(2) Granted, the creator of Black Butler, Yana Toboso, clearly loves the gothic because the manga and the anime adaption (the movie… not quite as much) are both drenched in gorgeous, dark, Victorian aesthetics, and the storylines deal with heavy, twisted events and demons and reapers and rich fineries all over the place and slick, otherworldly people, etc. So I would not be surprised if she’s ever been a reader of the Rice. Especially since she apparently likes vampires, too.

I don’t watch the series but I’ve seen gifs and fanart for it, and I like the style! I think you summarized it very well so I won’t try to add to your description, just nod and agree, based on what I’ve seen ;]

This

Ciel Phantomhive (the younger-looking character in this gif) does seem to remind me of Armand. Not identical in appearance, being 12, but the whole vertically-challenged aspect, and looking like a child/teen compared to the others, and the general fiestiness xD

If we had a VC animated series, I would want it to have the kind of aesthetics you mention for BB, and dip into the silly animation now and then, like this one character gnawing on the other here:

^Lestat noms on anyone w/ a space to nom on ❤ Resistance is futile!