when was the case study of vanitas made

• Anime Search
• Seasonal Anime

Recommendations

• 2024 Challenge
• Fantasy Anime League
• Manga Search
• Manga Store

Interest Stacks

• Featured Articles
• Episode Videos
• Anime Trailers
• Advertising
• MAL Supporter

Vanitas no Karte

The Case Study of Vanitas

Alternative Titles

Information, available at.

Streaming Platforms

• Characters & Staff

Characters & Voice Actors

Opening theme, ending theme.

Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases For December

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases* for December. Week 1: December 6 - 12 Anime Releases Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (Monthly Girls'... read more

Dec 13, 2022 3:17 PM by Aiimee | Discuss (1 comment)

PV Collection June 21 - 27

Here is a collection of promotional videos (PV), television ads (CM), and trailers for the last week. This thread excludes videos that have already been featured in ... read more

Jun 27, 2021 3:04 PM by Snow | Discuss (1 comment)

Recent Forum Discussion

More top anime.

• 1 Sousou no Frieren
• 2 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
• 3 Steins;Gate
• 5 Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 Part 2

More Top Airing Anime

• 1 One Piece
• 2 Tunshi Xingkong 4th Season
• 3 Holo no Graffiti
• 4 Meitantei Conan
• 5 Ninja Kamui

More Most Popular Characters

• 1 Lamperouge, Lelouch
• 3 Monkey D., Luffy
• 4 Lawliet, L
• 5 Roronoa, Zoro

The Case Study Of Vanitas - What We Know So Far

Avid manga readers have probably picked up, or at least heard of, "The Case Study of Vanitas." Set in 19th century Paris, the story's use of steampunk has produced gorgeous and unique art that puts one in mind of the ever-popular "Black Butler." However, the aesthetic isn't the only thing that makes this story interesting. Created by Jun Mochizuki ("Pandora Heart"), "Case Study" follows Noé Archiviste as he aids Vanitas on his journey to help vampires from giving into their predatory nature. It is not an easy task though, as danger lurks in every corner and a force called the Charlatan tries to corrupt the vampires before they can be saved. The series has appeared in Square Enix's "Monthly Gangan Joker" since 2015, and has since produced 8 volumes. 

Fans of "Case Study" will be pleased to know that Vanitas and Noé will be animated. The anime will be adapted by Bones Inc. Studio, which is known for producing popular series such as " Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood ," "Ouran High School Host Club" and, most recently, "My Hero Academia." Here is everything we know about "The Case Study of Vanitas." 

When will The Case Study of Vanitas be released?

According to Anime News Network , Aniplex revealed back in March that the anime adaptation of "The Case Study of Vanitas" was on its way. It was later announced that the series would premiere on July 2nd and will air across multiple TV networks (via  Crunchyroll ). In addition to Bones Inc., Tomoyuki Itamura of "Owarimonogatari" will be directing, while Deko Akao of "Snow White with the Red Hair" and Yoshiyuki Ito of "Carole & Tuesday" will be serving as the script overseer and the character designer, respectively.

The anime's official Twitter also recently attached a trailer , which features Vanita's book of healing, fights with vicious vampires , and of course, the stunning 19th century Paris in which all the action takes place. Fan reaction to the over minute-long teaser was overwhelming, with many merely responding with heart-eyes emojis and gifs to accurately express their excitement. 

With only a couple of weeks to go, viewers won't have to wait long to return to Vanita's world or venture into it for the very first time. 

What characters will be in the "The Case Study of Vanitas?"

"The Case Study of Vanitas" features a wide variety of characters, who add more to both the plot and various relationships. If the anime will cover the first 40 or so chapters, fans can expect many of these people to make an appearance. 

Vanitas is the current holder of the Book of Vanitas, and thanks to its powers, he can do amazing things, though he claims to be a normal human. Despite his seemingly carefree personality, Vanitas' childhood — his parents were murdered by a vampire and his guardian subjected him to painful tests — has shaped who he is and what he does. During his travels, he meets Noé Archiviste, a man seeking the Book under the orders of his teacher. Noé is very caring, and because of this, he travels with Vanitas, finding his mission to save vampires rather than kill them to be an honorable deed. 

On Noé's and Vanitas' journeys, they come across other friends and enemies. These include Jeanne, an enslaved vampire ordered to kill her own kind; Luca, a young vampire and son of the Grand Duke; Dominique, Noé's childhood friend who harbors unrequited feelings for him, and the Teacher, a cruel, mysterious, and ancient vampire that exploits his students. 

The series is also likely to expand on supporting characters responsible for leading the main cast into even more perilous situations. 

What will be the plot of "The Case Study of Vanitas?"

Noé Archiviste hopes to find the legendary Book of Vanitas, a relic with extraordinary powers. Aboard a 19th century blimp, he meets Vanitas, the newest inheritor of the ancient text. Together, they search for sick vampires and use the power of the book to heal them. 

Most animes' first seasons usually follow up to the manga's  sixth or seventh volume, so we can expect this series to do the same. Within those approximately 40 chapters, the adaptation will depict Noé's first meeting with Vanitas, how Vanitas utilizes the book to get the job done, the introductions of Luca, Jeanne, and Dominique, Noé's relationship with the mysterious Teacher, and the risks of dealing with bloodsuckers and the Charlatan that threatens to undo Vanitas' work and continue to corrupt any vampires. 

Though there are more than seven volumes currently published, fans will have to wait for the "Case Study of Vanitas" to get renewed if they want to see the next adventure animated.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Love Lies Bleeding Link to Love Lies Bleeding
• Problemista Link to Problemista
• Late Night with the Devil Link to Late Night with the Devil

New TV Tonight

• Mary & George: Season 1
• Star Trek: Discovery: Season 5
• Sugar: Season 1
• American Horror Story: Season 12
• Parish: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• Loot: Season 2
• Lopez vs Lopez: Season 2
• The Magic Prank Show With Justin Willman: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• X-Men '97: Season 1
• The Gentlemen: Season 1
• Palm Royale: Season 1
• Invincible: Season 2
• Quiet on Set:The Dark Side of Kids TV: Season 1
• American Rust: Season 2
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Steve! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces Link to Steve! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Box Office 2024: Top 10 Movies of the Year

MonsterVerse Movies and Series Ranked: Godzilla, Kong, Monarch by Tomatometer

Women’s History

Awards Tour

The Rotten Tomatoes Channel: Watch on Samsung, Roku, And More

The Visibility Dilemma

• Trending on RT
• Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
• 3 Body Problem
• Play Movie Trivia

The Case Study of Vanitas

Where to watch.

Watch The Case Study of Vanitas with a subscription on Hulu, or buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV.

Cast & Crew

Zeno Robinson

Tomoyuki Itamura

Naoki Amano

Executive Producer

Goro Ishida

Masanori Miyake

Popular TV on Streaming

Series info.

