If you’ve been following the most recent season of “Black Butler” on Crunchyroll, then you’re in for a treat! We got to sit down with voice actors Brina Palencia (Ciel Phantomhive) and J. Michael Tatum (Sebastian) to talk about “The Public School Arc.”
We asked the tough questions like, “Do you think Ciel will ever get taller?” All jokes aside, we had a great time chatting with these two anime icons, and we thank Crunchyroll for connecting us with them. One part I particularly liked was how real Brina got with me. (Pay attention to the part where she talks about how she relates to Ciel!)
About “Black Butler“
“Black Butler” is a popular Japanese manga series, both penned and illustrated by the incredibly talented Yana Toboso. The series is known for its unique blend of mystery, supernatural elements, dark comedy, and Victorian-era aesthetics. It was first published by Square Enix as a feature in their monthly shōnen manga magazine, “Monthly GFantasy” .They started running it in September 2006.
The storyline of “Black Butler” revolves around the bold and enterprising Ciel Phantomhive, a 12-year-old Earl of Phantomhive. Ciel is not just a young noble; he also serves as the Queen’s Watchdog, a role necessitating him to take on the ominous task of solving grisly crimes and dealing with criminal activities in the dark underbelly of Victorian-era London. This era, defined by its strict societal norms and the expansion of the British Empire, forms a dramatic backdrop to the unfolding of the series’ thrilling events.
In his pursuit of justice and revenge, Ciel forms an unlikely contract with a demon known as Sebastian Michaelis. Sebastian, disguises himself as Ciel’s butler, effortlessly blending into the household. As part of their contract, Sebastian is responsible for protecting Ciel, assisting in his various duties and helping him avenge the cruel fate that befell his family. In the past, horrible individuals tortured Ciel and brutally murdered his parents, events that left him scarred and fueled his desire for revenge.
In 2008, the anime was released, broadening the reach of the story and capturing the attention of more fans. A 24-episode anime television series was adapted, produced by A-1 Pictures, and was broadcast from October 2008 to March 2009. The popularity of the series led to a second season, consisting of 12 episodes, which aired from July to September 2010. This season introduced two new main characters and offered an anime-original narrative that deviated from the manga content. In 2014, another series, named “Black Butler: Book of Circus,” was aired from July to September. That same year, a two-part theatrical original video animation (OVA), “Black Butler: Book of Murder,” was screened in Japanese cinemas in October and November. The following year, a live-action version of the anime was released as a film in Japan in January. Animated film “Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic” also premiered in January 2017.
After an enormous 7 year gap a fourth anime season, “Black Butler: Public School Arc,” produced by CloverWorks, aired in April 2024.
About “Black Butler: Public School Arc”
The son of Queen Victoria’s cousin is refusing to write or return home. To find out what caused this sudden change in behavior in Derrick Arden, Ciel enrolls in Weston College, the United Kingdom’s most prestigious public school and a school full of ghastly secrets. With Ciel registered as a student he tries his best to get invited to the Midnight Tea which is an event hosted by the prefects and the elusive headmaster. Sebastian gained a position in the school as a leader of Blue house where Ciel was sorted into. It’s a wild story thus far with lots of twists, turns and revelations. And we get to see a side of Ciel we’ve never seen before as he brushes up on his public acting, pretending that Sebastian is not his butler and just an acquaintance at the school.
“Black Butler: Public School Arc” airs on Crunchyroll every Saturday at 11am CST(9am PST). Don’t miss the new episodes as they come out, it’s nearing the end and it’s getting really good.
