After last week I was quite worried about Vanitas no Carte. The second ep left me pretty cold, but I have to say this one was one hell of a lot better – night and day, really. So naturally the manga readers seem to hate it – it apparently cut out quite a bit of detail, especially from the fight between Jeanne and Vanitas. But from this anime-only viewer’s perspective, it was a much more compelling episode and the narrative flow seemed greatly improved. One of those times where I’m glad not to have read the manga, I guess.
Whatever they did to the confrontation, I though it worked very well. Hanae Natsuki’s Vanitas performance still grates on me, but the character itself was a little more appealing – and makes a little more sense. His backstory is still a mystery but what’s clear is he’s pretty much fearless and a serial bluffer. Whether he actually got any power himself from the original Vanitas’ grimoire or not (I’m guessing no) he uses his brass balls to get the better of a vaunted warrior vamp in a fight. Using the cursed vampire as a tool was very clever, though the key part of the plan was using the book to create an area where Jeanne’s powers would be nullified.
As much of as jerk as he seems to be (and is) it’s worth noting that Vanitas did use Noe to make sure Luca (he lives on the second floor) would be safe from the effects of his magic. And the beauty of that was, he also used Luca as leverage against Jeanne – while he obviously never had any intent to hurt Luca, the act of protecting him looked exactly like the act of threatening him. Luca, for his part, does show his fangs when Vanitas puts the moves on Jeanne. The boy has a sense of chivalry to be sure, and clearly no small amount of power too – as I assume all noble vampires do – though we never get to see it put into action.
Was there anything to Vanitas’ rather crass “romantic” overtures to Jeanne, or was he just engaging in a little psychological warfare in anticipation of future confrontations? We don’t know him well enough to say for sure, I suppose. Unfortunately the man he saves ends up being killed anyway – by the creature that cursed him, Charlatan. Charlatan is known to Vanitas, and he immediately susses out that Orlok – who does agree to let Amelia live for now – wants to keep Vanitas close at hand to deal with the problem.
Fortunately Noe’s clan – the Archevistes – have the ability to read memories (of humans or just vamps, I wonder?) through their blood. Which he does, with Amelia, giving him (and us) a glimpse of Charlatan’s parade, which is clearly at the heart of this whole cursing thing. At this moment Dominique de Sade (Kayano Ai) – yes, those de Sade – arrives on the scene and promptly puts Noe in a neck chain, announcing she’s his fiancee. She’s apparently just a friend but intends on dragging him to the vamps’ alternate dimension Altus, for a masked ball – which Vanitas invites himself to and tags along.
This is all pretty interesting stuff – “Altus Paris” looks like a lot of fun. This was an episode where the world and characters in Vanitas no Carte came together, started to make sense. Mochizuki Jun’s DNA shone through much more strongly (especially through Dominique, a Mochizuki character is ever one existed). I’m struck in watching this show how Matsumoto Rie is, in effect, a kind of evolution of the Shaft style merged with Gainax – the Shaft aesthetic turned away from evil and to good – as you can see echoes of Bones’ Kekkai Sensen in Vanitas no Carte. Those echoes are a reminder of how much greater she is as a director than Itamura Tomoyuki, but being put in mind of BBB is not a bad thing at all. In sum, an excellent episode and I’m feeling a lot better about Vanitas no Carte than I was before it aired.
Aisha
July 17, 2021 at 7:09 pmMatsumoto Rie surely is great but this is the 2nd time I’ve heard if her with this episode, is she the episode director? And where has she disappeared to anyway, she hasn’t done much work after Kekkai Sensen which is a shame and gross waste of talent if she isn’t getting any work. Ive many times thought if Pandora was ever reanimated who should be the director and it always end up in a tie between Rie for her visuals or Yuzuru Tachikawa for his strength in handling emotions…as if I’m some anime committe CEO lol.
And I’m a manga reader and this is still my favourite episode but it maybe because the last I read these chapters properly was some 5 years ago and as far as I can see nothing of value was cut out but Noe’s blush on Jeanne. Maybe its a crush maybe it isn’t but something does stir in Noe seeing Jeanne up close but anime has been dropping a ball on this front which I don’t think is right because no way is hell it isn’t significant given again its Mochi Jun. but there are other opportunities to show it i guess so no loss?
Manga readers may also have an issue with cutting the fight because Mochi Jun told in an interview or tidbit that she put a lot of care into fights knowing her PH fights were neither practical nor that good. So to have only them cut specifically must smart.
Guardian Enzo
July 17, 2021 at 9:23 pmAs far as I know Matsumoto had nothing to do with this episode – it’s just that the style was extremely reminiscent of hers. And that put me in mind of how she actually has a bit of Shaft mixed in with her Gainax.
As to what Matsumoto is doing recently, well – she did do the ludicrously good Pokemon music video.
Nalani
July 17, 2021 at 8:27 pmKayano Ai is perfectly cast.
Dop
July 17, 2021 at 9:27 pmTop marks for the Suzanne Vega reference!
Guardian Enzo
July 17, 2021 at 9:51 pmJust don’t ask him how he is.
leongsh
July 18, 2021 at 12:23 amI like that while Vanitas plays out his eccentric fool side for all to see, he is definitely no fool. He’s a lot smarter and craftier that we see right now. Way more, I dare say. As such, I can see past the campiness of Vanitas. With this Altus Paris thrown into the mix, I see possibilities. Liking this enough to continue watching to the end.
Guardian Enzo
July 18, 2021 at 12:32 amHe could have been a force with the right seiyuu. As it is he teeters on the edge of irritating, though this week was better.
Aera
July 18, 2021 at 11:44 amI’m a manga reader, but I am enjoying this episode a whole lot. There were some omitted scenes, yes, but as far as I’m concerned the cut contents didn’t affect the story, so I’m okay with that.
For some reasons, I feel like the Shaft-ism in this episode is more apparent than the previous, so I’m surprised that you don’t feel bothered by that compared to the previous two episodes.
Really great episode, I had a lot of fun with this. I hope you continue covering this show!
Guardian Enzo
July 18, 2021 at 11:53 amI dunno… Maybe it was the Shaftiness putting me in mind of Matsumoto that made it feel less annoying.
wandering-dreamer
July 19, 2021 at 1:36 pmTo be clear, Vanitas wasn’t “looking out for Luca” or anything like that, he was just lying to Noe to make sure he and Luca stood far enough away to not be able to hear what he was saying to Jeanne and intervene (I mean, the two of them might’ve gotten caught up otherwise but that is purely a secondary, unconsidered reason, Vanitas is an ass through and through)
Guardian Enzo
July 19, 2021 at 3:14 pmSo the Luca thing was a lie to get Noe out of the way?
wandering-dreamer
July 20, 2021 at 8:48 amMore or less, although yes it would’ve been bad if Vanitas suddenly had two vampires coming at him
I’m just saying, no altruism here 😛
Guardian Enzo
July 20, 2021 at 9:39 amAbove and beyond the fact that he does seem to be going around saving cursed vampires, which seems somewhat altruistic in itself. And no, don’t clarify or elaborate – just speculating as a new viewer.