The Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) franchise, yields a world of violence, tragedy, and bizarre comedic moments. Currently it has two original seasons named Kuroshitsuji and Kuroshitsuji II with multiple special episodes, a smaller third season (Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus), two film length episodes (Kuroshitsuji: Book of Murder), and a movie (Kuroshitsuji: Book of the Atlantic). It’s a fictional series, though it takes place in the real world and draws inspiration from Victorian-era London.
Every scene flows gorgeously, with the stunning art in this anime. The flow is continuous, going through the action filled fight scenes, through the humorous antics, through the tear-jerking death scenes, and though the extravagant parties. One of the most detailed aspects of the art in this series is its calculated lighting.
The genre of the Kuroshitsuji franchise has been categorized as action, mystery, comedy, historical, and supernatural. When the plot or setting of the scene has more of a supernatural aspect, the scenery had a great emphasis on shadows and had multiple red tones. When the plot or setting was more comedic, the colors and light were bright and vibrant and the whole scene was brighter, with multiple colors such as light pink, baby blue, any sizable amounts of yellow and gold.
Kuroshitsuji Shadow Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FtBoh9q_1s
Kuroshitsuji Yellow/Gold Champagne Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT5hkHepCfk
From a historical standpoint, the artists have done enough for the viewer to recognize that the series takes place during the nineteenth century London. Scenes are constructed with Victorian cityscapes, shops and housing, the eerie scenes of reveries and cemeteries, and the enchanting landscape of the manors that Victorian London is known for. Character designs are elaborate, and the fashion shown in the franchise are loud, flashy, and beautiful – bold Victorian couture.
In the original Kuroshitsuji series even the music adds to the atmosphere of the anime. Scenes with fighting have fast hitting beats, whereas dark and scary plot driven moments are immersed in the ambience of soft ritual chanting and wrenching operatic arias pierce during the tragic gut-wrenching moments. The ending theme, “Lacrimosa” by Kalafina especially fits the ominous ending of the anime. The complete soundtrack captures the essence of the dark, dramatic anime. In the Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus series the soundtrack consists of orchestral and fantasy/folk like notes, with the opening, “Enamel” by SID, having a distinct circus sound in its beats. As the anime transitions so does the music, becoming more ominous and unsettling. A once fun bright happy circus slowly begins to unveil a darker image, leading to the ending theme, “Aoki Tsuki Michite” by AKIRA.
“Lacrimosa” by Kalafina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUG7SZGgYBk
“Enamel” by SID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M22jx3PNxr0
“Aoki Tsuki Michite” by AKIRA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQs6l89A2DE
Music isn’t the only sound in anime, voice actors also play a part. How well do they sound, how well does the voice fit the character, does the Japanese voice or the English voice better suit the character? All of this can be minor but will affect fans in drastic ways. The discussion about voices for anime which is referred to as “Sub vs. Dub” knows that the discussion is never-ending. Everyone in the community who knows of Kuoshitsuji franchise in the English dub will know a common catchphrase of the show. Coined by a main character and performed by John Michael Tatum, the phrase is both widely recognized and dearly loved.
J.M.T Kuroshitsuji Catch Phrase:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5M9AGcQ9RM
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZIiSV02dQw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2QOa7dnhz0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ5x12TsOPM
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q5a9zNfRoA
The Kuroshitsuji franchise’s setup is that at the age of ten, Ciel Phantomhive (the son of the wealthy Phantomhive family that is in service to the queen) gives his soul in exchange for revenge against the people who killed his parents, tortured and kidnapped him. Two years after his kidnapping he returns to become the head of the Phamtomhive family and accompanying him is his demon butler –Sebastian Michaelis. While Ciel’s goal is revenge, becoming the Phamtomhive head also means that he is the Queen’s ‘Guarddog’. By following the queen’s orders which is a driving plot point of the series. Throughout the series he has to solve crimes in London’s sketchy underworld. Ciel has to unveil the identity of Jack the ripper, uncover the connections between the circus and missing children, and investigate a sinister case of illegal human experimentation.
No character is one-dimentional, everyone is fleshed out to some degree with emotional back stories and plot twists. Sebastian the butler is the purest personification of a demon. Demons are often seen as monsters, and are often depicted as grotesque, ravenous flesh-eating beats. Yet Sebastian acts like a butler, he’s elegant, smooth, and talented, making him seem more like a demonic angel, rather than a demon in disguise. Ceil is not your typical twelve-year-old. His presence holds an air of mystery. This is because the audience is unaware of the events that happened to Ceil between ten and twelve years old. Why did Ceil reappear with a demon and why is he so obsessed with revenge, what is his relation to the queen as her Guard Dog are all points the anime explores not at the beginning, but along the story.
Ciel and Sebastian/Demon Butler Appears: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0Zg5AJnJc
In the Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus series the circus troupe are damaged outcasts, people with no home, family, money, and all with missing limbs. They illustrate suffering of innocence, and how easily one can be corrupted, their actions eventually lead the Queen to set her ‘Guarddog’ on them. But even though, characters come and go, each facing their own tragedies.
Welcome to the Noah’s Ark Circus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2fMKJCy1_o&t=28s
Throughout the entire Kuroshitsuji franchise, the audience gets glimpses into the mind of Ciel Phantomhive, we are reminded that out of every single character in this franchise, from broken humans, to innocent victims, and to missing children that the most tragic and damaged character is Ciel. Along with his past trauma and his feelings of vengeance, he is the only one constantly affected by all the destruction and mayhem occurring everywhere around him and sometimes it hard to remember that this character is actually only twelve years old. Kuroshitsuji is able to keep all its dark themes while still reminding the viewer of Ciel’s own tragedy which has made it a fan favorite for decades.
Ciel’s Thoughts on Humanity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucgm8p2R1jk&t=7s