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- Darker Than Black Season 1
| Darker than Black | |
|---|---|
Cover of the first English DVD volume released by Funimation in North America on November 25, 2008. | |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| No. of episodes | 25 + OVA |
| Release | |
| Original network | MBS |
| Original release | April 5 – September 27, 2007 |
| Season chronology | |
Two years have passed since Hei and Yin escaped the Syndicate after the events of the first season. Making their way to Russia, Hei encounters a young girl. Also known as:* 黒の契約者 (Japanese)This series is complete in 2 volumes and is followed by the sequel Darker than Black: Jet Black Flower.Ten years ago.
Darker than Black is a 2007 supernatural Japanese anime series created by Tensai Okamura. Ten years prior to the events of Darker than Black, a mysterious spatial anomaly known as 'Heaven's Gate' appeared in South America, shortly followed by the opening of 'Hell's Gate' in Tokyo altering the sky and wreaking havoc on the landscape. During this time, people possessing various special abilities emerged, each capable of different supernatural feats—these are known as Contractors. The series follows the exploits of agents Hei and his comrades of the Syndicate organization operating in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo and their mission to uncover the mysteries of the Hell's Gate.
The 25-episode anime was produced by Bones.[1] It was directed and written by Tensai Okamura, along with character designs drawn by Takahiro Komori and based on the original designs by Yuji Iwahara, art direction by Takashi Aoi, sound direction by Kazuhiro Wakabayashi and soundtrack music composed by Yoko Kanno.[1] The series premiered on MBS between April 5, 2007 and September 27, 2007 and aired later on HBC, CBC, TBS and Animax.[2]
Aniplex released the complete series in Japan on nine DVD volumes between July 25, 2007 and March 26, 2008.[3][4] The ninth DVD volume also included an unaired 26th original video animation episode.[5] Aniplex later compiled the series in a Blu-ray box set released in Japan on September 30, 2009.[6] The series was also licensed by Funimation for an English release in Region 1.[7] Funimation released the series in six DVD volumes between November 25, 2008 and August 11, 2009.[8][9] Funimation later released the series in a DVD box set on April 19, 2011 in Region 1.[10]
The series uses four pieces of theme music: two opening themes and two ending themes. 'Howling' by Abingdon Boys School was used as the opening theme for the first 14 episodes while 'Kakusei Heroism (The Hero Without a 'Name')' by An Cafe was used as the second opening theme from episodes 15 onwards. 'Tsukiakari' (ツキアカリ, lit. 'Moonlight') by Rie fu was used as the ending theme for the first 14 episodes while 'Dreams' by High and Mighty Color was used as the second ending theme from episodes 15 onwards.
Episode list[edit]
| No. | Title | Director | Writer | Original airdate | English airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'The Fallen Star of a Contract (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Keiyaku no Hoshi wa Nagareta (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 契約の星は流れた(前編)) | Tensai Okamura | Tensai Okamura | April 5, 2007 | June 16, 2010 | |
| The Tokyo police attempt to arrest French agent 'Louis', but he escapes using gravitational power, revealing himself to be a Contractor. He lands a short distance away; but while attempting to complete his payment, he is confronted by a mysterious masked man—the Reaper—who easily defeats him and demands to know the location of a 'package'. After the defeated man reveals that a girl named Chiaki knows the location of 'it', the masked man, Hei, kills him. Still in pursuit, the Public Security Bureau Section 4 chief, Misaki Kirihara, is informed of the man's death and discovers his identity as a DGSE agent. She later discusses the man's death with her police squad. Following a lead, Yūsuke Saitō and Yutaka Kōno, members of the squad hang out in a hostess bar and end up pursuing a girl they believe to be Chiaki Shinado. Hei, under the alias Li, manages to save her from the police. When Chiaki meets up with her supposed allies, she is nearly kidnapped, although Li manages to free her. In the ensuing chase, another French Contractor punches Lee over the railing of a bridge and knocks Chiaki out with chloroform, capturing her. She escapes from her kidnappers with the assistance of a small cat and meets up with Li again, collapsing into his arms. | ||||||
| 2 | 'The Fallen Star of a Contract (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Keiyaku no Hoshi wa Nagareta (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 契約の星は流れた(後編)) | Takefumi Anzai | Tensai Okamura | April 12, 2007 | June 17, 2010 | |
| Li brings Chiaki back to her apartment and she tells him about Contractors. When they return to her room, they find it ransacked by the men chasing after Chiaki. Chiaki asks to stay in Li's room and they spend time there together until the police arrive to investigate. They go out to eat in a diner, but are interrupted when Chiaki's pursuers appear and attack them. They escape, but Li is injured as they run. Chiaki reveals her story to Lee and entrusts him with the package that everyone is seeking. The following morning, while on the run from their pursuers, Li causes Chiaki to collapse and escapes in the ensuing chaos. Now dressed as the Reaper, Hei reveals that he is the Contractor who killed Louis before fighting the pursuers. He is shot while protecting Chiaki, who is revealed to be a Doll with the memories of the already dead Chiaki. He still manages to defeat the other contractors, though 'Chiaki' sacrifices her life to save him in the process. | ||||||
