Black Butler was a mainstay of Tumblr anime fandom for good reason, from its pretty depiction of Victorian London to its edgy gothic elements and the complicated relationships of the characters. So when the first season became a big hit, it was only natural that the production committee would greenlight a sequel, not that it was the easiest thing to do.
The series tells the tale of Ciel Phantomhive, heir to the Phantomhive earldom, and its covert responsibilities in service of the monarchy. When a cult kills his family, Ciel - only a child - makes a deal with a demon named Sebastian to help him avenge his parents, but only if Ciel forfeits his soul once his mission is complete. The anime aired in 2008, but the manga had only begun two years prior and there wasn't enough content to fill the 24-episode order. Sequels diverging from the manga were nothing new, but in the case of Black Butler, the demand for a sequel was especially vexing. Primarily because the anime's first season went out of its way to conclude the story in its entirety.
The Contract Complete
The first season caught up to the most recently completed manga arc at the time by the end of episode 15, with 10 more episodes left. In those remaining episodes, the writers effectively concluded the story of Black Butler similar to Blue Exorcist. An original final antagonist was written to tie off the main plot threads and bring the story to a conclusion.
The finale isn't even particularly bad, as it displays Sebastian going all out against his opponent in a brutal and even scary manner that feels like the culmination of every peek behind the curtain of his human exterior. When all was said and done, Ciel accepts the end of his contract with Sebastian and lets the demon take his soul.
It was sad but fairly satisfying and Mari Okada's screenplay took liberties in ways that felt bold and consistent with the characterization up to that point. There may not have been enough material to fill a sequel, but they were damn well going to finish the story to the best of their ability. But sure enough, it was a hit and so the show would go on despite the anime having ended.
Black Butler II
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Season 1's ending was already an original story meant to conclude something that wouldn't feasibly get a canon continuation for many years, putting Mari Okada in an interesting position. Retconning the finale wouldn't have made a difference if there wasn't feasibly enough manga material to adapt, and it was only one year since the end of Season 1. Instead, another bold set of choices, firstly to introduce a new demon butler and a new master under contract with him. A twisted mirror image of the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian echoes the first episode of Season 1. Second, to reintroduce Sebastian and Ciel and unveil how the latter is still alive.
The relationship between Ciel and Sebastian has always been the most interesting part of the series because it's hard to tell how they truly feel. Does Sebastian actually care about Ciel and find enjoyment in their work together, or is it all just a performance until he can devour his soul? It's likely a mix of both, but Season 2 made it so much more complicated and - in turn - exciting. It's revealed that just before Sebastian could devour Ciel's soul, Claude Faustus, the new demon of the series, snatched the soul away. In a rage, Sebastian comes to retrieve Ciel's soul and succeeds, but shockingly he doesn't devour it. Instead, he wipes Ciel's memory and reverts him back to around early Season 1.
Ciel still believes that the people who killed his family are out there and that the contract still stands, and even thinks that people who are dead are still alive. Sebastian, no longer bound by the contract, can now lie to Ciel about the truth of the matter, and while it isn't explicitly stated, it appears Sebastian has come to care for Ciel. There are lies and deceptions everywhere and to make matters worse, Claude and his demented master Alois Trancy have an interest in Ciel and Sebastian. It's far darker and more psychological than the first season, and also far more depressing. And if it sounds like this season is actually good, it's because for a time it is rather exciting, arguably more than the first. Right until the end.
Rarely does a series so promising completely kill its momentum right at the ending, but Black Butler II did just that. Through a series of twists and turns, Ciel ends up becoming a demon himself, meaning that Sebastian is incapable of killing Ciel. They become an immortal pair, with no clear goal left in sight, Ciel's very raison d'etre having been fulfilled before the season even began. It comes out of nowhere, and it leaves the characters acting like completely different people while abandoning the supporting cast that's already felt largely forgotten. All in all, it was a hugely unsatisfying finale that wiped away the gloss that kept people coming back week by week to reveal something rather murky and unnecessary.
Black Butler's Rebound
It wouldn't be until 2014 that Black Butler would make its grand return, eschewing all the anime content after the conclusion of the Curry Arc and returning to the manga with Book of Circus. The series wasn't just back, but in top form, ranking higher than even the first season on MyAnimeList. A1 Pictures clearly learned their lesson and limited the continuation to just 10 episodes.
In the time since Black Butler II, the community has made it clear that they aren't fond of anime diverging from the source material. It's much easier to just wait until there is enough material to adapt. And it's far smarter to wait to make the anime at all until the sequels can be spaced out accordingly without losing hype.
Black Butler's manga is still going, but it seems the team at A1 understands that not every arc be adapted equally. Similar to recent hits like Demon Slayer adapted an arc into a film, Black Butler followed up Book of Circus with the two-episode Book of Murder, then Book of Atlantic into a feature film.
Original stories that diverge can be exciting so long as the creative team is competent, and the ideas change up the story without forgetting what makes it exciting in the first place. Shows like Fullmetal Alchemist have been looked on more fondly in recent years, even with Brotherhood being considered superior, but few anime-original sequels have fared as well.
The industry has learned its lessons when it comes to adapting manga, and while sometimes that means a longer wait between seasons, the wait is (usually) worth it in the end. Not since 2017 has Black Butler's anime continued, so it's uncertain if or when it will return. It begs the question: is it better to never end, or end haphazardly?