Black Butler (黒執事 Kuroshitsuji) is a manga written and illustrated by Yana Toboso. Since its debut on September 16, 2006, it has been serialized in Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy.
The series follows Sebastian Michaelis, a demonic butler who is bound by a supernatural contract to serve Ciel Phantomhive, the twelve-year-old head of the Phantomhive noble family and the business-savvy owner of the Funtom company, a toy manufacturer. In return, when Ciel has finished all of his tasks, including avenging his parents' deaths, Sebastian will be allowed to kill him and consume his soul. It was announced in July 2008 that an anime adaption, directed by Shinohara Toshiya and produced by A-1 Pictures, was expected. It premiered in October 2008, and has since ended with 24 episodes. The second season aired in 2010 spanning 12 episodes with two new main characters, Alois Trancy and Claude Faustus. The series has been licensed by Yen Press in North America and published in Yen Plus' August 2009 issue for the magazine's first anniversary.
Plot
See also: List of Black Butler characters
In a manor house on the outskirts of Victorian era London, butler Sebastian Michaelis serves Lord Earl Ciel Phantomhive, the orphaned twelve-year-old head of an English noble family and a toy and candy empire, who serves directly under the Queen as her "guard dog". Master Phantomhive's parents were murdered when Ciel was little. As a result, he made a pact with a demon asking for vengeance upon those who had disgraced him and the Phantomhive name, in exchange for his soul. Now, Sebastian carries out any task required by his Master, perfectly solving problems plaguing the Queen of England with ease, due to his demonic lineage and the Faustian contract with Ciel.Media
Manga
Main article: List of Black Butler chapters
Written and drawn by Yana Toboso, the chapters of Black Butler have been serialized in the shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy since its debut in the October 2006 issue.[1] The chapters are also published in collected volumes by Square Enix. The first volume was released on February 27, 2007 and as of December 27, 2011, thirteen volumes have been released so far.[2] 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.[3] The publisher released the first volume in January 2010.[4] The second volume was released in May 2010.[5] French publisher Kana licensed the series in under the Dark Kana imprint as Black Butler. The publisher released the first volume in November 2009.[6] Carlsen Comics has licensed the series in Germany as Black Butler, the same title used for the French and English releases. Black Butler have been also published in Italy by Panini Comics.[7] In Poland, Waneko is publishing the manga – as of February 2012, two volumes have been released.[8]Drama CD
On August 10, 2007 a drama CD was released by Frontier Works. It featured many of the characters appearing in volumes one and two.[9] A second drama CD was released on November 26, 2008 under the Aniplex label.[10]Anime
Main article: List of Black Butler episodes
In July 2008, it was announced that an anime adaption, directed by Shinohara Toshiya and produced by A-1 Pictures, was expected. It premiered in October 2008 and broadcasted on the Tokyo Broadcasting System as well as the Mainichi Broadcasting System.[11][12][13][14] On January 1, 2009, a limited edition DVD containing the first episode was released by Aniplex.[15] The next three episodes were released on another DVD on February 25, 2009.[16]At the Sono Shitsuji, Shūshō ~Saigo no Bansan o Anata to Tomo ni~ (その執事、終章 〜最後の晩餐を貴方と共に〜, "That Butler, Last Chapter ~a last supper with you~") event, on June 14, 2009, it was announced that the anime will be returning for a second series. Japanese voice actor Junichi Suwabe confirmed this news on his official blog later that day.[17][18] The second series, Kuroshitsuji 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.[19]
On March 29, 2010, North American anime distributor Funimation Entertainment announced on their online FuniCon 3.0 panel that they have licensed Black Butler.[20] At Anime Expo 2010, Funimation also announced that they will stream the simulcast series, Black Butler 2.[21] Funimation announced on their Facebook page that they have fully licensed the second season.
On January 11, 2011, Animax Asia began airing the first season every Monday to Friday at 10:30pm.
The series made its North American television debut on February 8, 2011 on the Funimation Channel.[22]
Black Butler is currently airing on Australia's C31 and TVS station during Super Happy Anime Hour.
Musical
That Butler, Friendship (その執事、友好 Sono Shitsuji, Yūkō), a musical adaptation of the manga, had run at the Sunshine Theater in Ikebukuro between May 28, 2009 and June 7, 2009.[23] Yuya Matsushita portrayed Sebastian Michaelis, Shougo Sakamoto played Ciel Phantomhive and Uehara Takuya as Grell Sutcliff.[24]Musical Black Butler, The Most Beautiful Death in The World, A Thousand Souls and The Fallen Grim Reaper (ミュージカル｢黒執事｣〜ザ・モースト・ビューティフル・デス・イン・ザ・ワールド〜千の魂と堕ちた死神 Miūjikaru Kuroshitsuji – Za Mōsuto Byūtifuru Desu in za Wārudo – Sen no Tamashii to Ochita Shinigami),[25] the second musical adaptation of the manga, ran at Akasaka Act Theater (1300 seats) in Akasaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, between May 3, 2010 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. Written by Mari Okada, Directed by Sakurako Fukuyama, Music by Taku Iwasaki, Lyric by Yukinojho Mori.
Video game
A video game for Nintendo DS, called Black Butler: Phantom & Ghost was developed by Square Enix and was released on March 19, 2009.[26] The game is sold in two versions, a limited first-press edition with a higher price and numerous extra goods, and a regular edition.Book
On February 27, 2009, the Black Butler Character Guide "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.[27] The TV Animation Black Butler Black Record (TVアニメーション｢黒執事｣ Black Record) was released on March 27, 2009.[28] An official comics anthology Rainbow Butler (虹執事 Nijishitsuji) was also released on that date.[29]Reception
With the release of the manga's thirteenth volume, the series will have printed over ten million copies in Japan.[30] Volumes alone have done well in weekly polls in Japan, taking several high spots.[31][32][33][34] In addition to the volumes, the comics anthology Rainbow Butler ranked seventeenth during the week of March 31 to April 6 selling 41,083 copies after ranking thirty-third the previous week.[35] 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.[36] The sixth volume ranked thirteenth of the top-selling manga in Japan during the first half of 2009, selling 619,501 copies.[37] 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.[38]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".[39]
| Black Butler | |
 The cover of the first volume of the original Japanese manga release | |
| 黒執事 (Kuroshitsuji) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action, Black comedy, Dark fantasy,Supernatural |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Yana Toboso |
| Published by | Square Enix |
| English publisher |   Yen Press |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Monthly GFantasy |
| English magazine | Yen Plus |
| Original run | September 16, 2006 – ongoing |
| Volumes | 13 |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Shinohara Toshiya |
| Produced by | Hiro Maruyama, Hiroyuki Shimizu, Mikihiro Iwata, Shunsuke Saito |
| Written by | Mari Okada |
| Music by | Taku Iwasaki |
| Studio | A-1 Pictures |
| Licensed by | FUNimation Entertainment |
| Network | TBS, MBS, Animax |
| English network | Funimation Channel C31, TVS        Animax Asia |
| Original run | October 2, 2008 – May 25, 2011 |
| Episodes | 43 |
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