• USA & Canada
• Australia & New-Zealand
• Southeast Asia

• anywhere on the site
• in the encyclopedia
• in the forums
• remind me tomorrow
• remind me next week
• never remind me

The Case Study of Vanitas (TV 2)

Compare this anime's credits with others

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Anime anthology

Compare Credits

The spring 2024 anime preview guide, solo leveling anime gets 2nd season, hideaki anno leads space battleship yamato anime 50th anniversary project, cherry magic thirty years of virginity can make you a wizard anime series review, tis time for "torture," princess anime series review, the demon prince of momochi house anime series review, this week in games - dragon's dogma 2 and an interview with sand land producer keishu minami, exploring the world of the sand land video game, anime dad — how mamoru hosoda's films speak to me, tales of wedding rings episodes 1-12 streaming anime review, this week in anime - did birdie wing start a golf anime renaissance.

• Convention reports
• Press Releases
• Your Score for Recent Simulcasts
• Upcoming Anime List
• Upcoming DVD & Blu-ray
• Weekly Rankings
• Winter 2024 Preview Guide
• Daily Streaming Reviews
• Encyclopedia
• Subscribe »
• ANN:Connect
• Staff openings
• Privacy policy
• Copyright policy
• Advertise with ANN
• Report a Problem
• Bugs & Technical Questions Forum

The Case Study of Vanitas and Anime’s History of Seductive Gothic Horror

With its steampunk romanticism and ornate designs, The Case Study of Vanitas is another in a long line of shojo-style series' with horror overtones.

Premiering about a month ago,  The Case Study of Vanitas is a new anime from Studio Bones . Adapting a popular ongoing manga series,  The Case Study of Vanitas combines vampires, steampunk and 19th century France. This might make some viewers think they're in for an early Halloween fright fest, but the series is quite different from that.

With its elegant steampunk romanticism and ornate designs and clothing, The Case Study of Vanitas is another in a long line of shojo-style series' with vague horror overtones, like D-Gray Man . Now airing in Japan and the United States, here's what The Case Study of Vanitas  is about and how it's similar to previous Gothic anime.

What Is The Case Study of Vanitas?

The Case Study of Vanitas began as a manga in 2015, created by industry veteran Jun Mochizuki . It revolves around Noe Archiviste, a vampire who's made his way to Belle Epoque-era Paris. He meets Vanitas, a seemingly human doctor who has the knowledge and expertise to cure vampires of their bloodthirsty affliction. This puts him at odds with vampire society, but thankfully Noe is on his side.

RELATED: Persona 5: The Royal Is Perfect for an Anime Adaptation - Here's Why

Together, they team up in order to help other vampires who no longer wish to prey upon the innocent. Unfortunately, opposing their efforts is a force known as Charlatan, which is part of the reason behind the vampires' corruption. Published in  Monthly Gangan Joker , the manga so far has nine tankobon volumes . The anime adaptation was announced earlier this year, with it recently premiering both in Japan and in other countries through simulcasting.

The Case Study of Vanitas and Gothic Horror

With a spooky atmosphere and vampires galore, the horror elements of  The Case Study of Vanitas are pretty self-evident. What some might not expect, however, is everything else that the show does with this setup. The show is essentially a sort of shojo series, especially when it comes to the designs. Everyone is beautiful, and the elegant male characters are no exception. Likewise, there's much more of an emphasis on relationships, drama and the feel of the setting rather than any sort of action.

RELATED: Soul Eater: Will There Ever Be a Season 2?

This evokes other anime and manga such as  Black Butler ,  D-Gray Man ,  Pandora Hearts  and, to some extent,  Vampire Knight . These other works all had some manner of a supernatural premise, with vampires or ghouls being prominent. Also present in the art was a sort of stylized steampunk aesthetic, with the clothing often resembling a mixture of Japanese school uniforms and Victorian apparel. The time period that the shows are set in are also either truly Victorian or some facsimile of it through steampunk.

Tokyo Ghoul is another similar series given its premise and designs, but it's set apart due to its modern setting. The general aura is murky and grey while still being animated and dramatic, not unlike a much more romanticized Tim Burton film.

These series' sometimes have villains who are misunderstood, particularly charming or just plain elegant in their evil ways. This contrasts more overtly shonen or seinen-oriented equivalents such as  Hellsing , where enemies are more monstrous and the focus is on taking them out. Thus, while  The Case Study of Vanitas might seem scary and atmospheric on the surface, underneath is a breathtakingly beautiful series that's as magnificent as it is macabre.

KEEP READING: The Case Study of Vanitas Has a Serious Problem With Consent

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

The Case Study of Vanitas

• A human wields a magic book that can cure vampires of their bloodlust, and sets out to find vampires to cure with the book.
• There once lived a vampire known as Vanitas, hated by his own kind for being born under a blue full moon, as most arise on the night of a crimson one. Afraid and alone, he created the "Book of Vanitas," a cursed grimoire that would one day take his vengeance on all vampires; this is how the story goes at least. Vanitas no Carte follows Noé, a young man travelling aboard an airship in 19th century Paris with one goal in mind: to find the Book of Vanitas. A sudden vampire attack leads him to meet the enigmatic Vanitas, a doctor who specializes in vampires and, much to Noé's surprise, a completely ordinary human. The mysterious doctor has inherited both the name and the infamous text from the Vanitas of legend, using the grimoire to heal his patients. But behind his kind demeanor lies something a bit more sinister. — MAL Rewrite

It looks like we don't have any synopsis for this title yet. Be the first to contribute.

Contribute to this page

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More from this title

More to explore.

Recently viewed

• Clan of the Blue Moon
• View history

Vanitas (ヴァニタス, Vanitasu ) is a protagonist and the titular character of Jun Mochizuki 's The Case Study of Vanitas . Contrary to the legend of Vanitas of the Blue Moon , Vanitas claims to be "an average human being" who happened to inherit the Book of Vanitas . It is his stated intention to save the Vampire race by any means possible, using the Book of Vanitas not to spread Malnomen but to cure it. As such, he refers to himself as a doctor who specializes in Vampires. He commissions the help of Noé Archiviste , a Vampire sent by his teacher to research the Book of Vanitas and the series' narrator, in finding cases of Malnomen and curing them. [1]

Originally the child of a former doctor and a performer, Vanitas's biological mother died in childbirth, leaving him to be raised by his father and the traveling players he worked with. Their party was eventually attacked by Vampires, leaving Vanitas as the only survivor. Subsequently, he was picked up by the Catholic Church , and trained to be a Chasseur . However, his death was faked by Doctor Moreau , [2] and he was kept as a test subject, renamed No. 69. [3] There he would meet Mikhail , known as No. 71, and come to regard him as a younger brother. The two were subjected to inhumane experimentation in hopes of turning them into Vampires, all to no avail. Eventually, it was revealed they had received the blood of the Vampire of the Blue Moon, being the only human subjects not to reject it. This gave them abilities somewhat beyond normal human capacity, allowing them to heal slightly faster. The two were to be forcibly linked to the Books of Vanitas in a procedure which would destroy their minds, but were rescued by Vanitas of the Blue Moon. [4]