| 3 | 'A New Star Shines in the Dawn Sky (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Shinsei wa Shinonome no Sora ni Kirameku (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 新星は東雲の空に煌く(前編)) | Shingo Kaneko | Yuuichi Nomura | April 19, 2007 | June 18, 2010 | |
| A man, the only survivor of his expedition, explores the interior of the Gate and discovers a glowing flower. In the present day, Li has breakfast and stops by a small store. A schoolgirl, Mai Kashiwagi, misses her train in the morning. Li checks into a construction site to begin work and meets Kōzō Tahara, the man from the Gate expedition. Two men, monitored by Huang, check into a hotel and reveal their plans to use force to convince Tahara to obey them. Mai awakens in front of a fire and is sent home from her school. When Li attempts to drive her home, she escapes and runs off with friends. Hei later makes contact with her and entertains her. However, they are attacked as they travel through the city. Mai reacts and an inferno is seen in her eyes as Kirihara is informed of a new star. | ||||||
| 4 | 'A New Star Shines in the Dawn Sky (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Shinsei wa Shinonome no Sora ni Kirameku (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 新星は東雲の空に煌く(後編)) | Tomoko Hiramuki | Yuuichi Nomura | April 29, 2007 | June 21, 2010 | |
| The aftermath of Mai's reaction reveals that she has become a Moratorium. The collective groups pursuing Mai change their plans and her continued impulses cause additional infernos. Kanami Ishizaki, Kirihara's high school friend, discusses the Moratorium with Kirihara. During the full-scale civilian evacuation, Mai reacts again and accidentally kills her friend Yuka and her father. When the police move to retrieve her, they are attacked by Luco, a contractor. He kidnaps Mai and they use her to force Tahara to reveal his research. Tahara tells Hei of the research, but Hei leaves in disgust to retrieve Mai. He is defeated when Mai's kidnappers threaten Mai's life, but Tahara arrives, hands over the remains of his research, and attempts to kill Mai. Luco kills Tahara, and is killed by Hei in return. Mai transforms fully into a Contractor and is sent off to the Syndicate. | ||||||
| 5 | 'Red Giant over Eastern Europe (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Saiyaku no Akaki Yume wa Tōō ni Kiete (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 災厄の紅き夢は東欧に消えて(前編)) | Takefumi Anzai | Shôtarô Suga | May 3, 2007 | June 22, 2010 | |
| After a trade between a mafia group and a man goes bad, the man uses his Contractor abilities to kill the gang. When the boss attempts to escape, the other man is aided by another Contractor. The Contractors are revealed to be MI6 operatives, led by November 11. He and the other contractor, April, retrieve a woman named Havoc. A former Contractor, Havoc is taken in to be researched and examined. She is then transported with the help of Kirihara and the Tokyo police. However, the transport, a helicopter, is really a ruse to draw the attacks of other organizations pursuing Havoc. November 11 reveals that he hid Havoc in Kirihara's car, but they are soon attacked by Hei and his team, and Havoc is taken. However, when Huang checks in with Hei, he discovers that Hei has left with Havoc to interrogate her. | ||||||
| 6 | 'Red Giant over Eastern Europe (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Saiyaku no Akaki Yume wa Tōō ni Kiete (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 災厄の紅き夢は東欧に消えて(後編)) | Hideyo Yamamoto | Shôtarô Suga | May 10, 2007 | June 23, 2010 | |
| Hei interrogates Havoc as to the whereabouts of Amber and Pai, Hei's younger sister, but Havoc does not remember the day they were separated and she lost her powers, and instead tells him about how she was taken in by a Romanian family following that day. Kirihara and Saitō set off to re-capture Havoc, and November 11 and the MI6 agents step in to volunteer their services. Havoc offers to help Hei by approaching the Gate and recovering her memories and powers, but that leads to her wanting Hei to kill her, only to be killed by November 11 instead. November 11 wants to learn more about Hei and who he works for, but Hei disappears before November 11 can get any information. Huang and Mao then confront Hei, asking why he disobeyed orders and left to take Havoc to the Gate. | ||||||
| 7 | 'The Scent of Gardenias Lingers in the Summer Rain (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Samidare ni Kuchinashi wa Kaori o Hanachi (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 五月雨にクチナシは香りを放ち(前編)) | Shingo Kaneko | Shinsuke Onishi | May 17, 2007 | June 24, 2010 | |
| Gai Kurasawa, a private detective, and his partner Kiko Kayanuma, a young girl, are hired by the widow of a cosmetics company executive to search for her lost black cat. On multiple occasions, Kurasawa ends up bumping into Hei, who is on the search for the Contractor killing employees from the very same company, making Kurasawa begin to be suspicious of Hei. Kurasawa then accidentally takes the jacket of that Contractor, although he hasn't realized it, while on his way to a house upon the suggestion of his client. There, he finds a black cat (Mao) and captures it, but also unexpectedly comes across the skeleton of a long dead woman. | ||||||
