Black Butler

About Black Butler

Black Butler (黒執事) blends action, comedy and fantasy by A-1 Pictures (2008). Below is a fresh retelling of what the story is about. What the story covers: In Victorian-era Europe, a young boy loses everything he once held near and dear to a vicious plot. In his moment of death, he strikes a deal with a demon: his soul, in exchange for revenge.

Also worth knowing: Ciel Phantomhive is now the head of the Phantomhive corporation, handling all business affairs as well as the underground work for the Queen of England. His new partner is a demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, whose gifts as a butler is only surpassed by his strength as a demon. The story follows the two along with their other servants, as they work to unravel the plot behind Ciel's parents' murder, and the horrendous tragedies that befell Ciel in the month directly after.

In an action series like this, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Daisuke Ono as Sebastian Michaelis and Maaya Sakamoto as Ciel Phantomhive. It will appeal most to viewers who like fast, high-impact fights. The run is 24 episodes in total, so you know what you are signing up for.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with A-1 Pictures, which means the visual identity of Black Butler follows that studio's craft. Because it leans on action, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. At 7.2/10 it earns a solid reception, a safe pick for fans of the genre. Voice casting, including Daisuke Ono as Sebastian Michaelis, adds to the appeal for fans who follow seiyuu. Released in 2008, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.