Darling In The FranXX is a story of a world where humanity is about to be extinct. This extinction is caused by giant monsters called Klaxosaurs.
Due to this, the remaining humans are taking shelter at fortress cities known as Plantations. To save humanity from the giants, the children in these cities are trained to be pilots for the mecha called Franxx.
These huge machines are effective against Klaxosaurs. Now comes the two main characters of the story. Hiro wants to be a pilot but has lost all his confidence. And a mysterious girl named Zero Two.
Now, these two have the responsibility to save their race from extinction. Season 1 was successful and gathered a loyal fan base around it.
The fans are now waiting for the next season to happen. Has season 2 of the ultra-popular anime “Darling In The FranXX” been given the green light? We’re going to find out in this article. For thousands of fans, this is no laughing matter.
Everything we know about Darling In The FranXX so far
It all started in July 2018 when this show’s season 1 aired. Its brilliance and aesthete led several fans to believe that a follow-up sequel was most certainly in the works.
However, little to nothing has been shared regarding season 2 of the “Darling In The FranXX” anime. What little has been said is going to be explored here.
It’s been two years and fans are still holding out hope for a season 2.
After all, the delay does not necessarily mean denial. Both Studio Trigger and CloverWorks Animation Studios have been suspiciously mum on the matter.
Their silence has only ended up fuelling all sorts of fan theories about a possible series cancellation. It doesn’t help matters that Studio Trigger is not popular for making sequels.
However, thanks to this being a co-production, one studio may well pick up where the other left off.
Nonetheless, let's look at whether any sort of announcement or hint regarding season 2 has been made or not.
Official Announcements and Release Date of Darling In The FranXX Season 2
There has been no official confirmation or word on a season 2 even happening, let alone a release date.
Production updates on a sequel are non-existent as of this time. Many think that the show is under-production and will come out eventually.
So, to avoid boredom and to keep hope alive fans of this series are playing cosplays of our beloved protagonist and drawing sketches of her.
But let's look at factors other than the official announcements to understand whether we should keep our hope alive or not.
The first and one of the most important factors is the manga from which the anime is adapted.
Source Material Information for Darling In The FranXX Season 2
Kentaro Yabuki illustrated a series of manga adaptations (in chapters) for “Darling In The FranXX” in 2018. A four-panel comic strip spinoff manga is credited to Mato in the same year.
This comic strip was presently compiled into a full-color physical book, also released in 2018.
It is important to note that manga and anime diverge on several plot points. The manga is published by Shueisha.
There is 60 chapter so far, and since they’re all adaptations we can honestly say that season 1 has been fully used up within these chapters.
These 60 chapters have been compiled into 8 volumes. The last volume was released on April 3, 2020. From thereon no new volume has been published as of writing.
VolumesJapan Release DateVolume 1February 2, 2018Volume 2May 2, 2018Volume 3October 4, 2018Volume 4February 4, 2019Volume 5May 19, 2019Volume 6September 4, 2019Volume 7January 4, 2020Volume 8April 3, 2020So, there is a lack of source material to produce next season.
Now Seven Sea Entertainment has brought the license for the manga to distribute in North America.
There are definite differences between anime and manga, which fans of both have witnessed when watching/reading.
According to AnimeNewsNetwork, Kentaro has said that his adaptations are “the ultimate what-if route.”
This is the closest fans have come to an actual sequel (!) because the manga explores events and possibilities beyond season 1’s conclusion.
Popularity Information for Darling In The FranXX Season 2
Season 1’s first two-thirds were a sensation. The show ended things on a sour note, though, reducing its storytelling quality to…something best left unsaid.
That unfortunate ending cannot be undone, leaving fans of “Darling In The FranXX” developing a love-hate relationship with season 1.
These very fans believe that season 2 can and must undo the damage wrought upon the finale of season 1.
This is precisely why a possible second season remains popular to this day.
Darling In The Franxx has a massive fan following. The Twitter account has 138K followers. The last time it was updated was on Oct 17, 2020.
This huge following is rarely seen in average anime so, it's indicative of this anime's huge popularity.
Now let's see whether google trends for this anime are upward or not.
Google Trends
Google trend tells a lot about the popularity of any series. It helps to determine the demand for the next season.
As for the Darling in the Franxx Season 2, the trend was rising from 2019 to 2020 but after the first month of 2021, it started to fall.
