BLACK BUTLER. TV adaptation.
(Directed by Shinohara Toshiya. Based on the
manga by Yana Toboso. Distributed by Funimation)
GENRE: Action (anime)
HONORS: None
REVIEW: Black Butler
chronicles the Faustian contract between Ciel, the twelve-year-old head of the
Phantomhive family and his demonic butler, Sebastian Michaelis. It is stated
throughout the series that Sebastian is “one hell of a butler”, and he is. In
addition to overseeing the vast Phantomhive Estate, Sebastian acts as
bodyguard, confidant and advisor to his young master as they pursue vengeance
upon the villains who killed Ciel’s parents. The premise of Black
Butler is rock solid – a young boy in a
position of great power wields a secret weapon against those who have crossed
him. The pseudo-Victorian setting provides a nice veneer of civilization and
Victorian gothic appeal. The overall darkness of the series is leavened by the
sometimes heavy-handed antics of the other servants, but though the drama and
comedy are, at times, unbalanced, the series is well done, compelling and
lovely to look at.
OPINION: Black Butler is
a compulsively watchable gothic romp. Girls will find Sebastian to be an
attractive, if unattainable figure, while boys will most likely get right
behind Ciel’s quest for vengeance and the (moderate) violence that results. The
manga, in particular, would be a strong addition to a tween collection, while
the anime adaptation is a good suggestion to have on hand.
IDEAS: Both the manga and the anime adaptation are a great suggestion for young
readers interested in historical or gothic fiction, but a too young for some of
the more intense YA options. It also pairs nicely with Eoin Colfer’s Artemis
Fowle series, which chronicles the
nefarious doings of a young, diabolical genius.
No comments:
Post a Comment