Top Butler Anime Recommendations

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

Also known as Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-.

Studio: WHITE FOX
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Psychological , Romance , Thriller

In the story, Subaru Natsuki is an ordinary high school student who is lost in an alternate world, where he is rescued by a beautiful, silver-haired girl. He stays near her to return the favor, but the destiny she is burdened with is more than Subaru can imagine. Enemies attack one by one, and both of them are killed. He then finds out he has the power to rewind death, back to the time he first came to this world. But only he remembers what has happened since.



Notes:
- The first episode aired with a runtime of ~50 minutes as opposed to the standard 25 minute long episode.
- In the Winter 2020 season, Re:ZERO was rebroadcast and re-edited to fit into an hour time-slot. This edit included the first OVA and added slight modifications to certain scenes throughout. It also added an additional scene at the end of the final episode.

Tags: Time Manipulation , Isekai , Time Loop , Tragedy , Alternate Universe , Male Protagonist , Medieval , Witch , Magic , Curses , Cohabitation , Cult , Gore , Body Horror , Heterosexual , Maids , Love Triangle , Politics , Elf , Suicide , Unrequited Love , Primarily Female Cast , Demons , Coming of Age , Twins , Femboy , Travel , Butler , Assassins , Seinen , Kemonomimi , Dragons , CGI , Body Swapping , Meta , Kuudere , Tomboy , Nekomimi , Crossdressing

Kill la Kill

Also known as Kill la Kill.

Studio: TRIGGER
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Ecchi

After the murder of her father, Ryuuko Matoi has been wandering the land in search of his killer. Following her only lead—the missing half of his invention, the Scissor Blade—she arrives at the prestigious Honnouji Academy, a high school unlike any other. The academy is ruled by the imposing and cold-hearted student council president Satsuki Kiryuuin alongside her powerful underlings, the Elite Four. In the school's brutally competitive hierarchy, Satsuki bestows upon those at the top special clothes called "Goku Uniforms," which grant the wearer unique superhuman abilities.

Tags: Henshin , Female Protagonist , Revenge , Incest , Nudity , Parody , Surreal Comedy , Class Struggle , Psychosexual , Dystopian , Tomboy , Super Power , Aliens , Orphan , Age Gap , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Anti-Hero , Military , Cult , Bullying , Villainess , Tsundere , Ensemble Cast , Delinquents , Tokusatsu , Exhibitionism , School Club , LGBTQ+ Themes , Gore , Tragedy , CGI , Meta , Yandere , Cosplay , Cheerleading , Butler , Space

Overlord

Also known as Overlord.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

The story takes place in the year 2138 when virtual reality gaming is booming. Yggdrasil, a popular online game is quietly shut down one day. However, the protagonist Momonga decides to not log out. Momonga is then transformed into the image of a skeleton as "the most powerful wizard." The world continues to change, with non-player characters (NPCs) beginning to feel emotion. Having no parents, friends, or place in society, this ordinary young man Momonga then strives to take over the new world the game has become.



Tags: Isekai , Anti-Hero , Skeleton , Virtual World , Magic , Medieval , Male Protagonist , Kingdom Management , Ensemble Cast , Demons , Succubus , Necromancy , Yandere , Primarily Adult Cast , Female Harem , Villainess , Politics , Maids , CGI , Monster Girl , Love Triangle , Butler , Kuudere , Femboy , Elf , Vampire , Twins , Monster Boy , Tomboy , Goblin , Crossdressing , Dragons

Overlord II

Also known as Overlord II.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

The second season of Overlord.

Continuing his quest to rule this new world, Ains begins to put the pieces in place for his conquest. But between a Lizard Man tribe uprising, and performing missions as adamantite adventurer Lord Momon, Ains has his work cut out for him! Thankfully he has his most loyal and willing subordinates to do his bidding. Nothing and no one can stop the supreme and mighty Overlord in his quest to rule all!



Tags: Isekai , Anti-Hero , Skeleton , Magic , Butler , Male Protagonist , Kingdom Management , Super Power , Ensemble Cast , Virtual World , Politics , Demons , Succubus , Slavery , Monster Boy , Primarily Adult Cast , CGI , Twins , Villainess , Elf , Maids , Vampire , Monster Girl , Female Harem , Tomboy , Yandere , Femboy , Kuudere , Artificial Intelligence , Medieval , Age Gap

Kuroshitsuji

Also known as Black Butler.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

In Victorian-era Europe, a young boy loses everything he once held near and dear to a vicious plot. In his moment of death, he strikes a deal with a demon: his soul, in exchange for revenge. Ciel Phantomhive is now the head of the Phantomhive corporation, handling all business affairs as well as the underground work for the Queen of England. His new partner is a demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, whose powers as a butler is only surpassed by his strength as a demon.

