Story:
The plot of Black Butler starts off very episodic; very monster and/or villain of the week, and indeed many episodes are either partially or wholly filler, though even these teach us some interesting things about the characters, so they're worth watching all the same. Furthermore, some episodes that seem like stand-alone or filler episodes turn out to actually be quite relevant later down the road. That said, in a relatively short series like this they would have done well to plot the whole business a little tighter than they did, and the main plot doesn't really kick into gear until toward the end.
...
That's not to say there aren't some fabulous moments early on: I was hooked on this show by Episode 5, and you'll see why once you watch it. Also, once things finally get started they proceed at a breakneck pace and pretty much never stop, and the final episodes are stunning, adrenaline pumping stuff.
Black Butler has an unusual blend of typically-wacky Japanese comedy and stark, gothic horror, and the juxtaposition of the two may jar some people, but I found that it helped the pacing on the earlier episodes. The zaniness, for better or for worse, is a lot less common in the later episodes, though not gone entirely.
The ending however just sort of... happens. Sad to see yet another otherwise good show with a lackluster ending. Granted, it's not as bad as the endings for example, of the original Fullmetal Alchemist or Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggan, but it still was rather blase.
Short version: The story, providing both goofy laughs, thrills and horror is great when it can focus long enough to do its job, but it wanders about far too much for a 24 episode anime. The ending, sadly, left me cold. 7/10
Art:
Easily the series' strongest point. Black Butler is an absolute joy to look at. The color palette evokes Death Note with its stark blacks and browns highlighted with incandescent reds and blues. In fact, it even surpasses Death Note in this regard: While Death Note mainly used bright colors because they were visually striking, Black Butler uses them as a visual shorthand for otherworldliness, and anytime your see a character on this show with bright-colored anime hair, it usually means something is different about them.
The animation isn't the smoothest in the world, but everything works quite nicely, and they do a good job with little details like Sebastian cutting a cake, the sort of thing many studios wouldn't bother animating with such care.
Short version: Looks great all around, striking and intelligent use of color. Animation is intricate and gorgeous though not 100% smooth all the time. 9/10
Sound:
One of the few anime I watched both subbed and dubbed (not the whole series mind you, just certain episodes) and I have to say that there are excellent things to be said about both. Bot do an excellent job, and the characters' voices fit them like a glove. I would have to say I preferred the dub, however. It really just isn't the same without the English accents. I mean, I suppose they could have been speaking Japanese with a cockney twang the whole time in the sub, but how would I have known that?
The opening theme is quite good, pretty much the sort of vaguely sensual melodramatic tune that we've all come to expect from anime of this sort. The first ending theme is odd, in that it's entirely in English, but it works just fine for its purpose. The second ending, however, is far more in line with the opening mood-wise, so I have to say I prefer it for that reason alone.
The music that plays during the actual show is a bit anachronistic at times, but then again, this is a show set in Victorian England in which one character wields a chainsaw, so really the music should be the last thing someone looking to nitpick goes after. Plus, the music is quite good, and always fits the mood, if not the period.
Short version: Voice work is excellent in both voicetracks, but the dub edges out the sub due to Britishness. Music is solid all around. 9/10
Character:
While many of the characters are underdeveloped, the leads at least get their fair due, and those that are developed properly are highly complex, emotionally-driven characters with motivations that are easy to understand without being overly-simplistic. Without going into spoiler-filled detail, I can honestly say that it's easy to feel Ciel's pain; his thirst for revenge even though the details of what exactly happened to him aren't fully explained. Sebastian can say everything he needs to say in a scene with but a look, which is a rare commodity among animated characters.
There is one supporting character in particular who, while his meaningful screentime was brief, made a strong and memorable impact on the rest of the series and serves as the emotional anchor for the balance of the show. His character was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the series for me.
Some characters, however, feel completely superfluous. One in particular seems to exist solely so the writers could make a series of increasingly over-the-top gay jokes, and he's not nearly entertaining enough to make up for it. Others, like the other Phantomhive servants, seemed to have a lot of potential that fell by the wayside, and all we ever learn about their pasts are a brief series of flashbacks toward the end of the series. I honestly would have rather they hung around purely for comic relief than to be given a tiny glimpse into their histories with no follow-through.
Short version: While the show seems to put most of its creative energies into just a few characters, leaving others to languish, the ones that get their fair share of development are done exceptionally well. 8/10
Overall Enjoyment (Yes, I'm combining these categories. In my mind there is no difference between the two):
While the plot sometimes wanders about like a butler distracted by an adorable cat, it rarely ventures anywhere that's not quite a lot of fun, and I dig the whole wacky/scary mix the show has going. All the pieces come together in the end to make a satisfactory whole, and I was quite glad I watched Black Butler, all told.
8/10
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Aug 14, 2011
Kuroshitsuji
(Anime)
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Story:
The plot of Black Butler starts off very episodic; very monster and/or villain of the week, and indeed many episodes are either partially or wholly filler, though even these teach us some interesting things about the characters, so they're worth watching all the same. Furthermore, some episodes that seem like stand-alone or filler episodes turn out to actually be quite relevant later down the road. That said, in a relatively short series like this they would have done well to plot the whole business a little tighter than they did, and the main plot doesn't really kick into gear until toward the end. ... 
Jul 31, 2011
Death Note
(Anime)
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Storywise Death Note is kind of a mixed bag. It starts off with sort of an "antagonist-of-the-week" format and these early episodes are pure unadulterated entertainment. Once it gets into the plot proper, it's still very, very good, but in a more measured way, if that makes sense.
A major event occurs part-way through the series, and in its aftermath the show just isn't as good. To say more would be unduly spoileriffic. Which brings me to the other problem with the story: this isn't a a problem with Death Note itself, so ... 
Jul 31, 2011
Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch
(Anime)
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Consider this review a review for R2 as well. They are the same show after all, and must be viewed in the context of each other.
Let's get one thing out of the way: some of you, like me, may have seen random stills from Code Geass and thought it was a shoujo. It is not a shoujo, just a CLAMP anime. There are subtle differences between the two. Now, to the show itself. It is a gripping and compelling drama that can really tug on your heartstrings. I teared up on multiple occasions and the ending was exceptionally well done, ... |
