Talk:Darker than Black

What is "Kanon"?
On this and the respective page for the second series, under the Yin section, there's mention of "Kanon", but it is nowhere explained what or who "Kanon" is. I find that terribly confusing, and badly written. Maybe someone who knows more can clean that up?

Romanisation of Hei's alias
Stop changing the romanisation of Hei's alias! If you refer to episode 11 of season 1, you will be able to see the actual Chinese characters used for his alias (timecode 04:57), which is 李舜生. The proper Hanyu Pinyin is Li3 Shun4 Sheng1, not whatever weird versions that people with no idea how 李舜生 should be read keeps changing it to. I am also aware of the romanisation offered by the translators, which is Lee ShenShun, and they are wrong and that fact can be easily verified if you check it with adapt speakers or online dictionaries. The proper romanisation for his name is obviously and definitely Li Shun Sheng according to the Chinese characters shown in the anime (as you can see in episode 11). Firstly, why Lee? Unless it is a romanisation of his name in his Chinese dialect (and that only happens for people of Chinese heritage living elsewhere). And why did people decide to switch his name around? He is not Shengshun. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 218.186.13.235 (talk) 03:34, 10 October 2009 (UTC)

Characters section
I don't think taking all the text for the main characters from List of Darker than Black characters is such a hot idea. Making sure they're constantly consistant with eachother as they each progress toward their own goals will be too much hassle. If anybody really wants them on here, then lets come up with a general couple of sentences for each that describes who they are and their roles. Leave the guts of their character for the page that's dedicated to them. -Biokinetica 07:49, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

Split again?
Should we split the page again to Darker than Black media? The front page is getting longer by the looks of it.-- Hana ichi  12:08, 10 September 2007 (UTC)


 * I think that DtB terminology should have a separate article; it'll look much cleaner with only that change. --Iriseyes 14:26, 12 September 2007 (UTC)


 * There isn't enough 'terminology' to warrant a seperate article. Besides, this article would probably do best if it stayed focused on the series itself, rather than DVD sales. This is the typical convention of animé articles, and this one doesn't have the kind of content-overload like Code Geass that warrants seperate universe and technology articles. However, I do think a media article makes sense. -Biokinetica 03:36, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

Remuneration vs Obeisance
Which is a better term to use? I know most people use remuneration because Syndicate and Sudo have been using it, but I do think obeisance is better. Remuneration means payment as in a salary, while obeisance is an act of submission. Neither is perfect but a contract doesn't honor the contractor...anyway, any thoughts? --Iriseyes 14:30, 12 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Oh, and by the way...why is the show called Darker than Blakc? Doesn't Kuro no Keiyakusha mean "Black Contractor?" --Iriseyes 00:00, 13 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Kuro no Keiyakusha is more like a subtitle; just like Code Geass - Hangyaku no Lelouch. - 29dupe 08:56, 13 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Why not just have a small section that explains that there is are two words which describe them, then when people read it we can stick with one and readers who are familiar with the other will be satisfied that it is explained. Serton 17:18, 14 September 2007 (UTC)


 * Whether or not obeisance is an act of submission is irrelevant, as 'submitting' is never outlined as the reason for the payment in the first place. On the other hand, a "salary" does not have to be monetary, it just happens to be the preferred method of compensation because of it's universality. A price paid for the rendering of services does not have to be monetary, it just most often is, and wiki's article on remuneration agrees. Remuneration in Darker than Black is quite literally, a price paid for the use of supernatural abilities. The ability/power = service; drinking the blood of children = price. -Biokinetica 01:05, 17 September 2007 (UTC)

Story
The story/synopsis I see keeps getting changed every week I check this page haha... It doesn't seem consistent, and I've seen better versions get edited out before someone else reverts it.. Any ideas?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by GinLime (talk • contribs) 07:45, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

Manga Source
There seem to be 3 volumes out already of the Manga, Darker Than Black. Anyway, the manga is being translated on One Manga.com, can this source be used? If not, remove this part. Ge4ce 17:45, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

OneManga is not translating it. They are HOSTING it. It's being translated by Bushido Angel Adventures.

Furthermore, the information on DtB is incorrect in a lot of ways. There are only TWO volumes (9 chapters+omake and 4coms) available, not seven. Also, since it was serialized in ASUKA, it qualifies as shoujo, NOT seinen. Even if the company it's under specializes in Seinen, no one who reads Asuka would think it's at all SEINEN.


