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20 Anime Like the Case Study of Vanitas You Should Start Watching


Anime Like The Case Study of Vanitas
Credit: Bones

With its wintry atmosphere and likable cast, The Case Study of Vanitas is a fun vampire show. If you're missing it, we've compiled a list of anime like The Case Study of Vanitas to keep you company.

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  1. Pandora Hearts

    While not exactly similar in terms of plot, Pandora Hearts could not be missing from this list.

    A loose Alice in Wonderland adaptation, this anime is based on the manga Jun Mochizuki created before Vanitas, and the aesthetics speak for themselves.

    If you’re a fan of one, the other’s aesthetics might seem familiar to you.

    Pandora Hearts is a supernatural anime about a boy who tries to make sense of the strange things that have befallen him and understand the meaning of his existence.

    Some character tropes and situations encountered in it have their counterparts in Vanitas, while both shows take plays in a stylized 19th-century Europe.

  2. Moriarty the Patriot

    Moriarty the Patriot follows Sherlock Holmes’ archnemesis as an origin story of sorts.

    The classic literature inspirations make it quite different from Vanitas, a clear fantasy title. Still, fans of one are very likely to enjoy the other due to the similar aesthetics.

    Both anime feature elegantly drawn male protagonists, dark plots, and mysteries the main characters are called to solve, making for quite similar viewing experiences.

  3. MARS RED

    If you like period pieces about vampires but Vanitas was a little too fluffy and colorful, MARS RED might be for you.

    Based on a play, the fantasy show follows an army of vampires who hunt their kind in the early 1920s, a time of rapid change for Japan.

    Like The Case Study of Vanitas, MARS RED focuses on a division between bloodthirsty vampires, and those who cling to a humane, civilized nature, and the tragedy that occurs when the two collide.

  4. Vampire Knight

    Vampire Knight is more of a shojo anime, and one that hasn’t aged particularly well after the Twilight craze died out. However, there are still fun elements about it, especially if you enjoy school settings.

    As is the case with Vanitas, Vampire Knight mostly features vampires who lead normal, almost human-like lives, and those who stray away from this ideal and become bloodthirsty move the plot in devastating ways.

    Plus, the art is extremely pretty, especially for its time.

  5. Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut

    If you like vampires in historical or pseudo-historical settings that have rarely been associated with the creatures of the night, this one might be for you.

    Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut takes the Cold War into an imaginary world, but the conflict is much the same.

    As the competition for space becomes fierce, Irina, a young vampire girl, will do anything to be the first person on the moon.

    While the similarities with The Case Study of Vanitas aren’t very prominent, both focus on vampires, who are quite similar to regular humans, have a special relationship with the moon, and work to achieve their aspirations.

  6. Hellsing Ultimate

    For many fans, Hellsing is the ultimate vampire anime (pun intended!).

    The Case Study of Vanitas is a bit more optimistic, with the two main characters reintegrating lost causes of vampires into society.

    Hellsing features vampire hunter Integra Hellsing who fights the creatures of the night with an unlikely weapon; Alucard, a vampire who will fight his kind and fight against everyone who would harm Hellsing.

    Similarities can be found in the fact that both anime have vampires in a classic 19th-century setting.

    Moreover, the main characters’ dynamics are comparable, and both shows feature a combination of funny and violent moments.

  7. Bungou Stray Dogs

    Bungou Stray Dogs doesn’t feature vampires, but it’s a fellow Bones anime, and its structure is quite similar to that of The Case Study of Vanitas.

    The show features a detective agency consisting of characters who are based on classic Japanese authors, making a treat for literature fans.

    Like Vanitas, Bungou Stray Dogs is founded on mystery that operates on two levels; mysteries associated with the main plot that the characters must solve in the narrative present, and the mysteries of their past, revealed to us slowly.

    Moreover, Bungou Stray Dogs features attractively drawn male main characters and the fun banter between them as they work towards a common goal.

  8. Black Butler

    Black Butler might not focus on vampires, but it’s one of the few shows that can match the gorgeous, comfortably familiar aesthetics found in The Case Study of Vanitas.

    Both shows unfold during the 19th century and boast incomparable art.

    Moreover, both Black Butler and The Case Study of Vanitas' mysteries of the supernatural kind are integral to the plot, and the morally grey main characters are called to resolve them.

  9. Dantalian no Shoka

    Dantalian no Shoka follows Huey Disward, a young lord trying to uncover the mystery surrounding his grandfather’s death.

    Charged with the care of Bibliotheca Mystica de Dantalian, a forbidden library, and of a young girl named Dalian – who turned out to be the same – Huey must solve many mysteries in a Victorian-coded setting.

    Both Dantalian no Shoka and The Case Study of Vanitas feature iconic anime duos in possession of dangerous books.

    Moreover, the aesthetics, music, and overall atmosphere are quite similar, meaning that fans of one might want to check out the other.

  10. D.Gray-man

    If you’re looking for something a bit more classic, D. Gray-man is an iconic, high-stake shonen anime about a boy trying to become an exorcist, to stop a sinister Earl from entrapping souls.

    Allen can see the souls’ anguish due to his cursed eye, an ability that might remind you of Noe’s ability to see other characters’ memories by drinking their blood.