Presently it's in the range of 20-25 percent of the peak value which was seen in January 2021.
Google Search
Google searches for a particular term tell us how many genuine people are out there searching for information on that query.
As for as season 2 of Darling in the FranXX is concerned searches are average with 21K people out there around the globe.
A majority of search comes from the US followed by the Philippines, Indonesia, and the rest from others.
If the monthly searches were close to 100K or more then it would have been a pretty strong indicator for the next season.
Online Reactions for Darling In The FranXX Season 2
Today, reactions on social media platforms matter a lot. If most of the comments, and posts are positive then you are good to go otherwise you need to think before taking any serious decision.
So, let's see how fans have reacted to Darling in the Franxx.
What you see above. It is self-explanatory and shows demand for season 2. Fans are continuously craving season 2. We hope patience should pay finally.
This is a very detailed post on Reddit. You can read for yourself what the Redditor has to say, why there might not be a season 2. I know It hurts.
Quora
Again, a very detailed post. This post may serve as a spoiler for you, but it provides a detailed peak about Darling In The Franxx's pros and cons.
You can see that fans are widely engaged on social media and depict future possibilities.
Expected Plot of Darling In The FranXX Season 2
Season 1 unraveled in a post-apocalyptic world antagonized by monsters called Klaxosaurs and defended by a relatively small number of mecha-pilots.
Mecha-pilots (aka Parasites) wield machines called FranXX to protect the last remaining collections of ‘Plantations’ where humans dwell.
This core plotline is sure to carry over onto season 2.
Klaxosaur classifications are Conrad, Mohorovičić, Gutenberg, and (Super) Lehmann. These may evolve or stay the same in season 2.
A mysterious organization called APE, led by Papa was already making plans to desert Earth. We may learn more about this planetary departure in season 2.
The idea of ‘non-synchronization’ played a potent part in season 1.
Hiro (hailing from Plantation 13) failed to ‘synchronize’ with his Parasite partner, which led to him failing the test that would allow him to enter and use FranXX machines.
Season 2 may shed more light on this core plot point, especially on how to make syncing more efficient.
They may even use the inability to do so to generate plot tension.
“Darling In The FranXX” S01E24 (season 1, episode 24) made it quite clear that the lives of the show’s main characters were in peril.
Season 2 (if it comes out) will most definitely provide answers to their circumstances and dilemmas.
Why We Want Darling In The FranXX Season 2 So Badly?
The creators and writers of season 1 quite literally – whether intentionally or otherwise – built the show up only to break it down.
Near the end, fans were left with so many holes unfilled, or rather unfulfilled, that the only logical way to redeem this exquisite series is to give it the season 2 it deserves.
This is, quite frankly, the single main reason fans of the “Darling In The FranXX” anime want a season 2. Let’s hope the creators get the message.
Major questions remain! Why is Ikuno aging faster than others? How exactly did Zero Two and Hiro even disconnect, and did they ever get back together?
Are Naomi and Ikuno dating? How exactly does the final battle even progress? What precisely is Goro searching for?
Did Hiro and Zero Two even destroy the so-called indestructible VIRM? What happens to all those kids who do not pass the test as Parasites?
How on Earth did Ai (daughter of Mitsuru and Kokoro) sense goings-on in Space?
How is everyone on Earth carrying on with their normal lives when there’s a game-changing extinction-centric space war going on involving the VIRM and Zero Two + Hiro?
Ratings and Awards Won So Far By Darling In The FranXX
WebsitesRatingsIMDb7.1/10Myanimelist7.27/10Crunchyroll4.5/5The show has earned critical acclaim and multiple nominations.
It won the Newtype Anime Awards’ ‘Best Mechanical Design’ in 2018, credited to Shigeto Koyama.
It also won Crunchyroll Anime Awards’ ‘Best Opening Sequence’ in 2019, credited to the ‘Kiss of Death’ song by Mika Nakashima.
“Darling In The FranXX” enjoys a 7.1 rating on IMDB (categories: Animation, Action, Drama), as rated by 4,638 users; as of this writing.
Top Five Best-Rated Episodes
Darling In The FranXX is a well-received anime with tons of fans waiting for its second season. It has many great episodes and some of them are highly rated by the fans, so let's take a look at some.
