Hei (Darker than Black)

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Hei
Darker than Black character
A man in black clothing holding
Promotional illustration for Hei
First appearanceDarker than Black episode 1: "The Fallen Star of a Contract (Part 1)" (April 5, 2007)
Created byTensai Okamura
Designed byYuji Iwahara
Voiced byHidenobu Kiuchi, Jason Liebrecht
In-universe information
AliasLi Shenshun, BK-201
GenderMale
RelativesDai (sister)

Hei (Japanese: 黒（ヘイ）, pinyin: Hēi, lit. Black), also known as Li Shenshun (李舜生（リ・シェンシュン）, Ri Shenshun, pinyin: Lǐ Shùnshēng), is the protagonist of the 2007 anime Darker than Black by Bones. Codename "Hei", he is an elite contractor with the Messier Code BK-201. Following the disastrous Heaven's War, the United States lost its dominant position as a superpower to a mysterious organization named the Syndicate, with Hei working for them earning the nickname of "Black Reaper" (黒の死神, Kuro no Shinigami). As episodes pass, Hei's backstory is briefly explored as well as his own personal mission involving a lost relative whom he used to care while fighting in South America. Besides the manga adaptations, Hei is also present in the sequel Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor where Hei mentors a young contractor, Suo Pavlichenko, while searching for his missing Yin, as well as the intersequel original video animations Darker than Black: Gaiden which explores his escpae from the Syndicate with Yin between the events of both anime.

Hei's character was created by anime director Tensai Okamura who cited multiple influences such as spy, ninjas, as well as dual personality to contrast his daily life with his gruesome work. Okamura recalls being surprised by Hei's popularity within the series as his traits attracted both male and female viewers. In the anime version, Hei is voiced by Hidenobu Kiuchi in Japanese and Jason Liebrecht in English. Hei's characerization has been compared with protagonists of the noir genre due to his humanity displayed despite his cold personality.

Hei's character was well received by the audience and fans in Japan in general, appearing in multiple polls about the most popular anime characters, most notably being singled out as one of the best male characters from Japan during the 2000s. Critical response to Hei was mostly positive with his dual personality receiving attention as he is initially seen as mysterious, whe was noted to develop in the end of the first series. While his role in the OVAs was praised alongside his further explored relationship with Yin, his return in Gemini of Meteor earned mixed response for his darker portrayal and misrelationship with Suou.

Creation[]

Tensai Okamura created Hei

Director Tensai Okamura created Hei. He cited multiple influences, including the concept of a spy working for Tokyo based on ninjas.[1] As for Hei as a person, the director wanted it so that his exterior face is that of a nice young man of good character, someone with that unpolished feel. Across the narrative he tricks people who has got a secret and are trying to escape with it, and extorts information from these people. In the process, however, he manages to interact with these people he is cheating and starts wavering with the thought of "Does this guy really deserve to be killed". He wanted to have the title codename "BK201" as the series' title. However, the anime staff found it too weak and the idea was scrapped in favor of the words "Darker Than Black" MBS.[2] Originally, Hei's codename would 201-BL. 201 based on Okamura's apartment title but it was changed to the current one to avoid implications it would give.[3] In early episodes of the series, Okamura stated that he lyrics of theme song "Howling" by Abingdon Boys School focus on Hei's mind which is briefly explored.[4]

Among other staff members from the first anime, writer Kurasumi Sunayama commented on how he views the character. Sunayama says that Hei is funny from time to time, as he is trying to pretend innocent and naive as a Chinese international student while his strength as spy just overflow. A major episode with major focus on Hei's character episode twelve as it was meant to highlight the possibility that Hei is not a real Contractor due to the focus of his sensitive personality. Among Hei's multiple relationships, Yuuichi Nomura wrote the episodes focused on his issues with Amber, giving the focus on the fact the two will never form such strong bond due to the finale where Amber dies as Nomura is famous for writing tragic storylines. Main writer Shotaro Suga wrote the episodes in which Hei befriends a spy that steals an item from the organization Pandora. From this point, Hei is given a proper character arc which is concluded in the finale when he has a vision in the Gate where he is assisted by the late spy in regards to his next action might change world's setting, eventually leading to his betrayal to the Syndicate to protect both humans and Contractor from Pandora's plans to activate the Saturn Ring system which would cause genocide.[5]

