Black Butler, an iconic anime that has gripped fans’ hearts for over a decade, returned this year, continuing the adaptation of the famous manga after a seven-year time gap. The series’ triumphant return was rewarded with a panel at Anime Expo, featuring the famous Daisuke Ono, who popularized the character of Sebastian; Yoshito Ito, the producer responsible for bringing back the series; and Kenjiro Okada, the director of the fourth season.
Despite their busy schedules, the three guests granted Anime Trending a few minutes of their time to sit down and discuss the Black Butler series and what it meant to them to see the longtime fans cheering for them at Anime Expo 2024.
Anime Trending: Thank you for joining us today. This first question is for Yoshito Ito-san. Black Butler’s first season aired in 2008, almost two decades ago. Why do you think the series continues to remain relevant and resonate with fans over 10 years later, especially now that the competition is higher in the anime space?
Yoshito Ito: During season 1, I was on the production team but was in charge of different things. I handled the opening and ending of the series and was also in charge of the marketing assets such as goods to be sold and promotions in magazines. When I was in charge of the marketing assets, I really got an inside look of what fans react to and enjoy. I accumulated that knowledge, and when I was in charge of season 4, I leveraged that information. Throughout the process, I’d think to myself, “The fans probably wouldn’t forgive me for releasing this,” or “This is probably something the fans would like.” If the fans are enjoying the recent season, they’re valuing my prior knowledge gained, and it makes me happy to have implemented it for the fourth season.
My next question is for Kenjiro Okada. Black Butler has many seasons prior, but this is your first time directing the project. What was your process and did you have any difficulties taking the helm?
Kenjiro Okada: When Ito-san originally spoke with me about becoming the director for the new season, I realized I needed to dig deeper. I had watched the anime previously before, but upon becoming the director, I started really paying attention to the manga series to properly interpret the world, the atmosphere, and how the story was depicted. Rediscovering the animation again through the original works was how I connected the dots into making the new season.
For Daisuke Ono, has anything changed since your experience acting as Sebastian seven years ago versus now? Especially with how much experience you’ve gained in the voice acting world since.
Daisuke Ono: When I finished the last movie, I was very satisfied. I was like, “I’ve done what I can do.” Since then, I’ve experienced the voices of so many other characters from other series, and I was able to discover more versions of my acting. So when I had to play Sebastian again, I really had to dig deep inside me and ask, “Where is the voice of Sebastian? How do I pull him out?”
I actually found Sebastian again through Ciel. Hearing Ciel’s voice really brought Sebastian back from within me during the recording sessions. Due to the effects of the pandemic, recording sessions will sometimes be done separately per character. Thankfully, we were able to schedule the voice acting sessions together. I was really able to bring Sebastian back to life because of that.
Ito: Director Okada-san specifically requested for that to happen.
Okada: I was pretty adamant that they would always record their scenes together in this season.
Ono: Thank you so much for that insight and insistence.
I will also shamelessly admit that I did scream when I first heard you return as Sebastian.
Ono: That’s right — make some noise!
Can you give us just some last words for the fans of the series, especially since now at the panel, it’s already been announced that the next arc is coming?
Ito: So when making animation in Japan, it’s really hard to see and tell how many fans around the world are in anticipation and have that overflowing love for Black Butler. Even if the people around us are going, “It’s amazing!” it’s still hard to know what the fans truly feel. So coming here, especially here at Anime Expo, and at the panel, I got to hear and experience that love in person, and I feel like it can only be experienced in person to be understood. It changed a lot inside of me and impacted me so deeply. I now believe that my mission is to bring that back to Japan with me, tell my team how it was, and to use it as fuel for the future moving forward.
Okada: So when we released information about Emerald Witch at the panel, I was just so surprised by the reaction and very touched that so many people have been anticipating this. I’m excited to go home and work really hard on it. I want to bring a completely different style and concept to this upcoming season. I hope to create something new and to bring it back to fans again.
Ono: Coming to Anime Expo and seeing the fans of so many faces here in Los Angeles was a very special moment for me. We did make them wait a little longer than expected. Honestly, it was a very long wait, and I do feel kind of guilty about that. But I really want to keep moving forward to meet the expectations of all these fans who’ve stayed with us for 10 plus years. What am I if I can’t meet their expectations? After all, “I’m a hell of a butler.” It has regenerated a new fire within all of us here to keep going and bring something spectacular every time.
Black Butler’s fifth season, the Emerald Witch Arc, returns next year 2025. Let’s all wait in anticipation as the dedicated team returns back to Japan to work on it!
Want to read more interviews like this? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for updates on our anime charts and new content!