The relationship and true identities of the adults and children in the world of Darling in the Franxx are a mystery. Are the adults human? What are the true identities and purposes of the children born to the adults? In this article, we will take a thorough look at the adults and children in Darling in the Franxx. *Please note that there are spoilers at the end.
What are the adults and children in Darling in the Franxx?
In the world of Darling in the Franxx, there are humans known as adults and children (parasites). As their name suggests, adults appear to be adults. Their faces are usually hidden by masks, making it impossible to see their expressions.
The children (Parasites) born by these adults exist to fight the Klaxosaurs as Franxx pilots. True to their name, the children have the appearance of immature children. They seem to have no memory or information about their parents or where they were born. Born by adults to fight the Klaxosaurs, they believe that if they continue to defeat them, they will become adults.
Are the adults human!?
The adults' appearances are clearly human except for their faces. In episode 10, when Zorome and an adult woman began to come into contact, their faces were revealed, but they were normal humans. However, there was something strange about them, such as a heart-like object on their left chest and a lack of life in their eyes, but they were still clearly human.
Are adults immortal?!
When Zorome meets an adult woman, he utters a series of lines that seem out of place. Lines such as "I used to enjoy the taste, but that's gone now," "I think the old partnerships that were based on subsistence and survival were 'inconvenient'," and "For adults today, partners are a matter of convenience, based on old customs" were common in these lines. Common words in these lines include "old" and "old." In this case, it is unclear how long ago "old" refers, but we can at least see that this adult experienced such behavior in the past.
Furthermore, there is a scene in which an official comes to pick up Zorome and hands him something resembling his left heart. It's possible that he's exchanging this heart-like object to extend his life. At this point, we don't yet know if the adults are immortal, but the possibility is very high.
Adults have no reproductive function!?
Adult women often say things like, "I think old-fashioned partnerships, based on the purpose of living and survival, are 'restrictive,'" "For adults today, partners are a matter of convenience, based on old customs," and "Partners and I don't interfere with each other, and we each live our own lives." From this line, it sounds like life is not affected even if you don't have a partner (male, lover), and that it doesn't matter whether you have one or not. This seems to be a common way of thinking among adults, and even in the anime, you can't see any adults walking around the city together as couples. This suggests that adults have lost their reproductive function, or that their concepts of gender have become diluted.
How are children born!?
How could children be born to adults who have lost their reproductive functions? I'm sure everyone can think of this: "artificial lifeforms," artificially created beings. There's a scene in which Zorome is overcome with nostalgia and sheds tears upon meeting an adult woman. The adult woman, unlike the other adults, seems to treat Zorome with kindness. Considering these facts, it seems likely that the adult women are Zorome's genetic donors, and judging by their attitudes toward Zorome, they are likely aware of him. This shows that the children are being artificially produced using the genes of various adults.
Are the children human?!
In conclusion, they appear to be closer to humans than the adults. During a meeting, the Seven Sages observed the children of the 13 cities and commented that they "show a strong trace of antiquated behavior." This "antiquated" behavior likely refers to humans like us. The children of the 13 cities fight, worry, and discuss things, and are reaching adolescence. This contradicts the adult belief that "there's no need to talk to others" and "it's bothersome to need others for all the things in life." This makes children more human than modern adults.
Summary of the Differences Between Children and Adults
Taking this into consideration, we can summarize:
What Are Adults?
Adults are immortal beings who have abandoned all but the bare minimum of bodily functions necessary for survival, lacking in humanity. Naturally, they have lost reproductive functions, emotions, and the ability to interact with others.
What Are Children?
Children are artificially created using genetic information from adults. However, unlike adults, children's bodily functions are truly human. They possess reproductive functions, emotions, and the ability to interact with others.
Adults and Children Revealed in Episode 19 [Spoiler]
Many mysteries were solved in Episode 19. First, the adults discovered a way to become immortal using magma fuel, and most of the population chose to become immortal. However, the price of immortality was the loss of humanity, including the loss of reproductive functions. The Franxx were developed to fight the Klaxosaurs that suddenly appeared, but it was discovered that in order for the Franxx to function, a man and a woman were needed, and they also needed to have reproductive functions. So the adults created children, humans who had not yet become immortal but still had reproductive functions, and raised and educated them to use as parasites.
A Thorough Analysis of Adults and Children
Thank you for reading. This time, I've explored the relationship between children and adults. Adults are trying to become inhuman, while children, born for their use, are trying to grow and follow the path of humanity. It's a truly ironic and sad setting. I think that it is precisely because of this setting and worldview that Darling in the Franxx is so interesting. As the story progresses, adults, children, and the Klaxosaurs all mix together, so I'm very curious to see how it will unfold. I highly recommend that anyone who hasn't seen the anime check it out. That's all for now. Thank you.
