Black Butler (2008–2011) User Reviews

Well written anime series with an interesting plot and many shades of dark humor

[trcky1 · 9/10 · 17 April 2011]

This may be the most well written anime series I've seen. Not that it was Oscar-worthy writing, but most of the writing I've seen in anime has always been the thing that prevented me from really loving it. This series doesn't have the lazy, shortcut type of writing that simply fills the plot gaps. It actually builds different stories to support different themes.

Anyways, the series themes of revenge and redemption are woven together well with well-crafted story lines. This isn't an anime with non-stop action, but it does have its share of dark supernatural battle scenes, as well as witty humorous battle scenes. There is quite a bit dark humor in different parts of the series, but it's balanced out by traditional anime slapstick comedy (which I'm actually not a fan of and part of the reason it didn't get 10 stars).

If you watch the dubbed version, the translation and acting are all excellent. Some hardcore anime fans complain about the fake cockney accents, but they're mostly limited to some supporting characters. The voices for the two main characters (Ciel and Sebastian) are portrayed terrifically and are true in tone to their Japanese voice counterparts (I saw season 2 in the subbed version). Simply put, this may be the best job of versioning I've ever seen in anime. In its early U.S. import days, anime had horrible translations in both subbed and dubbed versions, due to what I expect as literal translations of the script from Japanese to English. Funimation has really done well in this department, as they've taken the meanings of the original Japanese script and rewritten it in English with English idioms and phrases that work perfectly with the characters and themes, rather than just lazily taking the Japanese words and translating them directly into English words, creating phrases that are unusual or that simply don't make any sense.

One hell of a show

[roleplayerlexi · 9/10 · 29 October 2017]

Black Butler, what can I say about it? First, it's about a boy named Ciel Phantomhive and his demon butler, Sebastian. The show takes place in Victorian England, Ciel being an Earl in that time. His life was well at first, but then his parents were murdered in a house fire. Filled with grief and wanting revenge, he summoned Sebastian. He made a contract with him saying that he would be able to devour his soul in exchange for getting revenge on the people that killed his parents. Sebastian acted as a butler, saying that he would never lie, always do as his young master said, and following through with the contract.

Kuroshitsuji can be dark, but still is very interesting. If you don't like darker themes with violence, then this anime is not so much for you. I still think you should watch a few episodes or see other reviews before making your decision to watch it. I got a couple of friends before who did not like darker animes, but they still really enjoyed it.

The first few episodes, we are introduced to some of the other characters, pretty much the Phantomhive manor staff. There is Mey- Rin, the clumsy maid, Baldroy, the chef who doesn't cook anything edible, Finny, the innocent gardener, and Tanaka, the house steward. We are later introduced to many other characters, each having their own unique traits that make them lovable.

The first season was great. I'm not too sure why the second season's facts are included in this page, as it's actually considered a whole new 'show'. "Black Butler" is season one, while "Black Butler II" is the second season, if that makes any sense. The other 'seasons' are actually arcs, which are different 'shows' as well.

Anyways, the first season was amazing. It somewhat followed through the manga and had a great plot. Some episodes may pull at your heartstrings or leave you awestruck. It's violent at times, but doesn't have much more violence than modern day PG-13 action movies. There's gore as well, again, not much more than PG-13 action films. There are some swears, but I do not think they say any 'f' words in either the sub or dub. Throughout the series, there is not any nudity, only minor innuendo which is sometimes played for laughs. A few of the episodes talk about the murdering of prostitutes, but again, there is no nudity, mostly just innuendo or references. Overall, it was amazing. I highly suggest the first season. I say that people 12/13+ should watch it. You will more than likely fall in love. The first few episodes are slow, but most shows are like that, after all. Throughout the season, you'll be shocked and on the edge of your seat sometimes.

The second season was very, very crazy. Literally most of the things mentioned in the parents guide was only in this season. Again, it's considered Kuroshitsuji II, not just Kuroshitsuji, so if you're concerned about missing something important, you're not. Mostly because it's not even canon either. There is much more gore in this than in season 1 and much more sexual references as well. As someone who has read the manga before watching the show, I can say that I was slightly disappointed after waiting for this. To sum it up, this season is about a boy named Alois Trancy and his demon butler, Claude. Alois 'wants' Ciel, yet he attempts to kill him multiple times. I did not like it very much, so you can skip this over. I've said it many times, I'm not sure why season 2 is included in this page when this page is for 'Kuroshitsuji' not 'Kuroshitsuji II', which has it's own page on the site. I just didn't like this season very much and don't think it should share the ratings the first season deserves x-x I say that those 15/16+ should watch it. But again, it's not that good in comparison to the first season.