According to character designer Yuji Iwahara, Hei was the hardest character to draw. The artist struggle achieve a subtle balance when designing him. In the earlier stages Hei's black eyes were supposed to be smaller, giving off a more cold feel, but he instead became more expressive. Hei's civilian persona, Li was a gentle-looking person from the point of his original design.[6] Because of Hei's cold and yet sometimes blank look, the staff decided to do something still relatively unusual in anime and draw his eyes with no highlights at all.[7] Okamura told Iwahara not to make Hei to be a bishōnen design as he was against the idea of using such beautiful archetype for the character. Iwahara recalls he changed Hei's eyes in the original design although the major aspect was the size of his eyes.[8] Hei's design was altered in Gemini of the Meteor in the form of longer hair and facial hair which Okamura enjoyed. However, this appearance was not popular within the female staff members. By the ninth episode, it was decided to revise Hei's design again under the hands of animator Hitomi Nadashima who animated such scene of Hei changing his look.[5]

Okamura was surprised by the popularity of Hei. He did not intend for him to be the archetype of ikemen character. Instead, there was concern about whether he was suitable as a protagonist for an action anime while it was in production. The director tried to persuade staff members derstand but the anime got female fans thanks to him.[9] Japanese voice actress Nana Mizuki also acknowledged Hei's popularity within the female audience resulted from his calm demeanor and his gentleness delivered in his Li persona. In contrast, Mizuki found that the regular Hei might come across as coldhearted in comparison to the friendly Li, he leaves a cool impression based on how he acts. Misato Fukuen who does the role of Yin also showed a preference towards Li's personality but she claims she would fall in love if she got the chance to meet a person with Hei's personality, citing his kindness which makes him come across more as a nasty person.[10]

Further characterization[]

Hei's appearance in Gemini of the Meteor received mixed response within the Bones staff.

Like in the previous seasons, Hei was written to be involved in appealing fight scenes during the original video animations. Okamura wanted the story of the OVAs to center on the relationship Hei and Yin have after the first anime, leading to Gemini of the Meteor. In the finale of Gemini of the Meteor, Hei finds Yin and attacks her due to the need of killing her god-like alter-ego. Although, Hei's actions in regards to meeting Yin and Izanami were left ambiguous, Okamura suggested it might give the idea of a tragic ending. In regards to Hei's history with Yin, the writer for Gaiden mentioned he did not like the fact that Hei said in Gemini of the Meteor that he was gonna kill Yin as he felt it was too depressing.[11][12]

Fuji from Aniplex wanted the fans to look forward to the first episode's fight scenes, primarily Hei's.[13] Since the first episode involves the two posing as a recently married couple, the staff wanted the fans to see through this as the major highlight as these circumstance was unusual for both of them.[14] When Izanami takes the form of Yin and becomes infatuated with Hei, the animation staff made the scene erotic.[15] The developers referred to the fourth episode interesting due to the focus on action scenes involving Hei. However, there is a glimpse of the weakness of the character, and a tragic fate for Yin, giving the series a suitable culmination. Iwahara was given the order to draw both characters in a sexual appeal.[16] For the OVAs, Yasushi Ishii wrote a song primarily centered around Hei, "Darker than Black". According to Isshi, such incarnation of the character is that of a man who fights as a savior, how to deceive salvation in a world without salvation. Hei is further characterizated as a man in a world of struggle, mercy, and overcoming oneself. Despite having such powers, Ishii wanted to write Hei as a man suffering from loneliness.[5]

