Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus

Full of wonder and excitement, the Noah's Arc Circus troupe has captured audiences with their dazzling performances. Yet these fantastic acts do not come without a price. Children have mysteriously gone missing around London, correlating to that of the group's movements. Unsettled by these kidnappings, Queen Victoria sends in her notorious guard dog, Ciel Phantomhive; and his ever-faithful demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, on an undercover mission to find these missing children.

Trying to balance their new circus acts with their covert investigation under the big top, however, proves to be quite a challenge. With the other performers growing suspicious and the threat of the circus' mysterious benefactor looming overhead, what the two discover will shake Ciel to his very core.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Michaelis, Sebastian Main

Ono, Daisuke Japanese

Phantomhive, Ciel Main

Sakamoto, Maaya Japanese

Sutcliff, Grell Supporting

Fukuyama, Jun Japanese

Undertaker Supporting

Suwabe, Junichi Japanese

Mey-Rin Supporting

Katou, Emiri Japanese

Finnian Supporting

Kaji, Yuuki Japanese

Midford, Elizabeth Supporting

Tamura, Yukari Japanese

Snake Supporting

Terashima, Takuma Japanese

Joker Supporting

Miyano, Mamoru Japanese

Spears, William T. Supporting

Sugiyama, Noriaki Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Kananiwa, Kozue Producer

Hashimoto, Ryuu Producer

Kimura, Yasutaka Producer

Reviews

Mar 30, 2025

BerryBlitz

Recommended

Black Butler: Book of Circus delivers a gripping and emotionally charged arc that explores the darker side of the series. Following Ciel Phantomhive and his loyal demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, the story takes them undercover at the Noah’s Ark Circus to investigate a string of child disappearances. What begins as a colorful and whimsical premise soon turns into a chilling tale of tragedy and deception.

The plot is engaging, with a solid balance of mystery and emotional weight. The circus setting adds a unique flair, making the early episodes feel playful and lighthearted. However, as the arc progresses, the darker truths are gradually revealed, ... adding tension and making the eventual twist feel impactful. While the story is compelling, it occasionally feels rushed, especially when exploring the backstories of the circus performers, which could have been fleshed out more for greater emotional impact.

The circus troupe brings a lot of personality to the arc. Joker, Beast, Dagger, and the others are endearing and tragic, making their fates genuinely heartbreaking. Their loyalty and tragic pasts add emotional depth, though some of their stories could have been given more screen time.

Ciel’s ruthlessness is on full display, highlighting his cold and calculating nature, but the show also reveals glimpses of vulnerability, making him more complex. Sebastian is as charismatic and merciless as ever, carrying out Ciel’s orders with unwavering loyalty, creating a chilling contrast with his charming demeanor.

The animation by A-1 Pictures is visually appealing, with vibrant colors during the circus performances and darker, muted tones during the more sinister scenes. The fluid animation during the action sequences is impressive, though some of the character designs could have been more detailed in certain moments.

The soundtrack effectively complements the arc’s tone. The opening theme, “Enamel” by SID, is catchy and fitting for the series' dark elegance. The background music adds to the eerie and melancholic atmosphere, though it doesn’t stand out significantly from the rest of the series.

Book of Circus is a solid and emotionally impactful arc that adds depth to the Black Butler series. The tragic fates of the circus performers leave a lasting impression, but the story could have benefited from more character development and a slightly slower pace.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Nov 27, 2015

ryuuForte

Mixed Feelings

Akuma no Shitsuji continues onto the 3rd season with Book of Circus.

This arc takes place sometime after Madam Red's incident from the first season.

I am left speechless about what to say about this season. All the things that happen in this season is just so fuutsu(normal) that i just can't think of anything unique to write about this. Oh, i just remembered something. Was there so many shotacons(lolicons being 'lolita complex' and shotacon being 'shouta complex', shouta means small boy-the male version of loli) in the 19th Century? Or is this to please the fanbase of shotacons who want to see this or that done ... to shoutas? Whether it is fan service or reality, it just doesn't fit well with me. Once you notice this, you can see nothing but shoutacons and old men everywhere.

Shotacons will love this season(probably) as it has our Shota shuujinko(protagonist) Ciel Phantomhive who shows of his dizty self in the circus.

In the previous review of Kuroshitsuji II, i said something like 'this season is a must watch if you want to see the next season'. But, it looks like the Kuroshitsuji II is the end of the Kuroshitsuji series, at least according to the chronological order of the story.(As a side note, i haven't read the manga so i don't know if it ends then or not.)

As for whether you should watch this season or not, if you liked the first two seasons or if you want to complete the series, i recommend to watch this season but if you haven't watched any season yet, you can skip the series altogether as there is nothing worth mentioning about this series.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Jul 7, 2024

DilutedWater24

Not Recommended

Is your life going too smoothly and peacefully that it is boring? Do you wanna suffer, feel miserable, and lose your faith in humanity?
Don't worry, Black Butler got all that covered! So don't hesitate and go watch it.

Since these conditions don't apply to me + I have my own problems, I dropped the show.
...












Full of wonder and excitement, the Noah's Arc Circus troupe has captured audiences with their dazzling performances. Yet these fantastic acts do not come without a price. Children have mysteriously gone missing around London, correlating to that of the group's movements. Unsettled by these kidnappings, Queen Victoria sends in her notorious guard dog, Ciel Phantomhive; and his ever-faithful demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, on an undercover mission to find these missing children.

Trying to balance their new circus acts with their covert investigation under the big top, however, proves to be quite a challenge. With the other performers growing suspicious and the threat of the circus' mysterious benefactor looming overhead, what the two discover will shake Ciel to his very core.

Reviewer’s Rating: 1

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