Black Butler

Plot

12-year-old earl Ciel Phantomhive lives in Victorian-era London. He acquired his title and position after the events of his tenth birthday on December 14, 1885, when the Phantomhive manor was attacked by unidentified perpetrators. Ciel's parents died along with the family dog, Sebastian, and he is taken and sold into slavery. He ends up in the hands of a sadistic, demon-worshipping cult and endures physical, mental and sexual abuse at the hands of his captors.

One night, during a sacrificial ceremony to summon a demon, the demon arrives but states that he came in response to Ciel's summoning, not the cult's. Ciel sells his soul to the demon and forms a contract to be saved; the demon kills all the cultist members and places the Faustian contract symbol on Ciel's right eye. As part of the contract, the demon will consume Ciel's soul as payment for helping him achieve his goal; revenge on those who brought down his family and the House of Phantomhive. Ciel names the demon Sebastian Michaelis, after his deceased dog. The duo returns to society as Ciel takes over his late father's position as the Queen's Watchdog: someone tasked with investigating cases that Queen Victoria herself deems threatening to England. To assist with this task, Sebastian recruits notable individuals such as the sniper Mey-Rin, the veteran soldier Baldroy and Finnian, a teenager with superhuman strength, who join the Phantomhive estate, disguised as Ciel's servants.

As Ciel and Sebastian resolve several incidents under the Queen's orders, some of them are related to the "Aurora Society", a secret organization performing experiments involving reanimated corpses, led by a grim reaper with ties to the Phantomhive family known as "Undertaker". Undertaker eventually reveals that his true objective was to reanimate the body of Ciel's older twin brother and the real Ciel Phantomhive, who was the original heir of the Phantomhive estate. It is also revealed that both twins were captured and used in the ritual to summon Sebastian, with the original Ciel being sacrificed in the process and Ciel's younger brother assuming his identity to take revenge for their family. The revived "Ciel" incriminates his brother for the crimes committed by the Aurora Society and assumes control of the Phantomhive estate, forcing Ciel and his subordinates to flee. Branded as fugitives, Ciel, Sebastian and their allies begin investigating the Aurora Society further in order to prove Ciel's innocence and stop Undertaker's plans.

Media

Manga

Main article: List of Black Butler chapters{{!}}List of ''Black Butler'' chapters

Written and illustrated by Yana Toboso, Black Butler started in Square Enix's ja manga magazine Monthly GFantasy on September 16, 2006. In June 2024, it was announced that the manga would enter on hiatus, and that Toboso would be conducting research and making preparations as the series heads toward its climax. The series is set to resume on April 18, 2025. Square Enix has collected its chapters into individual ja volumes. The first volume was released on February 27, 2007. As of November 27, 2025, thirty-five volumes have been released.

Yen Press licensed the series for an English language release and serialized the manga in Yen Plus August 2009 issue for the magazine's first anniversary. The publisher released the first volume on January 26, 2010. As of June 18, 2024, 33 volumes have been released.

Drama CDs

On August 10, 2007, a drama CD was released by Frontier Works. It featured many of the characters appearing in volumes one and two. A second drama CD was released on November 26, 2008, under the Aniplex label.

Anime

Main article: List of Black Butler episodes{{!}}List of ''Black Butler'' episodes

In July 2008, it was announced that an anime adaptation of Black Butler, directed by Toshiya Shinohara and produced by A-1 Pictures. It premiered in October 2008 and broadcast on MBS as well as the TBS. On an event on June 14, 2009, it was announced that the anime would be returning for a second series. Japanese voice actor Junichi Suwabe confirmed this news on his official blog later that day. The second series, Black Butler II, premiered in July and follows a butler, Claude Faustus, and his master, Alois Trancy, as well as Sebastian and Ciel. Both new characters were designed by Toboso. Aniplex released the complete Blu-ray and DVD set of both seasons and their extra OVAs on May 7, 2014.

