List of Black Butler episodes
Black Butler is an anime series adapted from the manga series of the same title by Yana Toboso. Directed by Toshiya Shinohara and produced by A-1 Pictures, Black Butler follows the adventures of Sebastian Michaelis, a demon butler who is obligated to serve Ciel Phantomhive, the young head of the Phantomhive noble family, due to a contract he made.
The cover of the first DVD compilation released by Aniplex; the characters featured are Sebastian Michaelis (left) and Ciel Phantomhive (right)
The anime adaptation was confirmed on July 11, 2008 by Gakken's Animedia magazine,[1] and the official website of the anime began to stream a trailer of the anime on July 26, 2008.[2] The series premiered on October 3, 2008, on Mainichi Broadcasting System and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. Two DVD compilations were released by Aniplex; the first compilation on January 21, 2009 and the second on February 25, 2009.[3]
After the sixth episode, the anime begins to diverge from the storyline of the manga. The second season, which premiered on July 2, 2010, and concluded on September 17, 2010, continues this original storyline. The third season, Book of Circus (黒執事・サーカスの書, Kuroshitsuji: Sākasu no Sho), premiered on July 10, 2014, and concluded on September 12, 2014. Serving as a soft reboot of the anime, the series adapts the "Noah Ark Circus" arc from the manga while ignoring the anime-exclusive events of the previous two seasons. The series was followed by a two-episode OVA, Black Butler: Book of Murder, which adapts the "Phantomhive Manor Murders" arc.[4] The first OVA was released in Japanese cinemas on October 25, and the second on November 15, 2014.[5]
Three pieces of theme music are used for the first season. The opening theme is "Monochrome no Kiss" (though written as Monochrome Kiss) by the Japanese rock band Sid, while the first ending theme is "I'm Alive!" by the American singer Rebecca Hollcraft, commonly known as Becca. The second ending, which began airing with episode 14, is "Lacrimosa" by Kalafina. Two singles containing the theme music and other tracks have been released; the single containing tracks from Sid was released on October 29, 2008 and the single from Becca was released on October 22, 2008.[3] The third single containing tracks from Kalafina has a release date of March 4, 2009.
For the second season, the opening song is "Shiver" by The Gazette and the ending song "Bird" is sung by Yuya Matsushita, and the single was released in August 2010. The ending for episode 8 is "Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni wa" by Kalafina. The opening song for the third season is "ENAMEL" by Sid, while the ending song is "Aoki Tsuki Michite" by AKIRA.
Aniplex later released the complete Blu-ray and DVD on May 7, 2014.[6]
Episode list
Season 1
| No. | Title | Original Airdate | English Airdate[7] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "His Butler,Able" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Yūno" (Japanese: その執事、有能) | October 3, 2008 | January 11, 2011[8] | |
| Earl Ciel Phantomhive's butler, Sebastian Michaelis informs him that Damian, the head of Funtom, Ciel's confectionery toy manufacturing company, is coming. Sebastian orders the household staff, Baldroy, Finnian, and Mey-Rin—the cook, the gardener, and the maid, respectively—to prepare for Damian's arrival. Damian plays a board game with Ciel in which his character loses one of his legs and is incinerated. Damian calls his associate, revealing that he is attempting to fraudulently acquire more money from Ciel. The scenario in the board game occurs; Damian breaks his leg, and Sebastian locks him in the oven to be cooked; he later limps away from the mansion as Ciel and Sebastian laugh. | ||||
| 2 | "His Butler, Strongest" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Saikyō" (Japanese: その執事、最強) | October 10, 2008 | January 12, 2011[9] | |
| After a visit from Ciel's aunt Madame Red and Lau, Ciel is kidnapped for ransom by Azzurro Vanel, a drug dealer and leader of an Italian mafia. Sebastian is targeted by a sniper and driver on his way to Ciel but easily defeats them and a mob of underlings guarding the mansion. Sebastian is shot in front of Ciel and Azurro several times but does not die, as he is a demon. Ciel takes off his eye patch, revealing the pentagram in that eye indicative of the pact he made with Sebastian, and calls for his help, which enables Sebastian to save him. | ||||
| 3 | "His Butler, Omnipotent" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Bannō" (Japanese: その執事、万能) | October 17, 2008 | January 13, 2011 | |
| Grell Sutcliff is requested by Madame Red to train under Sebastian. It is revealed by Tanaka that the real Phantomhive estate burned down three years ago and was rebuilt. Ciel's parents died in the fire. Elizabeth Midford, Ciel's fiancée, visits. Elizabeth unhappily shatters Ciel's family ring when she sees that he isn't wearing the one she got him. Enraged and upset, Ciel goes to strike her but is stopped by Sebastian. Calming down, he tosses the broken ring out the window, declaring that he is head of the family with or without it. He then dances with an apologetic Elizabeth. That night, to Ciel's surprise, Sebastian returns the ring to him, restored. He tells Sebastian to stay by his side until he falls asleep, amusing the butler, who comments on the boy showing his weakness to him. | ||||
| 4 | "His Butler, Capricious" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Suikyō" (Japanese: その執事、酔狂) | October 24, 2008 | January 14, 2011 | |
| Jack the Ripper terrorizes the city of London. After receiving information from the Undertaker, they suspect the Viscount of Druitt. Sebastian, Ciel, and Lau attend the Viscount's ball to catch him, with Ciel in a dress, disguised as a girl. The Viscount takes a liking to Ciel, who goes alone with him, hoping to learn his plans. However, Ciel passes out, awaking to find himself being sold in an underground auction. When the Viscount removes Ciel's blindfold to display his eyes, Ciel opens them and calls for Sebastian. Sebastian saves Ciel, revealing that the pentagram in Ciel's eye is actually a mark that allows the demon to trace wherever his prey is. Jack the Ripper commits another murder, revealing that it was not the Viscount. | ||||
| 5 | "His Butler, Chance Encounter" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Kaikō" (Japanese: その執事、邂逅) | October 31, 2008 | January 17, 2011 | |
| At the house of the latest victim, Mary Jane Kelly, Ciel and Sebastian discover that the murderer is Madame Red and Grell, the latter revealed to be a Grim Reaper. Madame Red attempts to kill Ciel but hesitates. Disappointed by this, Grell kills Madame Red and her life is played back, as Grim Reapers can see a person's memories when they die. Madame Red had lost everyone she loved in life: an accident killed her husband and unborn child; then she lost her older sister and her sister's husband, the Earl of Phantomhive, in the mansion fire. When a patient asked for an abortion, claiming children were a nuisance, Madame Red decided to kill those who threw away the things she'd always wanted but lost. It was then that she met Grell, and they murdered prostitutes that had abortions. Ciel orders Sebastian to kill Grell. | ||||
| 6 | "His Butler, At the Funeral" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Sōsō" (Japanese: その執事、葬送) | November 7, 2008 | January 18, 2011 | |
| Before Sebastian can kill Grell, they are interrupted by William T. Spears, the administrator of the Grim Reapers. Spears takes a defeated Grell back to headquarters, ending Jack the Ripper's reign of terror. The following day, Ciel and Sebastian attend Madame Red's funeral, where Ciel recalls his childhood memories of her. Afterward, they tend to Mary Jane Kelly's tombstone, which Ciel had the Undertaker make to honor her. Sebastian remarks that Ciel's kindness is weakness, as he was afraid of killing his own aunt. Ciel responds that he knew Sebastian would protect him and he will not hesitate going forward. He asks Sebastian to promise never to betray him like Madame Red did; Sebastian agrees. | ||||
| 7 | "His Butler, Merrymaking" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Yūkyō" (Japanese: その執事、遊興) | November 14, 2008 | January 19, 2011 | |
| By the command of Queen Victoria, Ciel is to secure Houndsworth, a village controlled by a nobleman Henry Barrymore. The village is a dark and dreary place inhabited by a demon hound that kills bad dogs and people. Angela Blanc, Henry's servant, warns Ciel and Sebastian to leave, only for them to witness a boy's death caused by the demon hound. Finnian intervenes when a wrongly accused dog is sentenced to punishment, forcing him along with Bardroy, Mey-rin, Tanaka and Ciel to be captured. Sebastian reveals that Henry used a projection of a dog to make the villagers believe a demon hound existed so he could control the village. | ||||
| 8 | "His Butler, Training" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Chōkyō" (Japanese: その執事、調教) | November 21, 2008 | January 20, 2011 | |