Desperate, Vanitas and Mikhail went along with Vanitas of the Blue Moon, and were taken as their adoptive children. While Mikhail quickly warmed up to his new guardian, Vanitas remained distrustful, despite taking an active role in supporting them and Mikhail. After some time had passed, Vanitas of the Blue Moon confessed that Vanitas and Mikhail would likely soon die due to the strain the Moreau's experiments had put on their bodies. They said that, lacking any other options, the two could be saved by becoming the Vampire's Kin . While Mikhail, whose body had begun to break down, quickly accepted, Vanitas vehemently refused. He killed the Vampire of the Blue Moon after being Marked , in an event he believed to have killed Mikhail, thus leading him to believe he was the only legitimate Kin of the Blue Moon. [2]

• 1 Appearance
• 2 Personality
• 3 Powers and Abilities
• 5 Appearances
• 7 References
• 8 Navigation

Appearance [ ]

Vanitas is a slender, androgynous young man of average height. He has pale skin, large, expressive eyes, a round face, and a small chin. So blue are his eyes that they are used as an immediately identifiable trait, compared to the color of copper sulfate . An upper left canine tooth is especially pronounced, giving the appearance of fangs when his teeth were visible, though they are not as pronounced as vampires' fangs. His hair is long, black, and irregularly cut, his bangs falling into the center of his face. On either side of his face, his hair is straight cut, the left side to one level and the right side to two. Though he at times appears to wear a ponytail, his hair usually sits freely, the hair on either side of his head cut shorter than that down the middle. One cowlick sticks up from the right side of his head. Both of his ears are pierced, a simple stud worn in his right ear, while his left ear is pierced with a silver (gold, in the anime) hourglass-shaped earring that he inherited from Luna, and two rings through the helix.

Vanitas's reference sheet from volume 2.

While Vanitas wore several outfits over the course of the series, he usually wears a white shirt over black pants, a dark blue striped vest, a large blue bow tie, and an oversized black coat. As accessories, he wears a long, wide ribbon tied into a bow as a belt, short boots with white spats, and black gloves with claws embedded at the fingertips. His coat is long, with a wide collar and a single button, large enough to frequently fall over one shoulder. At its hem, it takes a baloon-like form, and is joked to float "through some mysterious power." Its sleeves are someone based on those of a furisode kimono . To his belt, he straps the Book of Vanitas, two knives, and two tool cases. His outfit is called "the outfit nobody understands." [5]

As a child, he looked much the same, though his hair was less cleanly cut. He was thin and physically diminutive, despite his active training as a chasseur. Prior to being Marked by Vanitas of the Blue Moon, his eyes were a darker shade of blue.

Personality [ ]

Vanitas seems to take nothing seriously, and almost always has a playful grin on his face. He acts impulsively most of the time, and his plans are normally reckless. Vanitas carries a mischievous air around him. He finds utmost amusement in Noé's abnormal reactions to things. However, he is capable of showing seriousness when the situation called for it, as well as anger. He is very flirtatious, as seen in the way he behaves around Jeanne.

Beneath his flippant attitude, Vanitas is a broken man who despises both humans and vampires, but hates himself more than either. Vanitas hates being vulnerable around people, refusing to go to sleep around anyone he doesn’t trust. He likes high places and is often seen hanging around rooftops.

Powers and Abilities [ ]

General: As a mere human, Vanitas is more often than not significantly less powerful than those around him who are Vampires , at least physically so. While he is demonstrably fit, athletic, and spry, his strength, speed, and endurance are only that of an average human being and no more. The exception is the rate at which he heals from injuries, which is accelerated due to Doctor Moreau 's experimentation. [4] To compensate for his generally inferior physical strength, Vanitas is extremely sharp, clever, and resourceful in battle. He can analyze situations and come up with appropriate solutions and counterattacks very fast, even in the middle of a dangerous battle. He makes use of every resource available to him and is not afraid to use underhanded tactics, to the dismay of those around him. [6]

Weapons: Vanitas's main weapons are a pair of knives whose hilts are rigged with wires. In addition, stored in some pockets on his belt are various "cheaters' implements" which he uses both in and out of battle. He has a tendency to try and keep his weapons and tools hidden, to allow himself the additional element of surprise should he need it, adding to his devious trickster-like fighting style. [5] He is also skilled in gathering information about his enemies and putting that to use in battle against them. [7] He favors being prepared and constantly having the upper hand against his enemies.

Chasseur Training: Vanitas's proficiency in combat seems to have originated from his training as a Chasseur. In addition to his combat abilities and weapons training, his brief time with the Chasseurs taught him in great detail the methods of fighting a Vampire. He knows that, as their eyes are the conduit with which they can access and rewrite the World Formula , the first step is to aim for a Vampire's eyes. [8] He has utilized this knowledge not only against Vampires he's attacked [2] but also against Chasseurs who have attacked him. [9] He also, through unknown means, has access to the drugs Chasseurs use to boost their physical abilities. He only uses them in the rare scenario where he has no choice but to fight a Vampire to the death. [10]

The Book of Vanitas : The main source of Vanitas's power is the Book of Vanitas and his control over it. The main method in which he uses the Book is in healing curse-bearers with what he calls an "Inverse Operation" ( 逆 ( ぎゃく ) 演 ( えん ) 算 ( ざん ) , Gyaku Enzan ). Contrary to Vampires' common belief and fears about the curse of the Blue Moon and the related Book, Vanitas uses the Book to interfere with True Names and heal them, extracting the Maladies that warp them into Malnomen . [1] He can also, before doing so, use the Book to identify exactly what Malnomen it is, though just as often Vanitas can name said Malnomen at the top of his head. This inverse operation requires a high amount of proficiency from the user, as the only other to own a Book of Vanitas cannot interfere with True Names on such a level. [11] On rare occasions the Malnomen will be too strong for him to heal on his own, and he will require the curse-bearer in question to reject it of their own volition and call upon the power of his Mark of Possession to complete the operation. [12]

Vanitas does not only use the Book for saving however, it is also his main weapon in battle. As the Book of Vanitas is able to rewrite the World Formula at will, he can use it to a variety of purposes. He can stun Vampires and render them immobile for a short period of time, [13] though a Vampire strong enough may be able to gain mobility sooner. [6] He can also interfere with Astermite , which allows him to manipulate automatons to do his bidding, go haywire, [14] even explode at his will. [15]

Menial: Aside from combat, Vanitas also has a number of skills in other areas of expertise. Despite his status as a doctor being largely self-proclaimed, Vanitas has had clear medical training and experience, likely from being raised by his doctor of a father. [2] He knows how to perform first aid, how to treat poisons, [16] and carries various medicines around with him. [5] He also knows a number of other practical skills, including how to cook, how to clean, [2] and has various knowledge about French history and culture, [17] even minor trivia such as different apple desserts. [18] He is familiar with the Latin language, likely the result of both his upbringing in the Church and his medical knowledge.