On March 29, 2010, North American anime distributor Funimation announced on their online FuniCon 3.0 panel that they had licensed Black Butler. At Anime Expo 2010, Funimation also announced that they would stream the simulcast series, Black Butler II. Funimation announced on their Facebook page that they had fully licensed the second season. Funimation released Black Butler Combo Pack Blu-ray/DVD first and second season on April 3, 2012. The series made its North American television debut on February 8, 2011, on the Funimation Channel. Funimation lost the rights to the series' first season in 2017, and the rights to the second season in 2018. The first season is currently licensed by Aniplex of America and it was released on a Blu-ray Disc box set on January 29, 2019. In November 2019, Funimation re-licensed the first two seasons for its streaming service.

On January 16, 2014, it was announced that a third Black Butler anime series was in production. Titled Black Butler: Book of Circus, the series was a close adaptation of the manga, unlike the previous seasons, adapting the "Noah's Ark Circus" arc. The series was directed by Noriyuki Abe at A-1 Pictures, with Hiroyuki Yoshino in charge of scripts, along with Ichiro Okuchi and Yuka Miyata as scriptwriters. The main cast from the previous anime series returned, along with new cast members, and the series aired from July 11, 2014, to September 12, 2014. In addition, a two-part original video animation (OVA) titled the Book of Murder, an adaptation of the "Phantomhive Manor Murders" arc, was screened in Japanese theatres on October 25, and November 15, 2014. The OVAs featured returning staff from the previous season.

On August 7, 2014, Funimation announced that they have licensed Black Butler: Book of Circus, and have streamed it on their simulcast. Funimation released the series on Blu-ray and DVD on April 19, 2016. Additionally, Funimation has licensed the two-part OVA Black Butler: Book of Murder and released it on May 17, 2016.

At Anime Expo 2023, Crunchyroll announced that a fourth season was in production. Titled Black Butler: Public School Arc, it was directed by Kenjirou Okada and produced by CloverWorks, with Hiroyuki Yoshino handling series composition, Yumi Shimizu designing the characters, and Ryo Kawasaki composing the music. The series was broadcast for eleven episodes from April 13 to June 22, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks. Muse Communication licensed the series in Asia-Pacific.

At Anime Expo 2024, it was announced that a fifth season, titled Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc, was in production. Licensed by Crunchyroll, it was again directed by Kenjirou Okada and produced by CloverWorks. The series aired from April 5 to June 28, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other networks.

Musical

That Butler, Friendship, a musical adaptation of the manga, had run at the Sunshine Theater in Ikebukuro between May 28, 2009, and June 7, 2009. Yuya Matsushita portrayed Sebastian Michaelis, Shougo Sakamoto played Ciel Phantomhive and Uehara Takuya as Grell Sutcliff.

Musical Black Butler: The Most Beautiful Death in the World – A Thousand Souls and The Fallen Grim Reaper, the second musical adaptation of the manga, ran at Akasaka Act Theater (1300 seats) in Akasaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, between May 3 and May 23, 2010. Yuya Matsushita reprised his role as Sebastian Michaelis, Yukito Nishii played Ciel Phantomhive, and Uehara Takuya reprised his role as Grell Sutcliff. The other two main characters, Eric Slingby and Alan Humphries, were portrayed by Taisuke Saeki and Shinya Matsumoto, respectively. The musical was written by Mari Okada, directed by Sakurako Fukuyama, with music composed by Taku Iwasaki, and lyrics by Yukinojo Mori. A second run of The Most Beautiful Death in the World was announced in December 2012. It ran between May 17 and June 9, 2013, in the Akasaka ACT Theater (Akasaka, Tokyo) again, and the Umeda Arts Theater in Osaka. It was announced in February 2013 that Yuya Matsushita, Uehara Takuya, and Shuhei Izumi would reprise their roles as Sebastian Michaelis, Grell Sutcliff, and the Undertaker, respectively. The rest of the roles were re-cast, with Taketo Tanaka replacing Yukito Nishii as Ciel Phantomhive, and Shinji Rachi and Masataka Nakagauchi replacing Taisuke Saeki and Matsumoto Shinya in the roles of Eric Slingby and Alan Humphries.

