---
title: "Black Butler"
year: 2008
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/black-butler-2008"
media_type: "tv"
tmdb_id: 50712
imdb_id: "tt1316554"
status: "Ended"
seasons_count: 5
episodes_count: 70
runtime_minutes: 24
community_rating: 7.7
vote_count: 275
content_rating: "TV-MA"
---

# Black Butler (2008) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/black-butler-2008

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

The television series Black Butler is set in Victorian London and follows the story of a young business magnate. The series features a character named Ciel Phantomhive, who is aided by his loyal butler, Sebastian Michaelis. Sebastian is described as having seemingly inhuman abilities, and his true nature is hinted at as being more than meets the eye. The series is based on a manga series of the same name by Yana Toboso, which was adapted into an anime television series. The anime series has been released in multiple formats, including DVDs and streaming platforms, and can be found on various websites. The series has also been adapted into multiple seasons, movies, and OVAs, with the main anime series airing from 2008 to 2010. The series features the voices of several actors, including J. Michael Tatum and Brina Palencia.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "A young business magnate solves unsettling mysteries in Victorian England with a demon butler by his side."

### Why Watch
- engaging supernatural premise
- atmospheric setting

### Caveats & Content Note
- features unsettling events
- Tone & Suitability: The series contains themes of grief and unsettling events.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: dark, supernatural, mysterious, historical

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | Hulu, Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel | None | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel | None | Apple TV Store |
| **Canada (CA)** | Crunchyroll Amazon Channel, Crunchyroll | None | Apple TV Store |
| **Australia (AU)** | Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel | None | Apple TV Store |

## Season Architecture & Lore Primers

### Season 1 (24 Episodes)
Black Butler is an animated television series set in Victorian-era London. The narrative centers on Ciel Phantomhive, a twelve-year-old business magnate who serves as the Queen of England’s guard dog. Following the death of his parents and the destruction of his family manor in a fire on his tenth birthday, Ciel enters into a pact with a demon who assumes the identity of a butler named Sebastian Michaelis. Under the terms of this agreement, Sebastian serves and protects Ciel in exchange for the boy's soul upon the completion of his quest for revenge. After being reported missing for one month, Ciel returns to lead the Phantomhive corporation while simultaneously investigating the murders of his parents. The series, which began its run in 2008, incorporates elements of comedy, drama, mystery, and fantasy. Throughout the story, Sebastian remains at Ciel's side as he manages business affairs and navigates the various dangers associated with his duties to the Queen. The production is categorized as an animated series and is noted for its exploration of the relationship between the young head of the Phantomhive household and his demonic servant.

## Filler vs. Essential Episode Classifier

- **Total Tracked Episodes**: 70
- **Crucial Mytharc Episodes**: 7 (10%)
- **Character Core Episodes**: 63 (90%)
- **Side Quest / Filler Episodes**: 0 (0%)

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Daisuke Ono** as *Sebastian Michaelis (voice)*
- **Maaya Sakamoto** as *Ciel Phantomhive (voice)*
- **Yukari Tamura** as *Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford (voice)*
- **Hisayoshi Suganuma** as *Fred Aberline (voice)*
- **Jun Fukuyama** as *Grell Sutcliff (voice)*
- **Junichi Suwabe** as *Undertaker (voice)*
- **Yuki Kaji** as *Finny (voice)*
- **Koji Yusa** as *Lau (voice)*
- **Emiri Kato** as *Mey-Rin (voice)*
- **Shunji Fujimura** as *Tanaka (voice)*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Who is Ciel Phantomhive?
Ciel Phantomhive is a 12-year-old business magnate living in Victorian England.

### Q: Who is Sebastian?
Sebastian is a loyal butler with seemingly inhuman, devilish abilities.

### Q: What is the setting of the show?
The series takes place in Victorian London and England.

### Q: What is Ciel's goal?
Ciel seeks to track down and punish the individuals responsible for the murder of his parents.

### Q: What does the butler do?
Sebastian watches over Ciel and aids him in thwarting dangers to the queen.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Black Butler (TV Series 2008-2011) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1316554)
- [Black Butler (TV Series 2008-2025) — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/50712)
- [List of Black Butler episodes - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Black_Butler_episodes)
- [Black Butler (2008-2025) - Where to Watch | Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/black-butler/xUQhjdCUbs7l98aebUaFp4/where-to-watch/)
- [All 3 Seasons, Movies & OVAs of 'Black Butler' in Order: Here's What to ...](https://fictionhorizon.com/black-butler-watch-order/)
- [Where to Watch Black Butler (2008) TV Show Online - Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/show/black-butler)

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*