During the second anime, Gemini of the Meteor, Kiuchi commented that he felt that Hei was a far darker character due to a certain incident he was not aware of. The actor stated that while Hei is notably strict with younger lead Suo Pavlichenko as a result of their misrelationship, he wished Hei would eventually show a more caring side to the teenager.[17] expressing satisfaction in voicing Hei again. Although there were only two years between both Darker than Black series, the actor found challenging his portrayal because of how different was Hei in terms of personality.[18]

Casting[]

In Japanese, the character of Hei was voiced by Hidenobu Kiuchi. He claims Hei to be one the professional killers yseen in anime, and carries out missions as a Contractor under the orders of The Organisation. When Hei carries the fake identity Li Shun Sheng, a Chinese university student living in a nondescript apartment. In regards to his Li persona, he considering him warm, but when he is on the job as Hei he takes on an emotionless, cold facade, so he is really a character with two personalities. Kikuchi claims the character was a mystery to during early recording of the anime.[10] Kiuchi noted that he faced multiple dilemmas when voicing Hei as it was often questioned whether or not he should provide more emotions when talking due to his nature of a Contractor.[19] In retrospective, Kiuchi regards Hei as one of his favorite works.[17]

In the English dub of the series, Hei is voiced by Jason Liebrecht. He said that director Zach Bolton cast everyone to sound as natural as possible. When asked if Hei was a good guy or a bad guy, Jason says he believes he is exceptionally conflicted. The actor commented Hei is might be a criminal when doing the actual killing but he has a conscious of sorts. At the time of this commentary, Darker than Black and Crayon Shin-chan were his favorite voice dubbing experiences. Jason was glad he did not have to have to make a bunch of eating noises for and not strain his voice. It was closer to this normal voice registry. Liebrecht summed Hei up as "Hitman with a conscious".[20][21]

Appearances[]

In Darker than Black[]

In the anime Darker than Black, Hei has a double persona in the series: as a civilian, he is referred to as Li Shenshun, a good-natured Chinese exchange student living in an old apartment complex for foreigners and getting by through brief part-time jobs.[22] Hei possesses the ability to generate electricity in deadly concentrations. Li's part jobs are related to the current mission he is on a contractor, a human with supernatural powers. When he is working with the Syndicate, he acts almost exactly as a typical contractor, appearing to be cold and rational. Nonetheless, Hei still demonstrates compassion and sorrow, and these mannerisms are noted as unusual by other contractors. He is aided by Yin, an artificial human labeled as Doll, and Mao, a contractor trapped in a cat's body while being overseen by the agent Huang.[23] Hei began working with the Syndicate as a child assassin to protect his sister, Bai, in South America during the Heaven's Gate war. Hei's goal is to find her once again.[24]

As the story progresses, Hei is linked with Amber, a former Syndicate agent who leads the group of contractors Evening Primrose and Hei blames her for Dai's disappearance.[25] During the climax, Hei is persuaded by his allies to work individually and focus on Amber's story.[26] It is revealed that Hei's abilities are inherited from his sister, Bai (the first contractor linked to BK-201), whose true contractor ability was manipulating molecules on the quantum level. Due to this control over molecules, Bai actually resides in Hei's body. Thus, even though he has the abilities of one, Hei is not a true contractor, because he has no obeisance and can still express a range of emotion. After meeting with Amber, Hei learns that against common knowledge Contractors can become more human than was thought to be possible. Realizing his own position between the world of Contractors and humans, Hei has to make the decisive choice for both. With final farewells to his past comrades inside the Gate, and their support behind his back, Hei's decision stops the Syndicate from eliminating all contractors with Amber's help and escapes with Yin.[27]

In Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor[]

In Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor, Hei appears in Vladivostok, seeking a meteor fragment from the young contractor Shion Pavlichenko.[28] After killing Shion's father (later revealed to be a copy), Hei mistakes Shion's from his twin sister Suo. He is the attacked by contractors from Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications's Section 3 whom Hei manages to overpower.[29] However, before finishing one of them, a trap placed by them causes Hei to lose his contractor powers. Mao possesses Suo's body and saves him from Section 3. Guilty ridden over killing Suo's father, Hei begins taking care of Suo and the Doll July as they head from Russia back to Tokyo.[30] A member from the Underworld, Madame Oreille, contacts Hei, having located the missing Yin who Hei claims he has to kill.[31] It is eventually revealed that Yin developed a god-like alter ego known as Izanami and both got split during her brief awakening. While working with Hei, Suo notices Izanami's specter awakening and seeking Hei. Suo convinces Hei drop alcohol as they get closer. In Japan, Hei learns of Yin's location after kidnapping a scientist from Section 3, Yoko Sawasaki.[32] Hei is spared by the group as he is the only one who can stop Izanami. As Yin awakes and seemingly kills Suo and July, Hei confronts her with his restored powers. It is unknown whether he "killed" her or extracted Izanami with his control over molecules. His whereabouts are unknown.[33]

In Darker than Black: Gaiden[]

The Darker than Black Gaiden OVAs explore Hei's journey with Yin between the two series. While escaping Okinawa, the duo poses as newlyweds on their honeymoon. The two are attacked by Syndicate Contractors with one of them being forced by Yin to kill herself much to Hei's shock. Hei spares the rest.[34] In the second episode, Hei and Yin then their way to Hong Kong, with Yin's alterego, Izanami, suggesting to fake her own kidnapping. The Contractors are defeated by Hei with Izanami killing another woman attacking him.[35] Amagiri from Evening Primrose rescue the two and tells Hei of how dangerous is Yin's altergo. Hei feels conflicted about Yin's current transformations into Izanami and wonders whether they should split, something which she rejects. Xin-Qi, tricks vening Primrose into attacking killing Hei while taking Amagiri's appearance while he escapes with Yin.[36] After taking down Evening Primose, Hei joins with a group of Contractors to find Yin. Xin-Qi tries to force him into killing the Doll but this causes Izanami's awakening. Yin tries to make Hei kill her, but he refuses and both are separated after an explosion. Though initially depressed in regards to Yin's apparent death, Hei learns of her status from his informant, setting up the events of Gemini of the Meteor.[37]

Other appearances[]

Hei appears in the two manga versions of Darker than Black. The first one features multiple changes from the anime as Hei is replaced by Kana Shino as main character. Shinou witnesses a fight between two Contractors. Her memories of the encounter are erased, but they soon come back and she ends up teaming up with one of the combatants—Hei. Together, they search for answers regarding her father's deceit and the organization he has become associated with.[38]

Hei and Yin also appear in the manga Shikkoku No Hana set after the first anime as both characters investigate how a Black Dandelion is giving people contractors power as requested through Amber's last wish. Such person is Harvest, a former ally of Amber who developed is using the Black Dandelion provided by Pandora whilte attempting to prove his superiority over Hei.[39] Hei and Yin encounter multiple allies and enemies with Hei confronting contractors who also possess his own powers. With Yin's support, Hei is able to manipulate his powers to create a new technique and defeat his enemy, Harvest. The two go rogue again in the finale.[40]

Besides the regular story, the fanbook included two alternative stories: in one Hei battles November 11 while getting a bath and in the other he has a meal with Mikihara, Yin and Suo. The character is also present in role-playing game Heroes Phantasia.[41]

Reception[]

Popularity[]

