How to watch

Black Butler Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Black Butler anime series and movie in order

Last updated: September 29 2026

Written by: ChronoBob

Black Butler follows young Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his impossibly capable demon butler, Sebastian, through the dark underbelly of Victorian London. With several seasons and OVAs, the watch order can be tricky, so here is how to follow it.

Black Butler mixes gothic mystery, dark comedy, and supernatural intrigue as Ciel Phantomhive uses his hellish butler to serve the Queen and hunt his enemies. Adapted from Yana Toboso's manga, the anime has a slightly winding history: the first two seasons take liberties with the source, while later entries return to the manga's canon arcs.

πŸ• Release Order

Release order shows how the adaptation evolved over time, from anime-original stories to faithful manga arcs.

  1. Black Butler Season 1 (2008)
  2. Black Butler II (2010)
  3. Black Butler: Book of Circus (2014)
  4. Black Butler: Book of Murder (2014)
  5. Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic (2017)
  6. Black Butler: Public School Arc (2024)

Seasons 1 and 2 include anime-original storylines, while Book of Circus onward adapts the manga faithfully β€” an important distinction for how you approach the series.

πŸ“– Story Chronology

For a manga-faithful experience, the canon arcs run in this order, using Season 1's early episodes for the setup and skipping the anime-original detours.

  1. Black Butler Season 1 (2008) β€” for introductions
  2. Black Butler: Book of Circus (2014)
  3. Black Butler: Book of Murder (2014)
  4. Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic (2017)
  5. Black Butler: Public School Arc (2024)

Which Order Should You Choose?

If you want the full experience, watch in release order and enjoy Seasons 1 and 2 for their standalone charm. If you prefer to follow the manga's canon, watch Season 1 for the character introductions, then jump to Book of Circus, Book of Murder, Book of the Atlantic, and the Public School Arc in that order. Either path works β€” it just depends on whether you value the anime-original arcs or a book-accurate story.

πŸ”— Related Guides

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