Black Butler

Overview

Black Butler is a dark fantasy anime that premiered on October 2, 2008. Set in Victorian London, it follows 12-year-old Ciel Phantomhive, the young head of the Phantomhive household and the Queen’s guard dog, who takes on the crown’s darkest cases while hunting the people who destroyed his family. At his side stands Sebastian Michaelis, a demon butler of flawless manners and terrifying power, bound to Ciel by a contract struck on the night Ciel turned ten: Sebastian will serve until Ciel’s revenge is complete, and then he will claim Ciel’s soul.

Across five seasons the story moves from the Phantomhive estate’s early cases to the rival butler Claude Faustus in Black Butler II, the travelling Noah’s Ark Circus in Book of Circus, the elite Weston College in the Public School Arc, and a cursed forest in Germany in the Emerald Witch Arc. Gothic mystery and dark comedy run side by side, carried by the Phantomhive household staff — Mey-Rin, Finny, Bardroy and Tanaka — and the flamboyant reaper Grell Sutcliff.

Quick facts

• Year: 2008
• Type: Series
• Genres: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 70
• Episode length: About 24 minutes
• Status: Ended

Watch the Trailer

Where to Watch

Stream the series in India on Crunchyroll:

Frequently asked questions

What is Black Butler about? It is a dark fantasy set in Victorian London about Ciel Phantomhive, the 12-year-old head of the Phantomhive household, and his demon butler Sebastian Michaelis. Bound by a contract, Sebastian serves Ciel until his revenge is complete, at which point he will claim Ciel’s soul.

How many seasons and episodes does Black Butler have? The series has 5 seasons and 70 episodes: Season 1 with 24 episodes (2008), Black Butler II with 12 (2010), Book of Circus with 10 (2014), the Public School Arc with 11 (2024), and the Emerald Witch Arc with 13 (2025).

Who are the main characters? The story centers on Ciel Phantomhive (voiced by Maaya Sakamoto) and Sebastian Michaelis (voiced by Daisuke Ono), alongside Elizabeth Midford (Yukari Tamura), the reaper Grell Sutcliff (Jun Fukuyama), the Undertaker (Junichi Suwabe), and the Phantomhive household staff Mey-Rin, Finny, Bardroy and Tanaka.

Where can I watch Black Butler in India? It streams in India on Crunchyroll, and it is also listed on the Crunchyroll Amazon Channel and Sony Liv.