Hei has been a popular character in Japan, earning him the seventh place from the "Best Male Character" category from Animage's Anime Grand Prix from 2010.[42] In Newtype polls, Hei was as the sixth best male character from 2007 and later as the 10th most popular male anime character from the 2000s.[43][44] The Fandom Post noted that Hei was popular within both male and female viewers of the series and earned the nickname of "Chinese electric Batman" based on his skills while his two voice actors were also praised in retrospective.[45] In the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation from 2008, Hei was awarded as the second "best male anime character" behind Alucard from Hellsing.[46] In a poll by Anime News Network, Hei took fourth place when readers were asked as most deadly assassin.[47] Screen Rant also listed Hei as the best character from Darker than Black.[48] In a Poo poll, the character ranked as the 20th best anti-hero in anime.[49] Comic Book Resources regarded him as the third strongest ninja character in anime due to his skills as an assassin combined with his supernatural powers as a contractor.[50]

Critical response[]

Critical response to Hei initially involved confusion in regards to his true nature with Theron Martin from Anime News Network, finding him mysterious as a whether or not he was caring person or a heartless one due to how differently the character behaves across the first episodes when working as an assassin or socializing outside his job.[51] DVD Talk writer Todd Douglass Jr. agreed when comparing Hei's assassin person which still gives him signs of hummanity despite the narrative often stating Contractrs are heartless. The writer also noted the friendly and shy Li was gave such mysterious air in regards to what's the true personality of the character. Nevetheless, DVD Talk praised the way Hei is seen in action sequences are presented in the anime.[52] THEM Anime Reviews also liked the fight scenes and said that while it takes time for the anime to explore Hei's true persona and relationships, the Li persona takes part in contrasting light sidestories when interacting with other characters.[53] Inverse commented that Hei "is something of a brutal anti-hero" due to his violent action not fitting for a more heroic persona and was fashioned by works while gradually interacting with supporting characters to face an unknown group.[54] Blu-ray described him as "ruthless" already based on his first actions in the first episode and felt the handling of the Li persona establishes a repetitive scenario as he socializes with multiple characters.[55] Nihon Review said that while it is hard to get attached to the series' coldblooded characters, Hei comes across as more likable when acting as Li.[56] On another note, Holly Ellingwood from Active Anime claimed that the anime managed to humanize Hei despite his jobs as every episode shows the character in a situation where more sign of his "soul" are displayed,[57] while his apparent romantic relationship with Amber helps to demonstrate Hei's past and the people he used to get along before an unknown tragedy.[58]

Critics also commented on Hei's character development shown in the last episodes of the series. DVD Talk noted the final episodes managed to give development, summarizing the character as "always an interesting character, but the fact that the producers of the show waited until the end to give him some added development kind of felt like wasted potential."[59] Anime News Network enjoyed the revelation in regards to fate of Hei's sister, something which would shock the audience. In regards to Hei's relationships, the writer felt the staff appeared to focus heavily in the ones he has with Yin and Amber, with the latter being found as interesting as she is not evil towards Hei despite being her enemy.[60] Sanda Chroles from Active Anime commented that Hei's characterization and desires become more clear in the series' climax based on how he questions his own enemies and how he shows his desire of what type of person he wants to become.[61] Jason Liebrecht's performance as Hei was commented by Anime News Network to be "a schizophrenic variation" of Syaoran from Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle among other appealing English actors.[62]

The Hei from the sequel, Gemini of Meteor, has often been regarded as a darker character much to the shock of reviewers.[63][64] Though Hei mentors the new lead Suou, Martin found Suou as a more interesting protagonist to the point that he felt Hei was not needed to make sequel appealing. Similar to Martin, another writer from The Fandom Post found Hei as a less appealing character than Suou which made him wonder his fans of the original series were bothered by Hei's relatively less appearances in the sequels.[65] The misrelationship Hei and Suou was noted to be also quite upsetting as a result of have the former's attacks to the latter's family. As a result, he found the OVAs important to explore the character's downfall during the his journey with Yin. Nevertheless, the reviewer felt that Hei's concept of an action hero did not change.[66] Theron Martin from Anime News Network recommended the audience to first watch the original video animations as they explore Hei's and Yin's relationship and how the former changed after their separation.[67] Ent Online noted the OVAs carried "deeper" narrative due to how they focus on Hei and Yin, appealing mostly to returning fans.[67][68] In retrospective, Anime News Network claimed that Bones "took a risk" in their portrayal of Hei as alcoholic during Gemini of the Meteor and found his unexplored fate similar to the one of the anime Cowboy Bebop as neither series properly finished their two protagonists.[69]

