Movies / Animé and Toons

Darker Than Black Gemni of the Meteor

By Chris Zimmerman
January 31, 2012 - 15:44

Studio Bones is no stranger to success, garnering critical acclaim from fans for popular works such as Fullmetal Alchemist while receiving praise for breaking the mold with shows like Rahxephon. And despite the popularity of the studio’s works, Bones has rarely indulged in sequels, keeping most of their series contained with a film to bookend them should the market call for it. Darker than Black is an odd choice for the sequel treatment, achieving only middling success in Japan, and mildly positive reviews here in the states. The series structure and unsympathetic protagonist left much of its audience feeling cold until a well-written second half managed to salvage it. Along with a second season, an OVA was also developed that bridges the gaps between the two series, but released after, creating a strange dichotomy between the two if watched before the OVA.

After the events of the previous season, the next installment follows a much more jaded Hei, separated from Rin and on the run. The rest of the principal cast return, but most including Hei are relegated to costars for a majority of the episodes

One of the unique aspects conceptualized in the first season that was the power set given to each character and the rules by which they were applied. Dubbed contractors, those endowed with powers were forced to adhere to a strict contract that allowed for their use. This applied from everything to simply eating a specific food to inflicting bodily harm on oneself. However, whereas the first series focused mainly on the individual’s use of their powers, season two explores the effects being a contractor can have on a person and those around them. In addition, the season’s plotting is also changed, from being comprised of multiple arcs to focusing on one central plot.

Hei and the bulk of the cast from the first series are back, and while they are just as rambunctious as ever, their roles are more supportive to that of newcomer Suou. What makes her character a better fit for the lead role is the qualities that audiences expect from one in her position. Suou isn’t cold nor is she confident in her abilities. She struggles to adapt to her new status as a contractor, and is much more unwilling than Hei, who is back to killing without a moment’s hesitation. The chemistry that forms is not unlike that of Natalie Portman and Jean Reno from Léon: The Professional.

If there is one thing audiences can count on from Studio Bones, its sharp animation. Bones keeps maintains the quality from the first series. Naturally, the action scenes are given the most attention to detail, with slick looking sequences that will do any anime fan proud. The character designs stay consistent with those of the first, looking like a cross between Fullmetal Alchemist and the Big O.

Funimation’s release bundles the five discs, two blu-rays and three DVDs. The contents of the discs are relatively the same, with the only difference being the material is condensed on the blu-rays due to its higher storage capability. Both versions include episode commentaries along with the usual clean opener and closer.

Darker than Black’s second season is an inspired follow up to the original. The characters and the mythology behind the series remains consistent with what came before, however the added drama and human emotion is what truly puts it over. Suou is more than a competent lead with Hei adding as the support and the reason for fans to come back. The story is tighter, the characters more complex, and the action just as furious. All in all, exactly what fans of the original would expect.

A-

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12