Darling in the FranXX
Movies
Synopsis
In the far, post-apocalyptic future, humanity is under constant threat from giant beasts known as klaxosaurs. The surviving humans establish a mobile fort city with the ironic name of Plantation in which exists Mistilteinn, or “The Birdcage,” where children are raised in boy/girl pairs known as Parasites and taught to pilot giant mechas called FranXX. Knowing nothing of the outside world, the children of Plantation live only for their missions.
One of the children, Hiro or Code: 016, was once thought of as a prodigy, but after failing an important test he lost the ability to pilot a FranXX and with it his desire for living. Running away from his graduation ceremony, Hiro is stopped by a mysterious girl, Zero Two - an infamous FranXX pilot with klaxosaur blood and two horns on her head. After Zero Two’s partner is killed, she is convinced that Hiro is her true “Darling”...
Anime Adaptation
Darling in the FranXX is an original anime produced by Studio Trigger and A-1 Pictures. Announced at Studio Trigger’s panel at Anime Expo in July 2017, Darling in the FranXX premiered on Jan. 13, 2018. Darling in the FranXX has also been adapted as a manga by Kentaro Yabuki as well as a parody manga by Mato both published in Shonen Jump+.
The opening theme for the first season is “Kiss of Death” by Mika Nakashima and Hyde, while the show’s ending theme, “Torikago,” is performed by XX:me (pronounced “Kiss Me”) which is a band formed by the main actresses from the show - Haruka Tomatsu, Kana Ichinose, Nanami Yamashita, and Shizuka Ishigami.
Characters
Hiro / Code: 016 (Yuto Uemura / as child: Ami Koshimizu)
Once considered a prodigy, Hiro is now an outcast drop-out after the failure to pass an important test proved so stressful that he lost the ability to pilot a FranXX altogether and with it his reason for living. Hiro grew up in the same orphanage as his original Parasite partner, Naomi / Code: 703, but after they failed a test Naomi was forced to leave Plantation 13 though Hiro was given permission to stay and declined. Hiro later teams up with Zero Two / Code: 002 after her partner dies.
Zero Two / Code: 002 (Haruka Tomatsu)
Zero Two is an elite FranXX pilot who has klaxosaur blood and horns on her head. Suddenly turning up in front of Hiro and insisting that she’s found her “Darling,” Zero Two convinces him to become her new partner. She is also a member of the APE Special Forces unit with the alias “Teammate Killer.”
Ichigo / Code: 015 (Kana Ichinose)
Partnered with Goro, Ichigo is Hiro’s childhood friend and co-pilots a FranXX known as Delphinium.
Goro / Code: 056 (Yuichiro Umehara)
A childhood friend of Hiro’s, Goro is partnered with Ichigo and co-pilots the Delphinium.
Miku / Code: 390 (Nanami Yamashita)
Partnered with Zorome to co-pilot the Argentea, Miku is a stylish girl with a bright and cheerful personality who hates to lose and can be selfish.
Zorome / Code: 666 (Mutsumi Tamura)
Co-piloting the Argentea with Miku, Zorome is an emotional guy but longs to be a grownup.
Kokoro / Code: 556 (Saori Hayami)
A quiet and gentle girl, Kokoro co-pilots the Genista along with Futoshi.
Futoshi / Code: 214 (Hiroki Goto)
Futoshi co-pilots the Genista along with Kokoro and is a friendly, laid-back guy who gets along with everyone.
Ikuno / Code: 196 (Shizuka Ishigami)
A prim and introverted girl, Ikuno is a true bookworm and co-pilots the Chlorophytum along with Mitsuru.
Mitsuru / Code: 326 (Aoi Ichikawa)
Co-piloting the Chlorophytum with Ikuno, Mitsuru is sarcastic and proud. He views Hiro as his rival.
Naomi / Code: 703 (Ami Koshimizu)
Former partner of Hiro, Naomi was exiled from Plantation 13 after they failed their FranXX test.
Nana (Marina Inoue)
Familiar with the children of Plantation 13 since their time in the Garden, Nana is the parasite administrator at APE Operational Headquarters.
Hachi (Katsuyuki Konishi)
Based at APE Operational Headquarters, Hachi is the commander of the Urban Defence Operation.
Doctor Franxx (Kenyu Horiuchi)
Doctor Franxx is the elderly scientist responsible for the creation of the FranXX program. Parts of his head and hands have been replaced with mechanics.
Broadcast Information
Tokyo MX: Saturdays from Jan. 13 at 11:30 pm
Tochigi TV: Saturdays from Jan. 13 at 11:30 pm
Gunma TV: Saturdays from Jan. 13 at 11:30 pm
BS11: Saturdays from Jan. 13 at 11:30 pm
ABC: Sundays from Jan. 14 at 2:29 am
Metele: Sundays from Jan. 14 at 2:39 am
HOME: Fridays from Jan. 19 at 3:00 am
Broadcasting System of San-in, Inc.: Saturdays from Jan. 20 at 2:18 am
Biwako Broadcasting Co., Ltd.: Fridays from Jan. 23 at 2:45 am
AT-X: Wednesdays from Jan. 16 at 11:30 pm
Online Streaming
Japan
Docomo Anime Store
Niconico Channel
Niconico live
Abema TV
GYAO!
Bandai Channel
Amazon Video
Hikari TV
U-Next
PlayStation® Video
Softbank Anime Houdai
AU Video Pass
J:Com On Demand Megapack
FOD
Video Market
Hulu
International
Crunchyroll
Official Links
Website (Japanese)
Official Links
Cast
Yuto Uemura: Hiro / Code: 016 / as child:
Ami Koshimizu: Hiro / Code: 016 (child)
Haruka Tomatsu: Zero Two / Code: 002
Kana Ichinose: Ichigo / Code: 015
Yuichiro Umehara: Goro / Code: 056
Nanami Yamashita: Miku / Code: 390
Mutsumi Tamura: Zorome / Code: 666
Saori Hayami: Kokoro / Code: 556
Hiroki Goto: Futoshi / Code: 214
Shizuka Ishigami: Ikuno / Code: 196
Aoi Ichikawa: Mitsuru / Code: 326
Ami Koshimizu : Naomi / Code: 703
Marina Inoue: Nana
Katsuyuki Konishi : Hachi
Kenyu Horiuchi: Doctor Franxx
Staff
Director: Atsushi Nishigori
Series Composition: Atsushi Nishigori / Naotaka Hayashi
Music: Asami Tachibana
Character Design / Chief Animation Director: Masayoshi Tanaka
Art Director: Satoru Hirayanagi
Sound Director: Shoji Hata
Director of Photography: Yuya Sakuma
Mechanical Design: Shigeto Koyama
Klaxosaur Design: Shota Iwasaki
Mistilteinn Design: Shouko Nakamura