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Black Butler

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Black Butler
File:Kuroshitsuji Volume 1 cover.jpg
The cover of the first volume of the original Japanese manga release
黒執事
(Kuroshitsuji)
GenreAction (fiction), Black comedy, Mystery fiction, Supernatural
Manga
Written byYana Toboso
Published bySquare Enix
English publisherCanada United States Yen Press
MagazineMonthly GFantasy
English magazineCanada United States Yen Plus
DemographicShōnen
Original runSeptember 16, 2006 – present
Volumes11 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed byShinohara Toshiya
Produced byHiro Maruyama, Hiroyuki Shimizu, Mikihiro Iwata, Shunsuke Saito
Written byMari Okada
Music byTaku Iwasaki
StudioA-1 Pictures
Original networkTBS, MBS, Animax
English networkUnited States Funimation Channel Singapore Philippines Bangladesh India Pakistan Malaysia Hong Kong Thailand Animax Asia
Original run October 2, 2008 – March 26, 2009
Episodes24 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Kuroshitsuji II
Directed byHirofumi Ogura
Produced byHiro Maruyama, Hiroyuki Shimizu, Mikihiro Iwata, Shunsuke Saito
Written byMari Okada
Music byTaku Iwasaki
StudioA-1 Pictures
Original networkMBS
TBS
Original run July 1, 2010 – September 17, 2010
Episodes12 (List of episodes)

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 a business-savvy--the owner of the Funtom company, a toy manufacturer. And in return Sebastian will obtain Ciel's soul when Ciel has finished all of his tasks including getting revenge on the people who killed his parents; after that Sebastian is then allowed to kill him and take 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. However, 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 would be returning for a second season. Voice actor Junichi Suwabe confirmed this news on his official blog later that day. 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

Main article: 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". Sebastian carries out any task required by his master while solving the problems plaguing England with ease and perfection, because of his demonic lineage and Faustian contract with his master. The parents of Master Phantomhive estate were murdered when Ciel was younger. As a result, he made a deal with a demon asking for vengeance upon those who had disgraced him, and the Phantomhive name, in exchange for his soul.

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 November 27, 2009, eight volumes have been released so far.[2] Yen Press licensed the series for an English language release and will serialize 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] French publisher Kana licensed the series in under the Dark Kana imprint as Black Butler. The publisher released the first volume in November 2009.[5] Carlsen Comics has licensed the series in Germany as Black Butler, the same title used for the French and English releases. The second volume was released in May 2010.[6] On October 31, 2010 Italian publisher Planet Manga announced the licensing of the series. The first volume will be released on April 28, 2011.[needs update][7]

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.[8] A second drama CD was released on November 26, 2008 under the Aniplex label.[9]

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.[10][11][12][13] On January 1, 2009, a limited edition DVD containing the first episode was released by Aniplex.[14] The next three episodes were released on another DVD on February 25, 2009.[15]

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.[16][17] 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.[18]

On March 29, 2010, North American anime distributor Funimation Entertainment announced on their online FuniCon 3.0 panel that they have licensed Black Butler.[19] At Anime Expo 2010, Funimation also announced that they will stream the simulcast series, Black Butler 2.[20] Funimation announced on their Facebook page that they have fully licensed the second season.

On January 11, 2011, Animax Asia 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.[21]

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.[22] Yuya Matsushita portrayed Sebastian Michaelis, Shougo Sakamoto played Ciel Phantomhive and Uehara Takuya as Grell Sutcliffe.[23]

Musical Black Butler, The Most Beautiful Death in The World, A Thousand Soul and The Fallen Grim Reapers (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, Kuroshitsuji Sen no Tamashii to Ochita Shinigami),[1] 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 will reprise his role as Sebastian Michaelis, Yukito Nishii will play Ciel Phantomhive, and Uehara Takuya will reprise his role as Grell Sutcliffe. 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.[24] 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, 2008, 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.[25] The TV Animation Black Butler Black Record (TVアニメーション｢黒執事｣ Black Record) is scheduled for release on March 27, 2009.[26] An official comics anthology Rainbow Butler (虹執事, Nijishitsuji) will also be released on that date.[27]

Reception

During the week of December 18 to 24, 2007, the third volume ranked third in comic sales in Japan.[28] The fourth volume also placed, ranked ninth during the week of June 3 to 9, 2008.[29] The fifth volume placed second during the week of September 16 to 22, and fell to third place the following week of September 23 to 29.[30][31] The volume remained on the chart for a third week, placing tenth during the September 30 October 6 week.[32] The sixth volume followed suit and placed first from January 27 to February 2, 2009, selling 359,703 copies.[33] During its second week on the chart, the volume sold an additional 100,466 copies, ranking seventh for the week of February 3 to 9.[34] The third week, the volume continued to fall, placing ninth and selling 45,653 copies during the week of February 10 to 16.[35] During the week of June 22 to 28, the seventh volume ranked third selling 167,692 copies and remained third during the following week of June 29 to July 5, selling an additional 256,164 copies.[36][37] The volume fell to eighth selling another 66,954 copies during the week of July 6 to July 12 and fell to twenty-first during the week of July 13 to July 19, selling an additional 29,951 copies.[38][39] 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.[40] 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.[41] The sixth volume ranked thirteenth of the top-selling manga in Japan during the first half of 2009, selling 619,501 copies.[42] 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.[43]

