So today's entry, I am gonna take a look back at again a previous entry and elaborate on somethings and overall give it another opinion. And just by the title of the entry I am sure you all know that I am referring to my entry on Kuroshitsuji. Why am I doing this? Well it has to do with the fact that when I made the list I was able to easily say the series was my number one pick for a beginner into anime, however; I showed about half of it to my boyfriend and he is having troubles getting into it and my friend CorSec couldn't even get passed episode 4, so lets relook at this series and what could possibly be its faults. **SPOLIERS ahead**
Let me say right off the bat that I love, love, LOVE this series as a whole and I am by no means trashing it. That said there are a few other things I have noticed since writing the previous entry that revolved around this series.
The first and foremost is the center of the story; Ciel and Sebastian's contract. When I watched through the anime the first time I didn't think anything of it, but since reading what is out of the manga in addition to watching the two musicals I have to say the dub version of the opening scene showcasing the contract being made is rather odd. Firstly, even in the sub, it is made out to look like Ciel had summoned the demon on purpose; where as in the book it was an accident. Another thing that some fans point with this is that Ciel is in something like limbo when talking to the raven (which is the form Sebastian took). In the manga he was conversing with Sebastian right in front of his captors and Sebastian was in his true form. The anime's rendition of this scene is actually the weakest, in my opinion, of the three. The manga is still on going and the pieces that have been revealed for that day are fragmented (though I have a feeling we will be seeing it in its entirety soon), but it does its job well in making the reader want to know.
These shots were from the end of the latest chapter released in the monthly G-Fantasy and as I said above; it does a good job in getting you to WANT to know how everything began.
This next one is from the second musical; The Most Beautiful Death in the World. This was actually the opening to the musical, the song entitled Keiyaku or The Contract.
I felt this did a fantastic job of describing the contract as it stated its terms. Now if I had to nit-pick my only fault with this version is that Sebastian appears as Sebastian. The form of Sebastian is how he chose to look as shown in the manga scenes above and in those scenes too you see (partially) his true form. Again that would be nit-picking since no one, back then or present time, knows what Sebastian looks like in his true form and it would more than likely be hard to pull off a stage costume of it let alone sing in it.
Now here are two different versions of the anime opening scene; one dubbed and one subbed. Here is the fansubbed one; (I apologize for the video length, I coudn't find JUST the one scene)
And now here's a dubbed one. (this dub is part official and part fan as the person who posted it fandubbed Ciel's lines, but they are the same as they are in its official US release)
As my boyfriend pointed out, it seems a little repetitive within the dub. Where as the sub, even though it has the same context, the lines seem to flow a little better.
When I first watched through the anime I was very bright-eyed and bushy tailed and watching it now I really see some of the flaws it has in comparison to the manga. I brought up both Tanaka and Lizzie in the other entry and I would like to bring them up again. In the anime both characters come off as annoying or having really no point at all, but it wasn't until volume 8ish that we see Tanaka can indeed protect his young master and only 3 chapters ago did we see Lizzie kick some ass. Due to not knowing when the anime was made, I assume it was hard to put these regular characters in some kind of balanced and good context. Now Tanaka 9/10 does appear in chibi in the book, but it's only when the others are in chibi as well or it's a random silly scene. There is no "he can't stay in his normal form for too long" bs; seriously he isn't Ultraman. But other character's too really seem to pop more in the manga, like the Undertaker.