The arcs are well done as well, Book of the Atlantic will forever be my favorite. I don't want to give too many spoilers, so all I have to say is that they're lovely. They are adaptations of the manga and are like the first season. I suggest watching these as well. All the arcs (Book of Circus, Book of Murder, and Book of the Atlantic) should be watched by those who are 12/13+. They are very, very good.

The art style is beautiful and the voices, both in Japanese and English, are amazing. Some people may get annoyed by the accents, but I thought they were fine. You will surely have an adventure with this anime no doubt! At least one character will have a close place to your heart.

To sum this up, Kuroshitsuji is one hell of the show (reference to Sebastian's line - One hell of a butler). The first season is really good as well as the arcs, mainly violent with gore over anything else. The only thing that made me continue watching Kuroshitsuji II was Ciel and Sebastian, that is it. I highly suggest watching Black Butler if you love mysterious/action animes with little fan-service. If you watch it, check out the manga, too. It has yet to finish, as more and more pages are still coming out to this day.

supernatural anime with a mixture of drama and comedy

[sunshine_child · 9/10 · 12 March 2010]

This is a really good supernatural anime with a mix of drama and comedy. I started watching it out of boredom, but quickly got draw into it. The story revolves around about a boy of about 12 who is of noble heritage, Ciel and his butler Sebastian. As episodes go on you find out that Sebastian is in fact a demon, and Ciel made a contract with him, thus when the contract comes to a conclusion Sebastian will have his soul. But after watching a few episodes you get a feeling that Sebastian perhaps in some way cares for Ciel, who is his master fro duration of the contract and Sebastian bound to whatever he is told and to protect Ciel fro any harm. Sebastian is talented in many ways, he is strong, fast, smart and so on, for obvious reason he is a demon after all. He's catch phrase "I am one hell of the butler". The anime is set in the Victorian England, and there is a strong emphasis on English loving their tea time, which I found so fun because it is true. There are supernatural characters apart from the demon butler, such as the reaper and Devil/demon dog. The characters that bring humour to the series are the household servants of Ciel, Finny the gardener, Meirin the maid and Bardroy or Bard the cook, who seem to be clueless to the fact that Sebastian is a demon. There is also Elizabeth/Lizzy Ciels' fiancé who loves him very much and wants nothing but to make him happy. First impression, after a couple of episodes Ciel seemed like an arrogant brat, but after a while you begin to get a real feel of his character. He is a sad and angry boy, who not only lost both of his parents (and later in the show his aunt), but also gone through a lot. As they show a few glimpses that he was tortured profoundly in a some sort of ritual. SO a guess you begin to understand his anger and complete disregard for his own life, and the fact that in a wholehearted consumption of revenge he sold his sole in order to obtain the power necessary to find and carry out revenge on those who done him wrong. This gives the anime a dark note, and there are many sad moments, but nonetheless there are tones of comedy there, and I find it has great balance between them.

Try it out for yourself...I loved it!

[sarahhankins247 · 10/10 · 26 June 2014]

This show was and still is my all-time favorite anime, but it's not for everyone. It all depends on the person, so if you really want to know if it is good or bad, watch it for yourself and don't take someone's word for it (you might be missing out on something great!) This show will woo you if you give it the chance to! I must admit, I started the show and after the first 5 minutes, I turned it off because I was unimpressed. Later, I decided to give it another go. Best decision of my life. The characters, mainly Sebastian and Ciel, were really intriguing and had this captivating dynamic which made every situation, from funny to dramatic, entertaining. This is one of those shows that gets better as you watch and the ending is desirable. Watch at least the first 3 or 4 episodes before passing judgment!

