Kuroshitsuji

] The series follows Sebastian Michaelis, butler of the twelve-year-old head of an English noble family Ciel Phantomhive, who carries out all of his master's tasks with ease, due to his secret demonic lineage and a contract. 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.cite web| title =Kuroshitsuji Anime Confirmed to Premiere this Fall| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-11/kuroshitsuji-anime-confirmed-to-premiere-this-fall|publisher=Anime News Network| accessdate = 2008-08-25 ] [cite web| title =TVアニメーション　黒執事| url=http://www.kuroshitsuji.tv/|publisher=Aniplex| accessdate = 2008-08-25 ] [cite web| title = 黒執事 :: 作品紹介 :: A-1 Pictures|url=http://www.a1p.jp/works/works_kuroshitsuji.html|publisher=A-1 Pictures | accessdate = 2008-08-28 ]

Plot

Outside Victorian-era London, butler Sebastian Michaelis serves the twelve-year-old head of an English noble family Ciel Phantomhive. He carries out any task required from his master with ease and perfection because of his secret demonic lineage and a contract with his master.

Characters

nihongo|Sebastian Michaelis|セバスチャン・ミカエリス|Sebasuchan Mikaerisu is the butler of the Phantomhive household and Ciel's bodyguard, two jobs he is completely devoted to. He often describes himself with a pun which reads as "a butler and a demon". He is highly skilled in any area and handles any task as well as any problem that arises from the errors of the other staff with ease. This is due to the fact he is a demon bound by a "contract" to abide by Ciel's will. A sign similar to the one marking Ciel's right eye can be found on his left hand, which has been used on one occasion to twist the arm of a kidnapper without touching him. Ironically, he has a soft spot for cats, and has one that he visits during stressful times.Anime voices2|He|Daisuke Ono in the anime adaption and Toshiyuki Morikawa on the drama CD [ cite web| title =Ono Daisuke| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=14929|publisher=Anime News Network| accessdate = 2008-08-25 ] cite web| title =Amazon.co.jp: 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| url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9ECD-%E9%BB%92%E5%9F%B7%E4%BA%8B-%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A1%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A2%E3%83%AB%E3%83%90%E3%83%A0/dp/B000RG1362/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1220306941&sr=8-8|publisher=Amazon.com| accessdate = 2008-09-01 ] His name is similar to that of Father Sebastien Michaelis, who compiled a hierarchy of demons in Hell.

nihongo|Ciel Phantomhive|シエル・ファントムハイヴ|Shieru Fantomuhaivu is the business-savvy, twelve-year-old head of the English Phantomhive noble family, taking over after the deaths of his parents. He also runs a company that manufactures toys and sweets. His right eye, which is always covered, bears the "sign of contract" which binds the demon Sebastian Michaelis to his will.

Anime voices2|He|Maaya Sakamoto in the anime adaption and Miyuki Sawashiro on the drama CD [cite web| title =Sakamoto Maaya| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=527|publisher=Anime News Network| accessdate = 2008-08-25 ]

nihongo|Bard|バルドロイ|Barudoroi is the household cook, who almost always seems to have a (unlit) cigarette in his mouth. However, he rarely produces anything edible as he uses weaponry such as flamethrowers to cook. Sebastian believes anything he creates is "at least 80% charcoal". Anime voices2|He|Hiroki Tōchi in the anime adaption and Rikiya Koyama on the drama CD [cite web| title =Touchi Hiroki| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=20365|publisher=Anime News Network| accessdate = 2008-08-28 ]

nihongo|Finian|フィニアン is the Phantomhive gardener, but it seems every time he tends to the garden it is killed through an accident caused by his clumsiness. Sebastian views him as an idiot. Anime voices2|He|Yūki Kaji in the anime adaption and Motoki Takagi on the drama CD [cite web| title =Kaji Yuuki| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=58051|publisher=Anime News Network| accessdate = 2008-08-28 ]

nihongo|Meirin|メイリン is a clumsy, bespectacled maid; the fact that her glasses are always cracked certainly does nothing to improve this. She seems to have a crush on Sebastian as she is even clumsier when Sebastian is watching. Anime voices2|She|Emiri Katō in the anime adaption and Fumiko Orikasa on the drama CD [cite web| title =Emiri Katou| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=28606|publisher=Anime News Network| accessdate = 2008-08-28 ]

nihongo|Tanaka|タナカ is the house steward, but he rarely does any work; he is also the shortest of the servants. He is usually seen drinking tea. Anime voices2|He|Shunji Fujimura in the anime adaption and Mugihito on the drama CDcite web| title =Kuroshitsuji (TV)| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10160|publisher=Anime News Network| accessdate = 2008-08-28 ]

nihongo|Elizabeth Middleford|エリザベス・ミッドフォード|Erizabesu Middofōdo, the daughter of Marquis Francis Middleford, she is Ciel's fiancée. She and Ciel grew up together. Anime voices2|She|Yukari Tamura in the anime adaption and Chiwa Saitō on the drama CD [cite web| title =Tamura Yukari| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=524|publisher=Anime News Network| accessdate = 2008-08-28 ]

Media

Manga

Written and drawn by Toboso Yana, the chapters of "Kuroshitsuji" have been serialized in the shōnen manga magazine "Monthly GFantasy" since its debut on September 16, 2006. The chapters are also published in collected volumes by Square Enix. The first volume was released on February 27, 2007 and as of September 18, 2008, five volumes have been released. [cite web| title =Amazon.co.jp： 黒執事 4 (Gファンタジーコミックス): 枢 やな: 本| url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E9%BB%92%E5%9F%B7%E4%BA%8B-1-G%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B8%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B3%E3%83%9F%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9-%E6%9E%A2-%E3%82%84%E3%81%AA/dp/475751963X/ref=pd_sim_b_7|publisher=Amazon.com| accessdate = 2008-08-28 ] [cite web| title =Amazon.co.jp： 黒執事 1 (1) (Gファンタジーコミックス): 枢 やな: 本| url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/switch-language/product/4757522916/ref=dp_change_lang?ie=UTF8&language=ja_JP|publisher=Amazon.com| accessdate = 2008-08-28 ]

Anime

In July 2008, it was announced that an anime adaption, directed by Shinohara Toshiya, was expected. It premeired in October 2008 and broadcasts on the Tokyo Broadcasting System as well as the Mainichi Broadcasting System.

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.

Reception

During the week of December 18, 2007, the third volume placed third on a ranking of the manga sales in Japan that week. [cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-27/japanese-comic-ranking-december-18-24|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, December 18-25|date=2007-12-27|accessdate=2008-08-28] Later, during the week of June 3, 2008, the fourth volume ranked ninth. [cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-06-12/japanese-comic-ranking-may-29-june-4|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, June 3-9|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-08-28]

References

External links

* [http://www.square-enix.co.jp/magazine/gfantasy/story/kuroshitsuji/ Square Enix's official website ]
* [http://www.kuroshitsuji.tv/ Official "Kuroshitsuji" anime website]
*ann manga|id=10154
*ann anime|id=10160