Sex in Darling in the Franxx
Darling in the Franxx obviously wants us to think about sex. I mean, have you seen how they pilot the robot? But, I want to posit that DITF paints a unique picture of sex in anime that comments on sexuality in anime in general.
I started watching this series purely because of the discussions around episode 17. Two characters having sex in an anime like this? I gotta know the context.
In the first episode, we get a subversion of a classic anime trope. Hiro innocently finds a pile clothes and curiously grabs one to examine it. He is then introduced to Asuka, err I mean Zero Two, while she is swimming nude in the lake. This a typical setup to have Zero Two slap Hiro for peaking and then stomp him for holding her panties. Hiro is such a perve!
Thankfully, that’s not what happens. Instead, she pulls a Rei and doesn’t particularly care that Hiro sees her nude. In fact, she even takes interest in Hiro. When Hiro realizes he’s holding her panties, Zero Two calls him a pervert, but not to be degrading; she says it’s a good thing to be a little pervy in their line of work.
It may be the case that subverting this tired trope is tired, but I found this subversion interesting enough keep me watching.
Sexual ignorance of the Parasites and Anime
The parasites (pilots?) in Darling in the Franxx, or DITF for short, are completely ignorant in all matters of sex. They have never heard of kissing, and they have no comprehension of sexual dimorphism. And then episode two rolls around and we see the overtly sexual way they have to pilot these robots. How are these kids just not literally exploding in their pants? Their world doesn’t allow them to. All knowledge of sex is purposefully hidden from them, to almost a jarring degree. At first it seems like a very strange and contradictory premise, but is this actually different from most other high school anime?
High school anime is saturated with sexless love interests. Even the most over the top ecchi harem anime are void of actual, physical sex. I’m not implying that every romantic pairing should have sex, but come on. Too often is the audience presented with over-sexualized characters and yet the act of sex is completely taboo. In Monster Musume, for example, the laws of their society prevents the main character from actually having sex with any of his very interested and willing partners. Yet the main attraction of the show is sexy, beautiful monster girls. Shimoneta falls short in its message for the very same reason. We see this dystopian society where the mere mention of sex is taboo, and the negative consequences of such a society. But there’s never a discussion about why sex is important and certainly none of the characters actually have sex. Even shows that are really trying provide a coming of age story, like Your Lie in April and Ano Hana, no sex at all. No discussion of sexuality, no exploration of sexuality. Nothing. Probably the closest we come to sexual exploration in high school anime is in romcoms. Both Oshiete Galko-chan and Tsurezure Children address the sexuality of their characters and explore sex in some capacity, but the characters still remain sexless.
So what does a sexual relationship add to anime?
In the first arc Sword Art Online, surprisingly, we see the romantic duo sleeping together. It’s not blatantly stated whether they actually have sex or not, but they find a daughter shortly after, so probably? In these episodes, the characters are trying to make a home for themselves. They get married, buy a house, and start a family. Part of this process is sleeping together, and the anime shows this. It makes Kirito and Asuka’s relationship more realistic and more identifiable to anyone who has started a family themselves.
Ultimately, I think it adds a layer of depth and realism to the story and characters. The emotional aspect of sex is pretty complex, and there are lots of adult anime that explore sexuality (ex Berserk, Psychopass). But, adults aren’t the only people in the world who have sex. Teenagers have sex too, and high school anime should be able reflect this and give a message about sex that isn’t completely abstinent.
Sex in Darling in the Franxx
Following episode 17, Darling in the Franxx is able to accomplish what Shimoneta couldn’t. The world of DITF, like Shimoneta, is a sexless dystopia under authoritative control. The characters start completely ignorant of sex, and yet the characters in DITF are able to explore their sexuality and discover meaningful sex. The romance between Kokoro and Mitsuru was well paced and well developed, and their scene together was beautiful. I find it refreshing to see that this very sexual anime can have such a beautiful and tasteful scene, and I think it’s a challenge to anime production. Sex doesn’t have to be the horrific and traumatizing experience of Berserk, the purely causal experience of Psychopass, or the derivative experience of being married in SAO. Sex can be the central focus of a successful series and carry a meaningful lesson to its viewers.
It remains to be seen how DITF will handle its other relationships and address the spectrum of sexuality. Will we see a gay or lesbian couple as pilots, or even an asexual pilot? Maybe. From what I've seen, I have high hopes.
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