Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc
Synopsis
Queen Victoria of England has ordered her loyal watchdog, 13-year-old Earl Ciel Phantomhive, to investigate a series of suspicious deaths in southern Germany. Across multiple villages, all the victims have one thing in common: they had entered the so-called Werewolves' Forest right before they developed strange deformities and subsequently died. The rumors put blame on a "witch's curse," the nearby villagers' firm belief based on old folklore. Unconvinced that anything truly supernatural is at play, Ciel and his contracted demonic butler, Sebastian Michaelis—along with the rest of the Phantomhive servants—come across an isolated village in the Werewolves' Forest. Its residents are only women, hostile toward the outsiders and serving a young girl with emerald eyes and bound feet, Sieglinde "Green Witch" Sullivan. Ciel and Sebastian investigate to uncover the truth, but as they soon fall victim to the curse themselves, it appears that there is more to the local myths than meets the eye. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The "Emerald Witch Arc" adaptation received mixed reactions. Many appreciated its faithfulness to the manga and improved animation, particularly praising the opening and ending themes. However, criticisms arose regarding inconsistent animation quality, pacing issues, and overuse of recaps, leading to a slightly polarized audience.
Strengths
- Faithful adaptation of the Emerald Witch arc from the manga.
- Improved animation quality compared to previous seasons, particularly from Cloverworks.
- Strong opening and ending themes that fit the show's atmosphere.
- Exploration of character backstories, especially Ciel's, adding depth to the main cast.
- Intriguing premise and setting, with Sullivan and Wolf being excellent additions.
Weaknesses
- Inconsistent animation quality, with some scenes appearing lazy and lacking fluid movement.
- Short arc length and pacing issues, especially in the middle portion of the series.
- Overuse of recaps, which some viewers found unnecessary and disruptive.
- Some viewers felt the adaptation didn't fully capture the essence of the manga, leading to disappointment.