Darker Than Black: Season 1

This anime is one of my all time favorites, and is not available ANYWHERE. I decided to splurge on the DVD set. It was expensive, but the CDs have English captions, and the quality is really solid. My biggest complaint is that the DVDs aren’t well situated in the holder.

Full, non-spoiler review courtesy at ~ The Huge Anime Fan blog: http://wp.me/p4tvXf-x ~Darker Than Black was one of the anime watches you sometimes stumble on and don't realize until later is pretty fantastic. Going in there were no expectations since there wasn't anything to go by. It was completely new. From our introduction to the world of Darker Than Black. Soon, you are brought up to speed on what's going on. In what's considered the world everyone lives in a few years back The Gates started to appear turning groups of regular everyday people into something other than human. They became either contractors, medatoriums, and or dolls. All of which, who aren't exactly entirely human. It's a really intriguing premise which delivers finely throughout the series.All the plethora of contractors, medatoriums, and dolls can be highly pinpointed by regular people by how they act in a complete rational plain of thought which alters their view of the world. Afterwards, in these various groups there are even more various differences. Contractors being at the top of the hierarchy have different range of powers that they can access after completing unique obsessive tasks. The cost of using your contractor abilities is your obsessive task that is different for every contractor. Varying from smoking a cigarette to undressing in public.The contractors are always coming across in various situations because of their connection to The Gates. They are set apart from human society even though they are human. Well sometimes. It's complicated but it's what is so fascinating. Contractors come off as dangerous for their abilities which they are but also hilarious in their rational way of interacting with their surroundings. Also on various occasions well aware of their powers they will allow themselves to be hired to be assassins for wealthy governments or organizations. Only making them seem cruel killers to society at large.There is widespread gossip about a contractor that is something of an enigma to even regular contractors. The Black Reaper who's real name is really Hei.Moving into the characters, Hei, is the main character that has a lot to do with the story. We are first introduced to him through a plethora of events that seem random but are, in fact, part of bigger plot in how The Gates exist and conspiracy. Yes, Hei is basically a contractor but as it turns out he's unique. He doesn't act at all like other contractors most of the time. This surprises most other contractors. Throughout the events in Darker Than Black he is after the truth of what really happened in his past during a war involving contractors. His sister died during this war. Leaving him resenful and enraged. As he searches he finds a bigger hidden conspiracy connected to The Gates that include The Heaven's Gate and Hell's Gate that will affect everyone.Now, for those of you interested in some romance in your anime there are instances of romance but they are subtle. Hei cares for a doll named Yin. She has an appearance of a petite skinny girl that is almost catatonic but don't let that fool you she's something else. She almost always helps Hei on his assignments that turn out to be dangerous. The romance in Darker Than Black isn't huge in this anime but it is there. The sequel to Darker Than Black: Ryusei no Gemini (English Translation: The Twins of the Meteor) continues the story of Hei and Yin's romance a little and brings in a new cast of characters with a new adventure. Further events are mentioned in Darker Than Black: Gaiden which is Season 3 of Darker Than Black. It's an in-between of events that transpired during Darker Than Black and Darker Than Black: Twins of the Meteor.It's important to note that this anime is very dark. While things have a tiny sense of hope there is a very tragic or more dystopian tone.Genre: Espionage, Young Adult