| 8 | 'The Scent of Gardenias Lingers in the Summer Rain (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Samidare ni Kuchinashi wa Kaori o Hanachi (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 五月雨にクチナシは香りを放ち(後編)) | Kei Tsunematsu | Shinsuke Onishi | May 24, 2007 | June 25, 2010 | |
| Kurasawa continues his investigation, even suspecting his own client of murder, while Hei continues to go after the body-switching Contractor, Mao, who temporarily switches bodies with a crow and nearly drowns in the process. | ||||||
| 9 | 'The White Dress, Stained with the Girl's Dreams and Blood (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Junpaku no Doresu wa Shōjo no Yume to Chi ni Somaru (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 純白のドレスは少女の夢と血に染まる(前編)) | Takefumi Anzai | Kurasumi Sunayama | May 31, 2007 | June 28, 2010 | |
| Kirihara, who is investigating a string of murders, ends up at the birthday party of her high school classmate, Alice Wang, who is the daughter of the boss of the Hong Kong mafia, Qing Long Tang. The party is actually a cover for an emergency board meeting related to the deaths of several Qing Long Tang executives, and Hei is also in attendance, posing as a waiter. With the Contractor, named Wei Zhijun, on her side, Alice eliminates Qing Long Tang, but Kirihara is also on her list. | ||||||
| 10 | 'The White Dress, Stained with the Girl's Dreams and Blood (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Junpaku no Doresu wa Shōjo no Yume to Chi ni Somaru (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 純白のドレスは少女の夢と血に染まる(後編)) | Shingo Kaneko | Kurasumi Sunayama | June 7, 2007 | June 29, 2010 | |
| Hei and Kirihara barely escape from Alice, but Hei goes his own way after reuniting Kirihara with Saitō and goes after the crystal in the stone flower garden. He runs into Wei and loses the crystal in the process. Wei then meets up with Alice, but decides to eliminate her first before going after Kirihara and Saitō. | ||||||
| 11 | 'When One Takes Back What Was Lost Within the Wall (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Kabe no Naka, Nakushita Mono o Torimodosu Toki (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 壁の中、なくしたものを取り戻すとき(前編)) | Daisuke Chiba | Shôtarô Suga | June 14, 2007 | June 30, 2010 | |
| Hei has been asked to infiltrate PANDORA Institute, which is located in the vicinity of the Gate, and retrieve a Meteor Fragment, which even the CIA is after. There, he meets a man named Nick Hillman, and they find that they share the same dream of seeing the real stars. | ||||||
| 12 | 'When One Takes Back What Was Lost Within the Wall (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Kabe no Naka, Nakushita Mono o Torimodosu Toki (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 壁の中、なくしたものを取り戻すとき(後編)) | Hideyo Yamamoto | Shôtarô Suga | June 21, 2007 | July 1, 2010 | |
| Hei discovers that Nick is a Contractor with powers similar to his own. Hei follows Nick into Hell's Gate, where Nick transforms and Hei recovers the Meteor Fragment. | ||||||
| 13 | 'A Heart Unswaying on the Water's Surface (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Gin'iro no Yoru, Kokoro wa Suimen ni Yureru Koto Naku (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 銀色の夜、心は水面に揺れることなく(前編)) | Takefumi Anzai | Shinsuke Onishi | June 28, 2007 | July 2, 2010 | |
| Many years ago Yin, also called Kirsi, is playing the piano under the watch of her teacher, Eelis Kastinen. In the present, Yin has apparently run away. Kurasawa and Kiko are asked by Kastinen to look for Yin. | ||||||
| 14 | 'A Heart Unswaying on the Water's Surface (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Gin'iro no Yoru, Kokoro wa Suimen ni Yureru Koto Naku (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 銀色の夜、心は水面に揺れることなく(後編)) | Shingo Kaneko | Shinsuke Onishi | July 5, 2007 | July 5, 2010 | |
| The Syndicate orders Huang and Hei to kill Yin. However, Yin decides to continue working with Hei and the others. Yin then displays emotions by crying. Hei stuns Kastinen, and then erases his memory, on Yin's approval. | ||||||
| 15 | 'Memories of Betrayal in an Amber Smile (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Uragiri no Kioku wa Kohakuiro no Hohoemi (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 裏切りの記憶は琥珀色の微笑み(前編)) | Satoshi Toba | Yuuichi Nomura | July 12, 2007 | July 6, 2010 | |
| April spots Amber and Maki, two operatives of the Evening Primrose, and ends up in a non-fatal explosion. Meanwhile, the city is spiraling out of control as a chain of terrorist attacks occur, the culprit being Maki, on several foreign embassies, which allows the Evening Primrose to steal the Meteor Fragment. November 11, wanting revenge, chases down Amber. Hei, also wanting revenge, chases after her as well. | ||||||
| 16 | 'Memories of Betrayal in an Amber Smile (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Uragiri no Kioku wa Kohakuiro no Hohoemi (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 裏切りの記憶は琥珀色の微笑み(後編)) | Daisuke Chiba | Yuuichi Nomura | July 19, 2007 | July 7, 2010 | |
| Madam Stargazer finally speaks, giving vague information on the Evening Primrose. November 11 kills Maki in a final showdown as Hei finally reaches Amber, who has taken Yin. Kirihara also arrives at their location, but, with the help of Amber's Contractor powers, everyone escapes. | ||||||
| 17 | 'A Love Song Sung from a Trash Heap (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Hakidame de Rabu Songu o Utau (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 掃きだめでラブソングを歌う(前編)) | Takefumi Anzai | Kurasumi Sunayama | July 26, 2007 | July 8, 2010 | |