| Henry is jailed but found dead with an arm torn off, revealing that there really is a demon hound. Finnian and Mey-Rin discover Angela's dominatrix personality, much to Finnian's dismay. When Angela goes missing, Ciel's servants venture out to search for her and encounter the real demon hound. Sebastian saves them. The demon hound is named Pluto and can take human form; Angela had taken him in and hidden him from her master. Angela asks Ciel to keep Pluto at the Phantomhive estate so Sebastian can train him, much to his chagrin, as Sebastian dislikes dogs. Before leaving, Sebastian suspiciously comments on Angela's ability to have "lesser beings" submit to her. | ||||
| 9 | "His Butler, Phantom Image" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Genzō" (Japanese: その執事、幻像) | November 28, 2008 | January 21, 2011 | |
| Ciel assigns his servants to take a photo of Sebastian with a camera that reveals what is most precious to the picture's subject that is deceased or not of this world. The camera requires one to stay still for ten seconds; Sebastian never does, evading their efforts effortlessly as he goes about the day's tasks. Exasperated, Ciel risks his own life in an attempt to capture his photograph when Sebastian saves Ciel. Sebastian quips that Ciel could've just asked him for a photo. In the end, when Sebastian finds Ciel asleep at his desk, he takes a photo of Ciel, himself, and Pluto behind them, leading to a photo that confuses the servants. Sebastian remarks that it was an honor to learn that the thing Ciel most treasures is Sebastian himself. | ||||
| 10 | "His Butler, on Ice" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Hyōjō" (Japanese: その執事、氷上) | December 5, 2008 | January 24, 2011 | |
| Ciel and Sebastian visit a festival held on the frozen River Thames. They enter an ice-sculpting contest for the prize, a ring with a slice of blue diamond called the Hope Piece, which is important evidence in an investigation by Scotland Yard into the kidnappings of young girls. Sebastian creates an ice model of Noah's Ark, but the Hope Piece is lost in the river following a bombing incident. Meanwhile, Elizabeth discovers the Hope Piece in a toy ship she buys for Ciel's birthday. | ||||
| 11 | "His Butler, However You Please" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Ikayō" (Japanese: その執事、如何様) | December 12, 2008 | January 25, 2011 | |
| It's Ciel's birthday, though he is unhappy, as his parents' death in the fire the Phantomhive estate burned down in happened on his tenth birthday. Elizabeth becomes distraught when she can't find a good birthday gift for Ciel and encounters a strange dollmaker. It is reported that a series of kidnappings of girls are occurring in London. On his way to find Elizabeth, who has gone missing, Ciel encounters Grell, learning that a puppeteer named Drocell Keinz is behind the kidnappings. Clues lead the two to a tower, where Grell is attacked by an army of dolls and Ciel flees from Drocell. Ciel finds Sebastian at the top of the tower. | ||||
| 12 | "His Butler, Forlorn" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Sekiryō" (Japanese: その執事、寂寥) | December 19, 2008 | January 26, 2011 | |
| With Sebastian and Grell in tow, Ciel finds Elizabeth in the tower. Drocell is controlling her like a marionette and forces her to attack Ciel. Sebastian and Grell free Elizabeth and defeat Drocell, discovering he too is a doll being manipulated. The master of the tower states that someone unclean like Ciel must die. The trio discover the "master" is speaking through a doll; the actual master is hiding elsewhere, not present in the tower. Elizabeth and the rest of the Phantomhive estate celebrate Ciel's thirteenth birthday with a party, wishing to see him happy again. The master of the tower who wants to kill Ciel is revealed to be Angela. | ||||
| 13 | "His Butler, Freeloader" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Isōrō" (Japanese: その執事、居候) | December 26, 2008 | January 27, 2011 | |
| In London, Ciel and Sebastian meet Prince Soma and his servant, Agni. After Prince Soma saves Ciel from thugs, he begrudgingly lets the two stay at the Phantomhive estate for their visit. Sebastian and Agni duel in a fencing match; when it ends in a draw, Ciel is shocked that Agni, a human, was able to equally match a demon, and wonders who he is. Sebastian is stunned when Agni convinces the normally wayward servants to help prepare supper. Prince Soma reveals that he is searching for his nursemaid, Mina, who was kidnapped from India by a wealthy Englishman. After Prince Soma goes to sleep, Sebastian witnesses Agni sneaking out and remarks that he knew that Agni would make a move. | ||||
| 14 | "His Butler, Supremely Talented" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Inō" (Japanese: その執事、異能) | January 16, 2009 | January 28, 2011 | |
| Harold West, a wealthy businessman, is responsible for Agni's betrayal and Mina's wedlock, forcing Agni to commit crimes. Sebastian tells Prince Soma to face the truth that Agni would abandon him someday. Ciel preaches to never give up, using his parents' death as an example. West's goal is to gain a Royal Warrant for his curry restaurant by using Agni's talent to win the curry festival competition. Ciel decides to compete with his company Funtom as well. At the exhibition, Prince Soma finds Mina, who confesses that she purposefully escaped India and married West to free herself from the India's caste system. Queen Victoria, escorted by her butler, Ashe Landers, makes a grand entrance. | ||||
| 15 | "His Butler, Competing" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Kyōsō" (Japanese: その執事、競争) | January 23, 2009 | January 31, 2011 | |
| Sebastian creates his curry with chocolate, Agni uses blue lobster, and a French chef uses a mysterious spice that was given to him by Angela. Sebastian wins with his curry buns and Funtom gains the Royal Warrant. However, the people who ate the curry with the mysterious spice become possessed and start attacking others. Sebastian and Agni fight them off and they are cured after a taste of Sebastian's curry buns because he put "kindness" into them (something Ciel finds ironic). With the competition over, Prince Soma and Agni bid farewell to Ciel and Sebastian and return to India. | ||||
| 16 | "His Butler, in an Isolated Castle" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Kojō" (Japanese: その執事、孤城) | January 30, 2009 | February 1, 2011 | |
| Ciel is informed that the abandoned Ludlow Castle his estate owns is haunted by ghosts and the workers are too spooked to continue remodeling it into a hotel. At the castle, they encounter the ghosts of two princes who were assassinated four centuries ago, Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York. Ciel plays chess against Edward in order to win the castle but Edward wins and claims Sebastian as his prize. Sebastian serves as butler for them both. Edward has the skulls of his family on a chessboard, believing that the brothers can move on if the chessboard is complete. Ciel and Sebastian help him realize that he was simply holding a grudge against the man who assassinated them, preventing them from moving on. The princes are then able to depart for the afterlife. | ||||
| 17 | "His Butler, Offering" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Hōnō" (Japanese: その執事、奉納) | February 6, 2009 | February 2, 2011 | |
| Ashe informs Ciel that an abandoned monastery in Preston, Lancashire has been taken over by a cult planning to overthrow the government. Ciel and Sebastian find out from Grell that the cinematic records were stolen too. At the monastery, Sebastian seduces a nun named Mathilda Simmons in order to learn that the cult uses a strange doomsday book to recruit new members and expose and "cleanse" them of their pasts. The trio witnesses a cleansing ceremony and Ciel recognizes the cult's symbol as the one branded on his body, remembering that he was also called "unclean" by the doll master that kidnapped Lizzie. He is kidnapped by Angela, who reveals herself to be an angel, and Sebastian and Grell give pursuit. | ||||
| 18 | "His Butler, Transmitted" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Tensō" (Japanese: その執事、転送) | February 13, 2009 | February 3, 2011 | |
| Angela uses the cinematic record to force Ciel recall his parents' murder. Sebastian and Grell go the Grim Reaper library to see Spears, who tells them that an Angel cannot change the past, only provide a changed impression of it. Angela attempts to "purify" Ciel of his dark past but his overwhelming hatred of his tormentors enables him to overcome her mirage. Angela attempts to purify the cult members instead but the Undertaker transports Sebastian, Grell, and Spears there to incapacitate her. Angela destroys the monastery and vanishes as most of the cult members escape or die in the destruction. Believing the cult that killed his family is destroyed and all is over, Ciel tells Sebastian to take his soul. When Sebastian doesn't, Ciel realizes there are still others who are responsible for his family's demise. | ||||
| 19 | "His Butler, Imprisoned" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Nyūrō" (Japanese: その執事、入牢) | February 20, 2009 | February 4, 2011 | |
