The anime diverges rapidly from the Manga. The second season of the anime is particularly problematic and many manga fans sort of pretend it never existed.
I don't understand all of anime's devices and conventions, so I'm sure that I'm not picking up on all the subtexts in Black Butler. So far, I tend to view Ciel and Sebastian's relationship as a power struggle that Ciel, no matter how haughty, has already lost. Sebastian is both wicked and wickedly funny, whereas Ciel has a mean streak and lacks a sense of humor.
It's interesting that Ciel, a trickster, has enough faith in his contract with Sebastian to ask the demon to watch over him while he sleeps. The Black Butler does take pride in his work.
I agree with you on the characters in the anime. My overview is based more on the manga, though as you said Ciel is the loser in a power struggle between the two. But what would you expect of a 12 or 13 year old kid dealing with a multi-thousand (at least) year old demon?
I interpret it as Ciel summoning Sebastian. When Sebastion arrives at the ceremony, he asks who summoned him. Several people jump forward asking for what they want out of a demon. Sebastian disregards their existence and speaks only to Ciel.
Who caused Ciel to be kidnapped and his parents killed has not been revealed in the Manga.
The more episodes of the anime I watch, the more confused I become. Continuity problems keep multiplying. Are the eps numbered and shown in the wrong order? In the next-to-last ep of season one, Pluto the Dog and the Queen die, and it seems that Sebastian is about to feast on Ciel's soul, yet everyone's back on board for the next ep, putting on a play. Weird.
Then season 2 starts with another young master and demon butler pair. This master has Ciel in a suitcase for reasons that I didn't completely understand.
Does the manga make better use of the supporting characters? The loyalty of Ciel's staff is surprising, given that Ciel is often distant and cold. They find humanity in him that he may or may not have. I enjoyed seeing a bit of their back stories, as well as seeing them in action, protecting Ciel and the estate.
In the anime, the last ep in the sequence at the end of season 1 is sort of a bonus 'crack' episode, not part of the main canon.
Ciel is in a suitcase because he died at the end of season 1 but Sebastian used some form of magic to keep him in suspension so he could resolve a contract issue.
As I said, many fans choose to disregard season 2 of the anime entirely because it has so many continuity and logical flaws.
In general, Ciel's staff were rescued out of situations so bad that Ciel seems a kind and generous saint compared to what they are used to.
I imagine he pays well too.
Add: His staff were not chosen for the roles they most commonly play as cook, housekeeper, etc., but for their utility in Ciel's secret role as an organized crime double-agent.
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You can read scanlations of the Manga online.
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I don't understand all of anime's devices and conventions, so I'm sure that I'm not picking up on all the subtexts in Black Butler. So far, I tend to view Ciel and Sebastian's relationship as a power struggle that Ciel, no matter how haughty, has already lost. Sebastian is both wicked and wickedly funny, whereas Ciel has a mean streak and lacks a sense of humor.
It's interesting that Ciel, a trickster, has enough faith in his contract with Sebastian to ask the demon to watch over him while he sleeps. The Black Butler does take pride in his work.
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Does the manga ever reveal who summoned Sebastian?
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Who caused Ciel to be kidnapped and his parents killed has not been revealed in the Manga.
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Then season 2 starts with another young master and demon butler pair. This master has Ciel in a suitcase for reasons that I didn't completely understand.
Does the manga make better use of the supporting characters? The loyalty of Ciel's staff is surprising, given that Ciel is often distant and cold. They find humanity in him that he may or may not have. I enjoyed seeing a bit of their back stories, as well as seeing them in action, protecting Ciel and the estate.
Reply
Ciel is in a suitcase because he died at the end of season 1 but Sebastian used some form of magic to keep him in suspension so he could resolve a contract issue.
As I said, many fans choose to disregard season 2 of the anime entirely because it has so many continuity and logical flaws.
Reply
Sebastian may be a demon, but he goes to great lengths to fulfill his contract to perfection.
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I imagine he pays well too.
Add: His staff were not chosen for the roles they most commonly play as cook, housekeeper, etc., but for their utility in Ciel's secret role as an organized crime double-agent.
Reply
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