• “—Non! I am a doctor. One who specializes in Vampires. I came… to heal her!” [1]
• “I am Vanitas. I inherited this Book and the name from the Vampire of the Blue Moon, and I am… an average human being ! Lend me your strength, Noé!” [1]
• “I’ll do as I please… use methods I choose… and, no matter what you people want… I will save you without fail!!” [1]
• “You gave yourself something to protect. That’s why you’re weak.” [6]
• “But rest assured. There’s nothing to fear. You are truly fortunate! I—! I, who am Kin to the Blue Moon!! I tell you I will use the Book of Vanitas not to slaughter but to save you!! All you have to do… is tremble with humiliation and be saved!!” [19]
• “…No real reason. Right now… you could say I don’t much care what happens.” [20]
• “I have absolutely no interest in the sort of person who would fall for me.” [21]
• “Listen! I never act against my own wishes. The fact that I’m with the Vampires, that I infiltrated this place, that I just hurt you—I did it all of my own free will!” [9]
• “…If you ask me… there’s not much difference between humans and Vampires. They’re all terribly ugly, endlessly selfish creatures.” [14]
• “I… am a doctor. I am here to save Vampires!” [22]
• “Once there were no more curse-bearers, I stopped caring.” [22]
• “If that time comes, I’ll kill you. I promise… I’ll kill you. I love you. I’m the one who’ll make your wishes come true. It has to be me. So, Jeanne… there’s nothing to worry about.” [17]
• “I’m going. If there’s a chance I might find a curse-bearer, I’ll go anywhere.” [23]
• “‘Archiviste.’ I’m only going to say this once, so listen up. If you so much as try to drink my blood… I’ll kill you. Is that clear?” [23]
• “I came here to save Vampires. Are you here for some other reason?” [7]
• “‘Revenge is pointless, so don’t attempt it. It won’t make anyone happy.’ Is that what you’re getting at?” [24]
• “I’m telling you I’ll act on the assumption that you’re going to convince me . If you want them treated… make me feel like treating them.” [24]
• “I love you. I’m the one who’ll make your wishes come true. It has to be me. So spit it out. Tell me what you really want. No matter how trivial it is. Whether it’s an ugly emotion… or even a curse… I’ll accept it for you!” [25]
• “I know that face . It’s self-satisfaction… and self-absorption. The face of someone who’s made an arbitrary decision to die alone. It makes me sick!” [26]
• “Chloé d’Apchier!! Either vanish with this world… or live on in humiliation! Choose however you like!! Even if you survive, you’ll never regain your honor. The Church will never admit to the truth of the past, and you’ll continue to be hounded as the Beast. It’ll be hell either way! Even so—you make the choice!!” [12]
• “Don’t hesitate, Noé. Don’t think about whether Astolfo’s hate is justified or not. Both humans and Vampires act on their own concepts of justice. One’s just can be someone else’s evil. ‘Being right’… is ‘power.’ It can easily turn into violence that’s much harder to deal with than malice. Don’t brandish it. Keep it inside. Justice should merely be the light that illuminates the path ahead of you.” [12]
• “This isn’t about what’s ‘right.’ Base what you do on what you can’t concede. At any rate… in your case, that will work.” [12]
• “It’s revolting! The thought of someone falling for a person like me…” [27]
• “I’ll never become your Kin. No matter what. Even if I knew I’d die tomorrow… I want to stay human until the end.” [2]
• “Bring them… back to life? Don’t even joke about that. I’ve been working to erase their existence entirely. Do you have any idea… how much I’ve—!!” [10]
• “Enough of that. You’ve gotten the wrong idea about something. You and I were only working together because our interests happened to align. We’re strangers. If the other stops being useful, cut him loose. If he gets in the way, kill him. That’s all we are, and you know it.” [10]
• “‘If anyone tries to take my memories… no matter who they are… kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Without fail. Kill… Noé. Kill that Vampire !!’” [10]
• “…Why… can’t I… kill… Why!? Wh… why…?” [28]
• “I’ll never forgive Luna. I’ll erase every last fragment of the Vampire of the Blue Moon’s existence. I’ll consign them to oblivion. That… is my ‘revenge.’” [29]
• “If I— …get to choose how I die… If I can… wish, then… If I’m going to be killed I want Noé to do it.” [29]
• “As for the rest… nothing will change. I am a doctor. I’ll keep on treating curse-bearers. I’ll do as I please. I’ll save the Vampires, for the sake of my revenge.” [29]
• “He acts as if he prefers to resolve problems by talking them out… but he gets violent first thing. He marches right into others’ personal space with his muddy boots. He’s much too stubborn. What can I do but back down!?” [30]

Appearances [ ]