A third musical Lycoris that Blazes the Earth was performed in September 2014. Most of the cast reprised their roles from the re-run of The Most Beautiful Death in the World although Fukuzaki Nayuta replaced Taketo Tanaka as Ciel Phantomhive and Yuka Terasaki replaced Saki Matsuda as Mey-Rin. Akane Liv was introduced as Madam Red, Yuusuke Hirose as Charles Phipps, Oota Motohiro as Charles Grey and Araki Hirofumi as Lau. A re-run of the third Black Butler musical "Lycoris that Blazes the Earth" was scheduled to perform in November–December 2015. It started in Osaka on November 7 then travel to Miyagi, Tokyo and Fukuoka. The new run of the third musical was the first oversea tour in China (Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen) in December 2015. Yuta Furukawa replaced Matsushita as Sebastian Michaelis. Meanwhile, most of the cast from the third musical reprised their roles.

A fourth musical, based on the Noah's Ark Circus arc of the manga, ran between November and December 2016. Yuta Furukawa reprised his role as Sebastian Michaelis, with Reo Uchikawa replacing Nayuta Fukuzaki as Ciel. Miura Ryosuke was introduced as Joker, Tano Asami as Beast and Tamaki Yuki as Snake, among others. Notably, Izumi Shuuhei reprised his role as the Undertaker again, making him the only original cast member still performing.

A fifth musical, Tango on the Campania, based on the Luxury Liner arc in the manga, ran between December 2017 and February 2018. Yuta Furukawa reprised his role as Sebastian Michaelis, with Reo Uchikawa also reprising his role as Ciel Phantomhive. Mikata Ryosuke was introduced as Ronald Knox, Momoko Okazaki as Elizabeth Midford, and others. Other actors from previous performers also reprised their roles, such as Uehara Takuya as Grell Sutcliff, Izumi Shuuhei as the Undertaker, and Sasaki Yoshihide as Viscount Druitt.

A sixth Black Butler musical, The Public School's Secret, based on the Public School arc of the manga, ran from January to April 2021. Toshiki Tateishi portrayed Sebastian Michaelis, and Eito Konishi played Ciel Phantomhive. The four 'perfects' were portrayed by Hiroki Sano (Edgar Redmond), Shougo Tazuru (Henry Greenhill), Masamichi Satonaka (Lawrence Bluewer), and Dai Goto (Gregory Violet).

A seventh musical, The Emerald Witch and the Werewolves' Forest, ran in two cities: from September 9 to 12, 2025 in Osaka, and from September 21 to 28 in Tokyo. It featured Toshiki Tateishi as Sebastian Michaelis and Ikuma Kobayashi as Ciel Phantomhive.

Video game

A video game for Nintendo DS, called Kuroshitsuji Phantom & Ghost was developed by Square Enix and was released on March 19, 2009. The game is sold in two versions, a limited first-press edition with a higher price and numerous extra goods, and a regular edition.

Print

The {{Nihongo|Black Butler Character Book "That Butler, Assembles"|黒執事 キャラクターガイド ｢その執事、集合｣|Kuroshitsuji Character Guide "Sono Shitsuji, Shūgō"}} was released on February 27, 2009. The book TV Animation Black Butler Black Record was released on March 27, 2009. An official comics anthology, titled Rainbow Butler, was also released on that date; a second Rainbow Butler volume was released on August 27, 2010.

Films

Main article: Black Butler (film){{!}}''Black Butler'' (film), Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic{{!}}''Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic''

It was announced on January 18, 2013, that the manga would be made into a live-action film starring Ayame Goriki as Genpou Shiori, Hiro Mizushima as Sebastian Michaelis. Filming began in April 2013 and the film was released on January 18, 2014.

