The story is set mainly in Paris. It begins on an airship headed there, where a vampire woman suddenly loses consciousness and attacks Noé. He tries to help her, but then the main character, Vanitas, appears. Using the Book of the Blue Moon, he restores her true name. Vanitas introduces himself as a doctor who specializes in curing vampires, and this is where he and Noé first meet. Vanitas then invites Noé to become his assistant in his mission.
The Book of the Blue Moon is central to the plot, as it’s tied to why vampires sometimes go rogue and lose control.
The anime runs for 24 episodes and was animated by Bone. It explores the fragile balance between humans and vampires, focusing on coexistence without war. Vanitas, a human who claims to inherit the legacy of the Blue Moon vampire, partners with Noé, a vampire himself. Together, they aim to cure afflicted vampires who fall into bloodlust and attack humans. Vanitas stands out as an unpredictable character with a hidden, tragic past that slowly unfolds. His “brother” (not by blood) plays a role too, though he’s frustratingly foolish at times. Jeanne, a popular female lead.
I really liked Vanitas as a character, and I was disappointed when the season ended with no news of a continuation. The manga only has 11 volumes so far, so another season will probably take time. This was the second vampire anime I watched after Seraph of the End. Both series carry a kind of bromance vibe, even though the author of Vanitas no Carte confirmed it’s not intended. Honestly, I was relieved that Noé never actually drank Vanitas’s blood—it would have been a dealbreaker for me. Still, I enjoyed both Seraph of the End and Vanitas no Carte. I’ve also watched Call of the Night, so I guess Vanitas makes it my third vampire anime… at least the third I can remember right now.