Amazingg

[hkbolen · 10/10 · 3 June 2011]

This is by far one of the best series! It has mystery, drama, romance, comic relief and involves the supernatural world. I would give it more than 10 stars if possible! Every character is complex. Every so often viewers will want to cry, laugh and get angry at Ciel and Sebastian. Some of the characters (Finny, Bard, Mey-Rin and Lizzy) not only add comic relief, but also have stories on their own that they tell. I will defiantly be watching the next season. Oh yes, and if you are interested in finding out more about what happens to our faithful butler, Sebastian, the Queen's watchdog, Ciel and the rest of his gangly crew, the manga version is really, really good as well. If you ever have a chance, watch this because you will not regret it. At first it might seem a little weird, but after the second or third episode viewers will be hooked on the show and will want to see more of the adventures of the amazing duo, the butler and his master, Ciel and Sebastian!

I can honestly say this is in the top three animes on netflix

[nicademis32 · 10/10 · 10 August 2012]

OK, this is not cowboy bebop of FLCL (which I am not that big of a fan) but it is a very good show. The story flows, it slowly lets pieces of the mysteries go, and best of all it actually has a decent ending.

I am pretty picky about my anime. For the life of me I cannot understand the love for Trigun, except Nicholas Wolfwood. Most animes ruin it with the ending. This one is really good. I agree it starts out pretty bad but then so does Hellsing OVA and it turns really good really fast. It has a darker feel toward the end reminiscent of Fullmetal alchemists. If you want the standard hero shows up has a minor problem then overcomes the bad guy with some special power. This is not your show. If you want a solid story with some of the cutsie stuff that ends well, has really decent lessons, and great side character stories then I say give it a try. The second half is not quite as good but then ending makes it well worth the time.Plus there is no way to not like Sebastian since he is "One hell of a butler"

WARNING:SPOILERS Absolute Masterpiece

[rhiannon-60319 · 10/10 · 1 April 2016]

This is my favorite anime. I feel this anime is dark with a touch of humor. There is this young boy whose parents died and after being captured made a deal with a demon to serve, protect, and help him get his revenge. The charming dark demon serves Ciel as he is the queens 'Guard dog'. I feel this season has a more whimsical feeling rather than dark because it focuses more on the mission that the queen gives Ciel. In this season there was a lot more of screen time with other minor characters such as Lady Elizabeth, Finney, and Mei-Ren. The time period was Victorian London 1899, with 12 year old Ciel. It has the same kind of feel as Death-Note which I really enjoyed. I do feel like the anime just kind of threw you out there as far as the first couple of episodes because you don't know exactly what is going on and I think that's different and a good thing. This season focuses more on the emotion ties between characters unlike the second season which focuses more on Ceil's psyche. It was very well translated. It wasn't just Japanese to English. The Idian Prince and his servant was kind of random but I think it added a little more spice to the season. I could really connect with the characters which I thought was amazing. I rate this 10/10 and it was an absolute masterpiece.

A very mad and lovable mess

[KingProjector93 · 7/10 · 20 February 2015]

From A1 Pictures and Squenix comes a 24 episode anime based on the popular manga. A young Victorian aristocrat makes a demonic pact to avenge his murdered parents, while also running Britain's underworld. Together, the earl Ciel Phantomhive and his 'One Hell of A Butler', Sebastian, battle everything from drug runners to serial killers to demon hounds to even other angels, ghosts and demons.

A glorious mess if there ever was one, this has to be one of the most fun yet unbalanced shows I've ever sat down for. On the definite up, the animation is rock solid and dynamic, the voice cast in either language is spot on, and the Victorian setting allows for a lot of weaving in of actual history and culture from the era (not limited to but including Jack The Ripper, Hound of the Baskervilles, The Opium Wars, the construction of Tower Bridge and the Eiffel Tower and even a really touching take on the story of the Princes in the Tower thankfully free of any revisionist history BS). What's more, despite the dark subject, the characters are by large really likable and a lot of fun to be around, with special note going to the wonderfully charismatic yet dry Sebastian (who practically built this franchise), as well as the simply FABULOUS grim reaper and humorous fangirl insert Grell.

