Kuroshitsuji

A demon butler, what will they think of next?

Genre - Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural

Length – 24 Episodes

Run - Oct 2, 2008 to Mar 26, 2009

Animation Production – A-1 Pictures Inc., Square Enix, FUNimation Entertainment
Where to begin? Arguably one of the most complete Anime series around, there is simply so much to say about "Kuroshitsuji" (Black Butler). Death, action, comedy, supernatural deities and a well balanced cast of characters; such a masterpiece simply cannot be comprehended with mere words. In essence, it is the show where evil triumphs, and evil never looked so cool...

A dark scene appears before you, it is the scene of a young boy making a deal with a devil. The boys request is simple, kill those who hurt him. Immediately after you are taken to the present day where that very same boy is seen waking up in his luxurious mansion. His butler stands waiting to attend to his every need. The young boy is "Ciel Phantomhive", the new head of the Phantomhive family whom are known far and wide for their toys and sweets. The Phantomhive's have a secret; they are the Queen of England's watchdogs. Given nobility, they keep watch of the black market and its various dealings. With his parents now dead after the fire that took their lives, Ciel takes up the tasks at hand. Ciel is not your typical male lead. In other stories you get the lead who talks nice and even though he went through so much he is still naive and trustful to everyone. This is not the case with Ciel; he goes by his own rules never trusting anyone in his quest for revenge. In essence he is an antihero. Moving on to the sleek, dark, and handsome butler; "Sebastian Michaelis". Indeed he truly is "One hell of a butler". Capable of cleaning house and laying down the smack down on those who oppose his master, Sebastian is also a crafty demon. He thinks of his abilities as a norm, stating it is only natural as the butler to the Phantomhive family (though everyone else is always left in awe). Bound by the contract he made with Ciel, he does everything he is told to do.

 Always the sly one...
 

The art in this Anime is top notch. Every city and setting was made with detail and it certainly shows. The characters are well drawn and give of an ominous feel. That ominous feel compliments its dark story. Though the Anime drifts away from the manga around the middle, the character development is not affected. You can see the difference from the beginning and toward the end of the show that their emotional dilemmas are not portrayed as an obstruction, but as a way to help the characters grow. An anime like this proves even minor characters can blend well with the show. Minor characters such as Grell, the chainsaw wielding death god with a crush on Sebastian, Tanaka, the silent tea drinking butler, along with the other Phantomhive employees all add sophisticated and absurd comedy to the show. I haven't laughed so hard watching an anime since watching "Kare Kano". If you like "Yaoi", then expect it to be an ongoing gag if you will. Yaoi in this series is mostly used as an insinuation. The line is never fully crossed, so straight men watching "Kuroshitsuji" shouldn't stray away. Moving on, the soundtrack is simply amazing. Classical music along with Latin like hymns comprises most of the series. The OP & ED compliment the show perfectly, enhancing its dark theme.

All in all, "Kuroshitsuji" is a gem. I highly recommend watching it as it is a must watch. Whatever cons it may have is overshadowed by its pros. "So get on with it man I have cookies waiting to be eaten!"

Art - (9/10) Sound - (9/10) Plot - (8/10) Enjoyment - (9/10)

Overall
8.75/10

Note: Expect yourself scratching your head at the ending.