Darling in the Franxx is a much talked about anime of winter 2018. With a grand worldview and plenty of hints, it is an anime shrouded in mystery. One thing that has been attracting attention is the giant humanoid weapon, the Franxx. This time, we will focus on the Franxx.
What are the Franxx in Darling in the Franxx?
Franxx are giant humanoid robot weapons developed by Dr. Franxx to combat humanity's enemies, the Klaxosaurs. Most of their appearances are characterized by their feminine form. The word "Franxx" apparently means "steel maiden" in English.
Operated by a pair of men and women
The piloting method is very unique. Pilots (parasites) are paired in pairs of one man and one woman, with the man (staymen) sitting in the rear seat and the woman (pistil) sitting in the front with a leaning forward position.
Staymen pilot the Pistil using the flight hood (displaying various meters, etc.) and control stick, which are transformed from its pilot suit. Because Pistil is responsible for controlling the robot's power, attempting to move beyond its physical capabilities places a strain on it, and any damage to the robot is transmitted to Pistil as pain, so excessive strain or damage will cause it to faint.
Connect Value is Important for Activating a Franxx
Activating a Franxx requires a connect value (a number indicating the synchronization between the pilot and the unit). This number is determined by the synchronization between the positive pulses emitted by the man and the positive pulses emitted by the woman. This is why it is necessary to build trust between each other on a regular basis. To put it simply, the synchronization rate between men and women is necessary for the Franxx to operate. If there is poor compatibility, the Franxx will not even activate.
Dangerous Operation of Pistol Alone (Stampede Mode)
It is also possible to operate Pistil alone. However, it enters a kind of rampage mode, causing the Franxx's appearance to change to that of a beast. This also seems to put considerable strain on Pistil.
The Strongest Franxx!? Strelizia!!
Zero Two and Hiro's unit. Its white motif and long horns are distinctive. Its design is different from other Franxx units, and it's simply cool. Its weapon is the "Queen Pike," a spear capable of pumping magma fuel into its tip. It's powerful enough to pierce a Klaxosaur down to its core, and its unit's performance is unmatched. It often fights in Stampede Mode.
Awakened Strelizia
When Hiro and Zero Two truly understood each other, Strelizia unleashed its true power. Its white coloring turned red, dramatically improving its performance. Its power is so great that it can repel a Super Lehmann-class Klaxosaur with a single blow, a size and strength large enough to flip a plantation upside down.
The Unique Franxx of the 13th City Unit
Unlike the Franxx of other city units, the 13th City Unit's Franxx have a variety of unique units and weapons.
Delphinium
Goro and Ichigo's robot. Its design is based on blue. The part covering the right eye hanging from its head is actually hair. It is the sister robot of the Strelizia and serves as the unit's commander's robot. It is armed with two swords, the Enbishop.
Although it is hidden by the hat, there is what appears to be hair on her head.
Argentea
Zorome and Miku's robot. Its design is based on pink. Its head features twin-tailed hair, and its legs resemble tights. Its performance is relatively high, with quick and flexible movements, making it specialized for close combat. Its weapon is the "Night Crow," which has claws on both fists.
Genista
Futoshi and Kokoro's mech. It is replaced by Mitsuru's mid-game. It features a black motif and heavy armor resembling a long coat. Its weapon is the powerful bayonet-shaped cannon, the "Luke Sparrow."
Her heart willed her into Stampede Mode, but Mitsuru stepped in and stopped her.
Chlorophytum
Mitsuru and Ikuno's robot. It is replaced by Futoshi midway through the mission. Its purple motif and visor-like head are featured. At first glance, its bird-like appearance allows for long-distance flight with the "wingspans" attached to both arms. This unit is designed for long-range support, supporting the vanguard with its built-in rapid-fire cannon and waist-mounted beam cannon. For close-range combat, it uses the foot-mounted Lance Pedigree.
The Franxx Type 9 from 9's!!
A Franxx exclusive to the Parasite Elite Unit 9's. Its white motif resembles a Strelizia. Unlike a regular Franxx, the pilots are reversed. The Stamen sit in the front and the Pistil sits in the back, and horns have been observed growing from the Stamen's heads while piloting. Its face is hidden by something like a mask and cannot be seen. It is armed with a spear called the "Amazon Pike." The unit's performance is very high, rivaling that of the Strelizia.
Mass-produced Franxx, including the 26th City Unit!!
Only the 13th City Unit possesses a variety of unique Franxxes. The Franxxes of other cities are uniform in armament, specifications, and design, making them what are commonly known as mass-produced units. They feature a gray motif and a visor on their faces, obscuring their eyes. Their performance is average to relatively excellent. They are well-suited for organized operations. It is armed with a spear called the "Pawn Hasta."
Hiro's favorite training machine!!
This training machine features a yellow motif and is much smaller than the Franxx. While Hiro was trying to reach the out-of-control Zero Two, it collided with a Klaxosaur and was severely damaged.
Franxx Summary
This time, we focused on Franxx. The 13th City Unit's Franxx are adorable because of their changing facial expressions. I'm sure there's plenty more Franxx action to come, so I highly recommend watching the anime if you haven't already. That's all for now, thank you for reading.