| The body of John Stanley, a man who worked under Queen Victoria, is found murdered in the River Thames. Ash wants Ciel to retrieve a secret item from Stanley's body. Ciel goes to Lau for information. Lau mentions a new drug, Lady Blanc circulating around. A large amount of the illicit drug is found in one of Ciel's warehouses and Lau and Ciel are both charged with drug trafficking. Lau knows what the secret item is and flees after framing Ciel for it. Ciel and Sebastian are arrested and separated. It is revealed that due to Lau's framing, orders for the arrest were given by Ash with the drugs planted as a pretext. | ||||
| 20 | "His Butler, Escaping" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Dassō" (Japanese: その執事、脱走) | February 27, 2009 | February 7, 2011 | |
| Sebastian is tortured in the Tower of London by Angela; she proposes that if he abandons Ciel, she will give him abundant souls to eat. Sebastian turns down the deal, stating that he only desires Ciel's soul. Scotland Yard inspector Fred Abberline helps Ciel with Stanley's case. Ciel frees Sebastian by summoning him, and they confront Lau for his betrayal on his junk. Lau reveals that the secret item was a letter exposing that Queen Victoria is trying to start a world war and mocks Ciel for still supporting her. As Lau goes to kill him, Abberline intercepts and takes a fatal blow for Ciel, dying in his arms. Sebastian kills Lau but Ciel, upset, slaps him for not saving him and letting Abberline sacrifice himself. | ||||
| 21 | "His Butler, Engaging Servants" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Koyō" (Japanese: その執事、雇傭) | March 6, 2009 | February 8, 2011 | |
| Ciel remains upset from Abberline's death and the revelation about Queen Victoria. His servants decide to try and cheer him up. The Phantomhive estate is attacked by enemies but Sebastian hides this from Ciel, who is teaching Elizabeth to play chess, and asks the servants to take care of it. The backgrounds of Mey-Rin, Bardroy, and Finnian are revealed: they are more than they appear on the surface. Mey-Rin was a sniper assassinating politicians; Bardroy was a skilled military soldier; Finnian was an imprisoned human test subject, experimented on and given superhuman strength. Sebastian recruited them for these strengths so they could protect Ciel under the guise of being servants. The servants drive the criminals away and Ciel, unaware of what just transpired, finally smiles in amusement when he sees them all looking rather disheveled. | ||||
| 22 | "His Butler, Dissolution" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Kaishō" (Japanese: その執事、解消) | March 13, 2009 | February 9, 2011 | |
| Ciel and Sebastian travel to the Exposition Universelle in Paris to meet Queen Victoria. At the top of the Eiffel Tower, Ciel is confronted by Queen Victoria, who reveals that Ashe, an angel, granted her youth. She wishes to kill Ciel and end his family to "cleanse" London. Ciel orders Sebastian to kill them but their duel causes debris to fall onto people below. Ciel calls off the duel to prevent people from getting hurt, angering Sebastian, who believes Ciel is retreating on his vow of revenge. The next morning, Ciel realizes that Sebastian has abandoned him. He attempts to make it back to London on his own but as a child, finds himself powerless as others get the best of him. Penniless, he spends the night cold and hungry on the docks. Ashe takes control of Pluto and sets the Phantomhive estate on fire. | ||||
| 23 | "His Butler, Up In Flames" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Enjō" (Japanese: その執事、炎上) | March 20, 2009 | February 10, 2011 | |
| Ciel stows away in a London-bound steamship, where he meets the Undertaker, who informs Ciel that he will die. The fire spreads in London and takes many lives. Ciel finds his servants in the burning streets, trying to tranquilize Pluto, who continues breathing fire onto the city. Ciel orders them to kill Pluto, surprising both them and Sebastian, who is watching. Ciel states that Pluto is no longer Pluto but a beast and Sebastian realizes that Ciel is still focused on revenge. Ashe is revealed to be the male version of Angela; they are the same angel. They try to convince Sebastian to join them but he goes after Ciel. Ciel heads to Windsor Castle, where he discovers Queen Victoria dead. The palace guards believe that he murdered her and shoot him. Sebastian appears and saves Ciel, stating that due to him, Sebastian will enjoy a delicious soul. | ||||
| 24 | "His Butler, Fluent" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Tōtō" (Japanese: その執事、滔滔) | March 27, 2009 | February 11, 2011 | |
| On the Tower Bridge, Ciel and Sebastian face the merged Angela/Ashe, who Ciel now knows was responsible for his family's brutal end. With Pluto dead and Grell, the Undertaker, and Spears cutting off the supply of souls that fuel Ashe's strength, Ashe is weakened. Sebastian reverts to his true demonic form to destroy Ashe. Satisfied, an injured Ciel, hanging off the edge, lets himself fall into the river. In the aftermath, a false Queen Victoria emerges to lead London. Ciel wakes up being ferried by Sebastian on a river, where he sees the cinematic record of his life and learns that his father knew of his impending death. They land at a ruined mansion, where Sebastian will take Ciel's soul. When he states that it may hurt and promises to be gentle, Ciel's final order is to make the process painful as proof that he lived. Sebastian agrees. | ||||
| OVA | "His Butler, On Stage" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Kōgyō" (Japanese: その執事、興行) | N/A [nb 1] | February 14, 2011 | |
| Ciel and Sebastian celebrate the third anniversary of Funtom Company by hosting Hamlet as the play for an orphan charity. However, all the actors hired to perform in the play cannot arrive in town for another week due to a shipwreck. Since the play cannot be postponed, Sebastian is ordered by Ciel to make the play a success regardless. Sebastian rallies up the whole group together to be in the play, and they are visited by mostly every character in the series in this episode. Though the plot was ultimately altered, the play turns out, for the most part, a success. | ||||
Season 2
| No. | Episode title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (25) | "Clawed Butler" Transcription: "Kuro Shitsuji" (Japanese: クロ執事) | July 2, 2010 | |
| Earl Alois Trancy's butler, Claude Faustus, announces that his uncle, the Viscount of Druitt, and a priest are coming for a visit because his uncle suspects Alois' legitimacy as the former head's son. Alois tells them how he was kidnapped at birth and sent into slavery at a village. He was the only survivor of a plague that killed the village; his father found him but died of an infection. During a storm, a cloaked man arrives and asks for shelter. In the mansion's basement, he targets a special black tea box, said to help undergo an aromatherapy of darkness. Claude attacks him, revealing the man as Sebastian, hiding the lifeless body of Earl Ciel in his suitcase. Sebastian uses Alois' nyctophobia to escape. The tea box is revealed to contain Ciel's family heirloom ring. Sebastian places it on Ciel's finger and says it is time to wake up. | |||
| 2 (26) | "Solo Butler" Transcription: "Soroshitsuji" (Japanese: 単執事) | July 9, 2010 | |
| Ciel, now reawakened, attends the grand opening of a bridge. Elizabeth wishes to seek a legendary white stag in the forest. Ciel doesn't want to but agrees, realizing he should keep her happy and with the public watching him, must maintain a positive standing in high society. When a downpour occurs, Elizabeth becomes trapped in the river with the old dam about to burst. Ciel orders Sebastian to stop the flood while he goes to save Elizabeth. To his shock, Sebastian breaks the dam instead, causing water to flood them. When Ciel wakes up, Sebastian explains that he broke the dam and worked with the servants and Lau and Ran-Mao to change the river's shape to prevent future floods. The group discovers the white stag is a hill figure. Elizabeth explains that according to legend, their life will now be filled with happiness. | |||
| 3 (27) | "Wench Butler" Transcription: "Merōshitsuji" (Japanese: 女郎執事) | July 16, 2010 | |