| Hei meets Kenji Sakurai of the Nakazawa Family, a clumsy yet ambitious young man. New characters are introduced who live in Hei's apartment building. Later, Kenji is given the assignment of taking care of a Doll by Hitotsubashi, his boss. Hei, Mao, Yin, and Huang try to find the Doll, who is conveniently in the hands of Kenji. | ||||||
| 18 | 'A Love Song Sung from a Trash Heap (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Hakidame de Rabu Songu o Utau (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 掃きだめでラブソングを歌う(後編)) | Eiichi Kuboyama | Kurasumi Sunayama | August 2, 2007 | July 9, 2010 | |
| Kenji falls for the Doll, and they try to run away together with Hei's help. While out shopping, Hei is nearly identified by Kirihara as BK-201, but Kirihara doesn't see the relation between Li Sheng Shun and BK-201. Later, Kenji is caught and nearly killed by Hitotsubashi when Hei saves him. Kenji and the Doll successfully run away. | ||||||
| 19 | 'Dreaming Shallow, Uninebriated (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Asaki Yumemishi, Yoi mo Sezu (Zenpen)' (Japanese: あさき夢見し、酔いもせず(前編)) | Shingo Kaneko | Shinsuke Onishi | August 9, 2007 | July 12, 2010 | |
| Hei is sent to infiltrate a religious organization and kill the prophet, named Alma. He is aided by an insider, another Contractor, named Shihoko Kishida, whom Huang appears to know. Amagiri and Alma appear to be in cahoots with Alma providing him with Dolls. A well-meant mistake on Huang's part leads to Shihoko's capture. | ||||||
| 20 | 'Dreaming Shallow, Uninebriated (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Asaki Yumemishi, Yoi mo Sezu (Kōhen)' (Japanese: あさき夢見し、酔いもせず(後編)) | Daisuke Chiba | Shinsuke Onishi | August 16, 2007 | July 13, 2010 | |
| The Syndicate orders Huang to kill Shihoko, and as a secondary directive secretly orders Mao and Hei to kill Alma, and also Huang if he fails. In Huang's past we see him falling for Shihoko, and then Shihoko killing his then police partner Isozaki. Isozaki's wife's memory is wiped by the M.E., and Huang is drafted into The Syndicate. He is unable to kill Shihoko, and asks Hei to kill them both. Hei tries to help them run away while Mao refuses to have any involvement. When they arrive at the docks to wait for a boat, Shihoko sees someone from The Syndicate and realizes they cannot escape. For love of Huang, she runs into the path of an oncoming truck and dies. | ||||||
| 21 | 'City Under Crackdown, Moist with Tears (Part 1)' Transcription: 'Shukusei no Machi wa Namida ni Nurete (Zenpen)' (Japanese: 粛正の街は涙に濡れて(前編)) | Satoshi Toba | Shôtarô Suga | August 30, 2007 | July 14, 2010 | |
| A doctor, named Dr. Schroeder, is abducted by agents of the Evening Primrose, while the American embassy in Tokyo suffers attack from Hei and his team. A new Contractor with the power to teleport herself and others appears as a double agent for the Evening Primrose. Wei reappears, but is scarred from his last encounter with Hei. Kirihara enters the embassy compound only to be detained by PANDORA, and Mao is discovered by Amber. November 11 leaves the MI6 Secret Intelligence Service for the Evening Primrose. | ||||||
| 22 | 'City Under Crackdown, Moist with Tears (Part 2)' Transcription: 'Shukusei no Machi wa Namida ni Nurete (Kōhen)' (Japanese: 粛正の街は涙に濡れて(後編)) | Hideyo Yamamoto | Shôtarô Suga | September 6, 2007 | July 15, 2010 | |
| Mao is taken by Amber to the headquarters of the Evening Primrose. While there, Amber calls a meeting for all of the leading Contractors of the Evening Primrose, including Mao, and Dr. Schroeder. She reveals that there was a plan to destroy the South American Gate, which would have led to the eventual disappearance of all Contractors worldwide. Dr. Schroeder notes that the plan was interrupted by a mysterious blue light. November 11 meets the head of East Asian MI6 operations, who is revealed to be a member of The Syndicate, and they kill each other. Hei attacks the Evening Primrose to rescue Mao. Hei uses his powers on Amber while Amber activates her meteor fragment, resulting in the illumination of the whole building in a blue light. | ||||||
| 23 | 'God is In His Heaven' Transcription: 'Kami wa Ten ni Imashi' (Japanese: 神は天にいまし) | Takefumi Anzai | Shinsuke Onishi | September 13, 2007 | July 16, 2010 | |
| Eric Nishijima is using a particle accelerator to wipe out the Contractors. Amber gathers numerous Contractors to destroy the accelerator, and Dolls to be used for some other unknown reason. Nijishima, revealed to work with The Syndicate, places a phone call to eliminate Hei and his team. Amber sends a message to Hei via Wei, telling him to meet her in the Gate. Hei agrees and thus Huang, Mao, and Yin assist Hei to infiltrate Hell's Gate with Wei's guidance. | ||||||
| 24 | 'Meteor Shower' Transcription: 'Ryūseiu' (Japanese: 流星雨) | Daisuke Chiba | Kurasumi Sunayama | September 20, 2007 | July 19, 2010 | |
| Hei's team, on the orders of Nishijima, has been kicked out of The Syndicate and contracts taken on all their lives. Kirihara discovers that 'The Syndicate' is really a collaboration between intelligence agencies of multiple countries and that she herself has been an unknowing member. Hei, Yin, and Mao infiltrate Hell's Gate while Huang detonates a suicide bomb for distraction. Mao is disconnected from The Syndicate's network. As a result, his feral cat behavior takes over, and he runs away. The Contractors of the Evening Primrose launch an attack on PANDORA security forces, leaving the way open for Hei and Yin. The Syndicate takes out the Doll system of the Evening Primrose, leaving Hei with only Yin for guidance as they head towards the interior of Hell's Gate. | ||||||