However, I did say the show was a mess: it's tonally all over the map, one minute dark psychological horror and revenge thriller, the next, your prototypical slapstick wacky anime comedy complete with goofy servants (whose back story and ultimate rational is kind of neat, but it comes really late) and stuff that feels like its prodding at anime tropes and the fanbase (such as the infamous corset and nun scenes). To an extent, it does work and gets a chuckle, especially the latter, much more savvy gags. The issue is not being sure how of this is intentional versus just plain tropes that are part and parcel of anime, but would feel jarring to Westerners more used to tonally cohesive entertainment. Furthermore, at 24 episodes, it's too damn long for this kind of story and Ciel by and large isn't terribly proactive in finding his parents' killers despite the pact, with the whole 'Queen's Guard Dog'aspect being more the bread and butter of the show, and the two sides never fully reconcile save for a few choice moments and hints drops sprinkled very, and I mean even Abrams would blush VERY, liberally across the many episodes. From an entertainment angle it's fine, since I get to spend more time in this world, but to less generous viewers or those new to the weird world of anime, this could be a big deal breaker.

Despite that though, it still kept me really engaged, even the really filler-y episodes concerning life in the mansion (because that's what I want in a show about a badass demon butler who can kill with silverware and still be on time for tea!). Its odd mixture of themes and ideas, covered in a thick coating of professional polish, made for a show I was always keen to see the next installment of. Want to know how, say, Penny Dreadful would've been had it been a little more comical and trope-aware? Here's your answer!

Funny interesting mystery anime

[Irishchatter · 8/10 · 16 March 2018]

So I've heard of Black Butler from the YouTuber "Akidearest", who went to a "black butler" inspired cafe in Japan for her birthday and I finally made myself watch the whole thing last night. I swear, both Brina Palencia and J. Michael Tatum, did such a terrific job in doing the voiceovers for Sebastian and Ciel. I really would give credit to these two because they just attach with the story so well and did a killer English accent that you wouldn't think they were Americans at all!

This series really does make you laugh including the other four servants who just are so cute and clumsy at the same time. Although the other butler who always tries to commit suicide but always seem to fail , it really does make you rather sad than laugh out loud to his actions. At least the character isn't killed off but honestly, why did Ciels aunt have to be killed off? Seriously she would've been useful.

I really couldn't stand Ciels fiancee, she was just so whiny and b*tchy that whenever she has her own scenes, I just skip them. I really think the writers made a huge mistake in not giving Sebastian and Ciel a gay realtionship, they just are so attached to each other that it just doesn't make sense to me. They are a master and servant with huge feelings for God sake! They are both demons at the end of the day!

I enjoyed this anime like the tone of it was just spot on for a Victorian anime series, ill give this 8/10!

Its good but it could be much better without Comedy

[TheArisen · 7/10 · 25 May 2016]

The Atmosphere of this Anime is getting interrupted by the Comedy Scenes, for example Tanaka.

The first Season has too much Comedy.

The Second Season is Kinda unnecessary.

The Third Season is the best Season, in my Opinion. Every Episode brings the Plot forward. And there are nearly no comedy scenes, so the Atmosphere isn't interrupted.

When you take all of this together this Anime is a 7/10. (without comedy this would be much better).

Note:

I recommend you to get as less information as possible about a Movie or an Series. It makes it much more interesting.

I wish there had been more episodes before the end of Ciel

[karokfish · 10/10 · 16 July 2015]

At first I could not stand to watch it in dubbed version - the accents just rankled as racist and they aren't very good accents. But now that I've finished watching both seasons, I need to re-watch it again, and I'll do so in the dubbed version. Funny how in Japanese, everyone has the same accent...

While it could have ended simply at Season 1, and since Season 2 was half filler anyway, I enjoyed the twist of the end of the story for Ciel and Sebastian in Season 2. And, boy!, what a twist! At least, it would seem like the end.

Not to knock the "filler" - couple of fun episodes in there, so watch! But anti-climactic when the "end of story" was in the middle of Season 2.

Speaking of end of story, what a head spinner! Truly convoluted. But I must say I feel quite sorry for Sebastian. After his hard work cultivating Ciel's soul, I wish he could have reaped his rewards.

There was a perfect explanation of Ciel in there somewhere, that despite the darkness he has experienced and that he wraps himself in, he still had a remarkably noble soul. He had every intention of being true to his contract with Sebastian, he understood completely what he had signed up for, unlike his antagonist in Season 2. But I think Season 2 might show us that the human master may ultimately affect the demon servant too.

Sigh. I wish it wasn't over. However, I understand there is another season called Book of Circus. But it is not available on Netflix Canada yet. So I will wait patiently until it comes out.

And something about a movie that came out in 2014? My my...

O-tanoshimini!

