Scorned by his vampire peers for being born under a blue moon, it is said that the vampire Vanitas created a powerful grimoire known as the Book of Vanitas that would bring retribution to all crimson moon vampires. On his way to Paris, Noe is searching for this fabled book. While traveling aboard an airship, he is saved from a vampire attack by an eccentric man that claims to posses the Book of Vanitas and uses it to cure the attacking vampire that was driven rabid by a progressing event afflicting vampires called the Charlatan’s Parade.

It takes a minute to get going, but this series does find a way to make vampires interesting again. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like The Case Study of Vanitas, head on down below.

For Fans of Victorian Settings

D Gray Man

After three years training with one of their prestigious Generals that saved him as a kid, Allen Walker is finally ready to join the Black Order, an organization of exorcists that fight Akuma and their leader, the Millennium Earl. With their Innocence weapons, Allen and his fellow exorcist embark on a journey to stop the Earl’s plot of ultimate destruction.

While both series take place in a Victorian-inspired world filled with supernatural powered characters, you will note that D Gray Man has a more shounen style plot line. Vanitas keeps things relatively intriguing and unpredictable while D Gray Man is always walking to the next battle.

Pandora Hearts

Young Oz Vessalius is the heir to his noble house. However, during his coming-of-age ceremony, the Baskerville Clan comes to oust him from his seat and force him into the Abyss that he once thought fictional. Inside he finds it much like the stories so now he must learn to survive and escape this place infested with beings called Chains.

Pandora Hearts and The Case Study of Vanitas share a creator, and this is indeed one of those times where you will find a lot of themes and character types shared between the two. Pandora Hearts does have a distinct Alice in Wonderland theme, though.

The Mystic Archives of Dantalion

After losing his eccentric grandfather, Lord Hugh “Huey” Disward is set to inherit his estate, but on one condition. He must take over care of his grandfather’s archives full of forbidden knowledge and care for a mysterious girl named Dalian. However, he soon learns that the rival of his grandfather’s and his suspected killer are in the possession of a cursed tome causing problems in he world. Now with Dalian’s help, he must work to do what his grandfather failed to do – seal the tome away.

Both series revolve around a book that is essentially desired by all. However, The Mystic Archive of Dantalion is in pursuit of this book while The Case Study of Vanitas is about wielding it. It should be noted that there isn’t as much grand action in Dantalion.

For Fans of Vampire Action

Servamp

High schooler Mahiru Shirota dislikes difficult things, but things become a lot more trouble when he rescues a black cat from the middle of the road. Giving him the name Kuro, from that day onwards a contract between Mahiru and the servant-vampire Kuro is born, pulling them both into the war between the other servamps.

Both series focus on a vampire and a human who end up being partners. They dislike each other at first, but the chemistry grows over time. However, Servamp has a little more of a basic plot and lacks the same Gothic tones in setting.

Karneval

While searching for his friend, Nai falls prey to a beautiful woman with a taste for flesh. In this woman’s home, Gareki is robbing her blind while she is distracted. Happening across Nai, Gareki agrees to help him escape. Now on the run together, they are found by “Circus,” a government defense agency that deals with criminal activity too dangerous for the police. They primarily handle Varuga, flesh-eating creatures like the woman that chased them. The pair end up joining Circus and find themselves embroiled in a number of cases.

While not about vampires necessarily, Karneval features a duo that is handling incidents with man-eaters. In both series, you enjoy a creative and interesting world with a good split between action and atmosphere.

Seraph of the End

After a mysterious virus killed every human over 13 years old, the vampires rose up with a promise to protect the survivors. The only thing they asked in return is donations of blood. For Yuuichirou and Mikaela, they have grown tired of being livestock and pose a daring escape plan. It ultimately fails with only Yuuichirou left alive. However, after joining up with a mercenary company, he swears vengeance on the vampires, no matter the cost.

Both series are action anime surrounding vampires. Moreover, they are action anime about vampires that are actually interesting, mostly because they put the effort into creating unique worlds. Seraph of the End definitely prioritizes more grand action and less mystery, but they both do vampires in a way that makes you wish you had more anime like it.

For Fans of Heroes and Their Man Servants

Bungou Stray Dogs

The orphanage that Atsushi Nakajima has been living at has been recently plagued by a tiger that only he can see. Blaming him for the incident, they kick him out. Now homeless, he wanders the streets until he meets the eccentric Osamu Dazai and saves him from drowning. As it turns out, Dazai is a supernatural detective and agrees to help him solve the mystery.

While Bungou Stray Dogs has a distinctly different setting and atmosphere, like Vanitas, it is about a team handling supernatural cases. Many times, these cases end in battle that often end in an overwhelming display of force by the characters. However, the biggest similarity between these two is the dynamic that happens between the main characters.

Noragami

There will be times where you may happen across an odd phone number written in red. If you call it, you will get in touch with a young man who introduces himself as the Yato God. This Yato God is a minor deity and the self-proclaimed God of Delivery. He dreams of having millions of worshipers, but there isn’t a single shrine dedicated to his name. He spends his time doing odd jobs for spare yen until the day his weapons partner deserts him. Just as things are looking down, he happens across a young school girl that saves him from a car accident by taking the hit for him. She survives, but her soul becomes loose. Together they set out to find a way to tighten her soul back up.

While The Case Study of Vanitas and Noragami have different settings, they share a similar sort of comedy and relationship between the main characters. You will note that Yato and Vanitas act very similar, right down to the part where they get really badass and powerful when needed.

Black Butler

Young Earl Ciel Phantomhive is a noble in the service of Queen Victoria of England. Not only does he handle the business affairs of his family’s toy business, but he travels around solving mysteries that irk Her Majesty’s kingdom. However, he doesn’t do it alone. After the death of his parents and in his darkest hour, Ciel formed a pact with a demon to wreak vengeance on those that wronged him in exchange for his soul afterwards. Now this demon poses as his butler, Sebastian, a man with superhuman abilities.

The Case Study of Vanitas and Black Butler share a Victorian setting and a distinctly Gothic tone. However, Black Butler focuses on demons. Both series have main characters with questionable motives as well as create both interesting main and sidekick characters.

Do you have more anime recommendations like The Case Study of Vanitas? Let fans know in the comments section below.