| Ciel is asked to investigate a recurring case, all involving a young bride who has been burned alive in front of her groom during the night in the streets of London. Ciel and Sebastian approach the Scotland Yard for any records, but it is to no help, as they remain classified. Ciel and Sebastian then turn to the Undertaker for information. He shows them a pile of sparkling ashes in a tiny vial. At the funeral, the photographer and his overweight wife, Turner and Margaret, present the groom with the last photograph the couple took together moments before the death of his bride, however the groom drops the frame due to his bandaged hands. Upon further investigation, Ciel and Sebastian find out that all the victims were newlywed women and had gone to the photographer's studio for their wedding picture. Also, the pair discover that the sparkling substance in the ashes of the most recent victim is magnesium powder that is likened to the powder used in flash pans for photography. It is also mentioned that Lau recently sold his largest shipment of magnesium to Turner. When the two arrive at the studio, Margaret destroys the studio by sprinkling powdered magnesium everywhere and ignites it with her camera flash. She has become completely insane because Turner made her life miserable without any passionate love toward her. The Grim Reaper, Grell Sutcliff, then appears and reveals to Ciel and Sebastian that his current assignment is to collect Margaret's soul. Ciel pursues Margaret and finds her atop Big Ben Clock Tower dumping barrels of magnesium powder out the window and into the streets of London. She begins attacking Ciel, but is stopped by Sebastian and Grell before she can do any more damage. When Ciel tries to interrogate her, she suddenly bursts into flames, stating that the man with golden eyes told her to do this in order to find passion. Later, Ciel discovers that the records of the previous cases were classified because the Trancy estate had investigated them. Sebastian explains to Ciel that three years ago, the head of the Trancy family died, leaving his son, Alois Trancy, to take over as Earl and head of the family. | |||
| 4 (28) | "Terrorist Butler" Transcription: "Teroshitsuji" (Japanese: テロ執事) | July 23, 2010 | |
| As Ciel and Sebastian board a train, they see a crate being carried onto the train. It is revealed that inside the crate is an extremely valuable mummy in a sarcophagus. The two are sent on a case involving kidnapping for ransom. After the two meet a group of strange passengers, a policeman resembling Fred Aberline causes mass hysteria when he reveals there is a murderer held by police on the train. He later reveals himself as Aberline's twin brother in the dining car, but Ciel has no recollection of him. Afterwards, Ciel encounters the porter from the station who carried the crate onto the train, recognizing him by the scratches on his hand, and concludes that he is the kidnapper. The porter flees to caboose lounge car, disconnects the cable, and demands the money from a nobleman, whose son is held hostage. Sebastian stops this from happening, but is soon distraught when the kidnapper explains that he implanted a bomb inside the train that will detonate once the train stops, urging him to pursue the train. Meanwhile, Ciel finds the kidnapped boy in the sarcophagus, but is taken hostage by an aforementioned murderer who demands the train be stopped. However, not only is it revealed to all that the train cannot be stopped due to the bomb, but the train is headed for a broken bridge, and there may be an outbreak of cholera. Many of the strange passengers rise to aid the situation, but Sebastian denies their offer and insists on taking care of everything himself. He amends the crisis by getting rid of the murderer, tearing off the dining car roof containing the explosives, and halting the train just before it reaches the broken bridge. Claude, who had been in the dining car the entire time, confronts Sebastian, presenting him with an invitation to a costume ball at the Trancy estate and claiming it would resolve Ciel's revenge. | |||
| 5 (29) | "Beacon Butler" Transcription: "Noroshitsuji" (Japanese: 狼煙執事) | July 30, 2010 | |
| Sebastian warns Prince Soma and Agni that Ciel has lost his memory, telling them to pretend nothing is wrong in order to not cause any trouble. However, Soma bursts into tears around Ciel when he arrives at the Trancy estate for the costume ball, but thanks to the effort of Agni, Ciel has no real suspicions concerning his memory. Ciel warns Sebastian to be on his guard, because he feels uneasy in the mansion. During the costume ball, a passing maid spills red wine all over Ciel's costume, so she takes Ciel to a private location to clean the mess before it stains. After Ciel notices the spill has not been thoroughly cleaned, the maid begins acting strangely, commenting on his blue eye. She licks his ear before ultimately running off with his eye patch. Ciel chases after her, eventually reaching the cellar, where Ciel begins to hallucinate, hearing and seeing of when Sebastian was first there for the special black tea box. The visions cause Ciel to become frantic, so much that he vomits before fleeing to the woods outside. Ciel already figures out that the maid was really Alois all along. Claude and the servant triplets join Alois as Sebastian returns to Ciel. Confident his butler is superior to Ciel's, Alois threatens to slaughter everyone attending the costume ball if Ciel does not willingly give himself up. To Alois's surprise, Ciel agrees. Alois then orders Claude to capture Ciel, while Ciel commands Sebastian to protect him, no matter the cost. | |||
| 6 (30) | "Bedewed Butler" Transcription: "Yoroshitsuji" (Japanese: 夜露執事) | August 6, 2010 | |
| Sebastian, with Ciel in his arms, manages to defeat and evade the servant triplets. Nonetheless, the three do not give up, as another fight erupts between them and Sebastian. Meanwhile at the estate, Hannah Annafellows plays the armonica for the guests, but the glassy sound soon becomes painful to hear. Hannah has taken control of the majority of the guests with her music, having turned them into hostile zombies. While Lau and Ran-Mao have corks in their ears, Agni assists Prince Soma and his friends to retain control of themselves while fending off the controlled guests. Sebastian fights off the servant triplets, and rushes to the mansion with Ciel, after the two heard the haunting tune from outside. Sebastian arrives to counter Hannah's melody with his harmony, using a glass harp. As the armonica shatters, the guests are freed and applaud Sebastian's performance. Alois and Claude take this chance to make an entrance, and soon after, Sebastian and Claude agree to have a private conversation. On a lake, Sebastian and Claude duke it out. During their squabble, it is revealed that Sebastian could not devour Ciel's soul because he had "become a void". It appears Claude somehow snatched Ciel's soul before Sebastian, but could not use it due to it being "incomplete" without also having his body. Afterward, the two butlers strike a deal in which Alois will be the new target of Ciel's revenge, and form a contract by dripping their blood into the petals of two roses. At the costume ball, Elizabeth is forced into a dance with Alois, so Ciel joins the dance to get closer to her. As Ciel and Alois pass one another, they each make a separate vow, in that they will exact their revenge on each other. | |||
| 7 (31) | "Deathly Butler" Transcription: "Koroshitsuji" (Japanese: 殺執事) | August 13, 2010 | |
| Once again, Sebastian and Ciel are invited to the Trancy estate. Ciel initially rejects the invitation, but after discovering some clues pertaining to the murder of his parents, he decides to pay Alois a visit, though only for the purpose of killing him. At the Trancy estate, Alois has already prepared an enormous chessboard for Sebastian, Claude, Hannah, and the servant triplets to battle on while the two young lords observe from afar. The Viscount of Druitt, showing up a week late for the costume ball, decides to observe as well. The triple servants are easily defeated after Sebastian impales their heads with a spear. Hannah fails to graze Sebastian with her bullets, even to when he mends his jacket. Sebastian and Claude begin a culinary battle during a tea break, dodging the ingredients thrown at each other, surprisingly creating food sculptures. The two serve desserts to their lords, however the Viscount of Druitt fawns over both desserts to the point of indecision. As the battle resumes, Claude retrieves a demon sword from Hannah's stomach and begins to attack Sebastian at full throttle, soon trapping him in a spiderweb. Meanwhile, Ciel, tricking Alois into giving him a brief tour of the mansion, challenges him to a duel. Alois soon gains the upper hand after Ciel is unable to decapitate him. However, Ciel manages to grab onto the blade before being pierced in the chest. The two butlers outside hear the clanging of swords, drop the fight, and track down their lords. They see that Ciel has stabbed Alois in the side, causing the latter to writhe on the floor. Ciel prepares to finish Alois despite his claims of also losing his parents and pleas for mercy. Claude stops Ciel, but is slapped in return, as some of Ciel's blood lands onto Claude's cheek. Ironically, Claude is immediately entranced after nonchalantly licking the blood. Sebastian tells Claude that their battle will continue another day, as he leaves with Ciel in his arms. Claude, preoccupied with the blood on his cheek, ignores Alois's plead for help, yet he still does not assist him when he hears Alois vomit blood. Alois then collapses, presumably dead. | |||
| 8 (32) | "Divulging Butler" Transcription: "Toroshitsuji" (Japanese: 吐露執事) | August 20, 2010 | |
