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
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.
Is The Case Study of Vanitas a BL Anime?
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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