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Season guide

Black Butler: Season 1

24 episodes Premiered Oct 2, 2008 Updated Jul 20, 2026

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

Season overview

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.

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Episodes

S1·E1

His Butler, Able

Oct 2, 2008 · 24 min

The Phantomhive estate bustles with preparations for an important meeting between the Young Master and a slithering captain of industry. The maid, the gardener, and the cook are fo

S1·E2

His Butler, Strongest

Oct 9, 2008 · 24 min

Plans to suppress an uprising of the vermin variety are put on hold when the Young Master is abducted. The Butler is obligated to act decisively in such matters, and no one sets th

S1·E3

His Butler, Omnipotent

Oct 16, 2008 · 24 min

When the Young Master’s fiancée drops by for an unannounced visit, the Phantomhive Estate experiences a sickening outbreak of “cuteness.” Meanwhile, the Butler has his hands full w

S1·E4

His Butler, Capricious

Oct 23, 2008 · 24 min

The Young Master dons an evening gown to apprehend a monster who’s been butchering women of the night, but if his talent for cross-dressing is discovered, the Phantomhive name will

S1·E5

His Butler, Chance Encounter

Oct 30, 2008 · 24 min

The Butler and his Young Master scour the seedy back alleys of London in search of an infamous butcher. Imagine their surprise upon discovering that the ripper may actually be a re

S1·E6

His Butler, at the Funeral

Nov 6, 2008 · 24 min

Sebastian continues his gruesome battle with the rogue reaper, and the Young Master takes special care to ensure that his beloved aunt is buried in the proper colors.

S1·E7

His Butler, Merrymaking

Nov 13, 2008 · 24 min

At the behest of the Queen, the Young Master and his underlings travel to a dreary land supposedly haunted by a demon dog. This new mission makes the Butler uneasy, but he’s always

S1·E8

His Butler, Training

Nov 20, 2008 · 24 min

The Butler puts on an exhibition in the art of training demonic canines to shake, roll over, and refrain from terrorizing gloomy villages. Meanwhile, the Gardener gets his first, p

S1·E9

His Butler, Phantom Image

Nov 27, 2008 · 24 min

The Young Master’s latest acquisition is a haunted camera which can photograph beings not of this world. Calamites are sure to follow when the servants set out to snap a shot of th

S1·E10

His Butler, on Ice

Dec 4, 2008 · 24 min

Already a man of many talents, the Butler adds ice sculpting to his repertoire in an attempt to acquire a priceless-but-cursed gem for his Young Master.

S1·E11

His Butler, However You Please

Dec 11, 2008 · 24 min

When his betrothed is abducted by a deranged doll maker, the Young Master travels to London to investigate. Little does he know, the search will be complicated by a lovesick reaper

S1·E12

His Butler, Forlorn

Dec 18, 2008 · 24 min

The Master’s birthday approaches, but rescuing Elizabeth is of far greater importance than celebrating. A vile puppeteer is terrorizing London, and only the Butler can cut down his

S1·E13

His Butler, Freeloader

Dec 25, 2008 · 24 min

A postcolonial conflict boils over when an Indian prince visits the Phantomhive estate. Later, the Butler’s prowess with a blade is unexpectedly matched by his foreign counterpart.

S1·E14

His Butler, Supremely Talented

Jan 15, 2009 · 24 min

Prince Soma has been betrayed by his manservant, and the Butler must put his hellish talents to the test in a curry-cooking competition against the blessed right hand of an Indian

S1·E15

His Butler, Competing

Jan 22, 2009 · 24 min

The Queen is on hand as the Butler wages culinary warfare against Prince Soma’s royal servant. The competition reaches an unprecedented level of ferocity when someone’s secret ingr

S1·E16

His Butler, in an Isolated Castle

Jan 29, 2009 · 24 min

When the Young Master is defeated in a supernatural chess match, he must surrender his most prized possession to a ghostly prince. Locating a very old and very specific skull is th

S1·E17

His Butler, Offering

Feb 5, 2009 · 24 min

The Queen orders young Master Phantomhive to investigate reports of a cult that promises to “purify” its unclean members. The mission is complicated by the appearance of a familiar

S1·E18

His Butler, Transmitted

Feb 13, 2009 · 24 min

An angel abducts Ciel and attempts to rewrite his unhappy memories of the past. The Butler is powerless to assist, but fortunately, the Young Master has an unhealthy attachment to

S1·E19

His Butler, Imprisoned

Feb 20, 2009 · 24 min

There’s a potent new drug plaguing the backstreets of London, and it’s being sold in stolen Phantomhive candy wrappers. The Young Master is being set up, but what manner of man wan

S1·E20

His Butler, Escaping

Feb 27, 2009 · 24 min

While the Young Master continues his investigation into the opium-filled, counterfeit candy wrappers, the Butler is chained and tortured in the Tower of London.

S1·E21

His Butler, Engaging Servants

Mar 6, 2009 · 24 min

A series of flashbacks reveals the secret pasts - and hidden talents - of the Phantomhive staff. While the servants go about their daily duties, the Young Master gives a chess less

S1·E22

His Butler, Dissolution

Mar 13, 2009 · 24 min

The Young Master’s journey to Paris leads to another showdown with the Queen’s angelic butler and a painful parting of the ways with someone dear to his heart. Can Ciel survive wit

S1·E23

His Butler, Up in Flames

Mar 20, 2009 · 24 min

The Young Master arrives in London only to find the city engulfed by flames. After an ominous warning from the undertaker, Ciel attempts to visit the queen, but he’s shocked by his

S1·E24

His Butler, Fluent

Mar 27, 2009 · 24 min

Having regained the services of his Butler, the Young Master issues a chilling order to kill. Sebastian is eager to please, but this task will require a revelation of his true natu