| "So alike were they... Two peas in a pod, one a mirror image of the other." |
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| This article is about the anime adaptation. You may be looking for its manga basis, the Public School Arc. |
| "I could never have imagined that something so unreal could be true..." |
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| This article covers a subject that is not in-universe, meaning it does not constitute canon or plot material in the Kuroshitsuji series. |
| This article is not part of the Kuroshitsuji universe. |
Kuroshitsuji: Public School Arc (黒執事 寄宿学校編, Kuroshitsuji Kishuku Gakkō-hen)[1][2] is a Kuroshitsuji series and the fourth season of the Kuroshitsuji anime. It premiered on April 13,[3][4] 2024[5][6] and ran until June 22, 2024.
Plot[]
Butler Sebastian Michaelis works with his 13-year-old master, the Earl Ciel Phantomhive, to do the dirty work of "the Queen's Watchdog" in nineteenth century England's gritty underworld.
One day, Ciel receives a letter from Queen Victoria telling him that several students at Weston College, one of England's top public schools, have seemingly disappeared... including a relative of hers named Derrick. And so, Sebastian and Ciel infiltrate Weston College to get to the bottom of the matter. What truly happened to these students?[2]
Background[]
On July 3, 2023, it was announced at the Anime Expo that CloverWorks and Crunchyroll LLC will produce a continuation of the Kuroshitsuji anime. The new season is scheduled to air in 2024.[5][6] Daisuke Ono and Maaya Sakamoto will reprise their roles as Sebastian Michaelis and Ciel Phantomhive, respectively.[7]
On August 7, 2023, it was announced that new information would be given on September 10, 2023 during the Aniplex Online Fest 2023.[8][7] During the Online Fest, the season's official title, synopsis, and the character designs for the Prefect 4—Edgar Redmond, Lawrence Bluewer, Herman Greenhill, and Gregory Violet—were revealed, along with a new teaser and poster.[1][2]
On December 14, 2023, Ciel's birthday, his character poster was revealed, alongside the announcement that the anime would premiere in April 2024, broadcast by, i.a., Tokyo MX, Tochigi TV, Gunma TV, BS11, and MBS.[3]
On January 19, 2024, it was announced that Kuroshitsuji: Public School Arc will be featured on the Anime Japan 2024 Red Stage on March 24, 2024. Daisuke Ono will be present.[9]
On February 15, 2024, the voice actors for the Prefect 4 were announced with a new teaser video: Toshiki Watanabe will voice Edgar, Junya Enoki Lawrence, Shunsuke Takeuchi Herman, and Tatsumaru Tachibana Gregory.[4][10] The P4's voice actors will also be present at the Anime Japan 2024 Red Stage. Chiaki Matsuzawa will moderate the event.[11]
On March 6, 2024, a third key visual was released,[12] and more information for the Anime Japan stage was given.[13]
From March 19 to March 22, 2024, introduction videos for the P4 and their voice actors were released.[14][15][16][17] A special video with the P4 cast was released on March 29, 2024.[18]
During Kuroshitsuji's Anime Japan stage, the main trailer was revealed, along with the opening and ending themes and the Volume 34 cover.[19][20] The voice actors of McMillan, Cheslock, Clayton, Maurice Cole, and Johann Agares were formally announced shortly afterward.[21][22] At Anime Japan, the first episode of the season was shown early.[23]
On April 26, 2024, it was announced that the season's English dub will start airing from April 27 onward. The English voice actors for the new characters were revealed as well. Further, Brina Palencia and J. Michael Tatum will reprise their roles as Ciel and Sebastian respectively.[24]
On July 6, 2024, at a special panel at Anime Expo,[25] exclusive behind-the-scenes material from Kuroshitsuji: Public School Arc was shared,[26] and the fifth season, Kuroshitsuji: Emerald Witch Arc, was announced.[27]
Statistics[5][6][]
General[]
- Opening Theme: The Parade of Battlers by 音羽-otoha-[20]
- Ending Theme: Atonement by SID[20]
Staff[]
- Original: Yana Toboso
- Director: Kenjiro Okada
- Screenplay: Hiroyuki Yoshino
- Character Design: Yumi Shimizu
- Chief Animation Director: N/A
- Music: Ryo Kawasaki
Companies[]
- Animation Production: CloverWorks
- Distributor: Crunchyroll LLC
Home release[]
| # | Cover | Content | Limited bonus | Release date | Product no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[28] | 
|
Episode 1-2 | Special booklet Original Soundtrack CD Vol.1 Miniature Pop-up Collection Pt. 1 Special Event Priority Ticket (Daytime) |
June 26, 2024 | ANZB-16631～16633 (DVD; limited) ANZX-16631～16633 (Blu-Ray; limited) |
| 2[29] | 
|
Episodes 3-5 | Special booklet Setting Material Collection Vol.1 Miniature Pop-up Collection Pt. 2 & 3 Special Event Priority Ticket (Nighttime) |
July 31, 2024 | ANZB-16634～16636 (DVD; limited) ANZX-16634～16636 (Blu-Ray; limited) |
| 3[30] | 
|
Episodes 6-8 | Special booklet Original Soundtrack CD Vol.2 Miniature Pop-up Collection Pt. 4 |
August 28, 2024 | ANZB-16637～16639 (DVD; limited) ANZX-16637～16639 (Blu-Ray; limited) |
| 4[31] | 
|
Episodes 9-11 | Special booklet Setting Material Collection Vol.2 Miniature Pop-up Collection Pt. 5 & 6 |
September 25, 2024 | ANZB-16640～16642 (DVD; limited) ANZX-16640～16642 (Blu-Ray; limited) |
Each DVD/Blu-Ray comes in a three-sided box illustrated by character designer Yumi Shimizu.
