YANA TOBOSO’S Bestselling MANGA Series "BLACK BUTLER" Adapted to Screen

The original comic series “Black Butler” that female Japanese artist Yana Toboso illustrated and wrote had been serialized in the monthly G-Fantasy, published by Square Enix.  The manga series had been adapted to a movie with the same title, “Black Butler,” directed by Kentaro Otani (“Nana” series) and Keiichi Sato (“Asura”) with a screenplay by Tsutomo  Kuroiwa, stars Mizushima in the titular role of the Black Butler who goes by the name Sebastian.

While the original manga is set in 19th century England, this new film is set more than 130 years later in 2020, in an Asian city where Western and Asian cultures freely intermingle. At the time when the movie is set, only males can take the reins of the Phantomhive family, a young woman named Shiori dons male clothes and took on the name Kiyoharu to lead the massive Phantom Corporation.

Sebastian is a demonic butler. Perfect at the preparation and serving of exquisite meals and in providing service and protection.  He has an extensive knowledge of all fields.  Sebastian is bound by a secret contract to serve his master, Kiyoharu (Goriki), and in return for supporting his master’s mission, Sebastian will receive Kiyoharu’s soul at the end of the bargain. 

Mizushima plays Sebastian to the hilt, as the perfect but arrogant butler with elegant movement and stylish manners.  As the movie gets into the darker side. Mummified dead bodies of various dignitaries from around the world are being discovered, a mysterious tarot card left beside each of them at the scene.  Kiyoharu, a young head of the Genpo noble family sees the world as it heads into chaos.  He also serves as a secret watchdog for the Queen, a service that his family has provided for generations.  The Queen orders Kiyoharu to solve the mummification incidents.  As he starts to investigate, he hires the services of his perfect butler, Sebastian, who is actually a demon. Kiyoharu has been hiding his true identity since his parents’ tragic death years earlier.

                “Black Butler” will open exclusive in SM Cinemas nationwide on July 23 and will be distributed by Silverline Inc.

HIRO MIZUSHIMA En Vogue and in Time for Action in “BLACK BUTLER”

 Following a string of adaptation to theatre, magazines and  video games, the widely  read manga series “Black Butler” written and illustrated by Yana Toboso has also been adapted to a movie starring Hiro Mizushima and Ayame Gouriki.   

The movie “Black Butler” revolves around a “flawless demon butler” character named Sebastian Michealis who personifies grace, knowledge, and physical perfection as he investigates dark and mysterious incidents.  Eventually, he was summoned by an orphaned aristocrat to exact revenge at the price of her soul. 

"Black Butler" story was originally set in the 19th century, in the ruling era of Queen Victoria but the film is set in the year 2020 to allow for a more reasonable mingling of Asian-European cultures.   In the movie, Shiori Genpo (Ayame Gouriki) runs the large corporation Funtom. Shiori is also a descendant of the prestigious noble family, Phantomhive of England. In order to hunt down the murderers of her parents, the orphaned aristocrat summons a demonic butler (Hiro Mizushima) to aid her. Sebastian's job is to protect Ciel until her revenge is fulfilled, then he will consume her spirit.

Directors Kentaro Otani and Keiichi Satou assures fans that even though the movie’s setting is unlike the original, they took very careful note not to disappoint fans of the original.  Hiroyasu Koizumi, who is in charge of the art concept says that the idea for the setting is that it is not limited to any nationality or age.  Mizushima, who plays the titular role shed more than an ample amount of weight for the role. A Japanese actor, producer, writer and creative director, Mizushima also took part in the movie’s post production process.      

“Black Butler” will open July 23 exclusive in SM cinemas nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.