 * First off, none of those are WP:RS. They are scanlation, and cannot be used as a reference. And yes, anyone who reads Asuka should know it's pretty much only shōjo. Please sign your posts by typing in four tildes (like ~ ). And also, please use macrons for "ou" and "uu" (like this: ō and ū). Thank you! わwa  らra  うu  Smile! 22:01, 28 November 2008 (UTC)

About the manga itself
The first volume starts way different then the anime, the story's summary so far: (From volume 2)

''A year ago, Kana's (Kana Sinou) father was supposedly killed in a mass murder. But one day, Kana's memory and her true feelings about his death are revealed when someone who looks just like her father passes her group on the street. This convinces her that her father survived the mass murder. Her search for her father leads to contractors (Krang), and especially a contracter named Hei.'' Ge4ce 17:44, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

29 hour clock?
Could somebody explain why the air times are listed with times that exceed the largest possible time, 23:59? As an example: "Thursdays 25:25 ~ 25:55"

Clearly, there is no 25th hour in the day...

Guspaz (talk) 04:31, 25 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Japanese people are weird. They'll write things like "March 14, 25:25" instead of "March 15, 1:25".—Ｌｏｖｅはドコ？ (talk • contribs) 04:53, 25 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Well, saying something like Thursday night when you actually mean very early Friday morning isn't too uncommon, but we normally wouldn't use that in any sort of formal writing. --00:44, 29 March 2008 (UTC)

Darker movie?
I can't seem to find anything for a Darker than Black movie, can anybody confirm it? If not, please remove it.--86.108.51.21 (talk) 19:04, 13 April 2008 (UTC)


 * "Beneath the Fully Bloomed Cherry Blossoms" is the OVA (episode 26) --Execvator (talk) 22:58, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

Is the manga really a shojo ???
Seems a lot like a shonen to me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.57.180.162 (talk) 19:11, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, it is. It's published in Monthly Asuka, which is a shōjo magazine. Please sign your posts by using four tildes (like this: ~ ).  わwa  らra  うu  Smile! 22:07, 28 November 2008 (UTC)

Romanisation of Hei's alias
I am kinda irritated whenever Hei's alias appears in the anime, because then I would have to see the subtitles that goes "Lee Shengshun". The proper romanisation for his name is obviously and definitely Li Shun Sheng according to the Chinese characters shown in the anime (as you can see in episode 11). Firstly, why Lee? Unless it is a romanisation of his name in his Chinese dialect (and that only happens for people of Chinese heritage living elsewhere). And why did people decide to switch his name around? He is not Shengshun.

Contract vs. Contractor
I don't know anything about Japanese law terms. Could you kindly explain me why 契約者 have to be translated to "Contract" and not "Contractor"? I thought "contract" was just 契約 and 者 at the end used to suggest the person who undertake the contract? —29th ( (☎) ) 19:48, 16 December 2008 (UTC)

Anime section update
Section needs to be updated soon regarding the release of DVDs in North America. Ominae (talk) 05:58, 19 June 2009 (UTC)

Remove Logo
let's remove the log and add the DVD cover instead. much more promotionalBread Ninja (talk) 16:04, 31 August 2009 (UTC)

Hei as a Contractor?
Why is Hei listed as a contractor? To avoid spoilers? Is that wiki policy? because the last episode of the first series makes it quite clear he can't really be called a contractor, while he has the powers he has no signs on remuneration, has human level emotions (all be it at his twisted level) and his sister was able to give powers without the need for a contract. 79.69.116.11 (talk) 12:35, 21 October 2009 (UTC)


 * Does it matter? Hei is commonly associated AS a contractor, that's why he's listed as one, it makes things simple.  And as for spoilers, I think I may have read it in the wiki manual or something.  Anyways, it can easily go both ways, just stop being a jerk.  His sister was DEFINITELY a contractor, her obeisance is sleeping.  And FYI, all contractors have 'human' emotions as well, they just don't act according to them.  Liu Tao (talk) 06:13, 22 October 2009 (UTC)


