We don't cover a lot of live-action cinema at
AFA- for obvious reasons. But when movies have a strong connection to the world of animation, we figure our audience will be interested.
Black Butler is just such a film- based on the hugely popular original manga by
Yana Toboso, which has already been adapted into three seasons of anime. The original story is set in Victorian England and features a young heir to a powerful family and his powerful demonic protector/ manservant- the Butler of the title. The 2014 live action adaptation makes some major changes to the source material, relocating to a near-future Asian city and turning the lead into a young girl, forced to impersonate a man. The plot revolves around a series of murders and Kiyoharu's quest to avenge her parent's deaths. The film will be released in select UK Cinemas via
Warner Bros UK on Friday October 17th 2014, certificate 15. Full synopsis follows.
Based on the best-selling comic series
written and illustrated by Yana Toboso, the long awaited live-action
film “Black Butler” finally arrives in UK cinemas.
Hiro Mizushima of “BECK” (2010),
portrays the perfect, but arrogant, demonic butler, Sebastian, in
this stylish action film directed by Kentaro Otani of the “NANA”
series, and Keiichi Sato of “Asura” (2012).
Mummified dead bodies of various
dignitaries from around the world are being discovered, a mysterious
tarot card left beside them at the scene. The world is headed towards
chaos...
Kiyoharu is the young head of the Genpo
noble family, owners of a massive toy manufacturing enterprise. He
also functions 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, and he starts to investigate. He
is supported by his perfect butler, Sebastian, who is actually a
demon.
Kiyoharu has been hiding his true
female identity since his parents’ tragic death 10 years earlier.
In return for perfect service to his master in public and private,
Sebastian will receive his master’s soul after Kiyoharu achieves
revenge for the murder of his parents. Who is really behind the
serial mummification deaths? Will Kiyoharu finally find out who
killed his/her parents?