Hei's characterization in Fujiwara's Shikkoku no Hana manga series earned praise by Manga News and Manga Sancturay for how he comes across as a complex character as a result of having both the nature of a typical human and a contractor, retaining his humanity in the process.[70][71] His role in the finale was also met with praise by the publication for coming to fight against his own rival as it further explores his backstory but felt disappointed since Hei was more complex than the psychopath he was facing, Harvest.[72] On the other hand, the Hei portrayed in the other manga spin-off by Nokiya was criticized by MangaLife for coming across as a "flat" even through the rules of the series' setting due to the handling of the cast in general.[73]

Analysis[]

Hei's character is a regarded as the balance between humans and contracts the series portrays across the narrative. While originally believed a coldhearted contractor, the revelation that Hei was always a human with supernatural powers inherited from sister, makes him to make "third option" in the narrative in regards to which class people should survive.[74] Maxibe Gee from the University of York regarded Hei as a "posthuman noir" protagonist similar to Rick Deckard from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell and more importantly Vincent Freeman from Gattaca (1997) due to their similar settings and cruel actions. Gee noted the similarities to be how their actions display moral ambiguity and personal desires. In Hei's case, the writer focused on his development and relationship with fictional humans labeled as Dolls, as both of their "identities which are formed by encompassing others, embracing the team of both humans and posthumans". As both Hei and Yin are foreigners starring in modern Japan setting, their growth is considered similar to that of foreigners. Hei's morality is challenged to be unusual despite the average portrayal of other characters like contractors or dolls who behave through a determined pattern. Hei's character stands out within the noir protagonists as in the second episode he is betrayed by a femme fatale, who is revealed to be a doll rather than a woman attracted to him. Hei's characterization and growth is compared with writer Jerold J. Abrams's commentary in the handling of noir genre as Hei "is defined by the journey he takes to understand his dual human/posthuman nature and his inability to come to terms with what he is."[75] Okamura considered Hei as an "rough, working guy" which is why Suo took the leading role as a result of his desire to make Darker than Black more innovative and contrast such type of protagonist.[76]

Hei's pierrot mask is considered as a defense mechanism compared with the darker personas of other characters like Himura Kenshin or Vash the Stampede. Ain't It Cool News stated "The mask identity is often a fun engine to exciting escapades. If the reason for adapting the mask is credible, the true personality gives the character depth." Throughout the entire series, Hei wears and removes the mask to show different sides of his personality but none of them are his true persona as instead Hei has no true personality in either side and that Hei's personality is a mix between both sides. Li is also noted to be more of a comic relief character when interacting with others ever since the first episode when he repairs television by slapping it and using his contractor power.[77]

Hei's dual personality when acting as a ruthless assassin or and his shy civilian acting as Li is distinct visually through his clothing as while Hei is masked and wears a black coat, Li instead is commonly dressed in white. The balance of the character is seen as "persona fits into traditional hardboiled rationalmasculine tropes while the Li persona is characterised by the more stereotypically feminine attributes of empathy and intuition". While Hei is depicted as a dark character, his humanity instead displayed through his interactions with other such as Yin. The humanity that Yin shows in the first series' finale when Hei nearly disappears in the Heaven's Gate manages to save Hei from dying, representing the bond the two possess. However, while it appears that the character reached its happy ending, the original video animatons and the sequel Gemini of the Meteor challenge such traditions presented in the noir genre.[75] As the sequels reveal, Hei is unable to enjoy life which gives a major impact in his personality, becoming a more tragic and depressed person,[64] leading him to start a new journey filled with hardships, doing assassination once again but still aiding the young Suo in the process.[63]

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