In a world where the stars are fake, superpowered assassins pay a heavy price.
In short: Darker than Black reimagines modern Tokyo as a landscape haunted by mysterious spatial anomalies known as Gates. Within this altered reality, individuals called Contractors trade their humanity for supernatural abilities. These cold-blooded assassins operate in the shadows, serving powerful organizations while struggling to maintain their own identities in a violent world.
Created by director Tensai Okamura and animated by studio Bones, Darker than Black debuted in 2007. The series centers on a world transformed by the appearance of Heaven's Gate in South America and Hell's Gate in Tokyo. These anomalies fundamentally altered the sky and introduced Contractors—people who possess supernatural powers but must pay a personal price each time they use them. These individuals are often employed by global organizations as spies and assassins, leading to a clandestine, high-stakes conflict over information and power.
The protagonist, a Chinese Contractor known as Hei, operates under the alias Li Shenshun while navigating a complex web of espionage. Unlike traditional heroes, Hei and his fellow Contractors are intentionally flawed and violent, a creative choice by Okamura to contrast with his previous work on Wolf's Rain. The narrative structure, which utilizes a bi-episodic format inspired by Okamura's time working on Cowboy Bebop, allows for deep exploration of characters. The series balances dark, gritty themes with detective-style comedy, reflecting Okamura's childhood interest in ninja and spy stories.
The production was marked by a meticulous approach to world-building and character design. Yūji Iwahara, the character designer, faced the challenge of creating a distinct look for Hei, whose black eyes were designed to convey a cold, enigmatic impression. The atmospheric soundtrack, composed by Yoko Kanno, draws on influences ranging from old French films to Latin music, aiming to provide a glamorous yet dark backdrop to the emotionless nature of the Contractors. Despite some criticism regarding the ending and the complexity of the setting, the series remains a notable entry in the genre, praised for its unique blend of supernatural action and character-driven drama.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Darker than Black
- Also: Wikidata — Darker than Black · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Darker than Black · CC0
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