Darker Than Black: Series Profile - All About The Darker Than Black Anime Series

The Gist:

After a bizarre distortion in space appears in Tokyo, the heavens disappear and are replaced by fake stars that have a mysterious connection to a new and powerful species known as contractors. Able to kill without remorse, most contractors use their super-powers working as spies and assassins.

The History:

Darker Than Black was created by Tensai Okamura and produced by Studio Bones. The music score is composed by Yoko Kanno.

The anime series debuted in Japan on April 5, 2007 and made its satellite debut on Animax on in May 2007. An OVA was released on March 26, 2008. FUNimation Entertainment picked up the distribution rights for North America and Darker Than Black will hit the DVD shelves in the States on November 24, 2008.

The series was adapted into a manga and serialized in Monthly Asuka. It also won Best Original Anime of the Year in GoGoplex magazine.

Manga vs. Anime:

Since the anime series was released first and the manga is still very new, it is not yet clear how closely the two will follow each other. It will be interesting to see if the manga stays close to the original storyline or ventures off on its own.

How To Watch:

The first volume of Darker Than Black will be released on DVD in North America on November 24, 2008. A starter set with collectible artbox will also be available.

Genres:

Adventure, drama, mystery, sci-fi, supernatural

Themes: Post-apocalyptic

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Studios:

Distribution: FUNimation Entertainment
Production: Studio Bones

Rating:

Teens

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The Review:

Darker Than Black is a wild ride indeed, taking fans into a deep and dark world where humans are hunted by forces they do not understand.

A strange distortion appeared in Tokyo ten years ago, collectively referred to as "Hell's Gate". This distortion cause mass disruption to both the Earth and sky and the stars fell away, replaced by fake stars that are intrinsically connected with a new breed of "human" called contractors.

Contractors are psychics and possess a variety of superhuman powers. Some can manipulate gravity for example while others are shapeshifters or as in the case of our main character Hei, can generate and control electricity.

Although a variety of agencies and organizations are actively working to understand Hell's Gate, none do and so they have built a wall around it to keep everyone out. Hei is one of the most powerful contractors in Tokyo and is working with a secret agency known as the Syndicate to uncover the secrets of Hell's Gate. Hei is also searching for his sister Bai who disappeared several years ago.

As an interesting side note, the contractors aren't paid for their services - instead they must make payment in a wide variety of weird and wacky ways. One contractor must break his fingers after using his powers for example, while another must eat an egg or write a poem.

And in the midst of all this chaos is another contractor, one that no one knows anything about and one that seems to have extensive powers beyond that of the average superhuman. Known as the "Black Reaper", this contractor seems to have no qualms about going after his own.

Darker Than Black is a wickedly fun anime to watch, complete with mystery, suspense and a whole lot of intrigue. Rated T for teens, this one definitely has the action and subject matter to entertain an older audience so keep that in mind if you're buying for someone else.