| Alois, having survived after his collapse, suffers from a grave injury. When Claude come to change Alois's bandages, he smiles for the first time when he admits his desire to feast on Alois's soul, which somehow disturbs Alois. Later, Hannah is interrupted by an overwhelmed Alois, who begs her to take him to see Ciel. On his way to the Phantomhive estate, it is revealed in a flashback that his real name is Jim Macken, and that he had a younger brother named Luka Macken. Alois confesses to his younger brother that he wishes the villagers would die because of how they were treated after becoming orphans. Later that night, they discover all the inhabitants of the village were dead, which causes Alois to erupt in a delirious joy. After raiding the dead for their personal belongings for a while, Alois searches for his brother only to find him dead, causing him to scream in anguish. Years later, Alois, among a group of male slaves, are brought to the Former Head Trancy, recognized as a pedophile. Although primarily rejected by Trancy, Alois overhears a method to summon a fairy that grants wishes. He encounters Claude in the form of a spider, but is unable to think of a wish. Alois later uses his sex appeal to win over Trancy as well as the inheritance, and he soon makes a contract with Claude some time after that. Claude tells him that it was Sebastian who destroyed the village as an order from a former master. Upon discovering told that Ciel Phantomhive is Sebastian's new master, Alois plans to seek out Ciel and make him suffer, so that he can make Sebastian suffer for killing Luka. In the present, Grell crashes the carriage and arrives to take Alois's soul. Alois starts crawling away as Hannah fends off Grell. He later breaks down on his hands and knees in desperation for Claude, when the latter arrives just in time to rescue him from a hungry wolf. In turn, Claude suddenly crushes his master's head, as he loses his appetite for a soul what would give its love to a mere butler. Taking Alois's ring, Claude states that there is still a use for Alois's soul. Grell appears and shows no hostility towards Claude but has taken interest in the state of affairs. Hannah, who was impaled by Grell, looms over Alois's body, gouges out his left eye, and seemingly absorbs his wish. | |||
| 9 (33) | "Hollow Butler" Transcription: "Uroshitsuji" (Japanese: 虚執事) | August 27, 2010 | |
| At the Trancy estate, Claude has gathered his fellow household demons and informs them that his plan is in motion. He explains that Ciel and Alois are more alike than they appear, which he plans to use to his advantage. At the Phantomhive estate, Ciel is summoned to solve a case involving in which a poor boy had his eyes gouged out by a rich boy. After being attacked out of the blue, Sebastian asks Ciel to remain concealed in a crate. Sebastian encounters and battles both William T. Spears and Ronald Knox, who are still investigating Alois's soul. Meanwhile, Ciel slowly recollects his memories about himself, even when Sebastian had put him in a trunk and told him to stay there. He bursts out from the crate and flees the scene due to this. Ciel is soon framed of the crime he is currently investigating, to which Hannah tells the police that he is a psychopathic Alois. Sebastian is soon being able to evade Spears and Knox. Despite Ciel's protests, he is taken to three psychiatrists, who torture him in order to get rid of his "confusion". Claude, who later killed the psychiatrists, uses the shock induced by torture, hypnosis, and Alois's ring that contains his soul to reveal that Luka had made a contract with Sebastian to burn the village, thereby combining the memories of Ciel and Alois. Then this causes Ciel to believe that it was Sebastian who killed his parents. After Sebastian defeats Hannah, who served as a diversion, he arrives to discover an enraged Ciel. Upon Claude's intervention, Ciel commands Sebastian to disappear from his sight. Claude then takes Ciel back to the Trancy estate as his new young master. In the meantime, Sebastian begins to radiate with demonic energy, indicating the battle for Ciel's soul has escalated to greater heights. | |||
| 10 (34) | "Zero Butler" Transcription: "Zeroshitsuji" (Japanese: 零執事) | September 3, 2010 | |
| Sebastian is forced to watch the Trancy estate from the woods surrounding the mansion. While picnicking, Grell explains that Claude is responsible for murdering Alois and fusing his memories with Ciel. Claude attempts to convince Ciel to break his contract with Sebastian and forge a new one with him as his servant, but Ciel quickly refuses. Ciel wonders why Sebastian supposedly betrayed him, slashing at roses in the garden and finding Hannah there as well. Sebastian persuades Grell to help gather information regarding the village, where Alois and Luka lived, that was destroyed. A former prostitute informs them of the carnage she witnessed at the hands of Luka, saying how she spared due to the kindness she showed him. The servant triplets suddenly snipes the former prostitute in the forehead, in which Sebastian immediately engages in combat against them. The servant triplets are easily defeated when Sebastian hangs them to a tree while Grell finishes them off with his death scythe. The cinematic record of the servant triplets plays, showing they were present during the destruction of the village. The record also shows Ciel and Hannah in the garden as the last scene of events. An aggravated Sebastian sprints back to the Trancy estate in response. Ciel breaks the bathroom mirror under the impression he saw Alois's reflection. He orders Claude to clean the mess, while taking Hannah with him to the bedchamber, much to the former's surprise. Ciel laments to Hannah that he wishes to return to his own mansion. Hannah opens her mouth and reveals a gaping abyss. Inside her mouth, Ciel looks at Alois's eye squirming and staring back at him, seeing a frightening reflection of himself, to the point of fainting from the terror. Outside the mansion, Sebastian confronts Claude, and their rose contract is severed. As they begin to battle one another, Ciel's voice can be heard from a thorn-covered clock tower. As Ciel calls for Sebastian, informing him that he will climb to the top, Claude claims Sebastian is no longer a butler because he violated the order to not be seen by his young master. However, Ciel's voice gradually becomes that of Alois, revealing that Alois's soul has taken charge of Ciel's body. Alois taunts Sebastian from the clock tower's edge, shouting that he will inevitably fall. Before the two can act, Hannah appears before the two butlers and smiles. | |||
| 11 (35) | "Crossroads Butler" Transcription: "Kiroshitsuji" (Japanese: 岐路執事) | September 10, 2010 | |
| After explaining that Alois's soul has taken charge of Ciel's body, Hannah challenges Sebastian and Claude to competitively venture through a hedge maze, collecting trivial stamps along the way, in order to reach the clock tower. Ciel realizes he has been taken over and sifts through the memories in his head to decide which ones are his. The butlers realize that the answers to the questions are altered during their journey. Ciel begins to remember some events of last season, and Alois notes that Ciel is struggling to get back control of his body. As Ciel remembers that his revenge is complete, the labyrinth begins to shift. Ciel begins to question why Sebastian did not eat his soul, so it appears as a question in the labyrinth. Sebastian was unable to eat Ciel's soul because he lost the arm with the seal of the contract on it, which provided a window of opportunity for Claude to steal Ciel's soul. Claude is asked why he killed Alois, and he answers that he killed him because he could ultimately be used as a tool to obtain Ciel. In response, a disappointed Alois sends Claude down a chute back to the beginning of the garden. Claude reveals in his answer to a question that it was actually Hannah, and not Sebastian, who contracted with Luka. Hannah confirms it and said she had grown tired of eating human souls, as they had become boring. She tells him that Luka was different, and that when she fulfilled his wish, he thanked her for killing the townspeople, something no one had ever done. Hannah, very attached to Alois and Luka, asks Alois to make a new contract with her, to be reunited with Luka. Sebastian and Claude reunite at the place of the final question, and Ciel takes over his body, saying that until Sebastian eats his soul, that he is his butler. However, Alois quickly snatches back Ciel's body, saying that he has found those who love him. As the butlers race to him, he makes a contract with Hannah. Alois faints after he tells Claude that he wanted his love, and Hannah informs the butlers that she has contracted with Alois as well as Ciel. | |||
| 12 (36) | "Black Butler" Transcription: "Kuroshitsuji" (Japanese: 黒執事) | September 17, 2010 | |