1. The Beast And The Prince (Episode 13)
This episode has a rating of 4.9/5 on MyAnimeList. The dark forest's beast princess in this episode meets and falls in love with a lovely prince.
The princess is strong and powerful, but by accident, she found herself in a place where humans live, where she met her prince.
2. Jian (Episode 15)
This episode has a rating of 4.7/5 on MyAnimeList. The human and Klaxosaur clashes in this episode are spectacular.
While the rest of Squad 13 attempts to defeat the Klaxosaur, Hiro initially chooses not to join.
3. Flap Flap (Episode 4)
This episode has a rating of 4.6/5 on MyAnimeList. The squad is not feeling well after a challenging and perilous mission.
The chief calls Strelizia back to fight as he grows agitated.
4. DARLING in the FRANXX (Episode 6)
This episode has a rating of 4.6/5 on MyAnimeList. The episode is about Squad 13 worrying about Hiro while fighting a dangerous battle.
They are all thinking about Hiro and Zero Two.
5. The Garden Where It All Began (Episode 12)
This episode has a rating of 4.5/6 on MyAnimeList. Every second that goes by, Zero Two's mental state deteriorates more and more.
Squad 13 is concerned and looking for anything that can be of help. When they encounter Nine Alpha, he gives them more details on Zero Two.
Darling In The FranXX Manga, DVD/Blu-ray Sales
Light Novel/Manga sales: The manga adaptations of this show have sold over 400,000 copies in Japan.
Blu-ray/DVD Sales
Volume 1 DVDs enjoyed some fine sales.
More than 6,186 copies were sold in Japan alone.
But the ‘Age of Streaming’ has arrived, and it has altered the way creative heads factor in a show or film’s success. Anime and streaming revenue have begun to go hand in hand.
Will the show’s streaming-platform popularity have anything to do with its influencing a second season? We cannot verifiably affirm anything at this point.
Merchandise Sales
This is one of the most profitable sources of income for the makers of this show.
Print-based merchandise on posters and clothes (Zero Two hoodies, t-shirts, masks), action figures, keychains, stickers, and a whole host of other collectibles round off the “Darling In The FranXX” merch market.
Manga Sales
Manga sales figure tells about the passive income source of an anime. In 2018 around whopping 400,000 copies of the manga were sold in Japan.
This is whopping like drifters.
Popular Darling In The FranXX Characters
Every fan of this show knows who’s possibly going to make a comeback and who they want to see more of going forward.
Hiro and Zero Two are most definitely top on that list.
Goro
He’s contributed plenty to Squad 13’s cause and is everyone’s favorite 'best bro’.
Aka Code 56, Goro displays distinct leadership qualities though he is not the gang’s leader.
His will to sacrifice himself for others has also endeared him to fans.
His one-sided love for Ichigo is remarkable for a lot of reasons, chief among them being his understanding that her heart belongs to Hiro.
A powerful scene-moment involving Goro was when he scolded Hiro for wanting to fly off to space to support Zero Two.
Fans gradually came to realize that Goro was being quite hypocritical at that moment.
His need for Hiro to stay was based on a selfish desire to not have the consequences of his leaving affect him.
This is especially true in connection to his timidity when it comes to telling Ichigo how he truly feels about her.
This was a deep introspective moment for Goro as a character.
Zorome
Aka Code 666, the easily offended, constantly critical, ever-arrogant, and favor-seeking (from Papa, the chief of APE) Zorome is not a beloved character, albeit a significant one in the show.
Along with his co-pilot Miku, he lends the show some important scene elements and character contrasts.
His whole aim in life is to become an adult. But he remains ignorant of the many changes and alterations to his character that such a process will surely involve.
Case in point, Papa’s betrayal of the children. It destroys Zorome, making fans truly feel for him during his ‘lost identity’ moments.
It was a cheer-worthy scene to watch the animus designed to shield Papa be used against him instead.
Through Zorome’s eyes, fans learned that blind faith is never a good thing.
Nana
If her name sounds like ‘nanny’, that’s completely intentional. Nana does play the role of a nanny-like manager for the kids in Squad 13.
She’s one of the first adults that fans see in the series.
The usually reserved and almost emotionless Nana is known for making tough choices. She leaves a child behind to protect the others when one of the Plantations faces danger.
As the show progressed, fans learned that Nana'sstate of mind’ was a result of time spent (involuntarily) at a re-education facility.
