Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) Toboso Yana Images

Author & Illustration (Manga, Original character design): Toboso Yana
Illustration (Anime): Shiba Minako

Animation Production: A-1 Pictures




Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus PV

General Information

Black Butler or more commonly known as “Kuroshitsuji” is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yana Tobosco.
Kuroshitsuji falls under the themes of historical, black comedy and dark fantasy down to the letter. It began serialization under Square Enix’s Monthly GFantasy since September 2006 which still continues today with 19 volumes published so far.
Toshiya Shinoahara, the same man behind Lupin III, Red Data Girl, The Boy Who Saw the Wind, is working hand-in-hand with A-1 Pictures on the anime adaptation of Kuroshitsuji.
Kuroshitsuji is scheduled to premiere last October 2008 across several Japanese television networks including MBS, BBS and Animax. Kuroshitsuji painstakingly ended with 24 bone-chilling episodes last March 2009 with an additional original video animation correlated to the story.

Plot:

"Set in Victorian-era London, Ciel Phantomhive is the young earl and the current head of the illustrious Phantomhive Corporation, known for manufacturing toys and sweets, at a mere thirteen-years old.
On the eve of his tenth birthday, fire engulfed his manor house, his parents murdered and kidnapped by a mysterious organization.
After months of excruciating torture at the hands of his captors, Ciel retunrs to the Phantomhive household together with an enigmatic black-clad butler calling himself as Sebastian Michealis.
At first glance, Sebastian may appear to be your average top-notch butler, anticipating his master’s needs and carrying them out to the best of his abilities.
Little do they know, Sebastian is actually a demon that has made a contract with Ciel, promising to help the boy achieve revenge for those who have wronged him and his family in exchange for his soul.
As the head of the Phantomhive household, Ciel is now left to handle all business affairs and working for the Queen of England as the lone living heir of one of the noble families in England.
Ciel solves crimes plaguing London all the while looking for clues to his parent’s murder waiting for the day he will exact his revenge. "

UPDATE:

Last July 2010, the second season of Black Butler premiered Japanese television networks including TBS, CBC and Animax. It was directed Hirofumi Ogura under A-1 Pictures with 12 bone-chilling episodes with an additional 6 original video animations (OVAs).
A third season has recently been released on July 2014 entitled “Black Butler: Book of Circus”. There are 10 undeniably awesome episodes which shortly ended on September 2014.
A-1 Pictures have also announced that Noriyuki Abe, the man who directed several anime shows including the third season of Black Butler, will be directing the fourth season of Black Butler entitled “Black Butler: Book of Murder” which is scheduled to premiere Fall of 2014.


Other similar titles to Black Butler include Chrono Crusade, Hellsing Ultimate, Pandora Hearts, Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro and Zero no Tsukaima may fit the description to the letter. In all of them, you’d find the hero/heroine making a contract with a demon/supernatural beings in hopes of achieving their goals in exchange for their life or their souls.


source: Zerochan; written by carllustre87