As the series proceeds, it is revealed he is the result of an experiment from the Black Order that created his artificial body and merged it with the brain of a deceased exorcist.

The character was created to bring a change to the series' predominant Western setting, with his design being based on the samurai of feudal Japan.

Hoshino found Kanda's physical attractiveness difficult to illustrate; with many details to consider, she concentrated particularly on his eyes and hair.

In the official one, Hoshino created Kanda's first friend, Alma Karma, who plays a major impact in his backstory and growth across the manga.

Kanda has been popular with the series' readers, often appearing in top-ten lists of character polls and taking first place twice, much to Hoshino's surprise.

On the other hand, his character development, specifically his relationship with Alma, his dynamic with Allen, and his backstory have earned Kanda praise.

8:140] Kanda's design "came out very naturally" according to her, because in her early manga, before she became a full-time writer, she frequently drew boys with Japanese swords.

[8] This is further addressed in volume twenty of the manga, which shows how Kanda was created in the "Mitoshiro World" during the Black Order's experiments to have more "Apostles of God".

14:18] In another question, a fan wonders if Hoshino gave him the first name "Yu" due to its similarities with Japanese words that resemble "The one who cannot read the atmosphere".

During this time he was simply called Yu (ユウ, Yū) by the scientists of the Asian Headquarters of the Black Order and by his only friend, Karma.

After being forced to kill Karma, Yu was given the surname Kanda by the character of Froi Tedoll, who acts like a fatherly figure to him.

Once the arc finishes, Hoshino wanted to establish Kanda as having stayed on good terms with Allen, even though the two characters often clashed in previous chapters.

When comparing to his manga counterpart, Sakurai noted Kanda's anime version was different in order to build up suspense for the series' future.

[13] A powerful Exorcist from the Black Order who combats demons known as Akuma, Yu Kanda first appears in D.Gray-man's fifth manga chapter.

5] While his comrade Lenalee Lee resolves this misunderstanding, Kanda continues this poor relationship with Allen during their first mission together.[ch.

Once he joins his comrades in Edo in order to protect the Generals, Kanda is trapped inside a place known as Noah's Ark alongside them.[ch.

The Black Order had launched the Synthetic Disciple Project nine years before, hoping that Second Exorcists would be able to synchronize with their Innocence.[ch.

The first one, set before the series' beginnings, has Kanda on a mission to recover missing assistants of the Black Order in a village where a witch is rumored to live.

UK Anime Network's Kevin Leathers simply referred to him as "the resident emo", a brooding character who might develop later in the series.

[28][29] Erkael from Manga News compared him with several other characters, such as Vegeta from Dragon Ball and Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto, based on their antisocial personalities.

[33] John Rose from The Fandom Post liked Kanda and Allen's partnership, considering it to be the greatest strength of the manga's second volume.

[34] Additionally, Kanda's constant clashes with Allen were praised by Richard Osborn from IGN due to how comical they were, contrasting with the series' dark plot.

[39] Anne Lauenroth from Anime News Network found Kanda's past as pitiful, since he is waiting for a love interest who might either be alive or dead.

The reviewer also addressed how killing his only and best friend, Alma Karma, in order to continue living created the antisocial traits he displays in the series.

[4] Leroy Douresseaux from Comic Book Bin enjoyed the fight between Kanda and Alma, but preferred the situation Allen was put into and said that he wanted to see more of that.

[40] Similarly, Chris Kirby enjoyed the duel's violence, but felt it was overshadowed by Allen's awakening as the 14th Noah, Nea.

[41] During the battle, it is revealed that the two fighters had been lovers; Kanda stops fighting Alma and embraces him, giving him "love" earning praise by Lauenroth for showing a more mature side of the former.

She also remarked how the scene helped to develop the character to the point that he calls Allen by his name for the first time instead of using nicknames, as he had done since they had met.

[42] Kanda's maturity, as reflected in his desire to become an Exorcist again for the sake of helping the missing Allen in the second anime's finale, also earned high praise from Lauenroth.

[43] Kirby agreed with her, noting how his return to the Black Order, despite his hatred towards it, helped to develop his character, commenting that previously, Kanda was not as engaging.