The scenes involving Kokoro’s pregnancy served as quite the comic relief regarding Nana’s character.
Her regression and the re-conditioning arc are interesting to observe.
The moment she realizes that her world rules were all lies, rendered this series that much more significant.
Miku
The ‘twin-tailed tsundere’ classic anime trope is embodied by the character of Miku, aka Code 390. Her pairing with Zorome adds to her character value in the show.
The easily provoked super-girly Miku is a fan favorite for several reasons.
She is as unapologetic as she is opinionated, making her quite a bold and inspiring character in the series.
‘Never back down is a phrase best attributed to Miku.
She’s the first child in the show to reveal full-fledged aging.
The scenes where she discovers grey hairs and when she lets her hair fall loose in a rather adult fashion all contain powerful symbolic coming-of-age undertones.
Miku has proven to be an important character in the show. Her involvement is key in the story arcs of several other core characters.
Futoshi
Futoshi has inspired profound empathy from fans of this series. He is immediately one of the most relatable characters in this show.
Chubby and sweet-hearted Futoshi is an incurable optimist whose devotion to his friends is second only to his romantic commitment to Kokoro.
He is not too knowledgeable when it comes to love, though, and it was most definitely not Futoshi’s fault when he lost Kokoro to Mitsuru.
His consequent scene involving a rather childish tantrum made the hearts of fans bleed.
He grows to accept the situation, forgives Kokoro, and takes longer to do the same with Mitsuru.
Mitsuru
Though he looks like a simple decent kid, Mitsuru is a complex character in his own right.
His subtle need to compete with Hiro and the promise of Hiro wanting to pilot with him someday both drive Mitsuru’s motivations in the show.
He is so serious about his FranXX piloting career that he is willing to take a performance-boosting injection.
He gradually loses faith in people, and also grows distant in his relationship with Ikuno.
Inner change takes place after Mitsuru meets Kokoro in the greenhouse, and romance starts to stir between them.
Despite being immature in the realms of love, they both get close. Close enough that Kokoro gets pregnant and the two of them plan to marry one another someday.
When his re-conditioning wears off, he dons the mantle of dutiful father and thus redeems himself in the eyes of fans.
Kokoro
Kokoro’s tendency to trust her instincts has made her extremely relatable to fans.
As nurturing as she is warm, Kokoro can be considered the heart of this show in the true sense of the word.
She is more thoughtful than the rest of the gang and tends to quietly observe more than retaliate.
Kokoro chooses her words carefully, and her battles too. Her candid conversations with Mitsuru reveal her for the straightforward person she is.
She introspects on varied human matters, especially childbirth.
A possible marriage with Mitsuru is derailed, and the two lovebirds are re-conditioned to forget their bond.
The baby remains though, making Kokoro the first mother in centuries in the show’s narrative.
Her caring nature and personal aspiration to ‘remember’ Mitsuru add to her worth in the story.
Ikuno
Ikuno has a lesbian angle in the show that has drawn like-minded appreciation from fans. Her candor and ambition add to her worth.
She partners with Futoshi after Mitsuru leaves her for Kokoro. She may appear cool and collected, but there’s an emotional war raging inside her.
Fans got a hint of that when Zero Two licked (she tends to do that) her and said she tasted like a secret.
Her overt fondness for the female team leader Ichigo has endeared her to fans, mainly the LGBTQ anime community.
The fact that Hiro and Zero Two are an obvious pair and that Ichigo still pines after Hiro makes Ikuno a tad upset.
Her romantic affiliations are brought to light in the scene where she kisses Ichigo.
Ikuno goes on to state that she despises the boy-girl pair-up rule for FranXX pilots.
Plenty of significant scenes portray Ikuno’s battle with self-doubt, scenarios that nearly every viewer of this series will relate to.
In a narrative rife with re-conditioning, Ikuno at once becomes the boldest character to own her truth and never hide from it.
Hiro
A hero with a difference, Hiro brings plenty of humanity and admirable bravery to this anime. His natural curiosity lights a flame in him to go exploring.
Despite her dark red skin and horns, Hiro was not afraid of Zero Two whom he met as a child.
He had even planned to run away with her to escape his purposeless life. They were captured and re-conditioned, making them forget the instance in its entirety.
The second time they meet is when the show truly gets started. Hiro eventually shows fans that he’s more than capable of making sacrifices for the greater good.