    Both anime are stylish and have quite similar atmospheres, although D. Gray-man is a little more focused on action.

    If you love Vanitas but feel more work should have been put into some of the battles, you might have found your next watch.

  11. Sirius the Jaeger

    If you’d like to move away from the 19th-century aesthetics to a more modern vampire anime – but still quite vintage as far as the setting is concerned, you’re in luck.

    Sirius the Jaeger unfolds in a hypothetical 1930s Tokyo, one that’s been infiltrated by vampires.

    The main character Yuliy is a vampire hunter who is trying to locate an artefact and protect it before vampires use it for their destructive goals.

    Although this premise is a bit different from Vanitas, the two shows share quite similar vibes and focus on the origins of vampires.

  12. Blood Blockade Battlefront

    Did you love The Case Study of Vanitas but crave something a bit more futuristic? You might want to try Blood Blockade Battlefront, which also features vampires, along with talking fishmen and other creatures.

    Like Vanitas, Blood Blockade Battlefront features a main character who might remind you of Noe.

    Like him, Leonardo from Blood Blockade Battlefront is drawn into a dangerous world – namely Hellsalem's Lot, formerly known as New York City.

    Accompanied by quirky allies, he must navigate a place unlike any he has ever known and solve all sorts of mysteries.

    Both Blood Blockade Battlefront and The Case Study of Vanitas are Bones anime and have similar humor, so if you enjoyed one, the other might be for you also.

  13. Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign

    Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign is a post-apocalyptic vampire work that might nevertheless remind you of Vanitas.

    In a world where vampires have taken over and killed every adult and older teen while allowing those aged 13 or under to live in exchange for their blood, a found family of orphans plots their revenge.

    One of the main characters is particularly keen on exterminating vampires due to his tragedy, which might remind you of the paladins in Vanitas.

    Moreover, Seraph also features characters with interesting chemistry, and the overall vibes are often quite similar.

  14. Blood Lad

    Blood Lad unfolds in a modern setting, quite different from that of The Case Study of Vanitas. But if you enjoy works with non-violent vampires and humor, you might still want to give Blood Lad a chance after Vanitas.

    The main character Staz Charlie Blood is a powerful vampire who has no interest in drinking human blood – he would much rather read manga.

    There’s no exact equivalent in Vanitas, but the overly enthusiastic, fun-loving Noe isn’t your typical vampire either.

    Blood Lad also focuses on an unlikely bunch of characters who team up for a common goal, and the show often alternates between light-hearted and more serious moments.

  15. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

    One of the least similar anime on the list, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is nevertheless a good show for fans of Vanitas to watch if they haven’t already.

    Produced by Bones (like The Case Study of Vanitas), it’s one of the best shonen anime for beginners.

    FMAB is a bit grittier compared to the stylized Vanitas, but if you love one, you are likely to like the other too.

    Both are shonen works with interesting fighting sequences and humorous but also tragic moments. Themes such as the misuse of one’s power are also explored in both works.

  16. Mononoke

    Mononoke is the ultimate avant-garde anime to try out. It follows a mysterious man known as Medicine Seller who travels the world seeking monsters known as mononoke.

    To exorcize them, the Medicine Seller must interview them to find their shape, truth, and reasoning.

    This might remind you of Vanitas' process of rehabilitating vampires by discovering their true name.

  17. Undead Girl Murder Farce

    Undead Girl Murder Farce was a pleasant gothic surprise that fans of The Case Study of Vanitas will appreciate.

    The anime follows Tsugaru, a man known as the Cage User, who carries the severed, still-living head of Aya, an undead detective.

    Tsugaru and Aya travel the world to solve mysteries, including one about the death of a vampire while trying to locate Aya's body and punish the person who beheaded her.

  18. The Witch and the Beast

    The Witch and the Beast is another, newer, ultra-gothic anime, so if this is what you were watching Vanitas for, you're in luck.

    In The Witch and the Beast, Guideau and Ashaf are a beast and sorcerer duo.

    As they travel the world investigating and solving issues caused by witches, they hope to locate the one who cursed Guideau.

    Compared to Vanitas, The Witch and the Beast takes a less optimistic view of supernatural beings, but fans of gothic aesthetics might enjoy it regardless.

  19. Shadows House

    Shadows House's Victorian gothic mansion is a creepy place and its aesthetically pleasing animation might remind you of Vanitas.

    The story of Emilico, a "living doll" and her Shadow lady, Kate, isn't all that similar to that of Vanitas and Noe.

    That being said, Shadows House and The Case Study of Vanitas still feature similar sensibilities, including themes such as identity loss, brainwashing, and the need to find autonomy and freedom, both physically and mentally.

  20. The Ancient Magus' Bride

    The Ancient Magus' Bride is concerned with all the magical creatures one might encounter in British folklore, but it doesn't focus on vampires.

    Yet, the story of Chise Hatori shows us that the fantastic can be fun and whimsical.

    In that, it isn't dissimilar to The Case Study of Vanitas. Both are beautiful, colorful anime that grapple with hard themes, such as the loss of one's will to keep going.

    At the same time, both series maintain a hopeful attitude, featuring cross-species friendships and characters who are willing to fight for one another.

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