KUROSHITSUJI May have spoilers if you haven't seen any Black Butler

[motdranwod · 8 April 2014]

It amazes me that such a good franchise, so original, and so dark is dismissed so lightly. I have been a fan of this ever since I got wind of it! A demon that makes a deal with a young boy who has lost his family, and unlike so many other good vs evil in the Christian USA, it adheres more to Japanese standards. Where there are good demons and bad demons. The Supernatural Franchise made it clear that in this power struggle between Angels and Demons, Humans can receive nothing good from getting in the way of either. Both sides have their agenda's and the human race isn't really an ally of either. After all, the fall was caused by God creating humans. So the Angels both fallen and not are not too well disposed to us. I loved the Anime' and I hope the live action movie holds up as well as the anime' did. This is most entertaining and I hope you don't listen to the nay sayers and watch it for yourself.

Very Entertaining! But could be better.

[nasistar · 7/10 · 23 August 2018]

Okay so I've watched all 3 seasons and here's my thought on each of them. SEASON 1: I really liked this season since I have read the early chapters of the manga, and it looked like a beautifully animated version of every page of that. perfect recreation! Stories and plots can be confusing and seem incomplete, but that's because a lot will be explained later on! I didn't like every single episode of this season but overall it was really enjoyable!

SEASON 2: the style of the animation and characters are a lot like , but some of the stories really REALLY don't make sense and I didn't like that.This season has basically nothing to do with the manga except some episodes. There are new characters there that are not even mentioned in the manga and the whole series is about them! And they weren't really charismatic like Sebastian and Ciel. So I didn't like to watch them. But I didn't hate the season overall because it did give some insight of the existing characters that I found really really interesting!

SEASON 3: well this shouldn't really be called "season 3" since it has a totally different mood and animation style and you'll notice it the moment you start watching the first episode. It's called "The Book of Circus" following this 10 episode season, there are 2 episode called "the Book of Murder" and after that is the movie, "The Book of Atlantic". These three "the book of.." are all tied together and totally different from the Black Butler season 1 and 2. So don't expect to get the same feels you got in the previous seasons for these as well. But I LOVE them! They're too much like the manga and they make a lot more sense! I do believe the Book of Circus should've been a lot and I mean A LOT shorter thought. 10 episodes is too much for it and it gets boring by the end of it. I hated it the first time I watched it but then as I was searching in the internet I found out there are some hidden notes in all the flash backs that are showed there that are really really important to what the manga is getting right now. I think they WANTED to make sure everything in the manga is in the anime for this sake. but overall, it's possible to hate "season 3". but if you're a fan girl like me, and you know you WILL go through the internet just to understand every bit of the anime, you're gonna love it.

Wasted potential.

[Lukasmj · 4/10 · 13 November 2022]

Sebastian is the perfect Butler to Ciel. Not only does he protect him with his life, Sebastian is also a Demon which makes his ability even stronger. But Sebastian doesn't serves Ciel, because he pays him with money, but with his soul. Ciel wants to take revenge on the people who killed his parents which is why he sold his soul to Sebastian for his support.

Black Butler has a basic idea that without a doubt could have been implemented magnificently.

Unfortunately, it wasn't. The anime gets entangled in so many directions that at some point it just gets confusing and you wonder what the goal of it all is.

I think that's a shame, because the series had such great potential, which was then simply thrown away...

Interesting anime, well written characters, good animation :)

[fairysphere-52702 · 8/10 · 9 May 2020]

I have watched this anime more than once and fell in love with season 1 and all the Ova's. Season 2 I have come to a pretty soild conclusion has nothing to do with Season 1 time frame at all; if season two does happen it happens about two years after season 1 ends. Coming to this conclusion also makes make believe that Season two just does not happen within the Black Butler timeline at all, it would cross paths with at least two other crimes that were being solved by Ciel at the time Season 2 would have also been taking place.

Beside the very confusing Season 2, this show was very good, I loved the characters and the animation was great even comparing it to some of todays animation shows and scenc done in them. The dynamic between the butler and master is good never really changes yet still improves ever season, this is one of my favorite parts about the show.