The tickets included with Volume 1 and 2 were for a special Kuroshitsuji: Public School Arc event ("Kuroshitshuji: Public School Arc AFTER the MIDNIGHT TEA PARTY ～A Return to Weston College～") that takes place at the Makuhari International School on December 8, 2024. There was a daytime and a nighttime performance; the voice actors of Sebastian Michaelis, Edgar Redmond, Gregory Violet, Lawrence Bluewer, Herman Greenhill,[28][29] and Undertaker[32] attended the event. During the event, new information for the fifth season was revealed.[33][34]
Certain stores offer special goods with the DVDs/Blu-Rays.[35]
Trivia[]
- The first episode of Season 4 was first shown on March 16, 2024 in Mexico at the La Mole convention.[36][37]
- Yana Toboso was present at Anime Japan 2024 and watched the first episode's early screening.[38] Even Mr. K did not know beforehand that she would attend the event.[39]
- The voice director of the English dub, Caitlin Glass, voiced Hannah Annafellows and the little girl.[24]
- The CloverWorks and Aniplex staff travelled to England to prepare for the fourth season and "get a feel of the environment." They, i.a., visited various universities for Weston College and went to the places featured in Episode 57.[26]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Black Butler Anime Heads Back to School in New Public School Arc Trailer" — Crunchyroll
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Black Butler: Public School Arc Anime Reveals Key Visual, Story" — Anime News Network
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Black Butler: Public School Arc Anime Premieres in April 2024" — Anime News Network
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Black Butler: Public School Arc Anime's Promo Video Reveals P4 Cast, April 13 Premiere" — Anime News Network
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Black Butler Anime Returns with New Season on Crunchyroll in 2024" — Crunchyroll
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Black Butler Gets New Anime Season in 2024" — Anime News Network
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Voice actors comments: Sakamoto and Ono — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ "Aniplex Reveals Aniplex Online Fest 2023 Event for September 10" — Anime News Network
- ↑ Anime Japan 24 announcement — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ P4 voice actors comments — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Red Stage confirmations — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Third key visual — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Red Stage streams — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Introduction: Tachibana as Violet — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Introduction: Takeuchi as Greenhill — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Introduction: Enoki as Bluewer — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Introduction: Watanabe as Redmond — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Cast video: P4 making tea — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Main PV — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 S4 OP and ED announcement — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Voice actors: McMillan and Agares — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Voice actors: Cheslock, Clayton, and Maurice — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ AJ24: Early screening — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Black Butler -Public School Arc- English Dub Reveals Cast and Crew, Release Date" — Crunchyroll
- ↑ "Crunchyroll Anime Expo 2024 Panels and Premieres Schedule Revealed (UPDATED)" — Crunchyroll
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Exclusive Black Butler -Public School Arc- Behind-The-Scenes Photos, Storyboards and More!" — Crunchyroll
- ↑ "Black Butler -Emerald Witch Arc- Anime Announced, Crunchyroll to Stream" — Crunchyroll
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 BD&DVD Volume 1 — Official Kuroshitsuji TV website
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 BD&DVD Volume 2 — Official Kuroshitsuji TV website
- ↑ BD&DVD Volume 3 — Official Kuroshitsuji TV website
- ↑ BD&DVD Volume 4 — Official Kuroshitsuji TV website
- ↑ Makuhari School Event addition — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ S5: Premiere and first cast announcement — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ "Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc Anime Reveals 2 New Cast, More Returning Staff, April 2025 Debut" — Anime News Network
- ↑ BD&DVD Store Benefits — Official Kuroshitsuji TV website
- ↑ La Mole: Crunchyroll screenings — Crunchyroll Latinoamérica on Instagram
- ↑ La Mole: Pictures and thanks — Official Kuroshitsuji anime on Twitter
- ↑ Sneaky Toboso at AJ24 — Yana Toboso on Twitter
- ↑ Surprised Mr. K — Mr. K on Twitter
See also[]
- Kuroshitsuji, the first season
- Kuroshitsuji II, the second season
- Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus, the third season
- Kuroshitsuji: Book of Murder, the theatrical OVA
- Kuroshitsuji: Book of the Atlantic, the movie
- Kuroshitsuji: Emerald Witch Arc, the fifth season
External links[]
- Official Sites
- Japanese