The Case Study of Vanitas is delving into one of France's most infamous urban legends with the release of a trailer for Part 2's "Beast of Gevaudan" Arc.
Aniplex posted a video to YouTube to promote the return of the gothic fantasy shonen anime, letting fans take a peek at the latest events of the series. Set in the rustic French countryside of Gevaudan, Vanitas and his companions arrive to investigate sightings of a dangerous beast terrorizing the surrounding villages. Chloe d'Apchier, who was last seen in the ending scene of Part 1, also makes a brief appearance in the trailer, alongside the animated debut of characters such as Astolfo Granatum and Jean-Jacques Chastel.
The Beast of Gevaudan is actually an infamous legend of French origin, stemming from a series of grisly events that occurred in the area around modern-day Lozere. While The Case Study of Vanitas's reimagining of the beast will likely take some liberties concerning its origins, it appears that certain aspects of the monster's design were based on some of the real-life rumors that spread during the time-- such as the beast's black line atop its reddish coat of fur and its wolf-like features.
The Case Study of Vanitas is based on a manga written and illustrated by industry veteran Jun Mochizuki, who is also known for her other work, Pandora Hearts. The ongoing series began publication in 2015 on Square Enix's shonen magazine, Monthly Gangan Joker, with nine volumes released as of June 22, 2021. The story revolves around the titular Vanitas, a human who considers himself a doctor for vampires, who owns the legendary Book of Vanitas. With him is Noe Archiviste, a vampire who hopes to help Vanitas complete his research into a cure for Malnomen, a mysterious disease capable of driving vampires into a feral frenzy.
The anime adaptation was produced by animation studio Bones (Mob Psycho 100, My Hero Academia) and began airing in July 2021, under the direction of Monogatari series veteran Tomoyuki Itamura. It received a positive reception from its audience, with fans praising its subtle characterization, masterful soundtrack and engaging dialogue.
The Case Study of Vanitas Part 1 is available for streaming on Funimation and Hulu. Part 2 is scheduled to begin airing in Japan on Jan. 14, 2022.
Source: YouTube