• Mémoire 1: Vanitas — In the Event of Rusty Hopes (First Appearance)
• Mémoire 2: Noé — In the City of Flowers
• Mémoire 3: Jeanne — The Hellfire Witch
• Mémoire 4: Femme Fatale — Love
• Mémoire 5: Archiviste — Fangs That Reveal Blood
• Mémoire 6: Altus — Other World
• Mémoire 7: Bal Masqué — Night of Sneering Masks
• Mémoire 8: Louis — Sinking in a Pool of Blood
• Mémoire 10: Salvatio — Uncertainty
• Mémoire 11: Deux Ombres — Point of Departure
• Mémoire 12: Pause 𝄻
• Mémoire 13: Glissando — Glissando
• Mémoire 14: Catacombes — Where the Dead Sleep
• Memoire 15: Chasseur — Those Who Hunt Crimson
• Entracte: Chambre d'enfants — A Dream of the Sound of Rain
• Mémoire 16: Galop — At the End of the Riot
• Mémoire 17: Cicatrice — No. 69
• Mémoire 18: Dos à Dos — The Shape of Salvation
• Mémoire 19: Serment — Spell-bound
• Mémoire 20: Serment — Promise (Part One)
• Mémoire 21: Serment — Promise (Part Two)
• Mémoire 22: Hurler — A Calling Voice
• Mémoire 23: Au Pas Camarade — Pace
• Mémoire 24: Forêt d'argent — Chance Encounter
• Mémoire 25: Endroit Approprié — Melee
• Mémoire 26: Dissonance — Creaking Laughter
• Mémoire 27: Cage de Neige — Dregs
• Mémoire 28: Dal Segno — Question Mark
• Mémoire 29: Chateau de Sorcière — The Witch and the Youth
• Mémoire 30: Strascinando — Tremolo
• Mémoire 33: Cauchemar — Rumble
• Mémoire 34: Jean-Jacques — The Vampire of the Chastels (Part One)
• Mémoire 34.5: Jean-Jacques — The Vampire of the Chastels (Part Two)
• Mémoire 35: Louisette — Pillar of Justice
• Mémoire 37: Vengeance — Hands That Touch a Nightmare
• Mémoire 38: Naenia — She Who Harbors Death (Part One)
• Mémoire 38.5: Naenia — She Who Harbors Death (Part Two)
• Mémoire 39: Poupée Fissurée — The Essence of the Witch
• Mémoire 40: Avec Toi — Alone Together
• Mémoire 41: Canorus — Snow Flower
• Mémoire 42: Encore une Fois — Love
• Mémoire 43: Encens Restant — Lingering Scent of the Dream
• Mémoire 44: Mal d'Amour — The Incurable Illness (Part One)
• Mémoire 45: Mal d'Amour — The Incurable Illness (Part Two)
• Mémoire 46: Un Autre — Scar
• Entracte: Jours Bruyants — Tales of Lost Children
• Mémoire 47: Hétérogène — Sneering Laughter*
• Mémoire 48: Rencontre — Blue Night*
• Mémoire 49: Douleur — Kind Child
• Mémoire 50: Petrichor — The Thread That Reels in the Past
• Mémoire 51: Tempest — A Silent Scream
• Extra: The Case Study of Vanitash!!!! —Expanded Edition— (Non-Canon)
• Mémoire 52: Sens Unique — Fall
• Mémoire 53: Pleuvoir — Rain Which Doesn't Know the Sky
• Mémoire 54: La nuit sans lune — Dark Night (Part One)
• Mémoire 54.5: La nuit sans lune — Dark Night (Part Two)
• Mémoire 55: Après la pluie — His Wish (Part One)
• Mémoire 55.5: Après la pluie — His Wish (Part Two)
• Mémoire 56: Faire un gâteau — Bittersweet
• Mémoire 57: Au Revoir — Again, Someday
• Mémoire 58: Observation — The Darkness in Between
• Mémoire 60: Bonne journée — Sweets, Complaints, and Reconciliation
• Entracte: Couche — On Clothing
• Mémoire 61: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part One)
• Mémoire 61.5: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part Two)
• Mémoire 62: Bourdonnement — Wingbeats of Scattered Thought (Part One)
• Mémoire 62.5: Bourdonnement — Wingbeats of Scattered Thought (Part Two)
• Mémoire 1: Vanitas -In the Event of Rusty Hopes- (First Appearance)
• Mémoire 2: Noé -In the City of Flowers-
• Mémoire 3: Archiviste -Fangs That Lay Bare Blood-
• Mémoire 4: Bal Masqué -Night of Mocking Masks-
• Mémoire 5: Réminiscence -Friends-
• Mémoire 6: Salvatio -Questions-
• Mémoire 7: Femme Fatale -Love-
• Mémoire 8: Catacombes -Where Death Slumbers-
• Mémoire 9: Chasseur -Those Who Hunt Crimson-
• Mémoire 10: Cicatrice -No.69-
• Mémoire 11: Serment -Promises-
• Mémoire 12: Deux Ombres -Point of Departure-
• Mémoire 13: Forêt d'argent -Chance Encounter-
• Mémoire 14: Château de Sorcière -The Witch and the Young Man-
• Mémoire 15: Oiseau et ciel -The d'Apchiers' Vampire-
• Mémoire 16: Chasse aux Vampires -The Beast-
• Mémoire 17: Vengeance -Hands Upon a Nightmare-
• Mémoire 18: Avec Toi -Just the Two of Us-
• Mémoire 19: Canorus -Snow Flower-
• Mémoire 20: Mal d'amour -The Incurable Disease-
• Mémoire 21: Un Autre -Scars-
• Mémoire 22: Rencontre -Blue Night-
• Mémoire 23: Pleuvoir -Tears like Rain-
• Mémoire 24: Après la pluie -His Wish-

(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.

• "Vanitas" is an artistic term referring to a symbolic work of art showing the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death, often contrasting symbols of wealth and symbols of ephemerality and death. It derives from the Latin word "vānitās" which can translate to "emptiness," "nothingness," "falsity," or "vanity" in English. [31]
• Vanitas shares a character song with Noé, Le Formidable! , sung by their Japanese voice actors and composed by Sasanomaly.
• Around the Chasseurs, Vanitas uses the French name "Vincent" (in Japanese, ヴァンサン, Vansan ) as an alias. This is likely a reference to Vincent Nightray (using the English pronunciation, in Japanese, ヴィンセント, Vinsento ), a recurring antagonist from Mochizuki's previous series, Pandora Hearts .
• That said, oysters seem to be a favorite food of his. [32]
• According to an interview with Jun Mochizuki, Vanitas was going to be a vampire. The fangs from his design are something that remains from that original idea. [33]

References [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mémoire 1: Vanitas
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Mémoire 49: Douleur
• ↑ Mémoire 47: Hétérogène
• ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mémoire 48: Rencontre
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Volume 2 Additional Content: Vanitas reference sheet
• ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mémoire 4: Femme Fatale
• ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mémoire 25: Endroit Approprié
• ↑ Mémoire 14: Catacombes
• ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mémoire 15: Chasseur
• ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Mémoire 50: Petrichor
• ↑ Mémoire 54: La nuit sans lune (Part One)
• ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Mémoire 41: Canorus
• ↑ Mémoire 3: Jeanne
• ↑ 14.0 14.1 Mémoire 16: Galop
• ↑ Mémoire 51: Tempest
• ↑ Mémoire 27: Cage de Neige
• ↑ 17.0 17.1 Mémoire 21: Serment (Part Two)
• ↑ 18.0 18.1 Volume 3 Omake: "Apple desserts"
• ↑ Mémoire 7: Bal Masqué
• ↑ Mémoire 8: Louis
• ↑ Mémoire 12: Pause
• ↑ 22.0 22.1 Mémoire 18: Dos à Dos
• ↑ 23.0 23.1 Mémoire 23: Au Pas Camarade
• ↑ 24.0 24.1 Mémoire 34.5: Jean-Jacques (Part Two)
• ↑ Mémoire 39: Poupée Fissurée
• ↑ Mémoire 40: Avec Toi
• ↑ Mémoire 44: Mal d’Amour (Part One)
• ↑ Mémoire 53: Pleuvoir
• ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Mémoire 55.5: Après la pluie (Part Two)
• ↑ Mémoire 60: Bonne journée
• ↑ Wikipedia: Vanitas
• ↑ Volume 5 Omake: "What Mademoiselle Amelia saw!"
• ↑ Anime da Vinci Interview

10 Amazing Anime Ruined By Romance

A n essential part of countless narratives, romance is an alluring story component that often inherently enriches any tale. Romantic subplots are common even in series that have nothing to do with love at first glance, making their way into battle shonen and horror spectacles.

