News

Funimation Adds Black Butler: Book of Murder Original Video Anime

Funimation announced on August 8 that it licensed the Black Butler: Book of Murder original video anime for home video, digital, and broadcast.

Funimation describes the story:

At the Queen's behest, young master Ciel Phantomhive hosts a lavish banquet to be attended by the crème-de-la-crème of London's elite. What begins as a fabulous affair quickly takes a dark turn when guests begin turning up dead! Murder takes center stage in this chilling OVA collection where even a debonair demon butler isn't safe from a killer on the prowl. Should Sebastian and Ciel wish to once more see the light of day, they must join forces with their guests, including the legendary author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to unravel the mystery – and apprehend the murderer before it's too late!

The OVA will be screened in Japanese movie theaters this fall. Funimation is streaming a subtitled promotional video for the OVA.

The cast includes::

Daisuke Ono as Sebastian Michaelis
Maaya Sakamoto as Ciel Phantomhive
Hiroki Touchi as Baldroy
Yuuki Kaji as Finnian
Emiri Katō as Mey-Rin
Shunji Fujimura as Mr. Tanaka
Shinnosuke Tachibana as Soma Asman Kadar
Hiroki Yasumoto as Agni
Koji Yusa as Lau
Sayuri Yahagi as Ran-Mao
Ryohei Kimura as Charles Grey
Tomoaki Maeno as Charles Phips
Shintarō Asanuma as Arthur

In addition, the staff list has been posted:

Director: Noriyuki Abe
Series Composition: Hiroyuki Yoshino
Character Design: Minako Shiba
Music: Yasunori Mitsuda
Animation Production: A-1 Pictures

The manga debuted in Square Enix's Monthly G Fantasy magazine in 2006, and its 17 volumes thus far have nearly 18 million copies in print, including those published in 42 countries and territories. The manga already inspired a television anime series in 2008 and a stage play in 2009. A second television series followed in 2010 with a new butler and master. The manga won the top prize in the shōnen manga category of France's Japan Expo Awards in 2010 and the Best International Manga Award in Germany's ANImagic in 2011.

Funimation is currently streaming the Black Butler: Book of Circus television anime as it airs in Japan.

Thanks to Rukiia for the news tip