Black Butler Book of Murder - The appeal and evaluation of the OVA series

"Black Butler Book of Murder": The perfect butler and the mysterious serial killer

"Black Butler: Book of Murder" is the third installment in the OVA series based on Yana Toboso's popular manga "Black Butler," and was released on October 25, 2014. Set in 19th century England, the film tells the thrilling story of the perfect butler Sebastian and his master Ciel Phantomhive as they tackle a series of murders on a luxury cruise ship.

story

In 19th century England, Sebastian, the butler of the prestigious aristocratic Phantomhive family, is perfect in all respects: knowledge, culture, elegance, cooking, martial arts, etc. His master, 13-year-old Ciel Phantomhive, is a boy known as the "evil aristocrat," and has solved various cases together with Sebastian.

In "Black Butler Book of Murder," Ciel and Sebastian are invited to a party on a luxury cruise ship. However, during the party, a series of murders occur, and the ship is suddenly filled with tension. Sebastian uses his perfect abilities to solve the case, but he is at the mercy of the mysterious events that occur one after another, and he gets closer to the truth.

cast

The cast of this work is a luxurious group of voice actors selected to bring out the charm of the original work to the fullest. Sebastian Michaelis is played by Daisuke Ono, and Ciel Phantomhive is played by Maaya Sakamoto, and the two's well-coordinated acting adds excitement to the story. The members of the Phantomhive family, including Baldroy, Finnian, and Mey-Rin, are also played by voice actors with unique personalities.

In addition, the guests on the luxury cruise ship are also portrayed as attractive characters, including Tachibana Shinnosuke as Soma Asman Kadar, Yasumoto Hiroki as Agni, Yusa Koji as Liu, Yahagi Sayuri as Aineko, Kimura Ryohei as Charles Gray, Maeno Tomoaki as Charles Phipps, and Asanuma Shintaro as Arthur.

Main Staff

Black Butler Book of Murder is being produced by a team of talented staff members who are dedicated to faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work. The director is Abe Noriyuki, the series composition and scriptwriting is by Yoshino Hiroyuki, the character design and general animation director is Shiba Minako, and the sub-character design and general animation director is Kawaguchi Chisato. In addition, the art director is Otsuzuki Manabu, the art setting is Tsunagu Eiko, the color design is Hokari Kanako, the cinematographers are Shitara Nozomi and Sasaki Kento, the CG director is Furukawa Takayuki, the editor is Goto Masahiro, the music is Mitsuda Yasunori, and the sound director is Kobayashi Katsuyoshi. It is produced by A-1 Pictures and produced by Black Butler Project.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Black Butler: Book of Murder" maximizes the appeal of the original work while developing the story from a new perspective, providing fans with a fresh experience. In particular, the serial murders in the enclosed space of a luxury cruise ship provide plenty of tension and thrills as a mystery. Also, the process in which Sebastian's perfect butler skills and Ciel's sharp insight lead to the resolution of the case is extremely refreshing to watch.

The voice actors' performances are also superb, especially the dialogue between Daisuke Ono's Sebastian and Maaya Sakamoto's Ciel, which faithfully reproduces the characters from the original work while also giving them the depth that only an OVA can provide. The guests on the luxury cruise ship are also portrayed as unique characters, adding color to the story.

The visuals are also very appealing, with the luxury of the cruise ship and the tension of the serial murders being depicted realistically. The beautiful music by Yasunori Mitsuda also adds excitement to the story and stirs the emotions of the viewer.

Recommended points

"Black Butler: Book of Murder" is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like mysteries and suspense. In particular, the serial murders in the enclosed space of a luxury cruise ship provide plenty of tension and thrills as a mystery. Also, the process in which Sebastian's perfect butler skills and Ciel's sharp insight lead to the resolution of the case is very refreshing to watch.

Other points not to be missed are the performances of the stellar voice actors, the beautiful visuals, and the music. The dialogue between Daisuke Ono's Sebastian and Maaya Sakamoto's Ciel faithfully reproduces the characters from the original work while also conveying the depth that only an OVA can provide. Additionally, the luxuriousness of the luxury cruise ship and the realistic portrayal of the tension of the serial murders are visually appealing. Yasunori Mitsuda's beautiful melodies also add excitement to the story and heighten the emotions of the viewer.

Related information

"Black Butler: Book of Murder" is one of the OVA series based on the worldview of the original manga "Black Butler," and is also related to other OVA works and the TV anime series. In particular, the story is based on the "Luxury Liner Arc" of the original manga, and is a work that fans of the original cannot miss. Also, by watching other OVA works and the TV anime series together, you can enjoy the world of "Black Butler" more deeply.

Black Butler: Book of Murder is available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray from Aniplex, and may also be available on streaming services, so be sure to check it out if you're interested.

Conclusion

"Black Butler: Book of Murder" offers fans a fresh experience by unfolding the story from a new perspective while maximizing the appeal of the original work. The serial murders on a luxury cruise ship provide a great sense of tension and thrill as a mystery, and the process in which Sebastian and Ciel's perfect combination leads to the resolution of the case is extremely refreshing to watch. The performances of the gorgeous voice actors, the beautiful visuals, and the music are also not to be missed, making this a work recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like mysteries and suspense. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.