| Sebastian and Claude row a boat to a remote island, while Hannah holds Ciel's body. Sebastian and Claude are to duel as demons in a grudge match to see which one will have the right to claim Ciel's soul. After having removed the demon sword from her body, Hannah places it on the ceiling in a cave, thus beginning the duel. Neither butler manages to make a fatal blow during the battle, after passing the sword back and forth it appears to be a stalemate. Sebastian uses the sword to split the island in half creating a large fissure in the ground. In limbo, Ciel says Alois would never understand what motivates Sebastian to fight. Claude loses his balance after landing on a rock that gives way under him, and Sebastian plunges the demon sword through Claude's body. Sebastian comments that Claude failed to realize that Alois has been playing with him all along. Claude then replies that Alois was able to make his long life interesting, and consequently Alois's soul was more precious than he thought. Alois concedes to Ciel and apologizes for what he has done before he fades away. Hannah sheds tears of joy and reveals that the contract Alois made with her was for Claude to acknowledge him. Hannah falls into the ocean below with Ciel in her arms, urging Sebastian to dive in and reach Ciel, only to kill him just as he awakens. Meanwhile, Hannah relocates herself back on the island lying down with Claude's body, reuniting them with Alois and Luka altogether again. Some time later, Ciel awakens in bed with Sebastian preparing him "New Moon Drop" tea; however, it's shown that he's only going through the motions, as the teapot and cups are empty. Ciel sends farewell gifts to everyone he knew, dismisses his servants leaving them in charge of the mansion, and leaves with Sebastian. It is revealed that as a condition of Alois's wish being fulfilled, Alois asked that Hannah makes Ciel's soul unattainable by either Sebastain or Claude. She did this by causing Ciel to be reborn as a demon. As a result, Sebastian can not consume Ciel's soul, yet is still bound by their contract. Sebastian later carries Ciel through a field of black and white roses towards a cliff. Ciel says that he's forever blessed to have Sebastian as his butler, as Sebastian responds that he is forever bound to serve "a fellow fiend of Hell". Ciel remarks that the butler has but one answer to give. Sebastian affirms his service to his master while jumping with him from the cliff into the depths of the underworld. | |||
| OVA–1 | "Ciel in Wonderland Part 1" Transcription: "Shieru in Wandārando (Zenpen)" (Japanese: シエル・イン・ワンダーランド（前編）) | October 27, 2010 | |
| On one particular day at the Phantomhive manor, while jadedly browsing through reports, Ciel catches sight of a white-rabbit-eared Sebastian. Ciel follow him into a hole in the floor, landing him in an alternate dimension of floating doors. He sees Sebastian going through a door, but it becomes locked when Ciel tries to open it. He then encounters a ratlike Elizabeth her maidservant Paula. Elizabeth eats a slice of cake that causes her to grow in size. However, she cries because of this, and her tears become balls of puddles. She is overjoyed when she drinks an elixir that would cause her to shrink again. Out on a lake, the three are approached by Bardroy, Finnian, Mey-Rin, and Tanaka in a boat, saying nonsensical rhymes. They all see Sebastian walking on the water, but they are soon washed away by Pluto. Ciel, being washed ashore, finds the turtle-shelled Viscount of Druitt, who has a dance with him, later in front of a large crowd. Spinning out of control, the Viscount of Druitt sends Ciel into the sky. He lands in a palace, where he meet the duchess Prince Soma, the black pepper enthusiast Agni, and the catlike Grell. After eating a curry bun given by Agni, Ciel expands so much that he destroys the palace. While walking through a forest, he spots a lizard-tailed Aberline, who offers him a piece of hard candy. But it is unknown as to what the side effect will be for Ciel. | |||
| OVA–2 | "Welcome to the Phantomhive's" Transcription: "Fantomuhaivu-ka e Yōkoso" (Japanese: ファントムハイヴ家へようこそ) | November 24, 2010 | |
| Resembling that of a role-playing game, Elizabeth invites the main character, referred to as the lady, to join her at the ball held at the Phantomhive estate. Ciel welcomes her into the manor, and Sebastian give her hospitality. Sebastian explains in the guest room the origins of the former earl and his wife and their association with society, but he takes leave when the servants cause trouble in the kitchen. Sebastian gives the lady a tour of the estate. First in the recreation room, Lau and Ran-Mao are seen. Then in the library, Prince Soma and Agni are there. The lady later has some tea with some of the others in the courtyard, but she accidentally drops the teacup onto her dress. Sebastian carries her back inside the mansion, receiving a change of clothes. Before the ball starts, Aberline, after hearing about disappearances occurring during evening balls, requests to patrol the estate. It is revealed that the lady is sent to kill Sebastian and capture Ciel. The lady then goes back to the guest room and see Elizabeth and Paula there. However, the Viscount of Druitt sprays the room with sleeping gas, taking her into his yacht. Ciel orders Sebastian to retrieve the lady from the Viscount of Druitt. When Grell also arrives, the Viscount escapes with the lady on the sail of the ship. Grell slices off the sail, plunging the Viscount of Druitt into the water, while Sebastian catches the lady into his arms. When the lady regains consciousness, Spears comes to tell Grell of how he mistaken the lady for someone else, as they are searching for a soul to reap. Upon returning to the mansion, the lady later attempts to capture a sleeping Ciel, using a pocket knife. Sebastian, already knowing her ulterior motive, prevents her from using the knife by puncturing her wrist. As Ciel wakes up, he kindly escorts her to the evening ball to celebrate her birthday. Sebastian has a dance with the lady, telling her that he will not kill her due to his duties as a butler. After the evening ball, Ciel and Sebastian say their farewells to the lady, as she leaves with Elizabeth and Paula. It is shown that the lady later throws out the knife onto the road, displaying her change of heart. | |||
| OVA–3 | "The Making of Kuroshitsuji II" | January 26, 2011 | |
| Bardroy narrates the behind-the-scenes look at the legendary debut of "Black Butler", which has premiered all over the world. When Ciel and Sebastian are interviewed about being starred in the sequel, they said that they did not have any interest at first, but they eventually agreed to do it. The supporting characters are excited to be part of the sequel as well. The antagonistic characters have a different view of having a role, however. The use of the green screen effect is explained during the scene with Sebastian and Grell in the streets of London. Angela Blanc and Ashe Landers serve as action directors and stunt doubles for the series. When Claude destroys the set after being disappointed with the script, Ciel is rescued by Sebastian, who fractures his right ankle in the process. Elizabeth films the daily lives of the characters. There is also never-before-seen footage of the series shown, one with surprising twists and parodies. | |||
| OVA–4 | "Ciel in Wonderland Part 2" Transcription: "Shieru in Wandārando (Kōhen)" (Japanese: シエル・イン・ワンダーランド（後編）) | February 23, 2011 | |
| Ciel, now shrunken, meets a caterpillar-bodied Lau and a mushroom-headed Ran-Mao. Lau quotes that the "right one" will make him bigger, while the left one will make him smaller. However, he was referring to the effect of suckling Ran-Mao's breasts. While Lau comments on the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, Ran-Mao sprouts wings and carries Ciel up into the sky. He is dropped into a forest, where he sees the catlike Grell once more. Grell guides Ciel to a crossroad, where he later parts the trees into a desert, saying that Sebastian lies in that direction. He is reluctant to find the Undertaker with a hat, William T. Spears with hare ears, and Ronald Knox with mouse ears. After Ciel fails to answer the riddle of the similarity between a raven and a writing desk, he is told that real life has no clear answer, and that we tend to sweeten things up to give meaning, in which tea with sugar is used as an example. The four servants arrive and invite Ciel to a castle, where he hopes that he will finally reunite with Sebastian. However, Madame Red gives judgment for the criminal acts he has seemingly done. Many of his acquaintances accused him of all the pain he caused them in real life. He is filed with guilt when he loses his memories of those he wronged. He calls for Sebastian out of fear, and flees from an enraged Madame Red. It is revealed that Sebastian was actually telling a bedtime story to Ciel's soulless body. | |||
| OVA–5 | "Spider's Intention" Transcription: "Kumo no Ito" (Japanese: 蜘蛛の意図) | May 25, 2011 | |
| Alois Trancy frees a butterfly from a spiderweb and breaks off one of its wings, so that it cannot escape him. He orders Claude to fill his bedroom with flowers and an insect cage to keep the butterfly in. The story is shown in the views of the servant triplets, Hannah, and Claude. In the end, the butterfly dies and Alois tries to cremate it, but ends up setting his room alight and begs Claude not to go in, in fear that Claude will burn and leave him. Alois dreams of being trapped in a spiderweb and describing himself as a butterfly with no wings. | |||
| OVA–6 | "The Tale of Will the Shinigami" Transcription: "Shinigami Wiru no Monogatari" (Japanese: 死神ウィルの物語) | April 27, 2011 | |
