Kuroshitsuji

Kuroshitsuji, which translates to “Black Butler,” is the heart-warming tale of young boy and his demon butler, set in London in the late 1800s. Ciel Phantomhive, in a fit of Faustian desperation, offers a demon his soul in exchange for help avenging his murdered parents and the ensuing hell that he endured afterward.

First off, this show has some great characters. The demon butler, Sebastian, is practically perfect in every way. Like Mary Poppins… from HELL. Sebastian can do it all; cook, clean, pour the perfect cup of tea, tame demon dogs, and violently eliminate large sums of people who would harm the “Young Master.” Plus he’s very easy on the eyes; overall one hell of a butler. Ciel is definitely a unique character. He’s one of the precious few angst-ridden characters living for revenge that doesn’t annoy the audience. I know what you’re thinking. It shouldn’t be possible. There’s some cosmic anomaly that prevents a large percentage of anime fans from liking those angsty characters, but somehow Ciel’s attitude isn’t obnoxious. Ciel aside, most of the characters are likeable and quirky, adding a great deal of humor to an otherwise dark show.

Coming in at only 24 episodes, Kuroshitsuji is lucky to be short enough that the animators didn’t cut too many corners and the quality of the animation remains consistently good. Though a few bright colors are incorporated into the animation, the show’s style remains generally dark with muted colors. Enhancing the style of the show is a detailed wardrobe of fancy Gothic & Lolita-like ensembles that suffice as 19^th century clothing. I’m not an expert, so I can’t say if the wardrobe is accurate to the Victorian age, but it’s nice to look at and makes for some really fantastic cosplaying opportunities (and since it’s anime, accuracy to real-life is hardly relevant).

Kurshitsuji has an above-average soundtrack. Given London’s role as port-of-trade, it’s little wonder that Kuroshitsuji finds ways to integrate characters from all over the world, which leads to a big variety of quality music throughout the show. Indian and Chinese music, Italia arias; Kuroshitsuji seems to have the best music to fit the scene and characters, which definitely pumps up the action in the show. And the music can get pretty creepy when it needs to be. If you watch the whole show and aren’t slightly traumatized by the song “London Bridge is Falling Down,” then you are a stronger soul than I. Seriously, no good comes of that song. The opening song, “Monochrome Kiss” by SID is nice and upbeat, but the first opening sequence is a little disappointing since it only features Ciel and Sebastian. The second opening sequence has the same song, but shows more characters, including some villains, which gives a much better idea of what the show is about. The first ending sequence is downright adorable, which you wouldn’t think would fit a dark series, but the content is so appropriate that it works. Combined with the upbeat “I’m Alive” by BECCA (a singer/songwriter from Portland), it’s an overall nice ending. The second ending sequence does more to match the dark tones that become dominant in the second half of the series. The second ending song is Lacrimosa by Kalafina, a beautiful and depressing song, fitting since Lacrimosa is Latin for “weeping.”

It’s not a review from TheCat until I’ve blathered on about seiyuu (voice actors). Ono Daisuke provides the smooth voice of Sebastian. You probably heard Ono as Koizumi Itsuki in the Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, a role that more or less launched him into stardom. Award-winning seiyuu Paku Romi also graces the cast as Lady Red (yeah, there are awards for seiyuu). Romi is famous for her roles as Temari in Naruto, Hitsugaya in Bleach, Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Nana Osaki in Nana, and oh so much more. Most of the Romi’s biggest roles are young men or brash young women, so it’s refreshing to hear her play a mature woman. Other voice actors in Kuroshitsuji include Yasumoto Hiroki (Sado in Bleach, Germany in Axis Powers Hetalia), Fukuyama Jun (Kimihiro in xxxHolic, Lelouch in Code Geass), and Suwabe Junichi (Fuuma in X, Grimmjow in Bleach, Archer in Fate/staynight). But the biggest name in the show is Ciel’s seiyuu; the ever-talented Sakamoto Maaya. If you don’t already know the reputation of this singer/seiyuu, she’s the magic behind Hitomi in Escaflowne (as well as the singer of the show’s intro song), Reika in RaXephon, Crona in Soul Eater, Haruhi in Ouran High School Host Club, and Aerith in FFVII: Crisis Core. She also did the ending song for Wolf’s Rain, which I hope you’ve had the pleasure of watching. Kuroshitsuji was my first time hearing Maaya voice a male character, so it was first startling to realize who it was playing Ciel, and just how amazing her vocal range is.

If you’re waiting for me to start on the English voice actors, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for the show to actually get licensed in the US. Kuroshitsuji is still fairly new in Japan, and American fans are just starting to hear about it. My guess is that the license will be snatched up sometime in July, when the American anime companies will have the chance to screen the show or at least get an idea of how big the existing fanbase already is, at the US’ two biggest anime conventions (Anime Expo in CA and Otakon in MD). For the time being, Kuroshitsuji can be watched in fansub form, or in raw Japanese if you’re proficient.

The thing that sets Kuroshitsuji apart from a lot of other shows, especially the over-hyped shounen anime that most people (myself included) have gotten used to, is just how damn dark it is. It’s a show where evil triumphs… and that’s a good thing. It’s a show that isn’t afraid to kill off characters. And just when you start thinking that maybe Sebastian, for all his demonic powers, isn’t such a bad guy, his utter apathy for the death that unfolds around him shocks the viewer back into the realization that the hero of the show is just plain evil. In fact, it seems that most of the characters are shady bastards with hidden agendas, leaving the audience rooting for the forces of evil. Ah, the refreshing feeling of evil winning. [insert maniacal laughter here]

In most anime worlds, revenge is a fruitless endeavor that never fulfills the way the avenger hopes it will. Most anime, especially shounen anime, exist under the assumption that good will always triumphant over evil (eventually) and that fighting in the name of friendship, honor, or for the sake of others will guarantee victory. So that must make Kuroshitsuji the opposite of shounen anime. The hatred and revenge that dominate Ciel’s heart is what drives Sebastian’s loyalty, and as long as their contract remains, Sebastian’s demonic strength will overcome any of Ciel’s enemies. So, the moral of the story is, live for hatred and a demon will make all your wishes come true. Selling your soul for the win! But I guess when the hero of the show is a demon, evil is going to win over good… and everything else.

Another tidbit about Kuroshitsuji that I find interesting; it was clearly made before the manga was finished (the manga is still ongoing), so the anime director had to basically make up half of the show. This would normally result in a bunch of plotless filler episodes, but Kuroshitsuji manages to tie-in the events of almost every episode in the end. Thus Kuroshitsuji has a very solid plot and direction, despite not following the manga. It wastes little of its 24 episodes and keeps a nice pace, never dragging out or rushing any of the major events.