Anime exploring the realm of vampires is a well-trodden path, and Studio Shaft, renowned for series like “Puella Magi Madoka Magica,” is no stranger to this genre. Among their contributions is “Dance In The Vampire Bund,” an anime that, while possessing its merits, ultimately settles into a somewhat average standing within the vampire anime landscape. While personally enjoyable to a degree, “Dance in the Vampire Bund” is demonstrably imperfect, with its positive aspects often overshadowed by notable shortcomings. This review delves into the various facets of this anime to provide a comprehensive overview.
Story and Narrative: A Promising Premise?
Set in contemporary Japan, “Dance in the Vampire Bund” unfolds in a world where vampires have existed in secrecy for centuries. This hidden existence is shattered when Mina Tepes, the enigmatic ruler of all vampires, publicly announces their presence. Her declaration comes with a bold proposition: the creation of a designated vampire sanctuary known as the Bund. However, establishing this haven is fraught with challenges. Humanity, long conditioned to view vampires as monstrous figures, reacts with fear and hostility. Furthermore, dissent simmers within the vampire ranks themselves, with factions vying for dominance over humans rather than peaceful coexistence.
Alongside Mina, the narrative centers on Akira Kaburagi Regendorf, a young man grappling with amnesia. Akira’s life takes a dramatic turn when he discovers his true nature – he is a werewolf, and not just any werewolf, but Mina’s chosen guardian. This revelation propels Akira into Mina’s orbit. As his memories gradually return, he pledges his loyalty to her cause, joining her in the arduous task of forging peace between humans and vampires while confronting those who seek to sabotage this fragile accord.
The core concept of “Dance in the Vampire Bund” is undeniably compelling. It presents a supernatural race far more nuanced than popular perception, striving for acceptance in a world gripped by fear and prejudice. Yet, the anime’s execution falters. The pacing feels uneven from the outset. The premiere episode dedicates itself almost entirely to the vampire revelation, leaving Akira’s introduction until the subsequent episode. Exposition is sparse and often nebulous, leaving viewers to piece together crucial details. Moreover, the narrative leans heavily on tired anime tropes, incorporating elements like high school settings and a predictable love triangle. These elements, rather than adding depth, dilute the narrative’s potential, feeling uninspired and detracting from the central themes.
The narrative’s focus across the three key races – vampires, werewolves, and humans – is disproportionate. Vampires command the majority of the spotlight, with only a singular significant character representing the other two races. This imbalance is particularly glaring given the premise that human society would largely reject the vampire’s emergence. However, inter-species conflict between humans and vampires is surprisingly minimal. The most prominent human character, Yuki Saegusa, engages in conflict with Mina not out of racial animosity or fear, but due to a conventional romantic rivalry over Akira. This trivializes the potentially rich themes of societal prejudice and fear that the story initially hints at. A substantial portion of the anime’s runtime is dedicated to internal vampire power struggles involving Mina and other high-ranking vampires, making it feel indistinguishable from countless other vampire narratives. Adding to the narrative shortcomings, “Dance in the Vampire Bund” concludes without resolving key conflicts. Major antagonists remain undefeated, and the ending explicitly underscores that Mina and Akira’s mission is far from complete, leaving a sense of narrative incompleteness. In summation, the story, while conceptually rich, only realizes a fraction of its inherent potential.
Visuals and Animation: Striking but Flawed?
Visually, “Dance in the Vampire Bund” is a commendable achievement, especially considering its 2010 release year. Character designs are meticulously crafted and detailed, and the backgrounds are rendered with impressive artistry. However, the visual presentation is not without its drawbacks. A significant issue lies in the gratuitous fan service, much of which centers around Mina. Despite being centuries old, Mina is depicted in a childlike form for the majority of the series. Compounding this, when Mina transforms into her adult, true form, she is almost invariably depicted nude, with minimal armor strategically placed to cover her private areas – and even this is not consistently applied. The series also employs an odd camera technique, excessively panning across characters’ bodies and zooming in on specific features. While this technique can be effective in certain dramatic moments, it often comes across as awkward and gratuitous.