The story follows the two along with their other servants, as they work to unravel the plot behind Ciel's parents' murder, and the horrendous tragedies that befell Ciel in the month directly after.

Tags: Butler , Crime , Tragedy , Demons , Revenge , Historical , Anti-Hero , Male Protagonist , Foreign , Gender Bending , Detective , Assassins , Mythology , Transgender , Food , Kuudere , Angels , Primarily Male Cast , Episodic , Urban Fantasy , Shounen , Agender , Crossdressing , Ninja , Chibi , Urban , Ghost

SK∞

Also known as SK8 the Infinity.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Sports

Reki, a high school sophomore and skater, is addicted to “S,” a highly secret and dangerous downhill skateboarding race that takes place in an abandoned mine. The skaters are especially wild about the “beefs,” or heated battles that erupt in the races.

Reki takes Langa, a transfer student returning to Japan after studying abroad, to the mine where the races are held. Langa, who has no skateboarding experience, finds himself pulled into the world of “S”...



Note: On March 13, 2021 a recap episode (9.5) went on air, postponing the broadcast of the regular episodes by one week.

Tags: Skateboarding , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Parkour , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Urban , Found Family , Slapstick , LGBTQ+ Themes , School , Butler , Artificial Intelligence , Restaurant , Gambling , Motorcycles

Dr. STONE: NEW WORLD

Also known as Dr. STONE New World.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Sci-Fi

The third season of Dr. STONE.

Senkuu and the Kingdom of Science sail to new lands to uncover more scientific secrets!



Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Survival , Educational , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Lost Civilization , Ships , Ensemble Cast , Conspiracy , Spearplay , Found Family , Travel , Espionage , Agriculture , Food , Butler , Amnesia , CGI , War , Crossdressing , Aliens , Asexual , Swimming , Chibi , Outdoor Activities

HELLSING OVA

Also known as Hellsing Ultimate.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Satelight , Graphinica
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Supernatural

Hellsing, a secret organization of the British government, has long been battling supernatural threats to keep the people safe from creatures of the night. The current leader, Integra Wingates Hellsing controls her own personal army to eliminate the undead beings, but even her highly trained soldiers pale in comparison to her most trusted vampire exterminator, a man by the name of Alucard, who is actually a powerful vampire himself. Along with Integra's mysterious butler and Alucard's new vampire minion, Seras Victoria, The Hellsing Organization must face not only regular ghouls and vampires, but a rivaling secret organization from the Vatican, and Millennium, an enigmatic group of madmen spawned by a certain war over 50 years ago...
A bloody battle between monsters is about to begin, the dead are dancing, and all hell is singing...

Tags: Vampire , Gore , Seinen , Urban Fantasy , War , Foreign , Anti-Hero , Primarily Adult Cast , Religion , Military , Urban , Guns , Cannibalism , Butler , Body Horror , Monster Girl , Monster Boy , Male Protagonist , Noir , Primarily Male Cast , Female Protagonist , Demons , Age Regression , Slapstick , Tomboy , Gender Bending , Kemonomimi , CGI , Werewolf , Nekomimi , Chibi , Time Skip , Nudity , Bisexual , Super Power , Philosophy

Fugou Keiji: Balance:UNLIMITED

Also known as The Millionaire Detective - Balance: UNLIMITED.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Mystery , Sci-Fi

Based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel, Fugou Keiji.

The story centers around millionaire Daisuke Kambe, the heir to one of the wealthiest families in Japan, who is assigned as a detective to the Modern Crime Prevention Task Force (aka MCPTF), at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Taking full advantage of his vast family wealth, he spares no expense in solving complex crimes, and has the tendency to evaluate everything including individual human lives in terms of their monetary value. Haru Katou, a detective with a compassionate heart who believes that money isn’t everything, is chosen as Kambe’s partner but is repulsed by his materialistic attitude. Having diametrically opposing personalities, witness how the two join forces to tackle seemingly unsolvable crimes and mysteries!



Note: Although Tsutsui's novel was published between 1975 and 1977, the anime plays out in the modern era.

Tags: Detective , Police , Crime , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Urban , Tragedy , Artificial Intelligence , Cars , Butler , Kuudere , Ships , Parody

Mairimashita! Iruma-kun

Also known as Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun.

Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy

Suzuki Iruma has just been abandoned and sold to a demon by his irresponsible parents! Surprisingly, the next thing he knows he's living with the demon who has adopted him as his new grandson, and has been transferred into a school in the demon world where his new "demon" grandfather works as the principal. Thus begins the cowardly Iruma-kun's extraordinary school life among the otherworldly as he faces his true self, takes on challenges, and rises to become someone great...

Tags: Demons , School , Male Protagonist , Magic , Isekai , Found Family , Primarily Teen Cast , Shounen , Adoption , Coming of Age , Kemonomimi , Monster Girl , Monster Boy , Nekomimi , School Club , Heterosexual , Tomboy , Love Triangle , Idol , Butler , Musical Theater , Crossdressing , Succubus , Estranged Family

HELLSING

Also known as Hellsing.

Studio: GONZO
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Supernatural

Hellsing follows the antiheroic vampire, Alucard, and a police girl-turned-vampire, Seras Victoria, two vampires employed by the vampire-extermination group of England, the Hellsing Organization. Slowly but surely, through their active duty, they find a new breed of vampires beginning to arise.



Tags: Vampire , Primarily Adult Cast , Noir , Super Power , Gore , Military , Urban Fantasy , Seinen , Foreign , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Guns , Anti-Hero , Urban , Monster Girl , Suicide , Monster Boy , Body Horror , Cannibalism , Episodic , Butler

Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai

Also known as The World God Only Knows.

Studio: Manglobe
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Supernatural

Keima is a dating sim champion. Cute girls are rendered powerless by his irresistible game playing techniques. Too bad things aren't that way in the real world. That is, until his tempting game playing causes a real live—and very bubbly-cute—demon hunter named Elsie to materialize! Now Elsie wants Keima to help her free hot girls from sneaky demons who secretly possess them.



Tags: Video Games , Episodic , Meta , Otaku Culture , Male Protagonist , Parody , Kuudere , Shounen , School , Ojou-sama , Idol , Ensemble Cast , Amnesia , Hikikomori , Tsundere , Slapstick , Anti-Hero , Memory Manipulation , Demons , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Female Cast , Gods , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Athletics , Butler , Surreal Comedy , Nudity , Teacher

Kuroshitsuji II

Also known as Black Butler II.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

In late-nineteenth century England, one year and three months after the dramatic conclusion of the original series, Kuroshitsuji II introduces a new butler and young master. The sadistic yet cheerful Alois Trancy has faced some harsh times. He was kidnapped as a baby, and was forced to work in a village as a slave. Gradually, he lost his parents, his brother, and everyone he knew. Alois eventually returned home and became the head of his mansion, but seemed to exhibit some strange behavior ever since. Even more curiously, he returned with Claude Faustus, an enigmatic, emotionless butler with unfathomable talent...



Tags: Demons , Butler , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Historical , Alternate Universe , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Male Cast , Foreign , Anti-Hero , Kuudere , Crossdressing , Gender Bending , Transgender , Urban

Mayo Chiki!

Also known as Mayo Chiki!.

Studio: feel.
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Romance

When you've got acute gynophobia, even a pretty girl can be a malady, and as the sparring partner for his family of female wrestlers, Sakamachi Kinjiro has the worst case EVER! Just one touch makes his nose bleed, so school's a bloody nightmare even before Kanade, the Principal's twisted daughter, deduces both Kinjiro's "feminine issue" AND that his name contains the sounds "Chi" and "Kin" back to back. But Chi-Kin's female troubles don't totally redline until a wrong turn in the men's room exposes the secret Subaru, Kanade's manservant, has been hiding in the water closet. (Well, to be fair, we should say WOmanservant.) And if Subaru's cross reactions concerning her cross-dressing aren't enough of a drag, Kinjiro's girl problems also include a haunted martial artist (with ghosts); a cat-eared fetishist (meow!); AND his own sister, whose interest in "wrestling" a certain incorrectly packaged butler may result in an unexpected ending! And that's JUST the set up!



Tags: Crossdressing , School , Primarily Female Cast , Butler , Male Protagonist , Tsundere , Female Harem , Meta , Episodic , Tomboy , Nudity , Heterosexual , Otaku Culture , Yandere , Wrestling

Shadows House

Also known as SHADOWS HOUSE.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Slice of Life , Supernatural

High atop a cliff sits the mansion known as Shadows House, home to a faceless clan that pretends to live like nobles. They express their emotions through living dolls that also endlessly clean the home of soot. One such servant, Emilico, aids her master Kate as they learn more about themselves and the mysteries of the house.



