Black Butler watch order
In Victorian London, 12-year-old Earl Ciel Phantomhive runs a toy company and investigates crimes for the Queen, served by Sebastian, a butler who is really a demon bound to him by a contract for his soul. Yana Toboso's manga has been adapted since 2008, first with an anime-only ending and later, from Book of Circus on, faithfully.
First time? Watch Season 1 episodes 1–15, then Book of Circus, Book of Murder, Book of the Atlantic, the Public School Arc and the Emerald Witch Arc. Season 1's second half and Black Butler II are an optional anime-only ending.
First-timer order
The manga story first, then Season 1's anime-only ending and Black Butler II at the end, if you want them. Watched this way, nothing contradicts what came before. Skip Season 1 episodes 7–12 too if you only want manga material.
- Black Butler (episodes 1–15)
Ciel and Sebastian's early cases. Episodes 1–6 adapt the opening chapters and the Jack the Ripper case with Madam Red, 7–12 are anime-original cases, and 13–15 adapt the Curry arc with Prince Soma and Agni. Book of Circus continues from here.
- Black Butler: Book of Circus
Restarts the manga story where Season 1 left it after the Curry arc: Ciel and Sebastian join the Noah's Ark Circus to find missing children. Episode 1 is an anime-original lead-in; the rest adapts manga volumes 6–8.
- Black Butler: Book of Murder
Two hour-long episodes, shown in Japanese cinemas, adapting the Phantomhive Manor murder mystery that follows the circus arc in the manga. Not filler: it introduces characters who matter later.
- Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic
A 100-minute film adapting the luxury liner arc aboard the Campania, where a cult is bringing the dead back to life. It follows Book of Murder and leads straight into the Public School Arc.
- Black Butler: Public School Arc
Ten years after Book of Circus, a new studio (CloverWorks) adapts the Weston College arc: Ciel enrolls at an elite boarding school to find out what happened to missing students. Its last scene opens the next arc.
- Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc
Continues directly from the Public School Arc. Ciel and Sebastian travel to a German village where a cursed forest is said to be ruled by a witch and guarded by a werewolf. The newest season.
- Black Butler (episodes 16–24) (optional)
The anime-only ending. The season leaves the manga for good and builds to an original conspiracy and the end of Ciel's revenge. Book of Circus and everything after it ignore these episodes.
- Black Butler II (optional)
Optional. A fully anime-original sequel to Season 1's anime ending, introducing a rival master and butler, Alois Trancy and Claude Faustus. None of it is in the manga, and the later seasons don't count it.
Story order
The manga's story line, which is what the anime has followed since 2014. Season 1's second half, Black Butler II and the OVAs are a separate anime-only ending, so they aren't part of this order.
- Black Butler (episodes 1–15)
Ciel and Sebastian's early cases. Episodes 1–6 adapt the opening chapters and the Jack the Ripper case with Madam Red, 7–12 are anime-original cases, and 13–15 adapt the Curry arc with Prince Soma and Agni. Book of Circus continues from here.
- Black Butler: Book of Circus
Restarts the manga story where Season 1 left it after the Curry arc: Ciel and Sebastian join the Noah's Ark Circus to find missing children. Episode 1 is an anime-original lead-in; the rest adapts manga volumes 6–8.
- Black Butler: Book of Murder
Two hour-long episodes, shown in Japanese cinemas, adapting the Phantomhive Manor murder mystery that follows the circus arc in the manga. Not filler: it introduces characters who matter later.
- Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic
A 100-minute film adapting the luxury liner arc aboard the Campania, where a cult is bringing the dead back to life. It follows Book of Murder and leads straight into the Public School Arc.
- Black Butler: Public School Arc
Ten years after Book of Circus, a new studio (CloverWorks) adapts the Weston College arc: Ciel enrolls at an elite boarding school to find out what happened to missing students. Its last scene opens the next arc.
- Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc
Continues directly from the Public School Arc. Ciel and Sebastian travel to a German village where a cursed forest is said to be ruled by a witch and guarded by a werewolf. The newest season.