As an older man, I find this anime really good

[mrnanuplstouchme · 8/10 · 20 July 2020]

Since me, my son, and my niece have been quarantined together for the past 4 months, we all decided to watch this show together. Ended up finishing it within about a day and a half and now my niece is absolutely obsessed with it. My niece is so obsessed with this show that she "kins" the main characters, Ciel and Sebastian or something like that (I don't know I'm a 47 year old man). The comedy in the show is sometimes mediocre but my son thought most of the jokes were pretty funny. I would recommend it to anyone who likes black-comedy and mysteries like Sherlock Holmes. However only rating it 8 stars because of the jokes and the scene with the nun.

I love this anime

[nezechatman · 10/10 · 23 November 2020]

This anime makes me laugh, this anime should make another season

Not as good as Death Note but still an awesome anime show

[pascaloetterli · 8/10 · 16 September 2014]

"Black Butler" started a bit disappointing. It was clear from the beginning, that the anime would walk in the footsteps of "Deathnotes". After some time, the typical anime plots (Faustian Pact, Lost Parents, Revenge, Friendship) are revealed but then the Victorian Age feeling gets much better and bigger attention. There's a ton of really well researched stuff and the tension rises as the main story unfolds.

The show is not as good as "Death Note" and has imho a lot of homosexual content in it, which is more or less openly shown. I assume it is, among other things, to attract more female and viewers. The funny thing is, that females are either shown as dolls, clumsy servants, killing machines or just some extras. While Walt Disney is getting really feminist lately, the Japanese have yet to invent better female - believable - anime characters.

Including all flaws - this is one of the best anime shows at the moment. A mixture of Steampunk, Gothic Horror and Crime. Not too violent and gory but at times very thrilling!

8/10

Good enough

[PennyReviews · 7/10 · 16 August 2017]

An okay drama, with interesting small cases and beautiful art. Actually, the art was really good, as the whole universe of the anime was impressive, full with details. The action scenes, especially, were really good and nicely drawn. The small cases, in addition, kept the interest high and provided entertainment, as the main story wasn't strong enough to support the whole season. Also, the characters were pretty interesting, especially Ciel, who was charming and complex, which added some spice to the story. Again, however, the main story was so so and in the end, it was just to crazy to take charge.

Really good anime but dislike the part where Ciel turns into demon!

[arfamughal93 · 8/10 · 1 February 2013]

You may found first few episodes weird but story is really nice. Character designing was so good. I really liked this anime, i would have given it 9 rating but 7 is because of tuning of Ciel into demon. Ending of first phase where Sebastian tries to eat Ciel's soul and story ends was so good! but i really didn't like the ending of second season (second phase) where Ciel turns into demon. It was unjust with Sebastian as he served Ciel a lot and what he gets in the end, nothing but a kind of punishment! The story was about the relationship of human and demon but in the end they changed it! It would had been a better ending if he(Sebastian) had eaten his(Ciel) soul, rather than turning into demon! But i really would like to see its another season!

only season 2 was good

[clovre · 7/10 · 11 October 2021]

Season 1 was funny- the half was wholesome ish and the other half was more serious. Season 2 was great but i got bored on the first episode of season 3. It was like the plot line and character development of season 1 and 2 was non existent. But if you are going to watch black butler, i would suggest only watching season 1 and 2.

A great first season to my favourite anime.

[annonymouscritic · 8/10 · 27 October 2017]