 * I'm not quite sure how the first post can be said to be rude but I'd say the second certainly can be. Anyway how is it relevant that his sister was a contractor? and on the point of contractor's emotions, that changes nothing as he repeatedly acts on his emotions, so setting him apart from contractors. You must accept it is clear by the end of the first series that he isn't a contractor. He after all has no contract. As for making it simpler is that really sufficient reason when it is factually incorrect? 79.69.91.38 (talk) 11:10, 8 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Anyone that refers to Hei as a contractor only do so because they do not know that he isn't one, not because they want to call him a contractor for no reason. And how mart would it be of him to tell them otherwise? He acts like a contractor when he needs to in order to avoid detection. The only strange thing is that no one on his team has noticed(at least from what i saw in the anime)that he never "paid the price" for his abilities. I would think that someone would've noticed, especially Mao. I consider that a minor loop hole in the story, but could easily be explained. For example perhaps he has a contract that no one can notice and so no one assumes otherwise. But from what I've seen most contractors have very obvious remunerations and would think the rest of team would know better and thus realize that he does not pay the price for his abilities. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.58.206.110 (talk) 21:28, 14 November 2010 (UTC)

I personally thought his payment was his eating disorder. He eats more than any human being. And quite frankly, no one listed here why he should not be called a contractor. One character in the story was trying to brow beat him, and said he's not even a contractor. That does not mean he's not, it just means the other person was trying to irk him. He even encountered a contractor with the same exact abilities as his. Defunctdoormat (talk) 00:42, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

OVA - Darker than Black: Gaiden
With the second episode having just been released, I'm surprised to see that there is no section for it. So I will therefore make a section for it, and would appreciate contributions. Terminal Shift (talk) 10:26, 25 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Thanks, I never knew a second OVA came out. Liu Tao (talk) 04:25, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

Error in DtB
Should there be mention of the fact that the relative location of Heaven's and Hell's Gates are impossible (that they are across from each other)? Using Google Maps with software creates this: http://www.freemaptools.com/tunnel-to-other-side-of-the-earth.htm. It shows that there is no location in Japan straight across from South America, only locations off the continent. Occamsrazorwit (talk) 01:54, 29 May 2010 (UTC)


 * Well, then it just means that the gates' centre are not directly opposite of each other. Also, the gates are not a single location, they each compose of a large area.

Review(s)
Manga life --KrebMarkt (talk) 06:25, 21 July 2010 (UTC)

Should a reception section be added? MindWraith (talk) 13:22, 21 December 2010 (UTC) 


 * Yes, please do. --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus&#124; reply here 20:12, 3 July 2013 (UTC)

Messier catalog number?
The article calls the star numbers of the contractors Messier catalog numbers. This is incorrect. The Messier star numbers are from a very specific catalog, which the link in the article actually explains. All 'stars' in the catalog actually start with the letter 'M', are numbered only from 1-110, and are also not stars! They're nebulae, or galaxies. As far as I can tell, the star numbers follow no known star catalog, and just use it's own numbering system. Defunctdoormat (talk) 00:42, 30 March 2011 (UTC)


 * It's been a while since you posted that but the reason they're called messier numbers is because that's what the show calls it. 86.166.27.49 (talk) 21:30, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

Contract payment
It says in the article;

It is also possible for a Contractor to fully pay off his Contract, but this is an incredibly rare feat, requiring a drastic and traumatic sacrifice. In the series it has only been seen to happen in those Contractors who have the ability to swap bodies, where their contract requires them to eventually lose their original body as remuneration; this is why Mao is trapped in the body of a cat.

But, last I checked, the swapping of bodies is actually the prce. By using his ability, he actually pays his contract, hence why he doesn't have to do any special action after using his powers. Also, there was another man with the ability of swapping between human bodies, in that episode I remember them explaining that the price for using his powers was leaving his body. Leaving a body behind is the contract, I could be wrong though and I will try to watch the episode again to see if I was right. 217.209.156.93 (talk) 18:51, 22 July 2011 (UTC)


 * It is unknown what the remuneration of Mao or the Human Possession Contractor was, but after their bodies were destroyed while using their powers it counted as fufilling their price completely. After that they didn't have a remuneration, as they already paid it.115.64.121.210 (talk) 11:03, 9 October 2012 (UTC)

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Bolds and capital titles
You think all the bolds and Japanese words should be moved to a footnote section? I mean that's quite an exploit of bolding. I remember Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School having this type of issue.Tintor2 (talk) 19:57, 9 July 2021 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure if it is necessary to move the Japanese words to footnotes, but I don't think that the article needs all that bold titles. I would say that the bolding in "Darker than Black" and "Darker than Black: The Black Contractor" is enough. - Xexerss (talk) 20:02, 9 July 2021 (UTC)

Done. I added a brief scenario in regards to what happens in the plot of both seasons. Do you think the reception section lacks something? I mean, you really nailed the Berserk manga article. There is a fanbook of Darker than Black that is filled with creation info but I can't find any scans. I guess the section that is lacking the most is production as while there is content of season 1, there is almost nothing about season 2.Tintor2 (talk) 22:08, 9 July 2021 (UTC)