Release order
Watching in release order is fine too, but after Black Butler II the story jumps back: Book of Circus picks up after Season 1 episode 15 as if episodes 16–24 and Season 2 never happened.
- Black Butler (episodes 1–15)
Ciel and Sebastian's early cases. Episodes 1–6 adapt the opening chapters and the Jack the Ripper case with Madam Red, 7–12 are anime-original cases, and 13–15 adapt the Curry arc with Prince Soma and Agni. Book of Circus continues from here.
- Black Butler: Recap (optional)
Skippable. A recap of the first half of Season 1, narrated by the house steward Tanaka, that aired during the season's run.
- Black Butler (episodes 16–24) (optional)
The anime-only ending. The season leaves the manga for good and builds to an original conspiracy and the end of Ciel's revenge. Book of Circus and everything after it ignore these episodes.
- Black Butler: His Butler, On Stage (optional)
Skippable. A comedy episode from the Japanese DVDs in which the household stages a charity performance of Hamlet. Anime-original and set during Season 1's lighter days.
- Black Butler II (optional)
Optional. A fully anime-original sequel to Season 1's anime ending, introducing a rival master and butler, Alois Trancy and Claude Faustus. None of it is in the manga, and the later seasons don't count it.
- Black Butler II OVAs (optional)
Skippable. Six bonus episodes from the Japanese DVDs of Black Butler II: two Alice in Wonderland parodies (Ciel in Wonderland), a dating-sim style episode, a mockumentary, a story about the reaper William's training with Grell, and a Trancy household comedy.
- Black Butler: Book of Circus
Restarts the manga story where Season 1 left it after the Curry arc: Ciel and Sebastian join the Noah's Ark Circus to find missing children. Episode 1 is an anime-original lead-in; the rest adapts manga volumes 6–8.
- Black Butler: Book of Murder
Two hour-long episodes, shown in Japanese cinemas, adapting the Phantomhive Manor murder mystery that follows the circus arc in the manga. Not filler: it introduces characters who matter later.
- Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic
A 100-minute film adapting the luxury liner arc aboard the Campania, where a cult is bringing the dead back to life. It follows Book of Murder and leads straight into the Public School Arc.
- Black Butler: Public School Arc
Ten years after Book of Circus, a new studio (CloverWorks) adapts the Weston College arc: Ciel enrolls at an elite boarding school to find out what happened to missing students. Its last scene opens the next arc.
- Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc
Continues directly from the Public School Arc. Ciel and Sebastian travel to a German village where a cursed forest is said to be ruled by a witch and guarded by a werewolf. The newest season.
Explained
Which parts of Season 1 are canon?
Episodes 1–6 (the opening and the Jack the Ripper case) and 13–15 (the Curry arc) adapt the manga. Episodes 7–12 are anime-original cases, and from episode 16 the season tells its own story to an anime-only ending. Some guides call episode 1 filler too, but it's a good introduction, so watch it.
Do I need Black Butler II?
No. It's an anime-original sequel to Season 1's anime ending, with a new master and butler pair (Alois and Claude). Toboso's manga never had this story, and Book of Circus and every later season act as if it didn't happen. Watch it at the end if you're curious; many fans enjoy it on its own terms.
Where does Book of Circus pick up?
Right after Season 1 episode 15. In the manga the circus arc follows the Curry arc, which is where Season 1 stopped following the manga. Its first episode is an anime-original lead-in that goes over familiar ground before the arc starts.
Are Book of Murder and Book of the Atlantic skippable?
No. Despite being an OVA and a film, both adapt main manga arcs, and the Public School Arc assumes you've seen them. The skippable extras are the On Stage OVA, the six Black Butler II OVAs and the Season 1 recap.
Will there be a sixth season?
Nothing has been announced as of October 2026. The Emerald Witch Arc covers the manga up to about volume 22, and the manga is still running, so the next arc (the Blue Cult) is there to adapt.