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".[44]

References

  1. ^ ":::: GFantasy Website :::: -月刊Gファンタジーオフィシャルサイト" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  2. ^ "Gファンタジーコミックス 一覧" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  3. ^ "Kuroshitsuji Manga Begins English Run in Yen Plus Mag (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2009-07-12. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  4. ^ "Served up on a Silver Platter!". Yen Press. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  5. ^ "Black Butler Tome 1". Kana. 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  6. ^ Yen Press Releases Volume 2
  7. ^ "Lucca Comics '10: Planet Manga" (in Italian). Planet Manga. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
  8. ^ "ドラマCD 黒執事: イメージ・アルバム, セバスチャン・ミカエリス(森川智之), シエル・ファントムハイヴ(沢城みゆき), タナカ(麦人), バルド(小山力也), メイリン(折笠富美子), フィニ(高城元気), エリザベス(斎藤千和), アズーロ(平田広明), クラウス(染田清之), マダム・レッド(勝生真沙子), 森川智之, 沢城みゆき, 勝生真沙子, 遊佐浩二, 麦人: 音楽" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  9. ^ "黒執事 華麗なるドラマCD: ドラマ, 小野大輔, 福山潤, 坂本真綾: 音楽" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  10. ^ "Kuroshitsuji Anime Confirmed to Premiere this Fall". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  11. ^ "TVアニメーション 黒執事" (in Japanese). Aniplex. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  12. ^ "黒執事 :: 作品紹介 :: A-1 Pictures" (in Japanese). A-1 Pictures. Retrieved 2008-08-28. [dead link]
  13. ^ "Official Black Butler site - スタッフ (Staff)". kuroshitsuji.tv (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  14. ^ "黒執事 I 【完全生産限定版】: 篠原俊哉, 小野大輔, 坂本真綾: Amazon.co.jp: DVD" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  15. ^ "黒執事 II 【完全生産限定版】 DVD: 篠原俊哉, 坂本真綾, 小野大輔: Amazon.co.jp: DVD" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  16. ^ "Second Season of Kuroshitsuji confirmed". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  17. ^ "Second Season". Junichi Suwabe Official Blog. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  18. ^ "Kuroshitsuji II to Debut in July with New Butler, Master". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  19. ^ "Funimation Adds Black Butler/Kuroshituji TV Anime". Anime News Network. 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  20. ^ "Funi Adds Live Action Moyashimon Live Action, More". Anime News Network. 2010-07-02. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  21. ^ "FUNimation Week 7 of 2011".
  22. ^ "音楽舞闘会 黒執事 〜その執事、友好〜" (in Japanese). Entertainment Plus Inc. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  23. ^ "Cast & Staff" (in Japanese). Entertainment Plus Inc. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  24. ^ "黒執事 Phantom & Ghost" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
  25. ^ "黒執事 キャラクターガイド その執事、集合: スクウェア・エニックス: 本" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  26. ^ "TVアニメーション｢黒執事｣ Black Record: スクウェア・エニックス: 本" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  27. ^ "黒執事アンソロジーコミック 虹執事 (Gファンタジーコミックス): スクウェア・エニックス: 本" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  28. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, December 18–24". Anime News Network. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  29. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, June 3–9". Anime News Network. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  30. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, September 16–22". Anime News Network. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  31. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, September 23–29". Anime News Network. 2008-10-01. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  32. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, September 30–October 6". Anime News Network. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  33. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, January 27-February 2". Anime News Network. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  34. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, February 3–9 (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  35. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, February 10–16". Anime News Network. 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  36. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, June 22–28". Anime News Network. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  37. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, June 29-July 5". Anime News Network. 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  38. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, July 6-July 12 (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  39. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, July 13-July 19". Anime News Network. 2009-07-22. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  40. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, March 31-April 6". Anime News Network. 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  41. ^ "2008's Top-Selling Manga in Japan, #26-50". Anime News Network. 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  42. ^ "Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 1st Half of 2009 (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  43. ^ "Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Series: 1st Half of 2009 (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  44. ^ "Survey: K-ON's Mio, Reborn's Hibari are #1 Bride, Groom". Anime News Network. 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2009-07-17.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Black Butler.
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