He is quite mature for his age, especially when he understands that the world will never let Zero Two and him find happiness in each other.
That and their current face-offs with dangerous enemies make him plan self-sacrifice to protect humanity; whatever’s left of them back on Earth.
His nobility, friendship, and bravery have more than earned Hiro a fan base.
Zero two
In addition to being an exceptional FranXX pilot, Zero Two is a klaxo-Sapien hybrid who changes Hiro’s life in profound ways.
She questions the System, which leads to some of the most excellent plot twists in the series.
Her seductive appearance only adds to her magnificence in the show, it does not solely define it.
On several occasions Zero Two displayed innocence and arrogance in equal measure.
She seems to hint at a deeper meaning of soul-connectedness when she calls Hiro “my darling”.
They think alike on several matters, which is also how her reasoning easily influenced Hiro when it came to Papa and his missions.
Zero Two’s sentiments of love and jealousy war with innate selfishness, which makes her seem more ‘human’ than previously thought.
She eventually realizes that there is more to life than simply keeping Hiro in her circle.
When she starts to see the bigger picture, some tear-jerking scenes unfold.
Other Decisive factors for Darling In The FranXX Season 2
This includes the ending of the last season, the trailer, and the controversy. Each one of these is important. So, let's begin with the ending
Darling In The FranXX Ending Explained
We come now to the finale episode of season 1 of the “Darling In The FranXX” anime.
Put simply, it was a rather disappointing ending, one that left fans with more questions than answers.
Several eager viewers of this series blame episode 19 for being the point where the show started to decline.
The initial two-thirds of the series was prominently successful, but it seems the latter portion of the show somehow managed to botch its overall excellence.
Squad 13 felt limp once it was exposed that the villains of the series were, in essence, alien antagonists out to take over the world.
A much-anticipated rebellion went missing near the end of the series, decisively stamping an end to fan-love for FranXX.
An ill-timed alien invasion will ruin ill-prepared plotlines.
At some point, the kids in the series stopped being ‘empowered’, resulting in all their actions from that moment being reactionary instead of revolutionary.
The final battle’s resolution, if you can call it that, proves just how efficiently (sarcasm intended) the showrunners extracted ‘commitment’ from the characters’ story arcs.
Spirit energy meets idealism meets ‘friendship saves the day.
This is how they chose to go with the ending of a show that held immense promise when it started.
The Trailer of Darling In The Franxx Season 2
Fans are eagerly waiting for the trailer of season 2. However, sadly there is no official trailer for season 2 so far.
Keep your eyes out and hope for the best.
Controversy Surrounding Darling In The FranXX Season 2
Much of the powerful and memorable relationship points between Hiro and Zero Two felt like it was neutered near the end of the series.
From being a ‘driving force’ to appearing almost ‘shallow’, forgive us for assuming that this was one of the main reasons fans lost their minds regarding the season 1 ending for “Darling In The FranXX” anime.
The sassy-sweet Zero Two gave us her best performances in the first 21 episodes. After which her ‘act’ seems to break into what some fans are calling mere ‘waifu bait characterization.
Clichéd romance leads to reincarnation in the disaster that was the season 1 finale for “Darling In The FranXX”.
There’s little wonder why so much controversy has sprung up around this series.
The combat choreography in this show is still exemplary.
It makes it much more disappointing when the creators didn’t use it to highlight or enhance Hiro and Zero Two’s final moments.
Instead, they went for a paranormal scene where the two float back to Earth as ghosts and meet up again as kids hundreds of years later, post-reincarnation.
You are probably starting to see just how badly this brilliant series lost its way and its heart.
Conclusion
Why do more than 20K people search about this anime online every month?
Why is it still a fan favorite despite the show-creators ruining the ending of season 1? it leaves fans desperate to know the questions about manifold plot points and character arcs.
Looks like curiosity has made all of them cats claw Google every month for answers.
Just like those questions, we have no official answers. This brings us to season 2’s possibility. It may happen, don’t get us wrong.
There are enough fans demanding redemption for that crazy season 1 finale and who wish to see good things happen in season 2.
We are now in 2022 and now it's going to be 4 years since season 1.
Will they at least communicate with their sea of fans and let them know what’s going on? This writer advises fans to prepare for a long guerrilla-style waiting war.