The anime series 'Darker than Black' premiered in Japan, introducing audiences to its unique blend of supernatural and espionage themes.
The second season of 'Darker than Black', titled 'Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor,' began airing, continuing the story with new characters and plot developments.
'Darker than Black: Gaiden', an original video animation (OVA) bridging the gap between the first and second seasons, was released to provide additional backstory.
The English dubbed version of 'Darker than Black' was released in North America, expanding its audience beyond Japan.
A mysterious spatial anomaly known as Hell's Gate appears in Tokyo, transforming the area and causing the emergence of Contractors with supernatural powers.
Following the Hell's Gate Incident, people with special abilities—known as Contractors—begin to appear, each with unique powers and a price to pay for their abilities.
Hei, a Contractor known as the 'Black Reaper', begins his covert missions for the Syndicate while searching for his missing sister and trying to uncover secrets behind Hell's Gate.
Hei starts undertaking various dangerous missions involving Contractors, government agencies, and secret organizations, establishing the darker underworld of supernatural espionage.
BIR intensifies investigations into Hell's Gate, Contractors, and the supernatural phenomena, aiming to control and understand the powers that have emerged.
Investigations reveal that Contractors' powers are fueled by a form of 'electricity' unique to their physiology, and that their emotions are suppressed through a cost or 'price'.
Throughout the series, Hei searches for his sister Bai, leading to personal revelations about his past and the true nature of the Contractor world.
