Darker than Black

Darker than Black is a 2007 science fiction action anime with 25 episodes. Its Japanese subtitle means The Black Contractor. It was made by the studio Bones and is an original story directed by Tensai Okamura. The show has violence and a serious, dark mood, so it is best for older teens and adults.

Ten years before the story starts, a strange area called Hell's Gate suddenly appeared in Tokyo. At the same time, the real stars in the night sky disappeared and were replaced by false ones. Soon after, some people gained special powers. They are called Contractors. Each Contractor must pay a price every time they use their power, such as smoking a cigarette or folding their fingers. Contractors also seem to lose most of their feelings and think only in cold logic.

Hei is a young Contractor who can control electricity. He works as a spy and killer for a secret group known only as the Syndicate. In his free time, he pretends to be Li, a shy and friendly student from China. Hei works with a small team. Yin is a quiet, blind girl who can watch places through water. Mao is a Contractor living in the body of a black cat. Huang is a grumpy human who gives the team its orders.

Misaki Kirihara, a detective in the Tokyo police, is also looking into Contractor crimes. Most stories last two episodes. The show slowly reveals the truth about Hell's Gate and about Hei himself.