Black Butler｜Anime

2022.03.13

“Black Butler” is a Japanese manga series by Yana Toboso, serialised in a shōnen magazine from 2006. An anime was broadcast on TV from 2008. Although based on a Japanese manga, the anime is set in late 19th century England and has a parallel world view.

Synopsis

The story takes place in 19th century England, where people live under the rule of Queen Victoria. Sebastian Michaelis, a butler in the service of one of the most prestigious aristocratic families, is a perfect butler, with a brilliant eye, a clear head, a high level of education, excellent martial arts skills and superb cooking and tea skills, but his true identity is that of a demon who makes contracts with humans and eats their souls.
Sebastian’s master and contractor is Ciel Phantomhive, the current head of a prestigious noble count family. He is also the president of a toy manufacturer. Ciel, whose parents were brutally murdered and who himself was kidnapped and held captive by a Satanist organisation, has a hellish past, and in the midst of his hellish life, he makes a deal with Sebastian. In return for his help in taking revenge, he will hand over his soul.

Black Butler | Recommendations

Historical events that shook Britain, such as ‘Jack the Ripper’, appear in the work, and the story structure is truly brilliant in that it can be enjoyed as a mystery and suspense, with its own unique characters also playing an active role. This work is highly recommended for people who like modern Britain and British aristocratic types.
Also attracting attention as an animation are the ‘action scenes’. While the film is set in an elegant aristocratic society, it also has strong shades of mystery, suspense and horror, and there are many battle scenes with the mafia, assassins and even creatures created by inhumane experiments.
As Ciel is only human and not suited to combat, these battles are handled by Sebastian. Sebastian is a very powerful demon, but he does not fly or use magic to make his enemies disappear. He uses his butler-like polished silverware and amazing physical abilities to physically defeat his enemies.
A butler in a black tailcoat runs through the darkness, cutting through enemies in a brilliant display of skill. The scene is beautiful and even gives a kind of exhilaration.