Black Butler is my favourite anime for a reason. It blends dark humour in with dark plots with the same anime charm that Fairy Tail and many others have. It's also the only anime I've found that has a dub that's better than the original. It's the best anime dub I've ever heard, and since the show is set in late 19th century England, British sounding voice actors fit even more. The accents are exaggerated and are made to be extra posh, but they never ever annoy me. The plot is straight forward, young Ciel Phantomhive summons a demon to save himself from the torture he was being put through. Ciel names the demon Sebastian and asks him to take on the form of a butler to help him as he is now the owner of the Phantomhive manor, previously belonging to his murdered parents. Ciel makes a deal with Sebastian stating that when he finds the killer of his parents, Sebastian can have his soul. Together they police England's criminal underworld and dispose of anything the Queen tells them to dispose of. All the main characters are likable and interesting and are well developed. Ciel is my favourite character. He is arrogant and is aware of it and is very pessimistic, but he has a reason for his sadness (his parents murder) and we get plenty of flashbacks revealing his backstory. He also has some of the funniest lines in the show. Sebastian comes close to being my favourite, however I just like Ciel a little more. Sebastian just doesn't give a single damn about the current situation most of the time and is an absolute bad ass. The two work perfectly with each other. The story arcs are some of the best I've ever seen in any form of media and there are no plot holes. Even the FILLER episodes are enjoyable because I just love watching what life is like in the Phantomhive household with Sebastian, Ciel, and the servants. The all have great personalities that bounce off of each other perfectly. And, without spoiling anything, the ending is incredible. This season blew a lot of people away. So many people were blown away in fact, that they've turned it into a full on franchise. Releasing constant chapters of the manga every year, a second season, and 3 manga adaptions that are absolutely spectacular. Black Butler has a consistent good quality throughout season one, and I'm glad that they have that consistency. Check this season out and then watch the second one and the manga adaptions. It's honestly such and underrated and overlooked anime and despite the giant fan-base, most anime watchers aren't aware of it's existence or it's brilliance. Which is understandable as there are tons of great anime out there that came out at around the same time as Black Butler like Fairy Tail, Attack On Titan, Death Note and so much more. But this one definitely stands out from the rest in my opinion. Absolutely amazing anime.

Interesting concept, too much filler.

[cb_whitewood · 7/10 · 16 February 2022]

Season 1 does a great job of setting the stage for what's to come, and gives just enough attention to each character to get a good idea of them. This fantasy version of London works well with the action, as well. That being said, I felt like season 1 could be half the length it is. There's a lot of fluff and filler, which isn't a crime, but makes the jump to the final arc of S1 somewhat jarring. I found myself putting the show down quite often because of the side plots and filler.

Season 2 (controversy about canon aside) is worlds better in terms of pacing, but is also ridiculously dramatic. I enjoyed the new characters, and how they contrast with the cast we got to know in S1. There is a bit of retconning, though, so some of the plot holes aren't filled in a very satisfying way. S2 took me a week to watch, compared to two months for S1.

If you're not worried about continuity between the anime and manga, I would recommend this show. It kept me guessing what would happen next, dull filler episodes aside. Grell is also an amazing character (I think the cast is charming as a whole, though), and seeing her throughout the series kept me going. If you're interested, definitely take the time to watch!

Could've been better

[jaysshukla · 5/10 · 20 September 2021]

Set in an Victorian era London, lives the 13 year old Ciel Phantomhive as earl. He got this position after the Phantomhive manor was attacked and set on fire killing his parents and his dog, Sebastian. (The story contains many dark elements but let's not go into detail. Also, the anime shows it differently from manga). After much endurance, he unintentionally managed to summon a demon and formed a contract with him. Hence, the Faustian contract symbol on Ciel's right eye. After the formation of the contract, the demon reveals he will consume Ciel's soul as payment for helping him achieve his goal; revenge on those who brought down the House of Phantomhive. The demon then starts living as Ciel's Butler until Ciel could get his revenge. Ciel then names him Sebastian Michaelis, after his deceased pet dog.

The concept is very dark and interesting but the anime decided to take a different route from manga. While, it is still understandable and the storyline still remains as interesting, it's the characterization, that takes the beating. Few of the antagonists like Lau and Fallen Angel developed faster than we expected. It felt rushed. Interestingly, we hardly got to know anything about Elizabeth and Undertaker in this season despite the fact that Ciel's fate was shown in this season itself. It was not until Book of Atlantic, do we get to see their real motives. The anime contains the references of many European literature and it also briefly talked about Indian/Hindu mythology. Each of those references looked well researched and felt accurate. The kind of an action we see in the anime, doesn't look 100% satisfying. I felt the anime had a potential to have even more intensed climax and more powerful action scenes.

Is the anime recommendable? Only if you are not a manga reader. Is the manga recommendable? Maybe. I am certain that the manga content must be multiple times better than the anime version. Lastly, even though I was always okay with that, I feel the need to say this - Beware, this anime contains some indirect homosexual contents. If you are not comfortable with that, you can avoid watching this show.

It's good but some of the ships arnt

[alunarlight · 8/10 · 5 August 2022]

It has a nice dark Gothic aesthetic and an interesting story . I say it as a jack the riper era London, meets demon bonding.

I believe the manga was still on going, but some of the fan ships that turned me off this show some of the interactions with a hungry demon are romanticized on someone who it should not be romanticized on.