10 years ago, Hells Gate appeared in Tokyo. Its appearance also marked a new breed of humans: Contractors. Humans who have lost their emotions and gained psychic powers, their existence is kept secret by the government. Hei is a powerful Contractor with a dark past and many secrets. He works for a mysterious organization called the "Syndicate". He works with another Contractor, a Doll, and a regular human, undertaking some rather questionable missions.What is the Syndicate and what is Hei's real motivation?The first time I started watching this series was on the computer when I was really tired. I thought it was kind of interesting, but when I stopped watching, I forgot to go back and finish it. A few years later I found it had been released on DVD, so I thought it was time to check it out again. I was completely blown away. I was hooked from the first episode and every episode after. Every time I had to stop watching it to go to bed, I would be disappointed. I spent the day eager to get home and watch some more. I was worried at one point that when the secrets were starting to be revealed, I might be disappointed and not enjoy the show as much. But I worried in vain, 'cause it stayed good all the way through the end.The thing that makes this series awesome is the way the mystery is handled. The many mysteries I should say, are woven perfectly into the plot of each episode. The episodes start out separate, but connected, and become more and more connected as the series progresses. The excellent story is supported by interesting characters and concepts - I really love how the Contractors were dubbed Contractors because they contract for their power. So every time they use their power, they must pay a price after. The prices don't make much sense, such as the guy who needed to smoke a cigarette after using his freezing power. Hei is a very competent and cool character, one of my favorite anime characters yet (and I've watched lots of anime).Darker Than Black is a puzzle. You spend the series putting each piece into place, and when you finish, you find that while you have solved the puzzle, it is but part of a larger puzzle that you don't get to see completed. I liked it that way, but if you are the sort of person who wants the story to finish with all of the questions answered and all of the loosed ends tied up, then prepare for disappointment. And if you think that the second season will give you satisfaction, think again.If you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy stories with great suspense, solid characters, action, and thrills, then give Darker Than Black a try - you won't be disappointed!Review of the packaging 4/19/11:I just received my copy of this set today. It is a single case with a cardboard sleeve cover and contains four discs on two of those detached disc holders thingys (you know what I mean - those plastic circular pieces in the center of a case that you can flip back and forth). This makes the case a little heavier and less balanced (not sure if the case is cheap or what, but my set arrived cracked at the spine of the case). I am not particularly fond of this style, I really prefer the two slim cased cases with two discs each and a box. But I can't argue with the price, so I'll just learn to like it.

I really liked this anime and I was really looking forward to rewatching it! I waited over a month for it to get here and they gave the impression that it would be in English sub or dub but that wasn’t the case. The have a couple words in English like “set up”, “chapter” and the intro for copy rights. But I’m the settings it gives you no options for subtitles and two options for Japanese audio. (And a side note the box came dinged when it arrived)

This premium edition is a blu ray re-release of the first season of Darker Than Black. If you wish to own the first season on blu ray, this is the only option available to you as of right now. Personally I love this anime and had no second thoughts about buying this set on day 1, saying that, I am a little disappointed with how it is presented.First of all, the packaging is extremely quirky. It comes in a dark gray soft cover file folder which had a few dents simply from shipping due to it's non-durable design. Inside you get an art book and an oversizes cardboard digipack with sleeves for the discs. Since the discs don't 'click in' but are simply inserted into the sleeves they come loose, so 2 of the 3 discs were loose and grinding against each other when I opened it. Furthermore, the digipack is too fragile and has bent corners (probably as a result of shipping turbulence) -- again, flawed design.Now the good thing about it all is the actual show in HD. It's great re-watching this season in crisp HD. I personally would have preferred a version similar to the Japanese blu ray which comes in a standard chip-board box. But at the end of the day I just wanted to own this show on blu ray, which I now do.I believe this is is meant for people who are fans of the show. It is overpriced for one season of an "old" anime and the packaging is very unpractical. If you wish to get into the show, or simply want to own it but not obsessed with it, there are a few standard dvd releases which are cheaper and better to store on the shelf (oh yeah, this set is impossible to store on the shelf due to its size, it has to be laying flat). However, if you're really into the show and want it on blu ray, then you have no choice but to buy this set! And hey, to make up for your troubles that art book is pretty neat.

Darker Than Black, in my opinion, is a revolutionary anime. It possesses some very unique qualities and concepts that make it exceptional to watch. It almost feels like watching something along the lines of The Avengers because of the Contractors, who have special superhuman powers. The fact that these super-powered individuals have to pay a peculiar price to use their power makes them all feel more human and the show a little more down to earth. Some characters are cookie-cut archetypes, but most are fresh new personalities I hardly see in other Animes. I cannot stress enough how awesome Darker Than Black truly is. The ONLY reason I did not give it 5/5 stars is because I wished the first season came in Blu Ray format (still looks great though).

Awesome extras came with the blu-rays that I wasn't expecting. Only drawback was that one of the discs had slipped out so it was loose in the package when I opened it. Seems okay though.The show itself is so good in the hi-def!! Great quality.

Darker Than Black is a must see anime. Filled with awesome action scenes, clever dialogue, beautiful animation and great voice acting, it will have you hooked from start to finish. This box set contains all 26 episodes of season 1. Don't pass this one up!