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The following is a list of characters from the Darker than Black anime series and its spin-offs which were created by Bones.
The main characters in Wolf's Rain are heroic, unlike the violent protagonists in Darker than Black; Tensai Okamura wanted the latter's characters to be flawed, in contrast to those in Wolf's Rain.[1] Character designer Yūji Iwahara inspired Okamura to work on Darker than Black, based on his work on the video game Koudelka and its manga version. The narrative was inspired by Japanese dramas, which were explored in two consecutive episodes. Okamura wanted to give his audience comic and dark stories for variety. Actual locations, including Shinjuku and a police station, were photographed to make the series more realistic.[2] Tensai Okamura found early designs unacceptable; until his image of the characters matched Iwahara's, the pictures were redrawn many times. Iwahara found his work on the anime more challenging than his manga, since he had to keep up with staff requests and had little artistic freedom.[3]
Takahiro Komori adapted Iwahara's work for animation, retaining the essence of the original designs and making the animators' work easier; Huang's hat and Yutaka Kouno's and Mayu Ootsuka's clothing were changed. Color designer Nobuko Mizuta was disappointed because much of the series is set at night and the main characters' clothing is generally dark-colored, but she gave the guest characters brightly-colored clothes. Komori said that when he draws female characters, he pays special attention to the line connecting her buttocks and legs.[4] For the OVAs, Iwahara was given the order to draw both characters Hei and Yin sexually appealing.[5] The animation studio wants the viewer focus on appealing action scenes involving Hei. However, there is a glimpse of the weakness of the character, and a tragic fate for Yin, giving the series a suitable culmination.
At the beginning of the series, The Syndicate (組織, Soshiki) is introduced as a mysterious underground organization with no apparent objective. Its operatives work with both Contractors and Dolls and even have access to M.E. technology in order to erase sightings of their affairs from witnesses' minds. The Syndicate makes extensive use of "word of mouth" communication in relaying both missions and operative status. In the later course of the show, it is revealed that The Syndicate is in fact merely another façade for a global organization in control of PANDORA, that declares to be looking for stabilizing the world order and destroying Hell's Gate.
At the ending of Gemini of the Meteor, a new Syndicate is established consisting of Misaki, Kobayashi, Mao and Madame Oreille after American occupation forces have subdued the old Syndicate.
Its HQ is temporarily located at present day Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation HQ, 19-2, Nishi-Shinjuku 3-chome, Shinjuku. The real-life MPD HQ at Kasumigaseki is now within the restricted area of the Hell's Gate in the Darker than Black universe.
A division with the PSB, dedicated for Contractor-related cases. Due to Hōrai's actions at the ending of Darker than Black, the Japanese government decides to disband the division and reassigned its officers to different divisions within the force.
Its HQ is located at the present day National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Mitaka Campus, Mitaka. It is affiliated with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. It monitors and provides information on the actions of the Stars of Contractors in the "false sky". After Darker than Black and Darker than Black: Shikoku no Hana, the entire observatory was officially declared closed with its equipment and personnel taken over by Section 3.
In the setting of Darker than Black, the MIAC has a black ops division known as Section 3, created 2 years after the attack on the PANDORA institute to eliminate any individual/group with links to the Syndicate. In addition to its mostly Contractor agents, Section 3 has a covert paramilitary commando force armed with small arms, such as the MP5 submachine gun, and tactical gear.
A staff member of the MIAC team with Genma and Mina. She usually performs support duties such as driving them around or tapping radio communications. She is captured by Hei, who interrogates her for Yin's location. She is murdered by Genma by putting her through ME Squeezer and probably also by torturing her in the process, as her body is left severely beaten, unlike Pavlichenko's.
Like its real-life counterpart, its HQ is located at Vauxhall Cross. British Intelligence originally sent three operatives to Japan to retrieve Havoc. There are five known members:
An organization promoting equal rights for contractors and their existence to be made public. Contrary to the popular belief, EPR does not intend for Contractors to rise above humanity, but rather seeking a solution for the peaceful coexistence of Contractors and human beings.
Physical quantity Alternation Natural Deconstruction Organized Research Agency (PANDORA) is a UN research agency established to investigate Hell's Gate in Tokyo. It is revealed that the Syndicate has sway with the organization and has plans to commit genocide against all Contractors by eliminating Hell's Gate.
Following the loss of the dominant superpower position, the CIA strives to restore the United States to her former glory by engaging in various international subvert operations, even as far as going for an all-out invasion on Tokyo at the end of the Season 2.
Two Russian intelligence agencies appear in the series: Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) and Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). The FSB is the domestic security agency of Russian homeland, acting similarly to the FBI in United States. Meanwhile, the SVR is responsible for intelligence and espionage activities outside of the Russian Federation. It is shown in the series that the SVR has stationed its operatives in various parts of Japan, including Hokkaido and Tokyo.
The series cast has often be compared with X-Men comics for its handling of supernatural fighters.[24][25][26] Anime News Network felt that while the setting was difficult to understand, the narrative and cast were appealing.[27] This was mostly due to the dual personality from Hei who remains as a mystery in the early episodes he comes across with two dual personalities: the assassin Hei and the transfer student Li. The fight scenes were also the subject of praise of the handling of Contractors battles which contrast the lighthearted tones of parts of the narrative more lighthearted.[28][25] Maxibe Gee from the University of York compared the cast of the anime with the handling noir series or films such as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Ghost in the Shell. Although Hei was noted to be similar to noir protagonists, his actions in the first series was noted to be different other heroes from the same genre. The handling of Dolls, most notably Yin, was noted to be a departure from popular series as she becomes one the most important ally to Hei rather than a femme fatale as a result of interacting with Hei across the series, developing a notable humanity in the process.[29]
Though Hei mentors the new lead Suou, Martin found Suou as a more interesting protagonist to the point that he felt Hei was not needed to make sequel appealing. Similar to Martin, another writer from The Fandom Post found Hei as a less appealing character than Suou which made him wonder his fans of the original series were bothered by Hei's relatively less appearances in the sequels.[30] The misrelationship Hei and Suou was noted to be also quite upsetting as a result of have the former's attacks to the latter's family. As a result, he found the OVAs important to explore the character's downfall during his journey with Yin. Nevertheless, the reviewer felt that Hei's concept of an action hero did not change.[31]
The audio of the series earned praise in regards to both Japanese and English actors though Fandom Post recommended the audience to select the later ones when watching the series based on their deliveries.[32][33] Tomoko Kawakami's performance as Amber was pointed out as "solid" especially since it was the actress' final work before her death,[25] while Jason Liebrecht's Hei was commented to be "a schizophrenic variation" of Syaoran from Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle among other appealing English actors.[34] Anime News Network claimed that both Japanese and English voice actors managed to make lipsynch be properly matched regardless of language.[27]
The illustrations and characterizations in Fujiwara's Shikkoku no Hana manga series earned praise by Manga News and Manga Sanctuary for how complex are the cast, most notably Hei and Yin. However, Harverst, was felt lacking in comparison.[35][36][37]
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