On October 10, 2015, it was announced an animated film for the series has been green-lit, and the original anime cast returned to reprise their roles. On February 17, 2016, the film Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic, was confirmed to be an animated adaptation of the "Luxury Liner" arc from the original manga. It was released in Japan on January 21, 2017. On April 1, 2017, Funimation announced that they have licensed the animated film and would screen it in a limited theatrical release in North America later in the year. Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic, premiered in Japan on January 21, 2017, and in North America on the selected dates of June 12 and 14, 2017.

Reception

By August 2025, the Black Butler manga had over 36 million copies in circulation worldwide. Individual volumes have appeared in Oricon's weekly chart of best-selling manga, taking several high spots. In addition to the volumes, the comics anthology Rainbow Butler ranked seventeenth during the week of March 31 to April 6 2009, selling 41,083 copies after ranking thirty-third the previous week. The fourth and fifth volumes ranked thirty-third and thirty-ninth of the top-selling manga in Japan during 2008, selling 529,210 copies and 468,550 copies respectively. The sixth volume ranked thirteenth of the top-selling manga in Japan during the first half of 2009, selling 619,501 copies. The series itself was ranked tenth of the top-selling manga series in Japan during 2009, selling a total of 1,603,197 estimated copies.

The Japanese music distributor Recochoku has created an annual survey of which anime characters that people would like to marry. Sebastian Michaelis ranked ninth in the category "The Character I Want to Be My Groom".