| William T. Spears and Grell are chosen to train new grim reaper recruits to be admitted into the dispatch association. While touring the building, the two explain the rules of the upcoming exam. The last part of the exam requires all grim students to find a partner and pass the given challenges. Only those who fully complete the exam can become a full-fledged grim reaper. While passing a glance over the nervous students, William recalls back to the time when he was a young rookie grim reapers, back to the time when he ironically challenged the grim reaper exam with Grell as his partner. They were given one month to track down a novelist named Thomas Wallace conclude whether or not he should die. They reveal themselves as grim reapers to Thomas, however he mistakes them for actors. Inspired, Thomas begins to write a fictional novel about the romance between a grim reaper and a maiden. It is realized that the date of publication is the same of the execution. Grell disagrees with William about sentencing Thomas to death, after seeing how successful his novel might become. Thomas is run over a passing carriage, and William arrives to collect his soul. While absorbing the cinematic record into his death scythe, Thomas fights for his life, which causes the cinematic record to flow inside William. Grell saves William from being consumed, and the two work together to absorb the cinematic record. It is then that the two become full-fledged grim reapers. | |||
Book of Circus, Book of Murder and Book of the Atlantic
| No. | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (37) | "His Butler, Presenting" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Teiji" (Japanese: その執事, 提示) | July 11, 2014 | |
| A new day begins at the Phantomhive Estate and guests are expected for a business meeting at night. While making preparations for the meeting, Sebastian must fix the mistakes made by the other servants as usual but proceeds flawlessly nonetheless. Later at night, Lau and Ran-Mao arrive with Cedric Brandel, a businessman who claims that he wants to discuss business with Ciel, but intends to have him killed instead, as Ciel's position as the Queen's watchdog is interfering with his illegal arms trade. However, just when he orders his men to attack, Cedric learns that Sebastian had dealt with all of them previously and is killed by the butler instead. Lau then delivers to Ciel an invitation for the Circus that just arrived at the city. A few hours later, Sebastian puts Ciel to sleep, eagerly awaiting for the day when he will accomplish his part of the bargain with his master and claim his soul in return. | |||
| 2 (38) | "His Butler, Taking the Stage" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Sutēji o to~tsu" (Japanese: その執事, ステージを取っ) | July 18, 2014 | |
| The tickets to the Noah's Ark Circus were sent by the Queen, who orders Ciel to investigate its possible connection with some children who are missing. After obtaining info on the children from Abberline, Ciel and Sebastian inquire Undertaker, who reveals that their bodies have not shown up in the underworld, and thus it is possible that they are still alive. The duo then attends a presentation at the circus itself, but when Joker, the ringleader, asks for a member of the audience take part in the show, Sebastian volunteers, but a commotion is caused when he finds himself enticed by a tiger. After the show, Joker insists that Sebastian must be examined by the doctor in charge and the butler's curiosity is piqued when he finds that many of the performers wear some unusual prosthetic limbs manufactured by him. In the occasion, Sebastian asks Joker for a job, claiming that he is fed up with his current occupation and upon being accepted, takes his leave after agreeing to return in the next day with an "acquaintance" who also intends to join. Sebastian then tries to investigate the circus further. but the snake charmer Snake stops him, claiming that he is in an off-limits area. | |||
| 3 (39) | "His Butler, Employed" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Saiyō" (Japanese: その執事、採用) | July 25, 2014 | |
| After a brief reunion with Soma and Agni, Sebastian and Ciel return to the circus in the next day in order to become part of it. But while Joker and the others have already got a glimpse of Sebastian's traits, Ciel's abilities are yet to prove, and he is forced to participate in two trials, one of throwing knives and another of tightrope walking, succeeding on both with Sebastian's help. However, once accepted into the circus, the duo discover, much to their surprise, that William T. Spears is also working there undercover and both realize that there is something truly suspicious occurring in Noah's Ark Circus, to the point of having a Grim Reaper personally investigating it. | |||
| 4 (40) | "His Butler, Coworker" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Dōryō" (Japanese: その執事、同僚) | August 1, 2014 | |
| Ciel and Sebastian begin their undercover job at the circus. Sebastian questions William about his intentions and the Grim Reaper reveals that in the next days, a huge number of souls are to be collected there. While Ciel is paired with another recruit called "Freckles", Sebastian is assigned to sleep in the same tent as William, much to each other's dismay. Later at night, the first-string members of the circus kidnap a young child at the city and the police appears to intervene, but all officers are killed by the members of the troupe. Back at the circus, the life on a different, more rough environment take a toll on Ciel's body, but he renews his vow to figure out the truth behind the circus as soon as possible. | |||
| 5 (41) | "His Butler, Takes Flight" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Hishō" (Japanese: その執事、飛翔) | August 8, 2014 | |
| It's night and Noah's Ark Circus is about to start their next show, but Ciel and Sebastian intend to look for clues in the first-string members tents while they are performing. However, Ciel is left alone when both Sebastian and William are summoned to replace the trapeze artists. In trouble because William refuses to cooperate with him, Sebastian is forced to improvise and return in a hurry before Ciel is caught by Beast, who returns to the tent to replace some damaged garments. After Sebastian returns to the stage, Ciel finds more clues including a letter to Joker where he himself is mentioned. Once leaving the tents, Ciel is saved from a snake by Doll, one of the main performers, and learns that she is in fact his roommate Freckles. After fabricating a story to dissuade her, Ciel has a crisis of Asthma and gets himself bedridden. While Ciel sends Sebastian to investigate further in the city based on their newfound info, Snake discovers that the duo is spying on them and informs Joker, who decides to not take any action before consulting with their leader. | |||
| 6 (42) | "His Butler, Liaison" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Kōshō" (Japanese: その執事、交渉) | August 15, 2014 | |
| While Ciel has a nightmare of the past events, including the death of his parents, his encounter with Sebastian and the confrontation with Madam Red, Sebastian is confronted by William, who refuses to have him wander around without his master. Meanwhile, Beast attempts to convince Joker to flee along the others, but the ringleader claims that they can't run away from their leader, before leaving to see him. Unable to continue the investigation outside the circus, the butler then turns his attention to her, and knowing that her feelings for Joker are unrequited, he seduces her, and convinces her to tell him the name of their leader, while Freckles sleeps beside Ciel in his bed. In the next day, Sebastian picks up Ciel and the two leave the circus, certain that they have all the information they need, but once they return to the town house, Soma and Agni realize that Ciel is sick and convince Sebastian to have him resting until the next day. Meanwhile, the members of the circus realize that Ciel, Sebastian and William are missing, and fear that their plans are compromised. However, Doll leaves to warn Joker while the others prepare themselves for an important, unknown mission. | |||
| 7(43) | "His Butler, Careful Tending" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Buyō" (Japanese: その執事、撫養) | August 22, 2014 | |
| Joker meets with his adoptive father, Baron Kelvin, and upon telling them about Ciel and Sebastian, the Baron realizes that they are no others than the Earl Phantomhive and his butler and is eager to meet him, ordering Joker to prepare a banquet for the occasion. Meanwhile, some members of the circus take a leave to look for the next town to visit, while Ciel, after recovering, leaves with Sebastian to confront the Baron. Upon arriving at the Kelvin estate, they are welcomed by Joker, who guides them to the banquet, where Ciel and Kelvin finally meet face to face. The Baron then has Joker perform a gruesome show where the brainwashed children are brutally killed, much to Kelvin's excitement, but when one of the missing children from the report are found among them, Ciel has all the proof he needs and proceeds to kill him, but the Baron reveals that he has one more thing to show him. Ciel and Sebastian then accompany Kelvin to the cellar, and Ciel is distraught upon finding a room built exactly like the one where he was tortured after the death of his parents, and where he first met Sebastian years before. | |||