| 25 | 'Does the Reaper Dream of Darkness Darker than Black?' Transcription: 'Shinigami no Miru Yume wa, Kuro yori Kurai Kurayami ka?' (Japanese: 死神の見る夢は、黒より暗い暗闇か?) | Tensai Okamura | Shôtarô Suga | September 27, 2007 | July 20, 2010 | |
| After meeting with Amber, Hei learns that against common knowledge Contractors can become more human than was thought to be possible. Realizing his own position between the world of Contractors and humans, Hei has to make the decisive choice for both. With final farewells to his past comrades inside the Gate, and their support behind his back, Hei's decision brings forth a new future for the world. | ||||||
| 26–OVA | 'Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom' Transcription: 'Sakura no Hana no Mankai no Shita' (Japanese: 桜の花の満開の下) | Tensai Okamura | Shôtarô Suga | March 26, 2008[5] | July 30, 2010 | |
| Mayu Ōtsuka works at the Fourth Foreign Affairs Department in the Japanese National Police Agency as a liaison officer with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. She wrote a story about a masked man that supposedly seemed to be a dream, but she isn't sure. Hei and his team got themselves a new task and are looking for a numeric password attached to a sample. A Contractor took it from the Gate and buried it under a cherry blossom tree. As events unfold, Mayu seems to fall in love with Hei, while Saitō struggles to confess his feelings for Kirihara. | ||||||
Home media release[edit]
- Aniplex
| Vol. | Episodes | Blu-ray / DVD artwork | Release date | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1, 2, 3 | July 25, 2007 | [3] | ||
| 2 | 4, 5, 6 | August 22, 2007 | [11] | ||
| 3 | 7, 8 | September 26, 2007 | [12] | ||
| 4 | 9, 10, 11 | October 24, 2007 | [13] | ||
| 5 | 12, 13, 14 | November 28, 2007 | [14] | ||
| 6 | 15, 16 | December 26, 2007 | [15] | ||
| 7 | 17, 18, 19 | January 23, 2008 | [16] | ||
| 8 | 20, 21, 22 | February 27, 2008 | [17] | ||
| 9 | 23, 24, 25 | March 26, 2008 | [4] | ||
- Funimation Entertainment
| Vol. | Episodes | Blu-ray / DVD artwork | Release date | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 25, 2008 | [18] | |||
| 2 | January 20, 2009 | [19] | |||
| 3 | March 10, 2009 | [20] | |||
| 4 | May 5, 2009 | [21] | |||
| 5 | June 23, 2009 | [22] | |||
| 6 | August 11, 2009 | [23] | |||
Music[edit]
The complete Darker than Black series uses several pieces of theme music. There are three opening themes and four ending themes.
Opening themes
(Darker than Black)- 'Howling' by Abingdon Boys School — Episodes 1 - 14.[24][25]
- 'Kakusei Heroism (The Hero Without a 'Name')' by An Cafe — Episodes 15 - 23, 25 and the OVA.[26][27][28][29]
Ending themes
(Darker than Black)- 'Tsukiakari' (ツキアカリ, lit. 'Moonlight') by Rie fu — Episodes 1 - 14.[24][25][30]
- 'Dreams' by High and Mighty Color — Episodes 15 - 24 and the OVA.[26][30]
References[edit]
- General
- 'Darker than Black's Story Page' (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- Specific
- ^ ab'Darker than Black -黒の契約者- 公式サイト' (in Japanese). Aniplex. Archived from the original on 2007-02-10. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^'Darker than Black 黒の契約者' (in Japanese). Aniplex. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ ab'Darker than Black-黒の契約者- 1 (通常版)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^ ab'Darker than Black -黒の契約者- 9(最終巻)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
- ^ ab'Darker Than Black - Kuro no Keiyakusha - 9' (in Japanese). neowing.co.jp. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
- ^'DARKER THAN BLACK -黒の契約者- Blu-ray BOX' (in Japanese). Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^'Funimation to Release Love Hina, Jyo Oh Sei, Darker than Black, XXXHolic, more Tsubasa, more Negima'. Anime News Network. July 1, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
- ^'Darker than BLACK (DVD 1)'. Anime News Network. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^'Darker Than Black (DVD 6)'. Anime News Network. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^'Darker Than Black: The Complete First Season (2006)' (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^'Darker than Black-黒の契約者- 2 (通常版)'. Amazon.com. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^'Darker than Black-黒の契約者- 3 (通常版)'. Amazon.com. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^'Darker than Black-黒の契約者- 4 (通常版)'. Amazon.com. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^'Darker than Black-黒の契約者- 5 (通常版)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^'Darker than Black-黒の契約者- 6 (通常版)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^'Darker than Black-黒の契約者- 7 (通常版)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^'Darker than Black-黒の契約者- 8 (通常版)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^'Darker Than Black: Volume One (2007)'. Amazon.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
- ^'Darker Than Black: Volume Two (2007)'. Amazon.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
- ^'Darker Than Black: Volume Three (2007)'. Amazon.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
- ^'Darker Than Black: Volume Four (2009)'. Amazon.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
- ^'Darker Than Black: Volume Five'. Amazon.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
- ^'Darker Than Black: Volume Six'. Amazon.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
- ^ ab'The Fallen Star of a Contract... (Part 1)'. Darker than Black. Season 1. Episode 1. April 5, 2007. Mainichi Broadcasting System.