Notes

References

References

1. Aoki, Deb. "50 Essential Manga for Libraries".
2. Cadorniga, Carlos. (May 29, 2015). "Black Butler's 10th Anniversary Celebrates with New Goodies".
3. (April 6, 2024). "🎬Limited-Time YouTube Upload Announcement🎬". [[Muse Communication]].
4. link. [[Square Enix]]
5. link. [[Square Enix]]
6. Pineda, Rafael. (June 17, 2024). "Black Butler Manga Goes on Hiatus Before Heading to Climax".
7. Tai, Anita. (March 18, 2025). "Black Butler Manga Returns From Hiatus on April 18".
8. link. [[Square Enix]]
9. link. [[Square Enix]]
10. Loo, Egan. (July 12, 2009). "Kuroshitsuji Manga Begins English Run in Yen Plus Mag (Updated)".
11. "Black Butler, Vol. 1". [[Yen Press]].
12. "Black Butler, Vol. 33". [[Yen Press]].
13. link. [[Frontier Works]]
14. "SonyMusicShop". Sony Music Shop.
15. "Kuroshitsuji Anime Confirmed to Premiere this Fall".
16. "TVアニメーション 黒執事". [[Aniplex]].
17. link. [[A-1 Pictures]]. (2008). Butler' site – スタッフ (Staff). kuroshitsuji.tv
18. "Second Season of Kuroshitsuji confirmed".
19. "Second Season". [[Junichi Suwabe]] Official Blog.
20. "Kuroshitsuji II to Debut in July with New Butler, Master".
21. (January 22, 2014). "Aniplex Japan Sets 'Black Butler' Complete Blu-ray Anime Box Set".
22. (March 29, 2010). "Funimation Adds Black Butler/Kuroshitsuji TV Anime".
23. (July 2, 2010). "Funi Adds Live Action Moyashimon Live Action, More".
24. "FUNimation Week 7 of 2011".
25. Kelly, Rai. (May 7, 2017). "Funimation: Black Butler Season 1 to 'Leave Funimation For Good'".
26. Ressler, Karen. (June 8, 2018). "Funimation's Black Butler II License Expires".
27. Ressler, Karen. (November 16, 2018). "Aniplex USA to Release Black Butler Season 1 on Blu-ray in January".
28. Mateo, Alex. (November 20, 2019). "Funimation Relicenses Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Black Butler Anime for Streaming".
29. (January 16, 2014). "New Black Butler Anime Series Green-Lit".
30. (January 16, 2014). "More 'Black Butler' Anime Coming?".
31. Green, Scott. (January 16, 2014). "New "Black Butler" Anime Announced".
32. "Black Butler Gets 'Book of Murder' Video Anime".
33. "Black Butler: Book of Circus 30-Second Commercial Streamed".
34. "Black Butler Gets 'Book of Murder' Arc Video Anime".
35. Nelkin, Sarah. "Black Butler: Book of Murder Original Video Anime Previewed in TV Spot".
36. "Funimation Adds Barakamon, Sengoku Basara Judge End, Black Butler: Book of Circus".
37. "Funimation Reveals Black Butler: Book of Circus & Book of Murder Anime's Casts, Release Dates".
38. Hazra, Adriana. (September 10, 2023). "Black Butler: Public School Arc Anime Reveals Key Visual, Story".
39. Mateo, Alex. (July 3, 2023). "Crunchyroll Licenses The Apothecary Diaries, Goblin Slayer Season 2, Black Butler, More Anime".
40. Luster, Joseph. (July 3, 2023). "Black Butler Anime Returns with New Season on Crunchyroll in 2024".
41. Mateo, Alex. (February 15, 2024). "Black Butler: Public School Arc Anime's Promo Video Reveals P4 Cast, April 13 Premiere".
42. link. [[Tokyo MX]]
43. Pineda, Rafael. (February 27, 2024). "Muse Asia Licenses Black Butler: Public School Arc Anime".
44. Tai, Anita. (July 6, 2024). "Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc Anime Premieres in 2025".
45. Cayanan, Joanna. (December 8, 2024). "Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc Anime Reveals 2 New Cast, More Returning Staff, April 2025 Debut".
46. Cayanan, Joanna. (March 4, 2025). "Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc Anime's Teaser Reveals April 5 Debut".
47. link. [[Tokyo MX]]
48. link. Entertainment Plus Inc.
49. "Cast & Staff". Entertainment Plus Inc..
50. link. kuroshitsuji-stage.jp
51. link
52. link
53. "Black Butler Musical's New Sebastian Pictured in Costume".
54. "Schedule".
55. Pineda, Rafael. (November 8, 2016). "4th Black Butler Musical's Video Shows Sebastian, Ciel, Joker".
56. Hodgkins, Crystalyn. (June 17, 2017). "5th Black Butler Musical Reveals Main Visual, Cast Visuals".
57. Sherman, Jennifer. (July 18, 2017). "5th Black Butler Musical Reveals 2nd Main Visual, More Cast Visuals".
58. Cayanan, Joanna. (June 24, 2024). "Black Butler Manga's 2021 Musical Stage Play Gets Rerun in September".
59. Tai, Anita. (April 5, 2025). "Black Butler Manga Gets New Stage Musical of Emerald Witch Arc".
60. link. [[Square Enix]]
61. link. [[Square Enix]]
62. link. [[Square Enix]]
63. link. [[Square Enix]]
64. link. [[Square Enix]]
65. "Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) To Get Live-Action Adaptation". Japanverse.
66. (January 16, 2014). "4 Live-Action Black Butler Character Videos Posted".
67. (October 10, 2015). "Black Butler Manga Gets Anime Film With Returning Cast".
68. (February 9, 2017). "Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic Anime Film Streams 3 Short Clips".
69. (2017-04-01). "Funimation Licenses ''Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic'' Film for Screenings in Theaters This Year".
70. {{cite press release. link. [[Animate (retailer). Animate]]. (August 12, 2025)
71. (December 27, 2007). "Japanese Comic Ranking, December 18–24".
72. (June 12, 2008). "Japanese Comic Ranking, June 3–9".
73. (September 24, 2008). "Japanese Comic Ranking, September 16–22".
74. (October 1, 2008). "Japanese Comic Ranking, September 23–29".
75. (April 8, 2009). "Japanese Comic Ranking, March 31 – April 6".
76. (December 21, 2008). "2008's Top-Selling Manga in Japan, #26–50".
77. (June 15, 2009). "Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 1st Half of 2009 (Updated)".
78. (June 15, 2009). "Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Series: 1st Half of 2009 (Updated)".
79. (June 12, 2009). "Survey: K-ON's Mio, Reborn's Hibari are #1 Bride, Groom".