RELATED: 10 Anime Couples That Outshined The Main Couple

A romantic bond can be a natural progression of a relationship between two characters, and most fans eagerly welcome shows to explore their heroes' love lives. However, not every anime benefits from a romantic subplot. At times, romance in anime can come off as forced and needless. The inclusion of romance ruined otherwise incredible anime like Naruto and Sword Art Online .

In most battle shonen anime, endgame romance often feels like an afterthought. The characters who end up together rarely have any chemistry, and fans are left wondering why the author deemed adding their romantic subplot necessary. Naruto 's Sasuke and Sakura are the most notorious examples of this annoying trope.

RELATED: 10 Naruto Couples That Make More Sense Than Sakura And Sasuke

While Sakura pined over Sasuke for the entire series, he never reciprocated her feelings. So, when Naruto ended up pairing them up, most fans felt like the addition of romance nullified their previous character development.

The Case Study Of Vanitas

According to its author, Jun Mochizuki, The Case Study of Vanitas was supposed to be more romance-heavy than her previous hit, Pandora Hearts . Yet, most fans grew to resent the show's romantic subplots as one of the weakest aspects of this riveting vampire shonen.

The series' main couple, the cunning vampire doctor Vanitas and an enslaved vampire Jeanne, has a creepy dynamic. The protagonist forces his lover into romantic encounters while disregarding her feelings, and viewers may see their love story as a needless distraction from the series' plot.

No Game No Life

During the height of the isekai boom, No Game No Life set a standard for the genre in terms of world-building and visual uniqueness. The story of two immensely intelligent siblings taking over a fantasy world based on their gaming prowess captivates fans to this day.

RELATED: 10 Best Isekai Anime That Are Not For Everyone

However, the angle of the relationship between Sora and Shiro remains the most controversial aspect of an otherwise objectively incredible series. Despite being step-siblings, Sora and Shiro share a disturbing romantic closeness, which feels even more creepy in light of their big age gap.

Like most shojo series of the early 2000s , Glass Mask couldn't stay away from sprinkling some romance into its storyline about young stage-acting prodigies. Yet, it's obvious that love was never intended to be the series' focus, as it only drags the attention away from Maya and Ayumi's rivalry.

The love interests in Glass Mask are as bland as they get, serving little to no purpose outside of filling in the roles of stock romantic partners. The viewers and the heroines are more interested in acting than in love.

Sword Art Online

Most anime fans have strong opinions about Sword Art Online . Some regard it as incredible, while others bash it as awful. However, most agree that the series would've been far better without romance. It drags the inventive concept of surviving in an MMORPG-based fantasy world into the territory of cheap melodrama and wish fulfillment.

Sword Art Online 's main couple, Kirito and Asuna, is bland and generic , with little personality present in both characters. And Kitito's attempts to drag even more girls into his harem make their love feel even less sincere.

Windy Tales

Many anime series that would've been great without any romantic subplots feel obligated to include a token couple, even if love does not benefit the story otherwise. Miki and Jun from Windy Tales are a couple of conveniences, declared to be in love despite never acting upon it.

This supernatural slice-of-life series could serve its purpose just as well, if not better, without their relationship. Every time Windy Tales tries to bring attention to Miki and Jun's supposed love, it feels forced and unnatural.

Tokyo Ghoul

Most popular shonen and seinen anime suffer from a lack of independent, well-written female characters. So, it's not shocking that many fans felt strongly about Touka Kirishima, the confident, complex heroine of Tokyo Ghoul . Touka was there for Kaneki when he was transformed into a ghoul and showcased maturity and compassion in helping him understand their predicament.

Touka's excellent characterization fell apart when romance was incorporated into the mix. With the confirmation of Touka's feelings for Kaneki, she became a submissive side character who never regained her importance in Tokyo Ghoul .

While romance was never the prime focus of Bleach 's storyline, fans loved speculating about who Ichigo would end up falling for. Yet, after the show's romantic subplot got its conclusion, fans agreed that Bleach might've benefited from holding off on love altogether.

The natural chemistry between Ichigo and his partner, Rukia, was impossible to miss, making her the top candidate to become the hero's girlfriend. However, Bleach paired Ichigo with Orihime in the end, even though the couple lacked any real connection and seemed forced.

Angel Beats!

Widely recognized as one of anime's best supernatural melodramas, Angel Beats! has only one major flaw - lack of time . In 13 episodes, the series tries to flesh out too many characters, and most of them end up falling flat. Unfortunately, adding romance to the mix in the final two episodes only made the characterization feel more rushed.

Otonashi and Kanade coupled up to give the show a satisfyingly sad ending. Unfortunately, their lack of romantic chemistry just left the viewers confused about the series' finale.

Attack On Titan

Fans love Attack on Titan for its intriguing plot, complex world-building, and ruthless action. However, even a series with so many outstanding qualities couldn't resist the temptation to indulge in frustrating romantic subplots.

From the pointless fling between Annie and Armin to the bland relationship between Hannah and Franz, the series features multiple romance arcs that lead nowhere. Yet, what irritates most fans is the toxic relationship between Eren and Mikasa, which gradually reduced one of the series' strongest female characters to a pining shell of herself.

NEXT: 10 Anime Waifus Who Deserve Their Popularity

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Taxpayers Were Overcharged for Patient Meds. Then Came the Lawyers.

A group of politically connected lawyers teamed up to go after insurers and made millions from one of the largest Medicaid settlements in history.

By Shalina Chatlani

Shalina Chatlani examined the health care system in Mississippi as a part of The Times’s Local Investigations Fellowship .

In 2018, when Mike DeWine was Ohio’s attorney general, he began investigating an obscure corner of the health care industry.

He believed that insurers were inflating prescription drug prices through management companies that operated as middlemen in the drug supply chain. There were concerns that these companies, known as pharmacy benefit managers, or P.B.M.s, were fleecing agencies like Medicaid, the government-run health insurance program for the poor.

Three years later, after Mr. DeWine became governor of Ohio, the state announced an $88 million settlement with one of the nation’s largest insurance companies, Centene.

The case led to a nationwide reckoning for the company, as attorneys general in one state after another followed Ohio’s lead, announcing multimillion-dollar settlements and claiming credit for forcing Centene to reform its billing practices.

On the surface, it appeared that these settlements, which now total nearly $1 billion, were driven by state governments cracking down on a company that had ripped off taxpayers.

But a New York Times investigation, drawing on thousands of pages of court documents, emails and other public records in multiple states, reveals that the case against Centene was conceived and executed by a group of powerful private lawyers who used their political connections to go after millions of dollars in contingency fees.