- ^ ab'A Heart Unswaying on the Water's Surface... (Part 2)'. Darker than Black. Season 1. Episode 14. July 5, 2007. Mainichi Broadcasting System.
- ^ ab'Memories of Betrayal in an Amber Smile... (Part 1)'. Darker than Black. Season 1. Episode 15. July 12, 2007. Mainichi Broadcasting System.
- ^'God is In His Heaven...'. Darker than Black. Season 1. Episode 23. September 13, 2007. Mainichi Broadcasting System.
- ^'Does the Reaper Dream of Darkness Darker than Black?'. Darker than Black. Season 1. Episode 25. September 27, 2007. Mainichi Broadcasting System.
- ^'Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom...'. Darker than Black. Season 1. Episode 26. March 26, 2008. Aniplex.
- ^ ab'Meteor Shower'. Darker than Black. Season 1. Episode 24. September 20, 2007. Mainichi Broadcasting System.
External links[edit]
- Official anime website‹See Tfd›(in Japanese)
Darker Than Black Complete Series Download Free
| Darker than Black | |
Cover of the first English Darker than Black DVD volume, featuring protagonist Hei | |
| DARKER THAN BLACK ー黒の契約者ー (Dākā Zan Burakku -Kuro no Keiyakusha-) | |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Tensai Okamura |
| Illustrated by | Nokiya |
| Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
| English publisher | |
| Magazine | Monthly Asuka |
| Original run | February 24, 2007 – November 24, 2007 |
| Volumes | 2 |
| Anime television series | |
| Darker than Black: The Black Contractor | |
| Directed by | Tensai Okamura |
| Produced by | Yoshihiro Oyabu Ryo Ōyama Hiroo Maruyama Osamu Hosokawa |
| Written by | Tensai Okamura Shotaro Suga (13-25) |
| Music by | Yoko Kanno |
| Studio | Bones |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | MBS, TBS, Animax |
| English network | |
| Original run | April 5, 2007 – September 28, 2007 |
| Episodes | 25 (List of episodes) |
| Original video animation | |
| Beneath the Fully Bloomed Cherry Blossoms | |
| Directed by | Tensai Okamura |
| Written by | Shinsuke Ohnishi |
| Music by | Yoko Kanno |
| Studio | Bones |
| Licensed by | Madman Entertainment Funimation Manga Entertainment |
| Released | March 26, 2008 |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
| Manga | |
| Darker than Black: Jet Black Flower | |
| Written by | Tensai Okamura |
| Illustrated by | Yuji Iwahara |
| Published by | Square Enix |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Magazine | Young Gangan |
| Original run | May 15, 2009 – January 21, 2011 |
| Volumes | 4 |
| Anime television series | |
| Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor | |
| Directed by | Tensai Okamura |
| Written by | Tensai Okamura Hiroyuki Yoshino Mari Okada Shinsuke Ohnishi Shotaro Suga |
| Music by | Yasushi Ishii |
| Studio | Bones |
| Licensed by | Funimation Manga Entertainment |
| Original network | MBS, TBS |
| Original run | October 8, 2009 – December 24, 2009 |
| Episodes | 12 (List of episodes) |
| Original video animation | |
| Darker than Black: Origins | |
| Directed by | Tensai Okamura |
| Written by | Shotaro Suga |
| Music by | Yasushi Ishii |
| Studio | Bones |
| Licensed by | Funimation Manga Entertainment |
| Released | January 27, 2010 – July 21, 2010 |
| Episodes | 4 (List of episodes) |
Darker than Black, also known as Darker than Black: The Black Contractor (DARKER THAN BLACK ー黒の契約者ーDākā Zan Burakku -Kuro no Keiyakusha-), is an animetelevision series created and directed by Tensai Okamura and animated by Bones. It premiered across Japan from April 5, 2007 on MBS, TBS, and its affiliated broadcast stations, with its satellite television premiere in Japan on Animax in May 2007. The music for the series is composed by Yoko Kanno. The series has also been adapted into two manga series, which are serialized in Monthly Asuka and in Young Gangan.
A sequel titled Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor (DARKER THAN BLACK ー流星の
On January 21, 2016, it was announced that Funimation, the North American distributor for the anime, no longer holds the license for the first season.[1]
- 2Media
- 2.1Anime
Darker Than Black Series
Plot[edit]
Ten years ago, a mysterious spatial anomaly now known as 'Heaven's Gate' appeared in South America, shortly followed by the opening of 'Hell's Gate' in Tokyo altering the sky and wreaking havoc on the landscape. The real stars disappeared, replaced by false stars. During this time, people possessing various special abilities—called 'Contractors'—emerged, each capable of different supernatural feats. Each Contractor has a corresponding fake star, which reacts to their activities. As such, Contractors are usually identified by their star's Messier catalogue number. Kept secret from the masses, these individuals are known to murder in cold blood, smothering unnecessary emotions with logic and rationality. Their incredible abilities, however, are gained at the cost of their humanity; Contractors are thus named because of an involuntary compulsion to 'pay the price' each time their power is used, which can range from eating particular foods or completing meaningless tasks, to self-harm and change their bodies in peculiar ways. Various nations and organizations around the world train and utilize Contractors as spies and assassins, resulting in violent battles for valuable objects and information.