 * Also, I kinda wonder if we should create a template to make the articles easier to navigate. We have the main article, season 1, season 2, the characters, and Hei.Tintor2 (talk) 22:14, 9 July 2021 (UTC)


 * The production and reception sections look fine to me. There must be more archived links about the series to add more content, but at least the article significantly improved. Yes, I think that there are currently enough articles to make a navigational box, including characters, episode list of both seasons and songs. - Xexerss (talk) 22:19, 9 July 2021 (UTC)

I messed up. Sorry.Tintor2 (talk) 22:39, 9 July 2021 (UTC)
 * I made some fixes. Now, I was wondering if a general article of the episodes should be created, like List of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan episodes or List of The Promised Neverland episodes for example. These series only have two seasons, like Darker than Black, so I suppose that is enough to create this kind of articles, but I'm not really sure. - Xexerss (talk) 23:03, 9 July 2021 (UTC)


 * We could ask in the project I guess. I think the two articles used to be together... until I split it years ago..... *sweating*Tintor2 (talk) 23:09, 9 July 2021 (UTC)

Just a possibility but I think we could create an article about the anime's music. Not only Okamura talks about the music in the production section but the official website has an interview with Kanno. Sadly, I can't say the same about Ishii.Tintor2 (talk) 00:23, 10 July 2021 (UTC)


 * I think that it would be possible with some more sources, but for the time being, the link at least would be helpful to expand the music section. - Xexerss (talk) 00:27, 10 July 2021 (UTC)


 * Or it would be also possible to create a subsection about the music in the same production section, like in the Cowboy Bebop article. - Xexerss (talk) 00:32, 10 July 2021 (UTC)

The second season has a blog too here but I really doubt it has the same amount of potential as the one as Megalobox based on how much production info I could exploit from it.Tintor2 (talk) 00:37, 10 July 2021 (UTC)

So found this interview. I have no idea who is the one talking about this but it seems he gives hints about why the second season is Gemini of the Meteor among other changes. There is also this commentary about seems more comical due to the writer feeling sad about a character he like dying here. Still no clue who wrote it but it I got these interviews from the official blog of the series.Tintor2 (talk) 01:05, 10 July 2021 (UTC)


 * I may be wrong, but they look like fan impressions or something like that (well, the translator is not helping that much). I don't really know but they don't look like interviews to me or maybe it's just me who don't know what they're talking about on those links. -Xexerss (talk) 01:37, 10 July 2021 (UTC)

Just found an interview about season 2 here where Okamura explains parts of Shion, what Hei does in the ending and why he decided to make OVAs. Sadly, the site has a link to a magazine apparently.Tintor2 (talk) 00:55, 12 July 2021 (UTC)
 * It seems that it was taken from a Comiket booklet if I am correctly understanding. I don't know if there's a way to at least cite that image. - Xexerss (talk) 01:19, 12 July 2021 (UTC)

Manga adaptations dates
I trying to find sources about the serialization of the manga. Supposedly, the first manga started in the April issue (February 24) of Monthly Asuka, but I don't see that it is even mentioned in the issue's cover and I found this link and it seems that the series began in the May issue (March 24). - Xexerss (talk) 14:40, 16 July 2021 (UTC)


 * Also, something that seems to be missing is the release of the manga's English release. I thought none were licensed.Tintor2 (talk) 15:49, 16 July 2021 (UTC)


 * Not related to the manga, but I think that the line "The series made its North American television debut when it started airing on the Funimation Channel September 6, 2010" should be removed, since the link doesn't work and there are not sources specifically backing up this. I only found this which could suggest that series started on the channel in September 2010. Also, in List of Darker than Black episodes is stated that its English airdates were between June and July 2010, but if the series started on FC in September, I don't know where those dates came from. - Xexerss (talk) 16:01, 16 July 2021 (UTC)


 * I'm busy at work so I can't do anything. Feel free to do anything.Tintor2 (talk) 16:14, 16 July 2021 (UTC)


 * I see you added new stuff. Still, was the second manga licensed?Tintor2 (talk) 20:29, 16 July 2021 (UTC)


 * Nope, not in English at least. Only the first one was licensed. - Xexerss (talk) 20:31, 16 July 2021 (UTC)
 * By the way, do you know if the title "Darker than Black: Origins" is official? I couldn't find any source that calls it like that, but I don't have any home video release, so I couldn't say if that's false or not. - Xexerss (talk) 20:36, 16 July 2021 (UTC)