The lawyers were first hired in Ohio, without competitive bidding. Then, they gathered evidence against Centene of questionable billing practices across the country.

Using information they acquired from Centene and other sources, they negotiated with the company to set the basic framework of an agreement that could be applied in other states. With that in hand, they approached attorneys general in multiple states and made a compelling offer: hire them, at no direct cost to taxpayers, and recoup millions of dollars Centene had already set aside.

So far, the lawyers have been awarded at least $108 million in fees.

The Centene case is just one example in a thriving industry that allows private lawyers to partner with elected attorneys general and temporarily gain powers usually reserved for the government. Under the banner of their state partners, these lawyers sue corporations and help set public policy while collecting millions of dollars in fees, usually based on a percentage of whatever money they recoup. The practice has become standard fare in the oversight of major industries, shifting the work of accountability away from legislators and regulators to the opaque world of private litigation.

Private lawyers do not have to publicly defend the deals they make or prove how aggressively they went after a company accused of wrongdoing. Nearly all their work happens in secret, especially if companies settle before the stage of a lawsuit when evidence is filed with the court.

The lawyers do not even have to disclose who worked on a case or who was paid, so the public may be left unable to monitor potential conflicts of interest even as the lawyers pursue litigation on behalf of the people.

The Centene case was organized by the Mississippi-based law firm Liston & Deas along with at least three other firms, several with close ties to former Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi, who was once considered one of the most influential Republican power brokers in the nation.

The lawyers included Paul Hurst, who served as Mr. Barbour’s chief of staff when he was governor and who married into Mr. Barbour’s family, and David H. Nutt, one of the richest men in Mississippi, who amassed a fortune funding state lawsuits against tobacco companies. Cohen Milstein, a huge national law firm with deep experience in contingency work for state attorneys general, was also part of the venture.

Though he is not listed in any government contracts as a lawyer of record, Mr. Barbour himself was a member of the legal team when Liston & Deas vied for the contract in Ohio.

At the time, Mr. Barbour also worked for Centene as a federal lobbyist .

Even now, close to three years after Centene signed its first settlements, no one has fully explained Mr. Barbour’s role in the case for the company. There is no way for the public to know whether he influenced the outcome or to measure whether Centene paid its full share, because the data used to calculate what Centene overcharged remains hidden from the public under provisions designed to protect attorney work product.

Mr. Barbour and other lawyers said that the former governor worked on the case for less than a year when the group was examining several insurance companies, and that he cut ties when Centene emerged as the primary target. Mr. Barbour said he informed Centene and his colleagues about the development and was never involved in negotiations or legal matters. He continued representing Centene as a lobbyist, he said, but his role in the case on behalf of the company was as “more of an observer.”

The lawyers said that Mr. Barbour was never paid for his work and that the settlement was not influenced by Mr. Barbour’s connections to Centene or to the lawyers who remained. They said each state attorney general reviewed Centene’s billing practices when deciding whether to enter a settlement agreement.

Got a confidential news tip?

The New York Times would like to hear from readers who want to share messages and materials with our journalists.

In recent years, P.B.M.s have been widely criticized , including by members of Congress, who have held multiple hearings and proposed legislation. The Centene settlements stand as the most successful attempt to hold a company operating in the industry accountable.

Liston & Deas and its partner law firms uncovered that Centene had arranged discounts with CVS Caremark on certain drugs and then pocketed the savings instead of passing them on to Medicaid. In some states, they revealed that Centene layered on unnecessary management fees that it had not disclosed. Although Centene settled without admitting guilt, the company agreed to be more transparent in how it sets reimbursement rates.

The lawyers noted that they spent several years investigating Centene and negotiating with the company at their own risk, saving states the cost of building a case.

Mr. Nutt, one of the lawyers who pursued the case, said states were happy with the terms of the settlements.

“Almost every one of those states audited to determine if our damage model was fair,” Mr. Nutt said.

“The formula was based on a triple damages model that we developed. And everybody was quite satisfied with it, because it was three times what anybody could have proven in court.”

Hiring Outside Counsel

For most of their history, state attorneys general were largely focused on advising state officials on legal matters and representing local agencies in court.

That changed drastically almost 30 years ago, when states came together to sue tobacco companies and won a $206 billion settlement to cover the cost of medical care related to smoking. The lawsuit helped redefine the role of the attorney general as one of the most powerful positions in state government and a natural place to start a political career.

Through high-profile lawsuits against corporations, an attorney general could directly affect policy and build a reputation as a champion of the people.

But complex litigation against large companies can require years of investigation and legal work, with no guarantee of success. Increasingly, states have turned to private lawyers willing to work on contingency as a way to stretch limited resources.

The rise of contingency fee cases kicked off a new wave of lobbying across the nation. Law firms looking for contracts have poured money into attorney general election campaigns and sponsored conferences at high-priced resorts, where private lawyers mingle with attorneys general and pitch their latest ideas for lawsuits.

Many states have capped how much lawyers can be paid in contingency fees and have increased oversight of private firms working for the government. But there remains concern about undue political influence and potential conflicts of interest.

“In theory, there’s an incentive to have the settlement be as big as possible, and of course that’s great for the state,” said Paul Nolette, a professor at Marquette University who has studied how the role of attorneys general has changed over time.

But in reality, lawyers have an incentive to recover the largest amount of money in the shortest amount of time, which could pressure them to water down settlements and compromise on punitive measures, Dr. Nolette said.

“I think that does raise some questions about how forcefully A.G.s and private attorneys are prosecuting a particular case,” he said.

Several experts said that contingency cases had recouped billions of dollars on behalf of the public and had become a critical way to regulate the behavior of powerful industries and large corporations.

But inviting private lawyers to help set public policy has inherent risks, they said.

Private lawyers may be more likely to have conflicts of interest because they generally represent many businesses and individuals, not just the citizens of a state.

And unlike most attorneys general, private lawyers are not elected officials. They are not generally governed by open records laws or subject to public pressure, as from legislators setting their budgets.

In the Centene case, Mr. Barbour’s associations with both Centene and the private lawyers raise “important questions” about who controlled the case to make sure it was pursued in the best interests of states that settled, said Kathleen Clark, a professor of legal ethics at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Did state A.G.s proactively pursue these cases, or did they passively accept the ‘free money’ or ‘easy money’ of the proposed settlements that the law firms had already negotiated with Centene?” Ms. Clark asked.

Christina Saler, a partner at Cohen Milstein, said Mr. Barbour’s early association with the legal team was not a conflict of interest because Mr. Barbour withdrew from the case before lawyers started investigating Centene.

“After Mr. Barbour’s disassociation, we had no further contact with Mr. Barbour on this matter,” she said.