Undertaker's personality actually is very accurate in the anime and the twist with him being a Shinigami isn't really a shock in the manga since that was revealed in the anime even though it was in a totally different setting and manner. The Ex-Shinigami just wants laughter and for this series it's an interesting spin a character I think; no need for money and other material possession, he just wants to laugh since he's always around death. In this recent arc though, I gotta say I did facepalm when they revealed the Undertaker to be behind all of it. I mean the order of the Phoenix's pose just SCREAMED Undertaker, never the less we find that he is quite creepy and can take on two shinigami and Sebastian. While in the anime, the Undertaker didn't really do much aside from give Ciel his information once the earl paid him. He acted out his duties as a shinigami as well during the London fires.The other servants; Mey-rin, Finny and Bard, also seem to have more of a point in the book as well. Yes, they are there for comic relief, but they're true purpose is revealed within the first volume of the book vs having to wait till like episode 22ish of the anime. Seriously it was almost near the end of the first season when you saw what they were really there for. I might, again, be nit-picking; but it is a problem when you try to watch the series. I will again point to my boyfriend, who was rather displeased when Pluto was added to the cast. Why? Because instead of being a demon hound guard dog, he was comic relief most of the time and the series already has four other characters that fill that role. Because of this the series doesn't quite flow the way you think it should, thus it becomes kind of hard to watch for some. Why didn't this effect me? Well in part it has to do with the fact that I was watching the series to fill time, but also I didn't find it annoying; I found it intriguing. Yes, I do agree that the flow was really awkward and to a point made no sense given personality types, but that made me want to see if there was a conclusion.
So for me I got hooked into the series by the anime and then began to read the book. Quite honestly I think I would have been highly disappointed in the anime had I read the book first, but I didn't so I can appreciate the anime for what it is. However, the translations of both the book and the anime are a lot to be desired in some ways.
In my other recommendations I had added the "Dub or Sub" question, but failed to do so for Kuroshitsuji. Reason why was I just forgot, but I have to say watch the sub only for the reason that the dialog seems to flow slightly better and... well... you don't have to deal with the fake accents lol. Now I will credit FUNimation's dub with having them do the English accents as it makes more sense to hear them speak as you would expect in Victorian England instead of Japanese in London lol. But fake accents are fake, there is a few times where Sebastian's voice actor seems to forget the character has an accent. Also, and even as much of a fan of this series as I am, I actually don't know what the character's name is and that's Bard. But you just said his name? Yes, I did, or did I? In the book, Yen Press translated his name to Baldo. In the dub for the anime he is called Bardroy by Sebastian and then later shortened to Bard by Ciel. In the sub, FUNimation's own sub mind you, the subtitles come up with Baldo. Most fanfiction I have seen have called him Bard so I am inclined to call him such and assume they had the r-l problem. It does get quite vexing sometimes.
All three mediums of Kuroshitsuji are great in their own ways. I had recently watched through both musicals. Even though the first one's story felt like Kuro and even takes place in manga cannon (the actor for Aberline shows where the musical takes place at the very beginning), the second one blows it right out of the water. The songs are more memorable and the story quite frankly didn't feel like so much of a stretch to happen in cannon as it dealt with a rogue (so to speak) Shinigami.
This is my favorite song from the first musical entitled; Reminiscing by the Window.
A duet between the original character for the musical, Yuki, and Ciel. This is my favorite song for two reasons; it's the only song Ciel sings that has more than 2-3 lines and it really gets into his head. Not shown in this video, but after the number he has a little squabble with Sebastian as Sebastian makes fun/teases Ciel about being alone. Ciel watches Sebastian leave the room and says "It's why I have you". Just seeing that made me go "awwwww" and not in a shounen-ai fangirl way. Ciel never has to feel alone because Sebastian will remain by his side to the very end; he is Ciel's constant.
The second musical, as I said, had more memorable songs. Keiyaku being one of them. But here is my other favorite, aside from Keiyaku, entitled; Checkmate.
I love this song mainly because all the characters sing in it at one point. But also for the fact that it displays the theme of chess that is often portrayed through out Kuroshitsuji.
Now taking a cue from Paw, I am gonna chose the best song from the second musical. Why? Because I feel it's worth a mention and that's; Shinigami Haken Kyoukai no Theme.
Now where as the other 2 posted from this musical are my favorites, this one is hard to ignore as it has a high energy techno beat. And something about the highly professional Shinigami singing and dancing about how they are professional and what their profession is just fun. The dance for this too was very well done as well.
