This Vanitas no Carte review contains spoilers. If you haven't seen the chapter yet, we recommend that you do it and then go back to read the review.
Chapter 10: "Cicatrice-Nº 69"
Vanitas welcomes Dr. Moreau cordially. To get information out of him, you have to flatter him and avoid confrontation. In this way they find out that Moreau has a mysterious and relevant patron for his experiments. However, Noah loses his temper and attacks him, leading him to run away with the man in the mask who appeared next to Charlatan and Naenia at the masquerade ball. Shortly before he leaves, the doctor asks Vanitas about the whereabouts of another boy, whom he calls 71, who apparently ran away with him and the Blue Moon vampire years ago.
A vampire with the malnoun "prédateur" appears from a sealed room. Noah helps Vanitas respond, but Vanitas says it's too late to save the cursed vampire. However, Noah insists and they eventually get into the shadow's mouth to heal the vampire inside. They do it for little money, but have to flee immediately because the laboratory explodes. So Roland asks them to flee in order not to be involved in interrogations so that he can deliver the cured vampires to Count Orlok. The young "chausseur" is enthusiastic that friendships between vampires and humans are possible and openly confesses his doubts to his partner Olivier. Outside, Vanitas and Noé are finally resting.
Eventually, after the ending, we discover that the character who protects Moreau is Lord Ruthven.
Analysis:
Vanitas no card closes the fall of the catacombs in its tenth installment. Indeed, the chapter offers quite a few moments that are worth analyzing, especially in relation to the characterization of Moreau and the reactions of Roland Fortis. On the other hand, as we noted in the previous review, the friendship between Vanitas and Noé manages to strengthen in the dark of the catacombs, or instead of strengthening, I would say that this is where it starts to forge. In previous episodes there is an insurmountable wall in Vanitas and an insatiable curiosity in Noé Archiviste, but when they come out they trust each other to rest and Noé asks deeper and more correct questions:
"Could it be that ... The one who search for Salvation more than anyone else who prays for them isn't Vanitas itself? "
There is a nice moment of reflection and calm. The ending is charged with melancholy, Noah's thoughts are accompanied by the melody, the slow falling of the leaves and an overflowing light that is reflected in the currents of the Seine. At this point we have to highlight the visual representation of the chapter: the animation had very nice moments full of color, movement and details. Specifically, two moments come to mind: in the throat of the "Prédateur" and in the aforementioned scene.
- The interior of the "malnomen" and the opening of the formula book were spectacular. There is a very important background graphic.
- The midday sun is overflowing, very realistic. The falling leaves have an amazing level of detail as you can see the drawing of the veins, the color is inconsistent and some of the falls are broken, pierced by insects.
The madman and the flatterer
Did someone remember the Earl of D. Gray man? Of course, when it comes to Moreau's design, and to save the enormous distances, because we are dealing with a very secondary and simple antagonist. Usually, encountering theatrical enemies is an anime classic, but there is one radical element that changes everything that I personally liked: the attitude of vanitas.
What Dr. What gives Moreau a certain freshness and originality is that, unlike other animes in which these characters are assumed to be "normal", Vanitas points to their madness as the character's fundamental impetus. No scandals, the vampire doctor is above all a doctor and knows how to adapt to the personality of others. Looking at Moreau like a madman twists everything: the madman is looked over the shoulder, we play along and learn from him who the real enemy is.
However, the personalities of Noah and Roland do not allow Vanitas to continue. This is not so much due to his lack of cold blood, but rather to his desire to defend his friend's honor.
Roland Fortis sketch
Roland Fortis is, without spoiling, a very unique character. Your mind and beliefs are open to accepting that your ideals were wrong with amazing abilities. Because the strength of the character does not come from the "chausseurs", but from himself. He has a direct relationship with God, whom he shapes according to his wishes.
The radical purity of his being makes him innocent and conscious at the same time - perhaps that is why he is so well connected to Noah. He smiles, he's cheerful and straightforward, but he also knows how to cut Olivier. One possible translation of what they are saying could be, “Ollivier, I don't care what the senior officials say. Let's see who comes up to me, I'll wait for him here ”. Yes, Roland smiles, but watch what he's up to.
Fortunately for our protagonists, this diabolical cherub has taken his side. ("Diabolic" in the sense that it is a formidable enemy).
Finally
One more week, Vanitas no card He inspires us with his storytelling, his story and the way he is animated. Noah and Vanitas befriend each other in the Catacombs, where Vanitas finally begins to reveal secrets to him and stops wandering through the mysteries that surround his life (or at least part of it). At the exit, Noé Archiviste ponders the questions about the vampire doctor and comes a little closer to the heir to the blue moon.
