Black Butler: Exploring the appeal of dark fantasy and the depth of its characters

Black Butler - The story of the perfect butler and the evil nobleman

Set in 19th century England, Black Butler tells the story of Sebastian Michaelis, the butler for the prestigious aristocratic Phantomhive family, and his master, Ciel Phantomhive, a 12-year-old boy nicknamed the "Evil Noble." The series was broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System and other stations nationwide from October 3, 2008 to March 27, 2009, captivating audiences. The series is based on a manga by Yana Toboso that was published in the monthly G Fantasy magazine, and the anime adaptation was produced by A-1 Pictures.

story

Sebastian Michaelis, butler of the prestigious aristocratic Phantomhive family in Victorian England, is perfect in all aspects, including knowledge, culture, elegance, cooking, and martial arts. Today, he elegantly carries out the orders of his 12-year-old master, Ciel Phantomhive, known as the "Evil Nobleman," in his jet-black tailcoat. Ciel's past is filled with deep darkness, and he has made a deal with Sebastian for revenge. Sebastian faithfully carries out Ciel's orders, and the two solve various cases together.

character

Ciel Phantomhive is a genius boy who, at just 12 years old, has grown Phantom Company into the UK's leading confectionery and toy manufacturer. His calm judgment and sharp insight are the keys to solving many cases. Meanwhile, Sebastian Michaelis supports Ciel as the perfect butler. His graceful movements and deep knowledge captivate the audience. The Phantomhive family also has a number of unique servants, including Baldroy, Finnian, Mey-Rin, and Tanaka. They each have their own special skills and personalities that add color to the story.

Production and staff

"Black Butler" was directed by Toshiya Shinohara, and character design was by Minako Shiba. Music was provided by Taku Iwasaki, with theme songs including "Monochrome no Kiss" by SID as the opening theme, "I'm ALIVE!" by BECCA, and "Lacrimosa" by Kalafina as the ending theme. The film was produced by A-1 Pictures, with the cooperation of Aniplex, Square Enix, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Yomiko Advertising, Movic, and Mainichi Broadcasting System, as well as "Queen's Watchdog."

Evaluation and impact

"Black Butler" has won many fans with its unique worldview and beautiful visuals. In particular, Sebastian's perfect attitude as a butler and Ciel's calm judgment left a strong impression on viewers. Fans of the original manga were also pleased with the high quality of the anime version, which resulted in further increasing the popularity of the series as a whole. The anime ended with 24 episodes, but sequels such as "Black Butler II" and "Book of Circus" were produced afterwards, further deepening the story of the entire series.

Related Titles

The "Black Butler" series includes the following related works:

• Black Butler Sakidori SP Who is the strongest black butler?
• Black Butler Extra Edition
• Black Butler Ⅱ
• Black Butler II Extra Edition
• Black Butler Book of Circus
• Black Butler: Book of Murder
• Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic

Reasons for recommendation

"Black Butler" is a work with beautiful visuals, a deep story, and fascinating characters. In particular, Sebastian's perfect attitude as a butler and Ciel's calm judgment leave a strong impression on viewers. Another attraction is the unique world view set in 19th century England. This is a work that we highly recommend to those who like mystery and suspense, and those who want to enjoy beautiful animation.

cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Sebastian Michaelis/Daisuke Ono
• Ciel Phantomhive/Maaya Sakamoto
• Funeral Director/Junichi Suwabe
• Madame Red / Romi Park
• Lau/Koji Yusa
• Elizabeth/Yukari Tamura
• Grell Sutcliff/Jun Fukuyama
• William T. Spears/Noriaki Sugiyama
• Baldo/Hiroki Tochi
• Meyrin/Emiri Kato
• Fini/Yuki Kaji
• Damiano / Galaxy Banjo
• Soma/Shinnosuke Tachibana
• Agni/Yasumoto Hiroki
• Waist/Yoshimitsu Shimoyama
• Mina / Yuko Goto
• Viscount Druitt/Tatsuhisa Suzuki
• Azzurro/Kousuke Toriumi
• Randle/Jo Aoyama
• Queen Victoria / Ayako Kawasumi
• Abberline/Hisayoshi Suganuma
• Barrymore/Yutaka Nakano
• Angela/Akiko Yajima
• Jones/Takashi Kawano
• O'Farrell/Kenjiro Tsuda
• Pluto / Takashi Yamaguchi
• Paula/Yui Izuki
• Dorcel/Anri Katsu
• Ash/Satoshi Hino
• Ciel's father/Kazuyuki Okitsu
• Ranmao/Yahagi Sayuri
• Corallo/Kouichi Sakaguchi
• Ruida/Sayuri Sadaoka
• Havoc/Ryugo Saito
• Gym / Asami Shimoda
• Maria/Ayumi Fujimura

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: That butler is capable
• Episode 2: That Butler is the Strongest
• Episode 3: The All-Purpose Butler
• Episode 4: The Butler, Crazy
• Episode 5: The Butler's Encounter
• Episode 6: The Butler and the Funeral
• Episode 7: The Butler, Entertainment
• Episode 8: That Butler, Training
• Episode 9: The Butler, a Phantom
• Episode 10: The Butler on the Ice
• Episode 11: What about that butler?
• Episode 12: The Butler, Lonely
• Episode 13: The Butler, a Freeloader
• Episode 14: The Butler with Supernatural Powers
• Episode 15: The Butler Competition
• Episode 16: The Butler, the Lonely Castle
• Episode 17: The Butler's Dedication
• Episode 18: The Butler, Transferred
• Episode 19: The Butler is Imprisoned
• Episode 20: The Butler Escapes
• Episode 21: The Butler, Hired
• Episode 22: The Butler Disbands
• Episode 23: The Butler Goes on Fire
• Episode 24: The Butler, Outrageous

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music are as follows:

• OP1 "Monochrome Kiss"
• Lyricist: Mao
• Composer: Shinji
• Arrangement: SID, Akira Nishihira
• Singer: SID
• ED1: "I'm ALIVE!"
• Lyricist: BECCA, Meredith Brooks
• Composer: TABO
• Arrangement: Chris Satriani
• Singer: BECCA
• ED2 "Lacrimosa"
• Lyrics by Yuki Kajiura
• Composer: Yuki Kajiura
• Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura
• Sung by Kalafina

Detailed explanation

"Black Butler" is a dark fantasy set in 19th century England, with strong elements of mystery. The story begins with Ciel Phantomhive's quest for revenge, with a memorable scene in which he makes a contract with Sebastian. Sebastian faithfully carries out Ciel's orders, and the two solve various cases together. As the story progresses, Ciel's past and Sebastian's true identity are revealed, drawing the viewer in.

The Phantomhive servants are also unique, with Baldroy's cooking skills, Finnian's superhuman strength, and Mey-Rin's clumsiness creating some comical scenes. These characters add color to the story and entertain the audience. Furthermore, supporting characters such as the Undertaker, Madame Red, and Grell Sutcliff are also appealing, deepening the story.

The visuals of the anime are very beautiful, faithfully recreating the atmosphere of 19th century England. The attention to detail in the designs is stunning, from Sebastian's tailcoat and Ciel's costume to the luxurious interior of the Phantomhive house. Music is also an important element in adding excitement to the story, and Taku Iwasaki's music enhances the emotions of the viewer. The theme songs are also memorable, with SID's "Monochrome no Kiss," BECCA's "I'm ALIVE!," and Kalafina's "Lacrimosa" matching each scene perfectly.

"Black Butler" is a work with a unique worldview, deep storyline, and fascinating characters. In particular, Sebastian's perfect attitude as a butler and Ciel's calm judgment leave a strong impression on viewers. Another attraction is the unique worldview set in 19th century England. This is a work that we highly recommend to those who like mystery and suspense, and those who want to enjoy beautiful animation.