Anime exploring the world of vampires is a well-trodden path, especially for Studio Shaft, renowned for productions like “Puella Magi Madoka Magica” and a history rich with vampire-themed series. Among these is “Dance in the Vampire Bund,” an anime that, while offering moments of enjoyment, ultimately settles into a rather average spot within the genre. Despite its captivating premise and some commendable aspects, the series is undeniably hampered by significant flaws, preventing it from reaching its full potential.
Story: A Bundled Mess?
“Dance in the Vampire Bund” unfolds in contemporary Japan, revealing a hidden world where vampires have existed in seclusion for centuries. This isolation shatters when Mina Tepes, the enigmatic ruler of all vampires, publicly announces their existence. Her ambitious goal is to establish a special vampire sanctuary known as the Bund, giving the anime its namesake. However, this endeavor is fraught with challenges. Humanity, steeped in fear and misconception, views vampires as monstrous figures. Furthermore, a faction of vampires themselves desires dominion over humans rather than peaceful coexistence.
Alongside Mina, the narrative centers on Akira Kaburagi Regendorf, a teenage amnesiac who discovers his true nature as a werewolf – yes, werewolves also inhabit this universe – and Mina’s destined guardian. This revelation propels Akira to Mina’s side. As his memories gradually resurface, he commits to aiding Mina in her quest to forge peace between humans and vampires, battling those who seek to sabotage this fragile accord.
The narrative’s core concept is undeniably compelling: a complex supernatural race striving for acceptance in a world that fears and misunderstands them. Yet, the execution leaves much to be desired. The pacing feels uneven; the initial episode dedicates itself almost entirely to the vampire revelation, delaying Akira’s introduction until the second episode. Exposition is sparse and often vague, and the series leans heavily on tired anime tropes, from high school settings to predictable love triangles. These elements, rather than enriching the narrative, detract from its potential, feeling stale and uninspired.
The story’s focus across the three races – vampires, werewolves, and humans – is markedly unbalanced. Vampires dominate the narrative, while the other two races are represented by only a handful of significant characters. This imbalance is particularly glaring given the series’ premise of human resistance to vampires. Surprisingly, inter-species conflict is minimal. The primary human character, Yuki Saegusa, clashes with Mina not out of fear or prejudice, but due to a conventional romantic rivalry over Akira. This drastically undermines the story’s thematic depth. A significant portion of the plot becomes entangled in internal vampire power struggles, making the series feel like a generic vampire narrative, losing the unique angle it initially hinted at. The ending offers little resolution; major antagonists remain undefeated, and it’s clear that Mina and Akira’s mission is far from complete. Ultimately, the storyline feels like a diluted version of its promising premise.
Art and Animation: Visually Striking, Occasionally Distracting
“Dance in the Vampire Bund” stands out as a visually appealing anime, especially considering its 2010 release. Character designs are detailed and refined, and the backgrounds are impressively rendered. However, the visuals aren’t without their drawbacks. Excessive fanservice is a noticeable issue, often centering on Mina, who, despite her centuries-old age, appears as a young girl. While she occasionally transforms into her older, true form, this transformation is almost always accompanied by nudity, with minimal armor strategically placed. The series also employs an unusual camera technique, panning and zooming across characters’ bodies, which, while effective in some scenes, often comes across as awkward or gratuitous.
Sound and Dialogue: Auditory Excellence
The soundtrack effectively creates a moody and atmospheric backdrop, although specific instrumental tracks may not be immediately memorable. The opening and ending themes, however, are exceptional, particularly the opening, which is strikingly unique in the anime music landscape and compelling enough to warrant repeated listens at the start of each episode. Adding to its distinctiveness, the series occasionally swaps the opening and ending themes, a rare occurrence in anime presentation. The voice acting is commendable. Monica Rial delivers a versatile performance as Mina’s two forms, and the English dub boasts a strong cast featuring Eric Vale (Akira), Alexis Tipton (Yuki), Colleen Clinkenbeard, Todd Haberkorn, and Patrick Seitz, among others. Overall, the sound design is undeniably a highlight of the series.
Characters: Untapped Potential in the Vampire Court
Mina Tepes, introduced as the vampire queen, embodies the expected traits of nobility. She is imperious, assertive, self-assured, and prone to condescension. She is also remarkably uninhibited, unfazed by nudity in either of her forms. Yet, beneath this regal exterior, Mina possesses a softer side, typically revealed only to a select few, notably Akira. Despite her complexity, Mina remains somewhat underdeveloped, particularly concerning her backstory. Her relationships with the primary antagonists are not thoroughly explored, nor is the rationale behind her timing for revealing vampires and establishing the Bund adequately explained. She also falls into the protagonist trap of assuming moral righteousness in her actions, while those opposing her are inherently wrong, a problematic trait given her morally ambiguous choices throughout the series. While these issues don’t completely undermine her character, she falls short of being a truly exceptional vampire character compared to others in the genre.
Akira Kaburagi Regendorf emerges as a personal favorite and the primary viewpoint character, even though the overarching narrative centers on Mina. Initially presented as an amnesiac teenager with only his name as a known fact, Akira believes himself to be ordinary. However, his reunion with Mina unveils his true identity as a werewolf and her chosen guardian, bound by a past promise. As the series progresses, Akira’s fragmented memories return, deepening his understanding of his history with Mina and solidifying his feelings for her. This journey constitutes a decent character arc, albeit not particularly groundbreaking. Personality-wise, Akira is generally kind and compassionate, especially in contrast to Mina, extending his kindness broadly rather than selectively. However, he is also capable of ruthlessness and lethal action when necessary. Interestingly, the final episodes shift focus to Akira, relegating Mina to a damsel-in-distress role, further emphasizing Akira’s appeal as a protagonist.
Rounding out the main trio is Yuki Saegusa, a human girl who cared for Akira during his amnesia. Notably, Yuki is presented as an ordinary human, lacking supernatural abilities or hidden secrets. While this allows her to serve as an audience surrogate, it also limits her agency in combat situations, often confining her to the sidelines. Her primary narrative function is to provide a human perspective on the world of vampires and werewolves. Yuki is portrayed as likable and kind. Initially fearful of vampires, her interactions with Mina lead her to realize their complexity, helping to humanize both Mina and Akira. However, her limited role throughout the series is a narrative disappointment. Beyond the central trio, a substantial supporting cast exists, including Mina’s entourage, Akira’s werewolf peers, and other peripheral figures. However, the series’ 12-episode length restricts character development, and ultimately, most characters, including the main cast, lack proper narrative closure.
Enjoyment: Gothic Horror with Light and Dark Shades
“Dance in the Vampire Bund,” as a gothic horror series, delivers on expected genre elements: bloody action sequences and a consistently grim atmosphere. It also ventures into sensitive themes, including sexual coercion. While horror and violence are prevalent, the series also incorporates lighter moments, particularly in scenes between Akira and Mina. Despite these lighter touches, the overall tone remains serious, with comedic relief sparingly used.
Overall: A Missed Bite
“Dance in the Vampire Bund” exemplifies an anime that could have been significantly more impactful. This is likely compounded by its adaptation of only a portion of the manga source material. It presents a promising concept, commendable action sequences, and strong visuals, music, and voice acting. However, these strengths are unfortunately overshadowed by a story burdened with clichés and characters who, while interesting, remain underdeveloped. It’s a worthwhile watch for dedicated vampire anime enthusiasts, but viewers seeking a superior vampire narrative might be better served by exploring options like “Hellsing Ultimate” or “Seraph of the End.”
Score: 7.4/10