Following the disastrous Heaven's War, the United States lost its dominant position as a superpower to a mysterious organization named the Syndicate. The story revolves around a Chinese contractor codenamed 'Hei' as he undertakes various espionage and assassination missions in Tokyo under the direction of the aforementioned Syndicate. It eventually reveals a plan of the Syndicate to erase the existence of contractors, and a resistance put up by contractors from the Syndicate itself and various espionage agencies.
Media[edit]
Anime[edit]
Season one[edit]
Darker Than Black Complete Series Download Movie
Darker than Black was conceptualized by Tensai Okamura and produced by Bones and Aniplex. The series premiered on Tokyo Broadcasting System and Mainichi Broadcasting System's Thursday late night anime broadcasting timeslot, replacing the Sunrise series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion on April 5, 2007, and similar to Code Geass incorporated corporate sponsorship of Japan News Network partners Pizza Hut and Nifty, where episodes of the series was streamed every week during the series' broadcast run.[2][3] It completed its initial run on September 27, 2007, and received its broadcasting satellite premiere on Animax from May 8, 2007 to October 23, 2007.[4] The series was also aired in English on Animax Asia, Animax's English language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia from December 2008 onwards.[citation needed] The series made its North American television debut when it started airing on the Funimation Channel September 6, 2010.[5]
The series has been released in Japan by Aniplex across nine DVDs, each containing three episodes, except for the first DVD, which had only two.[6] The ninth and final DVD included an original video animation, which expanded upon the romantic relationships between characters.[7] The DVDs were released between July 25, 2007 and March 26, 2008 by Aniplex.[8][9]FUNimation received the license for the series in Region 1 and has released one DVD compilation with two more coming in the future.[10] The first English DVD was released on November 25, 2008 and the second and third DVDs were released on January 20, 2009 and March 10, 2009 respectively.[11][12][13] Volume 4 was released on May 5, 2009[14] with Volume 5 released on June 23, 2009.[15] Volume 6 was released on August 11, 2009 and is now available. In May 2010, Funimation released the entire first season in a complete box set; it was originally released in March, but was recalled due to a defective disk.[citation needed] The Blu-ray Box was released in Japan on September 30, 2009 with a guidebook with several unreleased music tracks not available in the OSTs.[16][17] The opening themes are 'HOWLING' by abingdon boys school (eps 1-14) and 'Kakusei Heroism ~The Hero Without A Name~' by An Cafe (eps 15-23,25) and the ending themes are 'Tsukiakari' by Rie fu (eps 1-14) and 'Dreams' by HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR (eps 15-24).
Season two[edit]
A document containing information about Bones staff and production details, was leaked onto the Japanese filesharing site uploader.jp, within the Microsoft Excelspreadsheet format, on July 2008.[18] Among other details, including confidential contact information in regards to Bones staff members, it revealed that a second Darker than Black and Fullmetal Alchemist series was in production and were being directed by Tensai Okamura and Yasuhiro Irie respectively.[18] This information regarding Fullmetal Alchemist, which had never been previously released, was later proven to be true on January 2009.[18] In an official statement posted on Bones' official website, co-founder and president Masahiko Minami claimed that the document was not released by the studio themselves but by an unnamed third-party. In a later statement, Minami also stated in regards to the two new series, 'It hasn't been decided yet. We are interested in doing them. As original science-fiction works, they were extremely fascinating. With these kinds of dramatic story lines, I feel that there's a lot we could do potentially.'[19] Six months later, however, the second series for Fullmetal Alchemist was confirmed to be in production with Yasuhiro Irie as director, thus confirming the document's validity.[18] The second Darker than Black series was confirmed in the 12th issue of Square Enix's Young Gangan Magazine.[20] In the 14th issue of Young Gangan, the title was revealed as Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor (DARKER THAN BLACK ー流星の双子ーDākā Zan Burakku -Ryūsei no Jemini-). The sequel began airing in October 2009 and ended in December 2009.[21] At Anime Expo 2010, Funimation Entertainment announced that they had licensed the second season.[22] The opening theme is 'Tsukiakari no Michishirube' (ツキアカリのミチシルベ; 'Guidepost of the Moonlight') by Stereopony (eps 2-) and the ending theme is 'From Dusk Till Dawn' by abingdon boys school.
OVA[edit]
These OVAs, also known as Darker than Black: Origins (DARKER THAN BLACK 外伝Dākā Zan Burakku Gaiden), are set in the time between the two series. Hei and Yin have left Tokyo and are on the run from the Syndicate. In the first episode, conflict ensues in Okinawa, where the agents from the Syndicate attempt to abduct Yin but are eventually unsuccessful. Hei and Yin then leave for Hong Kong. There are 4 OVAs in total, filling the gap with Hei and Yin left between season 1 and 2. The ending theme is 'DARKER THAN BLACK' by Yasushi Ishii.
