Copies Of ‘Black Butler II’ Become Gold As License Nears Expiry
Black Butler II is set to become a rare thing to own, as the license for the anime is set to expire soon. For Crunchyroll and Funimation users, this is definitely not a good thing to hear.
According to reports, Black Butler II and Shiki are about to have their licenses returned by Aniplex. Aniplex currently holds the streaming and home video rights for both shows, but they are about to expire come June 30.
When the license reverts, Aniplex will won't be able to continue production, leaving the sales of the season to be handled by fans. Currently, Aniplex still has the active rights to Black Butler II, so there's still a chance for Blu-ray and DVD releases. When production is left to fans, however, there will be a serious soar in prices, as the demand for the show is still at an all-time high.
Streaming Issues
While fans still have the chance to view the show, streaming sites may be affected when the license expires. Should Aniplex revert all rights, streaming sites hosting Black Butler II could be taken down.
As of writing, Crunchyroll still has Black Butler II up and running, but the fate of the show remains to be seen after the license gets reverted. Still, there's a huge chance the popular series may remain on the site due to the fact that Aniplex still holds the distribution rights for the show's first season.
The license for Black Butler season 1 expired in May 2017, but it still can be viewed via Crunchyroll. That said, the second season may remain on the site as well, according to fans. But it won't take away the fact that the Blu-ray and DVD collections for Shiki and Black Butler II will experience inflation, just as how Fullmetal Alchemist and Birdy the Mighty: Decode did when their licenses ended two years ago.
Black Butler: A Fan Favorite
The gothic series Black Butler debuted in 2006 and quickly amassed a cult following. The series recently got itself a feature film released in Japan. It's not known as of writing if the movie will make it to the U.S. Fans of Black Butler II are advised to grab a copy before the month of July to still avail of regular prices.
