Ten years later, fans of the dark supernatural manga Black Butler have reason to rejoice. Black Butler is coming back to anime in 2024 with a brand new Season 4 titled “Black Butler: Public School Arc”!
Based on the manga by Yana Toboso about the famous demon butler Sebastian Michaelis and his apprentice Ciel Phantomhive, the 2008–2010 series is a loose adaptation of the book. This was followed by an OVA, a feature film, and later anime projects.
But it been 10 years since we last saw a full TV series starring Sebastian and Ciel. Thankfully, that is about to change with Black Butler Season 4 premiering in April 2024!
Season 4 Release Date
Black Butler-Public School Arc is set to premiere in April 2024 as part of the Spring anime season lineup. The show will solely air on Crunchyroll.
Episode Count and Runtime
According to home video listings in Japan, Black Butler Season 4 will consist of 11 episodes running approximately 24 minutes each.
That means this new season will cover a single course, airing weekly from April through late June 2024, before the summer slate kicks in.
The Production Team
While Black Butler, Public School Arc, reunites the iconic cast, the production staff is a mix of new and familiar faces:
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- Director: Kenjiro Okada (The Case Study of Vanitas)
- Writer: Hiroyuki Yoshino (Black Butler movies, Golden Kamuy)
- Character Designer: Yumi Shimizu
- Music: Ryo Kawasaki
- Studio: CloverWorks, located in Tokyo’s 24th Ward (The Promised Neverland).
The Story of Black Butler Season 4
The “Public School Arc” takes place after the events of the previous manga and anime adaptations. Aniplex teases the premise:
“Butler Sebastian Michaelis works with his 13-year-old master, the earl Ciel Phantomhive, to do the dirty work of ‘the Queen’s guard do’ in 19th century England’s underworld.
One day, Ciel receives a letter from Queen Victoria about several students disappearing from the prestigious Weston College, including a relative of hers named Derrick. So Ciel and Sebastian infiltrate the school to investigate.”
In other words, expect more of the same deliciously dark and thrilling mysteries that made Black Butler a hit! Mystery, action, the supernatural, and, of course, butlers—it’s all coming back in season 4.
The Voice Cast Returns
While most of the production crew is new, Black Butler’s iconic English voice cast is reprising their roles:
- Daisuke Ono as Sebastian Michaelis
- Maaya Sakamoto as Ciel Phantomhive
Fans can breathe a sigh of relief that Sebastian and Ciel will sound just as they remember.
The Opening and Ending Themes
The premiere episode already unveiled Black Butler’s new opening and ending theme songs:
Opening: “Fanatic Parade – The Parade of Battlers” by Otoha
Ending: “Shokuzai” by SID
Both new tracks perfectly capture the elegant yet haunting vibe of the Black Butler series. The music video animation is also exceptionally stylish.
How to Watch and Stream
As mentioned, Black Butler Season 4 is a Crunchyroll exclusive stream for the 2024 spring season.
However, viewers can easily catch up on previous Black Butler seasons and movies – all available for streaming right now on Crunchyroll. This includes:
- Season 1 of Black Butler (2008)
- Season 2 of Black Butler (2010)
- Black Butler’s 2014 book, Book of Circus
- 2014’s Black Butler: Book of Murder
- Book of the Atlantic: Black Butler (2017)
Never was it easier to watch or experience Black Butler for the first time!
The Long Wait is Over
It’s been way too long since Black Butler wrapped its tail around us. The anime has finally returned to fans after years of waiting.
Yes, 11 episodes may seem like a lot. But this is only the beginning of Black Butler’s deserved return. Yana Toboso’s original manga continues on without end, providing animators with plenty of source material to work from.
If Black Butler-Public School Arc is any hit, this first episode could open the door to many more seasons to come. For now, viewers should cherish every second of Ciel and Sebastian’s animated return when it premieres in April 2024!
