DARKER THAN BLACK -Ryusei no Gemini- Review: Exploring the darkness of the abyss and the fate of the twins

The appeal and depth of DARKER THAN BLACK: A comprehensive review and recommendation

■Overview of the work

DARKER THAN BLACK: Ryuusei no Gemini is an anime TV series that aired from October 8 to December 24, 2009. It is an original anime work by BONES and Okamura Tensai. It consists of 12 episodes and was distributed on Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), TBS Television, Chubu Nippon Broadcasting (CBC), and the PlayStation Store. It is directed by Okamura Tensai, animated by Bones, and produced by the DTBG Production Committee (Aniplex, Bones, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Movic, Sony Computer Entertainment) and Mainichi Broadcasting System.

■ Story

A mysterious, inviolable area called "Hell's Gate" suddenly appears in Tokyo. At the same time, people with special abilities called "Contractors" are spotted all over the world. What did the unknown disaster "Tokyo Explosion" bring to humanity after the battle over the secrets of the gate and the future of the Contractors? Two years later, a new story is about to begin in winter in Russia...

■Explanation

"DARKER THAN BLACK -Ryuusei no Gemini-" is the second series of the TV anime, depicting the world two years after the "Tokyo Explosion," an unknown disaster that occurred at the end of the battle over the secrets of the Gate and the future of the contractors. The story follows Suou, a girl who lives a peaceful life in Russia, who meets Hei, formerly known as the "Black Grim Reaper," and becomes embroiled in a fierce battle between contractors. The work draws viewers in with its deep themes and detailed storytelling.

■Cast

The cast of this work is colorfully colored by a diverse cast of voice actors, including Kana Hanazawa as Suou, Houko Kuwashima as Shion, Ikuya Sawaki as Neko, Katsuyuki Hori as Professor Pavlichenko, Kiyomi Asai as July, Hidenobu Kiuchi as Kuro, Nana Mizuki as Misaki Kirihara, Kenta Miyake as Genma Chinme, Mitsuki Saiga as Minashi Hazuki, Kozue Yoshizumi as Youko Sawazaki, Ryuzaburo Otomo as Goro Kobayashi, and Natsuho Koda as Madame Oreille, and their performances bring out the individuality of each character.

■ Main staff

The original work is by BONES and Okamura Tensai, and Okamura Tensai is also the director. The original character design is by Iwahara Yuji, the character design and general animation director is Komori Takahiro, the art design is by Aoi Takashi and Okada Ariaki, the prop design is Yamada Takahiro, the color design is Mizuta Nobuko, the art director is Aoi Takashi, the cinematography is Kanbayashi Tsuyoshi, the sound director is Wakabayashi Kazuhiro, and the music is by Ishii Yasushi. Professionals from various fields have come together to support the quality of the work.

■ Main Characters

Hei is a contractor who was once known as the "Black Grim Reaper" and worked as a CIA agent. Suou is a 13-year-old girl living in Vladivostok, Russia, who is an all-around athlete with a bright personality. Mao is a contractor who was a companion of Kuro and is currently possessed by Suou's pet flying squirrel, Petya. Yin is a Nordic doll who was once a companion of Kuro and is now known by the code name "Izanami" and is under the control of Agency No. 3. Shion is Suou's twin brother who lost one eye due to the effects of a meteor nucleus and became a contractor. Other unique characters such as July, Misaki Kirihara, Genma Chinme, Mina Hazuki, Yoko Sawazaki, Madame Oreille, Goro Kobayashi, and Dr. Pavlichenko add excitement to the story.

■ Main robot items

This work features items and concepts that play an important role in the progression of the story, such as Gates, Contractors, Tokyo Explosion, False Star, ME Technology/ME Squeeze, Mitaka Documents, Izanami/Izanagi, "The Organization", Organization No. 3, Informants, Meteor Cores, etc. These elements deepen the worldview of the work and pose various questions to the viewer.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are made up of words that symbolize the development and theme of the story. For example, there are titles that are sure to catch the viewer's interest, such as episode 1 "Black Cats Don't Dream of Stars...", episode 2 "The Fallen Meteor...", and episode 3 "Disappearing into the Ice Field...".

■ Related works

"DARKER THAN BLACK -Ryuusei no Gemini-" is deeply connected to related works such as "DARKER THAN BLACK: Kuro no Keiyakusha", "DARKER THAN BLACK: Kuro no Keiyakusha Unaired Episode", and "DARKER THAN BLACK: Kuro no Keiyakusha Gaiden". By watching these works, you can gain a deeper understanding of the worldview of this work.

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Tsukiakari no Michishirube", with lyrics and music by AIMI, arrangement by Stereopony and BOND×mw, and sung by Stereopony. The ending theme is "From Dusk Till Dawn", with lyrics by Nishikawa Takanori, music by Shibasaki Hiroshi, arrangement by abingdon boys school, sung by abingdon boys school, and string arrangement by Gen Ittetsu. These songs are important elements that liven up the atmosphere of the work.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"DARKER THAN BLACK -Ryuusei no Gemini-" has attracted many viewers with its intricate storytelling and deep themes. In particular, the issues of humanity and ethics depicted through the unique existence of contractors leave viewers deeply moved and pondering. The beautiful visuals and music also add to the appeal of the work. The technical capabilities of Bones, the animation studio, enhance the beauty of the images and the power of the action scenes, providing a visual treat.

■ Recommendation points

The reasons why we recommend this work are as follows:

• Deep themes : The existence of contractors makes you think deeply about humanity and ethics. You will continue to think about these themes even after watching the film.
• Detailed storytelling : The story unfolds in each episode, keeping viewers engaged and raising their expectations for the next episode. There are also many mystery-solving elements, allowing viewers to enjoy solving mysteries.
• Beautiful visuals and music : Bones' high-quality animation and Yasushi Ishii's music add to the atmosphere of the work. The action scenes are particularly powerful.
• Characters with a wide range of personalities : Kuro, Suou, Neko, Gin, Shion, and other unique characters add excitement to the story. Please pay attention to the background and growth of each character.
• Link with related works : The film is deeply connected to the DARKER THAN BLACK series, so you can gain a deeper understanding by watching related works.

■How to watch

This work was broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), TBS Television, Chubu Nippon Broadcasting (CBC), and was also distributed on the PlayStation Store. It is currently available to watch on various video distribution services, so if you are interested, please check it out.

Conclusion

"DARKER THAN BLACK -Ryuusei no Gemini-" is a work that leaves a strong impression on viewers with its deep themes, detailed storytelling, beautiful visuals and music, and unique characters. In particular, the issues of humanity and ethics depicted through the existence of contractors will deeply move viewers and make them think. Watching it together with related works will give you an even deeper understanding. Please give it a watch and experience its charm.