| 8 (44) | "His Butler, Sneering" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Chōshō" (Japanese: その執事、嘲笑) | August 29, 2014 | |
| Grell Sutcliff has finally completed his suspension and returns to duty, eager to meet Sebastian again. Meanwhile, Kelvin reveals to Ciel that he met him and his father when he was still a small child, years before the tragedy that befell his family. Since then, he became obsessed with the Phantomhives and their handsomeness, and this caused his wife to leave him. Eager to become more like Ciel and his father, Kelvin underwent surgery, but his recovery was hindered when he got agitated with news of their deaths. While still recovering, Kelvin learned that Ciel has survived, and since then he was eager to meet him. After hearing his story and learning that all of his crimes were solely for the purpose of his meeting with him, Ciel shoots the Baron dead, and an angry Joker moves to attack him, just to have his arm cut off by Sebastian. Joker then reveals that some members of the circus were sent to the Phantomhive estate in order to capture Ciel, and will surely kill all residents once they fail to locate him, but the earl replies that he does not fear for the safety of his mansion at all, which was entrusted to his other servants, and just as he predicts, Mey-Rin, Baldroy, Finnian and Tanaka dispose of the invaders one by one, while Elizabeth sleeps inside, oblivious to the battle at all. | |||
| 9 (45) | "His Butler, Serene" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Shōyō" (Japanese: その執事、従容) | September 5, 2014 | |
| As the other Phantomhive servants dispose of the intruders, Grell appears to collect their souls and becomes disappointed upon not meeting Sebastian there. This later turns to anger after Grell discovers (through watching Beast's cinematic record) that Sebastian seduced her. Back at the Kelvin estate, the doctor from the circus appears before Ciel and Sebastian, revealing that the prosthetic limbs he developed are manufactured using the bones of the children kidnapped by Joker and the others, and Joker himself suffers a mental breakdown when he learns that his artificial limb as well was produced in such way. When the doctor kills another of the children in front of Ciel, the Earl (having painful flashbacks) orders Sebastian to kill him, and (opposing to the queen's orders to rescue the children alive) commands his butler to burn down the entire mansion, killing the captives as well. | |||
| 10 (46) | "His Butler, Fulfilling His Duty" Transcription: "Sono Shitsuji, Kare No Gimu o Hatasu" (Japanese: その執事、彼の義務を果たす) | September 12, 2014 | |
| As Joker dies from blood loss, he reminisces about how he and his friends were rescued from the slums by the Baron and swore to serve him in retribution to protect the lives of the other orphans under his care. William appears to collect the souls of those who died at the mansion and Ronald Knox arrives to assist him. Doll arrives at the mansion looking for Joker and meets Ciel and Sebastian. Upon learning of their true identities and that they killed Joker and Kelvin, she attacks them, just to be killed by the butler under his master's orders. Some emissaries from the queen watch the whole scene from afar but decide to not report to her about Ciel's decision to sacrifice the captive children. In the next day, Snake, certain that his friends will not return, abandons the circus as well, leaving to parts unknown. On the way to Kelvin's orphanage, Ciel reveals that he ordered the deaths of the children because of pity as he was certain that they would never have their minds restored, and upon arriving there, Ciel and Sebastian learn that the orphanage was abandoned years before, and the circus members were deceived by the Baron into working for him. Ciel then declares how mankind can be so worthless as they lie and kill for their desires, and Sebastian claims that just how they still strive for a better future despite that is what makes them really interesting. | |||
| OVA–1 | "Book of Murder Part 1" Transcription: "Book of Murder" (Japanese: 黒執事) | October 25, 2014 | |
| The Queen decides to test Ciel's loyalty once more after he killed the children, who were kidnapped by Noah's Arc Circus. Her butlers - the Double Charles, come to the Phantomhive manor and orders that a banquet is held at the mansion. The occasion is the arrival of a German banker, Lord Georg von Siemens. The banquet begins and later, Siemens is found murdered in his room at the manor. Everyone among the guests and the staff has an alibi, except for Ciel. He is then confined to one of his guests – Arthur Conan Doyle, a novice writer. Later that night, someone kills Sebastian. He then visits the other servants, giving over his duties to them, and finally, bids Ciel farewell. The guests find his corpse in the morning. Ciel comes to accept his death, after Sebastian refuses to revive. Soon, another guest is found dead and everyone reassesses their alibis. It is discovered that Sebastian had entrusted Mey-Rin with a letter to be sent by an owl in the morning. The mysterious reverend Jeremy Rathborne then suddenly appears. | |||
| OVA–2 | "Book of Murder Part 2" Transcription: "Book of Murder Part 2" (Japanese: 黒執事) | November 15, 2014 | |
| Sebastian had "foreseen" his murder and the letter he had sent was addressed to reverend Jeremy Rathborne, calling him to investigate. Soon, it is found out that one of the murders was mistakenly done by a snake that was trained to go after Ciel's scent, later revealed to be sent by Snake from Noah's Arc Circus in an attempt to avenge his friends. The reverend also deduces that Siemens had jokingly faked his own death, but was killed soon afterwards by another guest – Woodley, who wanted to frame Ciel to prevent him from destroying his diamond business. The case is considered closed, but soon, Arthur Conan Doyle notices the inconsistencies in the theory and reveals the truth. Jeremy Rathborne is Sebastian. Sebastian admits and reveals the culprit's identity was known all along – it was Earl Grey, the Queen's butler, whom she had sent to kill Siemens, in order to disrupt Germany's financial stability, and at the same time, jokingly frame Ciel for the murder as a compensation for the accident with Noah's Arc Circus. Ciel and Sebastian simply made use of this occasion, knowing Siemens would be killed either way, and framed Woodley, who deserved to go to prison. For that, Sebastian managed to orchestrate the entire ordeal - do the Queen's secret task, clear the Phantomhive name of any possible murder accusations, and send a guilty businessman to jail. This experience influences Arthur Conan Doyle and he sets off to his career. At the end, Ciel invites Snake to live in the Phantomhive manor as well. Sebastian is made the Phantomhive main butler yet again and he swears his loyalty to Ciel until the day lies become truth. | |||
| Anime–Film | "Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic" Transcription: "Black Butler: Book of Atlantic" (Japanese: 黒執事 Book of the Atlantic) | January 21, 2017 | |
| Ciel boarded the luxury passenger ship Campania, accompanied by his servants Sebastian and Snake. Tagging along with the Midford family, Earl Phantomhive was there to investigate a sinister case of illegal human experimentation, however. A shady doctor appeared to be the mastermind, as he demonstrated to the Aurora Society how he had been bringing the deceased back to life. The reanimated dead were not quite human however, as what was left of the people on board were about to find out. | |||
Notes
- Episode 25 did not air and was included on DVD 9.
References
- General
- "List of Black Butler episode titles" (in Japanese). A-1 Pictures. Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- Specific
- "Kuroshitsuji Anime Confirmed to Premiere This Fall". Anime News Network. 2008-07-11. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- "Kuroshitsuji Anime's Promotional Video Streamed". Anime News Network. 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- "Goods" (in Japanese). A-1 Pictures. Archived from the original on 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- "Black Butler Gets 'Book of Murder' Arc Video Anime".
- "Black Butler: Book of Murder Original Video Anime Previewed in TV Spot". animenewsnetwork. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- "Aniplex Japan Sets 'Black Butler' Complete Blu-ray Anime Box Set". The Fandom Post. January 22, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- "Animax India airs Black Butler". Animax India. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- "Animax India - Black Butler Season 1 Episode 1 Airdate". Animax India. Archived from the original on 24 January 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
- "Animax India - Black Butler Season 1 Episode 2 Airdate". Animax India. Archived from the original on 24 January 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Black Butler at the Internet Movie Database
- Black Butler II at the Internet Movie Database
- Black Butler: Book of Circus at the Internet Movie Database
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