Story (7/10)
The story has aroused mixed feelings in me. I would say that the episodes were linked well to produce a continuous story, but throughout the whole series, it has been peppered with canon that was not quite relevant. But, in retrospect, these canons have served their purpose to develop the characters. Elizabeth did not, however, developed much of a character in the anime as shown in the manga. The anime only followed the manga until the 15th episode and broke off after that to follow its own separate route. The originality of the story after the 15th episode was amazing and has managed to surprise me at a number of times. The story grew more intense as it neared its end, drawing out the deeper, darker themes that have been concealed by lighter moods earlier on in the anime. The latter was done quite well as it manages to have viewers forget that the actual theme of the anime was darker than expected and leave them to crash land when the deceptive veil is lifted. The ending was quite satisfying and left open. How it all ended was simple and undramatic, which gave off a gloomy atmosphere, but with a sense of relief and letting go in it.
Overall, I think the story was good.
Art (7/10)
Produced in 2009, the art style of the anime may seem a little old schooled, with less shading, beautiful lighting and lacking in depth. But it seems to fit the anime, seeing that it was set in the Victorian era, technology was barely existing yet. This might not be of relevance to the anime, but I think it's a legit point. The art style also portrays the dreary atmosphere of England, so it's quite fitting. The art style of the characters looks rough compared to recent anime, but it's not a flaw that has bothered me much. Plus, it has improved in all its more recent adaptations.
Sounds (6/10)
Sounds play a very big part in making or breaking an anime. The sounds in Kuroshitsuji are not as impressive and memorable as other anime such as K-Project but it has managed to bring out the essence of the anime. Korushitsuji has a mix of despondent sound tracks and happy-go-lucky ones that fit the moods, but none will stay with you long after you watch the anime. "Si deus me relinquit" was the only one that stuck to my mind. The opening and ending though are a different story. The opening remained the same throughout the whole series, but has never bored me at the slightest. Ending #1 was cheerful and quirky with a "cinematic strip"of chibi Phantomhive household characters and has never failed to amuse and entertain. Ending #2, however, took on a darker twist, reflecting on the darkness of the anime.
Character (7/10)
There is an abundance of characters in this anime, with different levels of development. There were characters who were generic and those who had unique personality. Some only had the purpose of lightening the atmosphere the way I see it. Most of the characters developed well in the anime, though some seem to have remained stagnant throughout. The reaction of the characters in certain situations were exaggerated, but it is partially comedy, so no faults there. The expressions were done right, portraying the characters' emotions well. The antagonist in the anime had motivations, but seem to be lacking in background. Why is the villain set on committing his heinous acts? We know why, but where is he coming from? What happened in the past that motivated him to do so? It can be said differently with the protagonist, Ciel Phantomhive. By asking the questions above, we know that he has background and motivation. I don't have a particular dislike for any characters, but I would forever remember Ciel Phantomhive. Though only in his (early) teen years, the protagonist has already lost much, forcing him to grow up and face the real world at a far too early age. The fact that he hasn't keeled over and has taken matters in his own hands led me to respect and look up to him. Although he has the help of a near invincible demon butler, he has remained strong and persistent. Those are qualities I aspire to have in my life. So, there is no surprise that I would remember him.
Enjoyment (9/10)
In terms of enjoyment, I basically had a great time watching this anime. The ability of the staff to create a light atmosphere that disguised the dark theme of this anime is amazing. I enjoyed the comedic moments and felt sadness when the plot took a darker turn. The comedy in the anime helped intensify the the feelings I felt when the series took on a serious vibe. I think this is a good anime; an anime that can drag you down so deep and lets you sympathize with the characters, but still give you some good laughs. Some will enjoy it, but others might not, because it left the manga entirely after the 15th episode. I would definitely rewatch it. It adds to my enjoyment and allows me to learn something new about the characters that I have missed. Kuroshitsuji has made it to my favourite anime list next to Attack on Titan.
Overall, I highly enjoyed the anime and would recommand it to any anime lover or my friends. I think it's something that I can talk about passionately and it allows my mind to think about the dark themes explored in this anime. If you are interested in history, Black Butler offers tidbits of Victorian England history that will prompt the curious mind to do a little research. Kuroshitsuji is one of the 2 anime that has managed to make me cry and I believe that speaks a lot by itself.
That's all I have for today. Thanks for reading!
