StrangenessAbound’s 見 & 漫 Page: Reviewing Dance in the Vampire Bund (anime and manga)

May I be so presumptuous as to say that vampires are a very popular subject in Japanese anime and manga these days? I’m certain some readers will be happy to know that this sudden leap in popularity owes nothing to the ripple effect of the Twilight series. ;)

The first volume of Dance in the Vampire Bund

The very popular, ongoing manga and anime series Dance in the Vampire Bund (ダンス イン ザ ヴァンパイアバンド) by Nozomu Tamaki is about a queen vampire, Mina Tepês, who desires to create a place of safety and community for all vampires living in a present-day, though alternate, universe. She creates that safe haven in Japan, called The Bund, against almost ridiculously impossible obstacles. What is a bund? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines bund as, “an embanked thoroughfare along a river or the sea especially in the Far East.” This fits perfectly because The Bund is just outside Tokyo and sits on the river.

The “focalizing narrator” is a seventeen year-old werewolf/human named Akira: at the beginning of the anime/manga, we see that he is just beginning a new job as a bodyguard to Mina Tepês. We quickly learn that there is a deep relationship between Akira and Mina Tepês – close enough to border on the romantic. But because Akira is the narrator, Mina’s true nature is obscured by the seemingly cruel acts she commands to take place in the interest of wiping out opposition. Even after The Bund has been established, her hold on her kingdom is tenuous and is threatened by a various, steady line of enemies to be fought. Be aware: if you do not enjoy gore or horror, this is probably not the manga/anime for you. :)

The manga is excellent, the art is aesthetically pleasing, the plotline creates serious tension, the characters are fully fleshed-out and plausible and the relationship between Mina and Akira is heart-wrenching. The first time I read this series, I pulled an all-nighter in trying to finish it. Please allow me a fangirl squee when I say that Akira is HOT!

The anime is a different story. I don’t hate the anime as some fans of the manga have said they have. But the creator of the anime did not follow the plotline or details of the manga as closely as I would have liked. The first episode took far too long to begin Mina’s story, but I enjoyed the small and appropriately placed comedic moments throughout the 12-episode show, which BTW, you can watch on YouTube for free.

I’d imagine that you’ve seen the front cover for the series by now and you’re saying to yourself, “Is that a kid?” Yes, Mina Tepês, the ruler of the modern-day vampires, appears to be a nine year-old girl (key word there ;) ). Because Mina appears to be small child, this anime/manga is often classified as Lolicon – a word derived from Lolita. Lolicon, as you can well imagine, is extremely controversial outside the anime/manga community, but is well-established and respected inside the anime/manga community. By no means do all members of the community enjoy or even like the Lolicon genre being present (I’m one of those that doesn’t particularly enjoy Lolicon, but I won’t push my personal preferences onto others), but there seems to be an atmosphere of respect for it, even in still-Puritanical America.

Suffice it to say that Dance in the Vampire Bund does not put the child (there’s your other hint) Mina Tepês in a sexual situation. She is seen, however, in very tight clothing, a bedsheet wrapped around her neck and is occasionally seen wearing a thong for underwear. But remember: Japanese culture does not always nudity with sexuality. Here, Mina’s infrequent near-nakedness symbolizes her freedom from her troubles of managing the vampire population. Her nudity is her freedom because later in the manga, Mina’s nudity is used against her (again, in a non-sexual situation), thus curtailing her freedom temporarily.

What gets outsiders to the anime/manga community bent out of shape is that whenever Mina is in a revealing state, much more often than not, Akira is in her presence. Akira blushes strenuously at first when he sees her like this, but Mina consistently brushes off his embarrassment and says often that her nakedness is a natural state of being and turns it around by saying that Akira is also naked when he transforms into a werewolf, despite the fact that he is strategically covered with fur. ;) The thing that the outside community needs to remember is that these are drawings – not real people. Additionally, the Lolicon genre reflects a desire – both in Japanese and American culture – to rebel against the norm. Mina is both a symbol of that rebellion inside the anime/manga and is a target of that same rebellion to those who consume Dance in the Vampire Bund.

Dance in the Vampire Bund is a highly-recommended read for anime/manga watchers/readers. The manga and anime have been licensed, so hit your local bookstore and see what you think about a solid, fun and cliff-hanging vampire story. The vampires here don’t sparkle and actually bite and attack humans. :D

If for any reason Dance in the Vampire Bund hits you wrong, please don’t hesitate to comment or e-mail me. I’m aware that I’m stepping out on a limb with this particular anime/manga, but I think it’s time to confront the Lolicon genre head-on, because it’s only going to grow in popularity – someone’s got to deal with it.

This Saturday, I will be at AnimeFest in Dallas, Texas! Stay tuned for a special update on how the convention went. :D