Tags: Conspiracy , Slavery , Maids , Female Protagonist , Memory Manipulation , Butler , Primarily Child Cast , Cult , Super Power , Magic , Amnesia , Ojou-sama , Seinen , Tragedy , Drugs , Urban Fantasy , Death Game , Kuudere , Fairy

Mairimashita! Iruma-kun 2

Also known as Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Season 2.

Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Supernatural

The second season of Mairimashita! Iruma-kun.

Suzuki Iruma, human and deeply non-aggressive, one day becomes the grandson of the great demon Sullivan. Doted on beyond belief, Iruma starts school where "Grandpa" serves as the chair... and finds, to his surprise, that he enjoys life there with Asmodeus, Clara, and the rest of his demon classmates. But just when Iruma thought he'd fitted in, there's more trouble ahead! A ring begins to talk, and Iruma... goes bad?! Iruma's chaotic, demonic life at school continues!



Tags: School , Demons , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Found Family , Magic , Isekai , Adoption , School Club , Butler , Kemonomimi , Monster Boy , Love Triangle , Crossdressing , Musical Theater , Monster Girl , Tomboy , Coming of Age

Vanitas no Carte Part 2

Also known as The Case Study of Vanitas Part 2.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

The second cour of Vanitas no Carte.

It’s 19th-century Paris, and young vampire Noé hunts for the Book of Vanitas. Attacked by a vampire driven insane, a human doctor called Vanitas tempts Noé with a mad crusade to “cure” the entire vampire race. While allying with him may be dangerous, news reaches Vanitas that the Beast of Gévaudan has returned, and Noé is being brought along to investigate this phantom from the past.



Tags: Vampire , Foreign , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Steampunk , Tragedy , Anti-Hero , Historical , Shounen , Witch , Time Manipulation , Heterosexual , Detective , Suicide , Gore , Assassins , Revenge , Boys' Love , Butler , Crossdressing , Super Power

Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus

Also known as Black Butler: Book of Circus.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

In late-nineteenth-century England, the Noah's Ark Circus enlivens the city of London with their grandeur and spectacular stunts. However, children are mysteriously disappearing from the town in a manner correlating to the troupe's movement. The Queen, then, sends her notorious Watchdog, Ciel Phantomhive, on an investigative mission to retrieve the missing children. Ciel and his demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, infiltrate the circus, disguised as team members, to study and possibly unearth its ulterior motive.

This arc immediately follows the Curry Contest Arc in the manga, which ended at episode 15 in the first season of the anime.

Tags: Demons , Tragedy , Circus , Butler , Anti-Hero , Foreign , Gender Bending , Urban Fantasy , Historical , Shounen , Gore , Kuudere , Food , Transgender , Primarily Male Cast , Crossdressing

Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid

Also known as The Duke of Death and His Maid.

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Supernatural

How can you fall in love when you can’t even hold hands? Due to a childhood curse, anything that the Duke touches will die—which makes his flirty maid’s behavior all the more shocking! Is there a way for the Duke and his companions to somehow break the curse, or is he doomed to a life where love is forever out of his reach?



Tags: Full CGI , Maids , Heterosexual , CGI , Magic , Witch , Kuudere , Butler , Shounen , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Curses , Nudity , Musical Theater , Cohabitation

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya

Also known as Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya.

Studio: SILVER LINK.
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Ecchi , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo

Illyasviel von Einzbern’s normal life is suddenly halted by the Kaleidostick Ruby, a magical wand on the run from her former master, who instantly decides that little Illya has all the right stuff to become the next great magical girl. However, Ruby’s previous owner Rin Tohsaka isn’t exactly thrilled to be de-wanded, especially since she’s just accepted an assignment to collect the seven legendary Class Cards. It seems the only solution is for Illya to take up the task and learn the ropes under Rin’s supervision. Meanwhile, a girl named Miyu has been chosen by the Kaleidostick Sapphire as HER new master, much to the irritation of Sapphire’s previous master, Rin’s arch rival Luviagelita Edelfelt! Exactly what kind of plan are the wands conjuring up?



Note: The show streamed in advance on Niconico Live on July 6, 2013 in Japan. The regular TV broadcast started on July 13, 2013.

Tags: Magic , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Henshin , Anthropomorphism , Mythology , Urban , Urban Fantasy , Spearplay , Body Swapping , Dissociative Identities , Shounen , Adoption , Butler , Ojou-sama , Kuudere , Nudity , Archery , Swordplay , Yuri , Nekomimi , School , Isekai , Meta , Maids