The Case Study of Vanitas has been one of the most highly-praised new anime series of recent seasons, as Studio BONES' adaptation of Jun Mochizuki's manga has charmed audiences and critics alike. For fans looking for the ideal next anime to watch after finishing the latest episodes of Vanitas, Mochizuki's previous work, the excellent Pandora Hearts, is a perfect fit.
Pandora Hearts started life as a manga and was serialized in Monthly GFantasy, the shonen magazine owned by Square Enix. The series proved immensely popular with readers and critics, leading to larger box set releases as well as an anime adaptation.
Pandora Hearts follows protagonist Oz Vessalius, the heir to the Vessalius Duke House who lives a very comfortable life. This house is one of the Four Great Dukedoms, given immense power by the world's royalty. On the day of Oz's coming-of-age ceremony, everything is normal until a giant clock, which hasn't moved for a century, suddenly restarts. Several people reveal themselves as a result and claim to be members of the Baskerville clan.
These people say Oz must be taken to the Abyss, a supernatural prison where monsters called Chains live. Oz doesn't care at first, believing the Abyss is merely an old wives tale meant to scare children. However, he is soon proven wrong as he is forced into the real Abyss.
Once there, Oz learns that he can make special pacts with the Chains by drinking their blood, which he does with a Chain named Alice. Also known as Bloody Black Rabbit, Alice then follows Oz on his mission to escape and learn more about the Abyss and the reasons behind the Baskerville clan's actions -- and why they described Oz's very existence as a sin.
Much like The Case Study of Vanitas, Pandora Hearts pulls heavily from classic literature for its story. While Vanitas primarily invokes Dracula, Pandora Hearts draws inspiration from classic fairytales and Victorian-era adventure stories, especially Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Both series deliver a fascinating mystery that will keep viewers guessing the entire time, drawing them into the story's world.
Pandora Hearts was adapted into an anime by Xebec (Zoids: Chaotic Century, To Love Ru), along with a nine-episode OVA. While the series is praised for its animation, some fans of the manga have criticized the anime's ending as it couldn't cover all 25 volumes of the original manga. Pandora Hearts was brought to the States thanks to NIS America and is available to stream via Funimation. The manga was first licensed and sold in America by Broccoli Books; however, when Broccoli ceased operations, the title was picked up by Yen Press, which continues to offer it to Western readers today.
Pandora Hearts is a fascinating series that reiterates how talented Jun Mochizuki is, and fans of The Case Study of Vanitas are pretty much guaranteed to love it as well. While the two are very different stories, they also feature many similar elements, all of which show off Mochizuki's strength as both a writer and a creator of memorable worlds.
