it be Possible to Love a Person Like Me?

    Ep 20: Vanitas doesn't understand why Jeanne loves him... Watch The Case Study of Vanitas on Crunchyroll! https://got.cr/cd-tcsov20Crunchyroll Dubs brings yo...

  7. Do jeanne and vanitas get together? : r/vanitasnocarte

    A subreddit dedicated to Vanitas no Carte (Vanitas no Karte, Vanitas no Shuki, The Case Study of Vanitas, ヴァニタスの手記(カルテ)). The manga is created by Jun Mochizuki and published in Square Enix's Gangan Joker monthly magazine. The anime is produced by studio Bones.

  8. The Case Study of Vanitas

    The Case Study of Vanitas (Japanese: ヴァニタスの 手記 ( カルテ ), Hepburn: Vanitasu no Karute) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Jun Mochizuki.It has been serialized in Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Gangan Joker since December 2015. In North America, the manga is published in English by Yen Press.. The Case Study of Vanitas is set in a ...

  9. The Case Study of Vanitas (English Dub) Love

    14Sub | Dub. Released on Dec 21, 2021. 1.5K. 8. Vanitas and Jeanne's "encounter" during their battle in Paris comes to light. Vanitas offers to keep Jeanne's secret on two conditions. Noé and ...

  10. [Rewatch][Spoilers]The Case Study of Vanitas Episode 7 : r/anime

    Vanitas: "I have no idea." Defines love as a racing heart and trembling feeling but still he explains it in a detached way. but then he reveals': that Jeanne is a type of person to not fall in love with him. He is not interested in anyone who would love him.

  11. Romance and Tragedy!

    While Vanitas is off with Jeanne having a bit too much fun, Noe is fighting for his life against Charlatan and the dark and tragic memories brought to the su...

  12. List of Characters (The Case Study of Vanitas)

    The Case Study of Vanitas. Characters. Main: Noé Archiviste • Vanitas. Dhampirs: Dante • Johann • Riche. Galerie Valentine: Manet • Nox • Parks Orlok. Hôtel Chouchou: Amelia Ruth • Flute. de Sade: Antoine de Sade • Chrysler • Dominique de Sade • Louis de Sade • Murr • The Teacher • Veronica de Sade.

  13. The Case Study of Vanitas

    Mikhail's machinations have succeeded in turning Noé and Vanitas against each other—and in a desperate attempt to stop Noé, Dominique throws herself offff the Ferris wheel! Locked in a fifierce struggle against a relentless Vanitas, Noé cannot do anything but watch as his childhood friend plummets to her death…Are they doomed to end ...

  14. Is The Case Study of Vanitas a BL Anime?

    The Case Study of Vanitas isn't a BL anime, although there is a bisexual character and queer-coded scenes. ... At the end of the day, romance is not the shonen show's main element, so fans are ...

  15. The Case Study of Vanitas Love

    Released on Dec 21, 2021. 3.3K. 21. Vanitas and Jeanne's "encounter" during their battle in Paris comes to light. Vanitas offers to keep Jeanne's secret on two conditions. Noé and Vanitas prepare ...

  16. Vanitas (The Case Study of Vanitas)

    Vanitas (Japanese: ヴァニタス, Hepburn: Vanitasu) is the fictional protagonist and title character of the manga series The Case Study of Vanitas, which was written and illustrated by Jun Mochizuki.The character was named Vanitas of the Blue Moon, making him part of the Blue Moon clan with some vampire abilities.Vanitas possesses a grimoire called The Book of Vanitas (ヴァニタスの書 ...

  17. yo guys does this series have romance : r/vanitasnocarte

    A subreddit dedicated to Vanitas no Carte (Vanitas no Karte, Vanitas no Shuki, The Case Study of Vanitas, ヴァニタスの手記(カルテ)). The manga is created by Jun Mochizuki and published in Square Enix's Gangan Joker monthly magazine. The anime is produced by studio Bones.

  18. Watch The Case Study of Vanitas

    Stream and watch the anime The Case Study of Vanitas on Crunchyroll. In nineteenth-century France, humans and vampires coexist. The young vampire Noé is traveling to Paris in search of The Book ...

  19. The Case Study of Vanitas (Official)

    There once lived a vampire known as Vanitas, hated by his own kind for being born under a blue full moon, as most arise on the night of a crimson one. Afraid and alone, he created the "Book of Vanitas," a cursed grimoire that would one day take his vengeance on all vampires; this is how the story goes at least. Vanitas no Carte follows Noé, a young man travelling aboard an airship in 19th ...

  20. Is The Case Study Of Vanitas worth watching? : r/vanitasnocarte

    A subreddit dedicated to Vanitas no Carte (Vanitas no Karte, Vanitas no Shuki, The Case Study of Vanitas, ヴァニタスの手記(カルテ)). The manga is created by Jun Mochizuki and published in Square Enix's Gangan Joker monthly magazine. The anime is produced by studio Bones. ... Also the show has comedy and romance. It's like a ...

  21. The Case Study of Vanitas

    Best site to watch The Case Study of Vanitas English Sub/Dub online Free and download The Case Study of Vanitas English Sub/Dub anime.

  22. How is The Case Study Of Vanitas? : r/anime

    One of my favorite mangas, the anime did some aspects better and some aspects worse, overall it is worth the watch. Good 8/10. It's a great story, even if it seems like typical cringy vampire romance from the outside. All the characters have a lot to them, rather than being one-note with an easily discernible goal.

  23. The Case Study of Vanitas (Official)

    There once lived a vampire known as Vanitas, hated by his own kind for being born under a blue full moon, as most arise on the night of a crimson one. Afraid and alone, he created the "Book of Vanitas," a cursed grimoire that would one day take his vengeance on all vampires; this is how the story goes at least. Vanitas no Carte follows Noé, a young man travelling aboard an airship in 19th ...