Sound and Dialogue: Atmospheric and Engaging
The soundtrack of “Dance in the Vampire Bund” effectively establishes a moody and atmospheric tone, though specific musical pieces within the episodes are not particularly memorable in isolation. However, the opening and ending themes are standout tracks, especially the opening theme. It is uniquely captivating, unlike typical anime opening songs, and compelling enough to warrant repeated listening at the start of each episode. Intriguingly, the series occasionally deviates from conventional structure by playing the ending theme at the beginning of an episode and the opening theme at the end, a structural choice rarely observed in other anime. The voice acting is another strong component. Monica Rial delivers a versatile performance voicing Mina’s two forms, and the English dub boasts a talented cast including Eric Vale as Akira, Alexis Tipton as Yuki, and notable voice actors like Colleen Clinkenbeard, Todd Haberkorn, and Patrick Seitz. Overall, the sound design stands out as one of the anime’s stronger attributes.
Characters: Underdeveloped Potential
Mina Tepes, as the central figure and Queen of vampires, embodies many traits associated with nobility. She is portrayed as haughty, assertive, confident, and prone to looking down upon others. She also exhibits a lack of modesty, unconcerned with being seen naked in either of her forms. Despite these dominant traits, Mina possesses a softer, more vulnerable side, though this is generally reserved for a select few, primarily Akira. While Mina is far from one-dimensional, her character development feels somewhat lacking, particularly concerning her backstory. Her relationship with the series’ antagonists is not explored in depth, and the rationale behind her decision to reveal vampires to the world and establish the Bund at this specific juncture remains unclear. Furthermore, Mina occasionally falls into the protagonist-centric trap of assuming her actions are inherently righteous and anyone opposing her is inherently wrong. This is particularly problematic given her willingness to engage in morally questionable actions throughout the series. While these issues do not entirely undermine her character, in the broader context of vampire characters in fiction, Mina remains somewhat underdeveloped.
Akira Kaburagi Regendorf is arguably the more compelling character, serving as the primary viewpoint character despite the narrative ultimately revolving around Mina. Introduced as an amnesiac teenager, Akira believes himself to be ordinary until his reunion with Mina reveals his werewolf nature and his role as her chosen guardian, bound by a past promise. As the story progresses, Akira’s memories resurface, clarifying his history with Mina and deepening his understanding of his feelings for her. This arc, while not groundbreakingly original, is effectively executed. Akira’s personality is generally kind and compassionate, especially in contrast to Mina’s imperious demeanor. He extends kindness to most people he encounters, not just a select few. However, he is also capable of ruthlessness and is willing to kill when necessary. Notably, Akira takes center stage in the final episodes, while Mina is relegated to a damsel-in-distress role, further solidifying Akira as the more engaging character.
Rounding out the main trio is Yuki Saegusa, a human girl who cared for Akira during his amnesia. She is explicitly portrayed as an ordinary human without supernatural abilities or hidden secrets. While this ordinariness allows her to represent the audience’s perspective, it also limits her agency in combat situations, relegating her to the sidelines during action sequences. Her primary narrative function is to provide a human viewpoint on the world of vampires and werewolves. Personality-wise, Yuki is likable, kind-hearted, and evolves from initial fear of vampires to understanding and accepting them through her interactions with Mina. She helps to humanize both Mina and Akira. However, her limited role in the overarching plot is a notable disappointment. Beyond the main trio, “Dance in the Vampire Bund” features a sizable supporting cast, including Mina’s entourage, Akira’s fellow werewolves, and other minor characters. Due to the anime’s concise 12-episode run, character development for the supporting cast, and even for the main cast, is limited, and few characters receive satisfying narrative closure.
Enjoyment: Gothic Horror with Light and Dark
A defining characteristic of gothic horror series is the expectation of visceral action and a dark, brooding atmosphere. “Dance in the Vampire Bund” delivers on both fronts, offering bloody action sequences and a consistently grim tone. It also ventures into sensitive subject matter, including themes of sexual coercion. Despite the pervasive horror and violence, the anime also incorporates lighter moments, particularly in scenes between Akira and Mina. However, the overall atmosphere remains intensely serious, with comedic relief being infrequent and fleeting.
Overall: Missed Potential in the Vampire Realm
“Dance in the Vampire Bund” serves as another example of an anime that hints at greater potential than it ultimately achieves. This is likely exacerbated by its adaptation of only a portion of the manga source material. It boasts an intriguing premise, competent action sequences, and commendable visuals, sound design, and voice acting. However, these strengths are unfortunately weighed down by a narrative that relies heavily on clichés and characters that, while interesting, are ultimately underdeveloped. “Dance in the Vampire Bund” is worth considering for dedicated vampire anime enthusiasts. However, even within that niche, series like “Hellsing Ultimate” or “Seraph of the End” arguably offer a more compelling viewing experience.
Score: 7.4/10
