Pandora Hearts (パンドラハーツ Pandora Hātsu) is a shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Jun Mochizuki. Individual chapters have been serialized in Monthly GFantasy since June 2006, with bound volumes published by Square Enix. Currently nineteen volumes have been released in Japan. The manga series was originally licensed for an English language release by Broccoli Books but has since been dropped; it has been licensed by Yen Press since then. An anime adaptation produced by Xebec began airing on April 2, 2009, and finished airing on September 24, 2009. On February 11, 2010, NIS America announced it would release the anime series in North America. Nine OVAs were also broadcast in Japan, airing from July 24, 2009 to March 25, 2010. Oz, heir to the Vessalius Duke House, has just turned fifteen. His life is rich and carefree, darkened only by the constant absence of his father. At his coming-of-age ceremony, everything changes. For no reason that he can discern, Oz is cast into the prison known as the "Abyss", only to be saved by a girl known as Alice, the Bloodstained Black Rabbit. The mystery there begins as Oz unravels the mystery behind Alice, the Abyss and the strange organization known as "Pandora". With director Takao Kato, studio Xebec produced a 25 episodes anime adaptatation with music featured by Yuki Kajiura and themes by Savage Genius and FictionJunction. The series premiered on April 3, 2009 and ran until September 25, 2009. The series broadcast on TBS, BS-TBS, CBC and MBS for its initial run. On February 11, 2010, NIS America announced the licensing of the series in North America, and released English-subtitled DVDs of the anime on October 26, 2010. Chains (チェイン Chein) Beings from the Abyss that were at one point human, transformed by the Will of the Abyss. They must sign a contract with a human contractor in order to leave the Abyss. Chains involved in illegal contracts must repeatedly consume humans in order to gain power. Some chains, such as Humpty Dumpty, can have multiple contracts. When they do, for each contract it makes, the revolution on an illegal contractor seal will slow down even more. Contract (契約 Keiyaku) An agreement between a chain and a contractor. The chain is bound within the contractor and can be called out at will. In return, the contractor provides passage for the chain out of the Abyss. Legal contracts, that were made possible by Pandora, granted the ability never to age the Contractor. In illegal contracts, a clock-like seal appears somewhere on the Contractor's body, over their heart. Each time the chain's powers are drawn, the hand in the seal moves like on a clock. If a contract between the chain and contractor becomes void it will kill the contractor. Once the hand makes one full rotation, both the contractor and the chain are dragged into the deepest level of the Abyss. Contractor (契約者 Keiyakusha) A human who makes a contract with a chain. There are certain procedures to making a contract, but imprompt contracts can also be made, although they are illegal. Abyss (アヴィス Avisu) The world that chains come from. It exists in a different dimension as the world, and as thus, time doesn't truly exist in the Abyss. A person can find themselves in any random time period upon exiting the Abyss, though usually the person is transported forward in time. According to Break, the Abyss can appear as a prison or a broken toy box, depending on the person. Intention of the Abyss (アヴィスの意志 Avisu no Ishi) The existence that governs the Abyss. Usually appears in the form of a bloodied rabbit doll with big round eyes. The real form of the Will of the Abyss is similar to Alice but with white hair and wears white or light colored dresses whereas Alice wears dark colored ones. Apparently the Intention of the Abyss wants Oz to go back in the Abyss, and is revealed to be Alice's twin. The Intention of Abyss and Alice were both conceived in the human world and born in the Abyss by Lacie. The Intention of the Abyss hates Alice and wishes to destroy her. It is revealed her real name is Alice as well and that the name Intention of the Abyss was only a title given to her by Levi as his experiment. She is Lacie's daughter who remained in the Abyss and became the human vessel for the Core of the Abyss.

• published: 19 Sep 2013
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