A Well-Connected Team

Mr. Barbour’s involvement in the Ohio case against P.B.M.s illustrates the potential for favoritism when states hire private lawyers.

Mr. Hurst noted the involvement of Mr. Barbour when seeking the contract in Ohio, according to emails acquired from the Ohio attorney general’s office through a public records request.

In a June 22, 2018, email exchange, just a few days before the state hired Liston & Deas, Mr. Hurst recalled meeting with the attorney general’s staff in Ohio.

Mr. Hurst went on to note that members of his team had worked with Governor Barbour while he was in office and that they all “continue to work together now.”

In an email a week later, an assistant attorney general shared Mr. Barbour’s cell number with Mr. DeWine, saying that Mr. Barbour had shared it so he could “call him about this case anytime.”

Mr. Barbour, who had served two terms as governor of Mississippi, was a former chairman of the Republican Governors Association and a former chairman of the Republican National Committee. Known as a prolific fund-raiser , he was credited with bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars to support Republican candidates across the nation.

In 1991, Mr. Barbour co-founded BGR Group, a lobbying firm that quickly became one of the most influential in Washington.

Mr. Barbour had known Mr. DeWine since he was first elected to the Senate in 1995.

Two decades later, when Mr. DeWine was in the midst of a hard-fought campaign for governor, Mr. Barbour’s close associates solicited him for the legal work on the Centene case. In October 2018, less than three months after Mr. DeWine hired Liston & Deas, he traveled to Washington to visit Mr. Barbour’s lobbying firm for several hours, according to calendar records.

At the time, Mr. Barbour and others at BGR were registered lobbyists for Centene.

Mr. Barbour has never been named in state contracts as one of the private lawyers on the case in Ohio or anywhere else. His involvement has rarely, if ever, been publicly reported.

Ms. Saler, of Cohen Milstein, said there was no need to inform state officials because Mr. Barbour had not been involved in the Centene portion of the case and had exited the venture several years before states hired the lawyers.

At least four law firms were involved in the case in two or more states, according to retainer agreements and financial records showing broadly how settlement funds were disbursed.

According to Max Littman, a former data analyst with HealthPlan Data Solutions, the analytics firm that helped identify Centene’s overcharges in Ohio, one important role for many of the lawyers was to use their connections as they presented the overcharges to various states.

Mr. Littman, who said he worked closely with the legal team, described the dynamic: Liston & Deas, with roots in a deeply red state, would approach Republican attorneys general, and Cohen Milstein, “who were our Democrats,” would focus on Democratic states.

When The Times asked for records showing Liston & Deas’s qualifications to be hired to represent the State of Ohio, the attorney general’s office said no records existed. Cohen Milstein and other law firms had submitted such documentation in the past when seeking contracts in Ohio.

Settling With States

In June 2021, nearly three years after Ohio hired its outside counsel, two states announced the first settlements with Centene on the same day: Ohio would get $88 million, Mississippi $55 million.

After that, Centene settled in one state after another, often with just months between announcements.

In fact, Centene had already set aside $1.1 billion to handle all subsequent cases. The company estimated the amount after early discussions with the private lawyers that did not involve the state attorneys general who would later work with them.

With a settlement in hand and an estimate of how much each state could collect, the private lawyers had a powerful pitch. The team also had the option to file whistle-blower lawsuits, which can advance without a state attorney general’s having to hire outside counsel.

The team pursued whistle-blower lawsuits in Texas, California and Washington.

In Texas, the whistle-blower lawsuit came with a benefit for Attorney General Ken Paxton: Under Texas law , his office is allowed to recoup “reasonable attorney’s fees” for work associated with such cases. It collected nearly $25 million in legal fees on the Centene case while spending just 561 hours on it, financial records show. That comes out to more than $44,000 per hour of work. The Texas attorney general’s office declined to comment.

Ms. Saler said all the state attorneys general decided their own strategies in reaching settlements with Centene based on the best interest of taxpayers in their states.

In states that hired the lawyers on contingency, the attorney general closely reviewed Centene’s billing practices. But no state has revealed whether its own overcharge calculations matched those of the private lawyers.

State officials who hired Liston & Deas and the other firms knew that the lawyers had previously negotiated with Centene. But in a vast majority of states, officials did not explicitly address that fact when talking publicly about the settlements.

In addition, Liston & Deas and most of the states the firm worked for have not revealed exactly how much Centene overcharged for drugs or how settlement amounts were calculated. A few states have offered sparse descriptions, which vary widely.

The New Hampshire attorney general’s office wrote in its settlement announcement that Centene’s activities had a “$2.4 million negative financial impact.” Centene agreed to pay the state nearly 10 times that amount.

The attorney general’s office in Washington, one of the few states where officials agreed to discuss basic details about the settlement with The Times, said the $33 million it recovered amounted to treble damages.

A news release from the California attorney general’s office said the state recovered double its damages, for a total settlement of more than $215 million.

As of last month, Centene had settled in at least 19 states. The Liston & Deas website says Centene will ultimately pay about $1.25 billion to 22 states.

A Sweetheart Deal?

Some observers believe Centene would have faced stricter penalties if the federal government had taken up the case instead of private lawyers hopscotching from one state to the next.

Several experts in health care fraud litigation and whistle-blower cases said the best way to recoup money for taxpayers would have been to file a federal whistle-blower case, similar to what the lawyers did in state court in Texas and California.

A federal case could have triggered the involvement of the Justice Department, which might have investigated Centene more thoroughly. And a federal case probably would have gotten more attention and media coverage, required more transparency and taken longer to complete, the experts said.

Mr. Hurst and other lawyers in the case said they had not filed any type of federal action against Centene.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department confirmed that it had inquired about the P.B.M. and Centene cases in Ohio, but no further federal action was taken. The department declined further comment.

Mary Inman, a lawyer at Whistleblower Partners L.L.P. with decades of experience, said one of the reasons Liston & Deas wound up in state court might have been that its case relied on whistle-blowers the federal government was unlikely to approve.

The whistle-blower in Texas was Mr. Hurst. In California, the whistle-blower was Matthew McDonald, a lawyer at David Nutt & Associates and the son of Bryan McDonald, who worked in Mr. Barbour’s administration when he was governor.

Ms. Inman said whistle-blowers are typically insiders with firsthand knowledge of wrongdoing who share information at some risk to themselves, not lawyers who gain information while on the job.

“It’s very unusual,” Ms. Inman said. “And it’s something that I, as a longtime lawyer in this space, I would not want to do because atmospherically and reputationally it doesn’t look great.”

Mr. Barbour said he believes everyone walked away from the settlements happy — including executives at Centene. As evidence, he cited the company’s stock performance.

“I can’t speak for them, but if I had agreed to pay a big settlement and my stock went up after the first day, I would think it was a pretty good settlement,” Mr. Barbour said.