 * I can't enter into the Funimation site due to my region, but not even IMDB or Anime News Network use the word "Origins". Guess it should be retitled to Gaiden.Tintor2 (talk) 20:42, 16 July 2021 (UTC)

The second season has another soundtrack as noted here. Same with Extra soundtrack Should we make table for it or just mention it in prose?Tintor2 (talk) 14:09, 17 July 2021 (UTC)


 * I suppose that there is no problem with listing both albums tracks, but I think that they should be made collapsible to avoid making the section too large. - Xexerss (talk) 14:24, 17 July 2021 (UTC)

Gemini of the Meteor
I'm not experienced with anime articles with original screenplays that got sequels other than Psycho-Pass. However, when I edited such series, there wasn't still a season 2 episode list. The thing that makes me wonder is how both Psycho-Pass 2 and 3 went from titles "list of episodes" to simply "Psycho-Pass 2" and "Psycho-Pass 3". You think we should do the same with Gemini of the Meteor's list and simply rename it "Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor"? Also, in regards to Gemini of the Meteor, I think it would be better to use the cover of the English compilation of the series since it has both Hei and Suo which helps to illustrate the series furthermore which I think is a guideline in regards to nonfree images. Lastly, is there a consistent usage of Suo's name in English? Sometimes it is written with macrons.Tintor2 (talk) 00:29, 19 July 2021 (UTC)


 * 1) It seems that the PP2 and PP3 thing is related to WP:NCTV, so I'd say: "List of Darker than Black episodes" → "Darker than Black (season 1)" and "List of Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor episodes" → "Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor"
 * 2) I agree with that, the more representative, the better
 * 3) Uhmm, I don't know about that, but I suppose that if Funimation had her name written without macron, it's preferable to write it that way, even if it's not consistent. - Xexerss (talk) 00:56, 19 July 2021 (UTC)

Wonder if the Japanese subtitle "The Black Contractor" should be used.Tintor2 (talk) 11:46, 19 July 2021 (UTC)
 * Was the subtitle used by Funimation? If it's not, then we should leave it as "" in the nihongo template. - Xexerss (talk) 12:00, 19 July 2021 (UTC)
 * Funimation's DVD has the subtitle but for some reason written in Japanese.Tintor2 (talk) 12:02, 19 July 2021 (UTC)


 * Suou,
 * Suo,
 * Suou,
 * Suo.
 * Suou

The reviews sure aren't consistent with how to write the girl's name.Tintor2 (talk) 21:31, 20 July 2021 (UTC)
 * At this point it seems that whichever option is ok. Maybe just pick one and (maybe) leave some note about the other spellings. - Xexerss (talk) 21:41, 20 July 2021 (UTC)


 * For some reason the character list uses Suoh. By the way, I changed the Gemini of Meteor image to Funimation's version but I don't know if the quality is good based on the way the dvd is seen from a different perspective.Tintor2 (talk) 21:44, 20 July 2021 (UTC)


 * I found another image without the spine, should I change it? - Xexerss (talk) 22:00, 20 July 2021 (UTC)

Yep. Also do you have Access to Foundation's site? Maybe we should use their way of writing Duo's name Tintor2 (talk) 23:36, 20 July 2021 (UTC)


 * I'll try to check on the archived links if I can find something. - Xexerss (talk) 23:45, 20 July 2021 (UTC)
 * I haven't checked Funimation yet, but according to Madman, the name is Suou. I suppose that Funimation used the same spelling, but I'll try to find out. - Xexerss (talk) 23:53, 20 July 2021 (UTC)
 * According to Funimation, the name is Suo (lol) and this Rightstuf description, that I suppose came from Funimation, also states that her name is Suo.  - Xexerss (talk) 00:11, 21 July 2021 (UTC)


 * Nice. Revised.Tintor2 (talk) 00:28, 21 July 2021 (UTC)

After a major expansion thanks to the amount of interviews from Newtype translated by fans, I divided the production section to make it easier to read. Feel free to revise anything. By the way, about the actors I couldn't find anything involving Liebrecht's comments as Hei's article. The actor has too many roles.Tintor2 (talk) 22:53, 22 July 2021 (UTC)


 * It looks very good, well done. Apparently the English home video release included commentaries from the voice actors but to find those extras may would be kinda hard. - Xexerss (talk) 23:35, 22 July 2021 (UTC)