Now there is also one thing among fans who have seemingly only seen the anime that I want address and that is actually something Sebastian does.
In the anime, when they go to investigate the cult, Sebastian is wanting information and to get said information he ends up having sex with one of the nuns. Some fans of the anime just bring up the irony of a demon screwing a maiden of God or just don't get why Sebastian did what he did. He is doing it to gather information; tempting the female with something they desire. In this case it was probably curiosity since nuns are supposed to be chaste. In the manga Sebastian implores this tactic within the Noah's Arc Circus arc with Beast as he is looking for information on the troop's "father" and Beast's "crush/lover", Joker. Since she desired the touch of a man, she gave into Sebastian. The musical too made somewhat mention of this tactic. Through out Kuro, Grell is shown calling Sebastian by a pet name, SebsChan (the dub has the best with Bassy lol), and making multiple passes at him. In the second musical there is a number which is Grell singing about a late night booty-call while wearing this;
Yep I did that to put the image in your head lol, but also to show that he was indeed looking for said booty-call with Sebastian. In the scene after this number that takes place at the morning breakfast table, Grell eludes to having sex with Sebastian. Of course having sex meant Sebastian got the information that was needed on the Shinigami.And then there is season 2.... Now I hate the season as a whole since it technically didn't need to be. However, I do like the ending since I am a Ciel fan. The reasons I don't like season 2 too much is that it seems to have quite a bit of wholes in its story. In the first episode you are introduced to Alois Trancy and his demon butler, Claude and for all but the last 5 minutes it is only of them. Sebastian shows up with Ciel's body in a trunk and is looking for his young master's blue diamond ring. Ya know, the ring he gives away in season 1? Now I know logically speaking the person whom he gave it to could have pawned it and thats how it got into the Trancy's possession; but why was it in a tea box? Sebastian takes the ring and escapes with Ciel's body. Once in a safe spot he places the ring on Ciel's finger and revives him. I am inclined to believe that what Ciel spout out in the first season about the owner's souls being in the ring since he could hear their screams was true and thats why his soul was there and could awaken him. But HOW did it get there? It's stated the Claude stole his soul making it so Sebastian couldn't devour it and I am still having trouble figuring out why. (which probably means I need to watch through the season again...)
But with Ciel back Sebastian can now take his soul, except Ciel has no memory of the first season, thus the contract technically isn't complete. Now, this is what I don't understand; Ciel knows the terms of his contract well and that Sebastian doesn't lie. So why didn't Sebastian just tell him the contact was completed when he discovered he had no memory? Anyway the plot thickens when Claude dissolves his contract with Alois after getting a small taste of Ciel's soul (through his blood), Alois becomes one (best way I can put it) with one of his demon servants as he lay dying and then possesses Ciel's body; forcing the 2 butlers to play a "Do you know me" kind of game as well as run through a maze. The winner of course would get Ciel's soul, or so they think. Hearing Claude's answer to the final question, Alois makes his contract with Hannah that the two butlers are to fight to the death. Of course Sebastian wins this, but Alois made a twist; and that was that no matter who won neither of them could have Ciel's soul. Ciel is then re-awakened as a demon. Since he had given Sebastian an order just before while the butlers were playing Alois' game and he was unable to carry it out he is now forever bound by the contract to Ciel.
Yes that is the story for season 2 and I still don't quite understand it. The first season had an end with the contract finished. If they wanted to continue the story of the "Black Butler" they could have done two things; make another season following Sebastian on a new contract or use the Trancy lot and just have the new contract holder in place and the "Black Butler" is just the demon in servitude and you follow them through the contract. I admit that I would love to actually see a continuation from season 2's ending; maybe not a season 3, but an OVA or movie would be nice to see how Ciel deals with being a demon.
Overall, I can still recommend this series. The anime is good for what it is, even if it's confusing. The musicals are very fun (they remind me of cosplay skits at conventions lol), but the book blows them out of the water. So if you are looking to give this series an honest try read the manga. See you all next time! ^^/