Manga[edit]
A manga, illustrated by Nokiya, was serialized in Monthly Asuka. Naoshi Komi released the series to two tankōbon on August 8, 2007 and January 26, 2008 respectively.[23][24] The series has been licensed for a North American release by Yen Press.[25] A second manga, illustrated by Yuji Iwahara, the original character designer for the anime, finished serializing in Square Enix's Young Gangan seinen magazine under the title Darker than Black: Jet Black Flower (DARKER THAN BLACK ー漆黒の花ーDākā Zan Burakku -Shikkoku no Hana-) in March 2011. This is a separate one from the first and it is a new story taking place one year after the events of season 1 and it replaces the events of both the OVAs and season 2 completely.[26]
Music[edit]
| Anime soundtrack | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | July 25, 2007 |
| Genre | Anime soundtrack |
| Length | 54:00 |
| Label | Aniplex Inc. |
The original soundtrack was composed by Yoko Kanno in 2007 and contains a total of 20 tracks including the first opening and ending themes performed by Abingdon boys school and Rie fu. Other non-instrumental songs were written by Tim Jensen and performed by Mai Yamane (tracks 8, 10) and James Wendt (tracks 14, 19).[27] It peaked at number 57 on the Oricon albums chart.[28]
| Soundtrack | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | 'Go Dark' | 3:14 |
| 2. | 'HOWLING — TV size ver.' | 1:29 |
| 3. | 'High-Heel Runaway' (ハイヒールラナウェイHai Hīru Ranawei)' | 3:28 |
| 4. | 'Tenderly' | 2:19 |
| 5. | 'Sid (シドShido)' | 2:04 |
| 6. | 'Was' | 4:08 |
| 7. | 'Outside' | 2:36 |
| 8. | 'No One's Home' | 2:43 |
| 9. | 'Guy' | 2:02 |
| 10. | 'ScatCat' | 2:02 |
| 11. | 'Contractor' (ケイヤクシャKeiyakusha)' | 3:34 |
| 12. | 'Shadow' | 2:45 |
| 13. | 'Black (クロKuro)' | 3:38 |
| 14. | 'Deadly Work' | 3:36 |
| 15. | 'Stargazing' (テンタイカンソクTentai Kansoku)' | 0:45 |
| 16. | 'BlueCat' | 3:08 |
| 17. | 'Moonlight' (ツキアカリ-TV size ver.Tsukiakari TV size ver.)' | 1:32 |
| 18. | 'Water Forest' | 2:11 |
| 19. | 'Blend in' | 3:14 |
| 20. | 'Yin's Piano (インのピアノIn no Piano)' | 3:11 |
Darker Than Black Complete Series Download Torrent
Reception[edit]
The series has received positive reviews, with praise directed at its use of noir themes and plot development compared to other action anime. The anime also was awarded Best Original Anime of The Year by GoGoplex, a popular magazine for teens.[citation needed] In the 2007 Japan Media Arts Festival, it was one of the jury's recommendations from the category 'Animation Division/Long Animation.'[29]
References[edit]
- ^'Funimation's Darker Than Black License Expires'. 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
- ^'DARKER THAN BLACK 黒の契約者' (in Japanese). Retrieved 2007-04-16.
- ^Schilling, Mark (2007-03-29). 'Nifty adds free content to site'. Variety.com. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
- ^'DARKER THANBLACK黒の契約者'. Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- ^http://www.funimationchannel.com/schedule/2_e037.htm. Retrieved 2014-07-07.Missing or empty
|title=(help)[dead link] - ^'Darker Than Black — Kuro no Keiyakusha - 1' (in Japanese). neowing.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^'Darker Than Black — Kuro no Keiyakusha - 9' (in Japanese). neowing.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^'DARKER THAN BLACK-黒の契約者- 1 (通常版)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^'DARKER THAN BLACK -黒の契約者- 9(最終巻)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^'Funimation to Release Love Hina, Jyo Oh Sei, Darker than Black, XXXHolic, more Tsubasa, more Negima'. Anime News Network. 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^'Darker Than Black, Vol. 1'. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^'Darker Than Black, Vol. 2'. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^'Darker Than Black, Vol. 3'. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^'Darker Than Black: Volume Four'. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^'Darker Than Black: Volume Five'. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^'DARKER THAN BLACK -黒の契約者- Blu-ray BOX' (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-10-27.
- ^'Amazon Japan's Darker than Black Blu-Ray Box Page' (in Japanese). Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ abcd'New Fullmetal Alchemist Anime's Staff Confirmed'. Anime News Network. 2009-01-11. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^'Bones Studio Addresses Allegedly Leaked Document'. Anime News Network. 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^'Darker than Black Tv Anime Sequel Green-Lit'. Anime News Network. 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
- ^http://pds15.egloos.com/pds/200907/02/50/c0052350_4a4cc679d3803.jpg
- ^'Funi Adds Live Action Moyashimon Live Action, More'. Anime News Network. 2010-07-02. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- ^'DARKER THAN BLACK-黒の契約者 1 (1) (あすかコミックスDX) (コミック)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
- ^'DARKER THAN BLACK-黒の契約者 2 (2) (あすかコミックスDX) (コミック)' (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
- ^'Yen Press Adds Kobato, Darker than Black, Romeo x Juliet Manga'. Anime News Network. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ^'Darker than Black, Seikishi, Seitokau no Ichizon Get New Manga'. Anime News Network. 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
- ^'Sony Music Shop'. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
- ^'Darker than Black OST peak rank'. Oricon. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^'2007 Japan Media Arts Festival Jury Recommends Works'. December 25, 2007.
Darker Than Black Season 1
External links[edit]
| Wikiquote has quotations related to: Darker than Black |
- Official homepage(in Japanese)
- Official homepage (MBS)(in Japanese)
- Animax's official homepage(in Japanese)
- Darker than Black (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia