Kuroshitsuji: Sono Shitsuji, Kougyou

To watch or not to watch, that is the question of this review for Kuroshitsuji’s Hamlet.

And so begins the production of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” in the Phantomhive household. Master Ciel had intended to put on a play for the disadvantaged children as a means to gain publicity for his company by coming off as a philanthropist. But what’s this – a sudden mishap had occurred meaning his professional actors won’t be able to make it?! Whatever shall they do? Well, his faithful and most competent butler, Sebastian has an idea: cast themselves in the play!

The OVA is a nice little side story that quenches the ... viewer’s thirst to see some more screen time of their objects of affection. In other words, it is for fans. Nevertheless it is genuinely an entertaining piece to watch with much comic relief and yet another glimpse of an insight to Ciel’s troubled character. The first half is about preparation for the play whereas the second half is the play itself. The play does not quite follow the original version as Ciel had intended to do (forgetting lines does sometimes have that effect on a play) but somehow ends up revolving around Ciel’s own situation since the resemblance to his and Hamlet’s quest for revenge is almost uncanny.

The whole cast of Kuroshitsuji returns in this little OVA; from the bona fide gay shinigami, Grell to the ostentatious and somewhat lecherous Viscount. You get the feeling that it is a little hectic but at the same time sets the mood of the bustling OVA.

Art is as gorgeous as ever, especially with the costumes. Ciel is criminally adorable (I’m starting to feel like a paedophile here) in his play get up and Sebastian is actually out of his butler attire! The second OP is used for this special, and is probably the best piece you will hear during the 20 minutes as all other themes aren’t even worth mentioning in this. It’s not that they were particularly bad as they serve their purpose of entertaining for that moment, but afterwards you won’t even remember that there was music being played.

For a side story, Kuroshitsuji’s OVA provides decent character development for Ciel and shows off Sebastian mischievous side to the maximum. It is both comical and serious, and ultimately enjoyable. To be honest, it was more of a pleasurable experience than the actual series. So to answer that question at the beginning: I think the first option is the most adequate.

After all, where would the Phantomhive household be if Sebastian could not even pull off a play?

The OVA was very fun to watch.

First of all the idea was very nice. And it ended well done. It had the regular Kuroshitsuji's climat and humor, the OST was fitting and seyius did a great job. Nothing to be mad about.

Though it wasn't a perfection. I'd like to see more practicing before the actual 'Hamlet' play. The OVA could've been done better than that but still it was a real fun to watch.

Now I wasn't expecting that I would love this equally to the main show's episodes.
I watched it after I finished the whole anime and I recommend you to do the same. Watching it like this, it felt like a last "farewell" to all the characters in a very enjoyable kind of way!
The OVA had all those elements that the anime holds, even in just this one episode.
I found it both entertaining and emotional.
I gave a 10 to all aspects as it still has top notch quality in story, art, sound and character's design and interaction. The opening and ending theme are the same as in ... the anime and as I wrote on my review about the main anime I love this songs so much, both SID's opening and Kalafina's ending.
Overall a certain 10 from me!

Loving the original Kuroshitsuji series, I was fairly excited to hear that there was a Kuroshitsuji Special. I squealed for about an hour (or nodded my head in approval, if that makes me seem professional in any way possible). My standards raised minute by minute, so don't be surprised when you see the overall score that I rated the Kuroshitsuji Special.

Story: 7 isn't too low, now is it? It followed a Shakespear play that I didn't even bother remembering - or taking notice of, for that matter. So that took off a few points for me. Nevertheless, it was the same Kuroshitsuji we all know ... and love - except a different concept; if that makes any sense at all.

Art: A 9; Simply beautiful again.

Sound: An 8. I loved how the characters showed emotions when speaking their roles. It was not given a 10 because... well... I just felt like it didn't deserve a 10.

Character: It was great how Ciel could relate to the character he was acting, and how Sebastian helped him through it. What really set me off was how badly the other characters didn't match their roles; as if they were just chosen at random. But it could have been that way to make it seem more comical. Given, the character development and such is a 7.

Enjoyment: I loved the humour, I loved how Ciel could relate to his role, I loved how even in a play, it got so serious. Simply terrific. Sometimes I did a facepalm because I felt like Ciel was acting too seriously, but other times I was saying, "Hell yeah! Ciel you rock that role!" Instantly, the enjoyment was an 8.

Overall: The Kuroshitsuji Special gave me what I wanted and much more. Excuse the perverted pun. Sometimes it disappointed me, along with some unneeded embarrassment I felt for the other characters. So if you watched Kuroshitsuji, and you want more of that Ciel and Sebastian lovin', definitely watch this special. Oh, yeah. My overall rating is a 7. Only because at certain times I was wondering whether to continue or just flat out drop the special. But that's just me.

A very well made special 9/10 overall.

As it is, the end of Kuroshitsuji made be cry even though the ending is completely filler even now. Ciel's circumstances and his interactions, especially around the end of the series, with Abberline and Sebastian were such a mass of contradiction! I felt the same sort of contradiction from the dialogues between Ciel and Sebastian in this special.

Sebastian came out fantastically as a demon who toys with Ciel's thoughts. He says things which would be considered good advice and yet he'll also force Ciel to accept the point of no return that he has already crossed. And ... a truly clever idea for using Hamlet for the play to portray these contradictions. The cheering from the children in the crowd during the play simply added to the highly emotional atmosphere. That made me cry the most probably since I had just completed watching the series and Ciel's end.

All in all, a totally recommended special to watch. This show itself forces you to think of the concept of good and evil especially because of the way the demons and angels act in it. This special adds a nice support for highlighting those concepts.

I saw this after I saw both seasons of Kuro *-*
well. First of all I must admit that I've only read Hamlet after I saw the special, so I was kindda "unknowing" the story. Now I know and I can imagine why they've chosen this tragedy.
Still, I saw the speccial, hoping that as the episodes, it would be great (sorry for the crappy english XD)
Naturally, Hamlet is a Shakesperian tragredy, famous all over the world, and the story of the prince that wants to revenge his father fits completly on Kuroshitsuji's story. After all, Ciel Phantomhive wants to revenge his parents, with the help of ... Sebastian Michaelis, isn't that right?
So, I saw it.
But I wasn't expecting that would be so great!
All the story envolving the main characters, since the recieving of the news to the end of the special, it has a lot to put on words. Without spoiling, from the beggining to the end, this special is hilarious, and I couldn't avoid the laughs when Sebastian does that so usual faces of frustration, and most of all, when he describes the story of Hamlet. Simply soberb *-*

After getting too many feels at the end of Kuroshitsuji's first season, I didn't even hesitate in watching the first OVA, not even knowing what it was about. Twenty-three minutes and forty-seven seconds later, here I am.

A stage play for poor children to enjoy and a group of very inexperienced actors make the plot of this OVA simple yet entertaining. As you can imagine, it mainly focuses on the humorous part of the main plot rather than the dramatic part, which is quite big if I might add. It's made to get some laughs out of the fans and to feed that hunger for more ... that is always born when an Anime ends.

It's weird to see the characters wearing something else than their usual attires but the costumes look so beautiful on them that it's rather forgettable. The art in Kuroshitsuji is gorgeous no matter what.

I honestly didn't even listen to the background music in this episode and I'm questioning as if there was even any. The same Opening and Ending we've seen since the second half of the first season are used.

Getting to see another side of the characters is always good. Hamlet and Ciel have a lot in common, specially because both their lives revolve around revenge, and Sebastian sees this and uses it as an opportunity to show the little Phantomhive that revenge is not all there is to life. Fun fact: Ciel seems to be a pretty good actor.

Kuroshitsuji's first OVA is filled with light humor that will make time fly. Personally, I enjoyed it more than some fillers in the actual Anime. If you have the time to watch it, I encourage you to.

Or if you want to see the Undertaker dressed as a girl. That works, too.