Fascinating.

Today, or rather, this evening, I finished watching an anime called "Black Butler."
I expected it to be like most anime that the girls squeal over: clichéd, overrated, sappy, and unsurprising. It was none of that. It was surprisingly original, set in 18th-century London and concerning the dark, dark life of 13 year-old Ciel Phantomhive, an Earl of London and the president of a confectionery company. His servants are all inept, except for one: Sebastian Michaelis. Sebastian's catchphrase is "I am simply one hell of a butler," and the emphasis on 'hell' isn't just for show. He's actually a demon summoned by Ciel for one purpose: Revenge.


The main female appeal is the highly implied intimacy between smexy Sebastian and Ciel, who is appealing only to the few paedophiles who might watch this show. Since apparently this kind of pairing is popular with females (hey, I'm not into that kinda stuff >.<"), the show is often portrayed in a 'shojo,' or girl's anime, light.
It is anything but that.
If I had to say, this would be 'goro' or horror. Many people die, in very bloody ways. One gets run through with a chainsaw, another gets their head bashed in with a club, yet another is torn to pieces by a demonic dog. Fun stuff, yo.


The inept servants have their own terrible pasts. One, Mei-rin the maid, was a sniper assassin who regarded the sights on the gun as 'burdens.' She also used said snipers as handguns until she was employed by the Phantomhive estate. 
Finny, the adorable gardener was a human experiment used to test a serum that granted humans  'strength beyond normal limitations.' He promptly snapped the leather straps he was contained in and fled. His one goal? To go outside. 
The third, Bardroy, was a sergeant in some war. Directly before he was employed, he found himself the only survivor of a terrible, bloody battle. He himself said that he "can't get used to peace."


Oh, and did I mention the deranged, hermaphrodite angel?
...Yeah, don't ask.