#zeros bfdi

[x1nn4y]

"GET THEM!!!"

[theultimatentt]

LABELING (and characterizing!) THE ZEROOOOOSSS || LONG POST!!

So, while rewatching the subscriber special with captions on, I noticed the Zero’s each have their own number assigned to them, one that are seemingly consistent throughout the short. So, of course, I felt the need to go in and definitively label each scene with the zeros, both for fun AND so I could characterize each zero for a fanfic I’m writing!

This is my first long analysis on tumblr so sorry if the formatting is weird!! Stick to the end for a brief character analysis.

Labeling

Firstly: The crucial first couple of seconds of the short which determines each Zero’s number. Since Zro(Or Number 1) is seen first, they’re labeled as such. Each following zero gets numbered accordingly and those stick through the entirety of the short.

The zeros enter the room in the order of

2,3,4,5, and of course, 1.

After entering the room they make food in order of when they entered, so:

2 - Coffee

3- Cereal

4- Sandwich

5 - Nothing

1 - Nothing as well.

We can confirm this fact as when 1 throws the coffee at 4, the captions refer to them as such a little bit later in the scene when they’re knocked over by 1.

Next, the toilet scene. I can only add one video, but this scene is pretty crucial overall since it gives us the positioning of the zeros for future scenes. I believe the order they entered the toilet in is 5,3,2,4

Since we know 2 was handed the box of tapes, and 4 was the last to enter the toilet. 5 and 3 are overall pretty interchangeable position wise throughout the short, but their methods of entering the toilet both lined up with what we know of them so far along with what we learn later.

5. Hops in without much struggle nor flashy effort.

3: Does a headfirst dive into the toilet with their limbs tucked in.

As a side note, 4 wins!!!

Now the scene that I assumed would be where I lost track: When they all bounce into the room and ricochet off of everything.

They all get pretty mixed up in this scene, but by tracking one of the zeros (I tracked 4 as they both had a pretty defining body language overall and was the last to enter) tracking the rest becomes easy enough.

Leading to this being my labeling. Keep this scene in mind since it’s a pretty important key to labeling the next.

NOW, I believe 3 was the one to open the door as they were both closest to it, and are the one to bring up the tapes. (Of which we know they were the recorder for for most if not all the tapes.) 4 is behind them, with 4 behind them. 5 runs off to do whatever and two goes to take a seat near the tv.

I’d argue 4 and 5 may be interchangeable but the zero behind 3 is more consistent with 4 than 5.

Seating chart! ^^ I labeled this slightly off of their walk cycles, with 2’s being the simplest, combined with the fact they tell Zro to shush definitely helps with labeling them as 2 is the same to tell Zro to shut up in the earlier scene.

Another one based on positioning and mild personality. 4 is fascinated by the video and is pretty consistent with their position and it can be assumed 3 took a seat next to 6 and Zro after speaking to them.

5 opened the gate for 5 here as they’re the closest to where the gate is positioned plus personality match up.

More of 5’s shenanigans. They take a seat behind 5 and 6 after collecting the next tape to watch.

Positioning again. Now that 5 got up they’re no longer closest to the vent leaving 2 to take that role.

They also get up to shush 2 which is consistent with their personality. Again. Also I forgot to label this one for whatever reason…

Now this is where things start leaning into allots of speculation. The scenes cut away quite a few times and the zeros seem to move around each time that happens.

Regardless, here’s my suspected seating for the next scene, though maybe switching 4 and 3 would be wise as in the scene where they find “The Tape” 3 is the one to speak up with their position a liiiiittle bit more to the left.

Unfortunately I kinda’ve ran out of phone space in the middle of all this so this is where my labeling ends until I decide to pick it back up again. But enough of that!! Character Analysis time!!!!

Personalities

I won’t be touching much on Zro here since that would most likely be long enough to warrant its own post, but a short analysis of the others wouldn’t hurt :)

Something I noticed with each zero is their personalities seem to be the foil to that of their numerical counterpart. For example:

Number 2 is blunt and blatant with what they say, not sugar coating any of their words and being direct with their wants. (Which most of the time is for others to be quiet.)

This is a direct parallel to Two who tries not to hurt the feelings of others with what they say, even if it comes at their own discomfort at times. (Think Great Goikian bake-off and Just Not’s dish.) It’s also safe to say 2 definitely loves talking.

Number 4 counteracts 4 with how passive and easily forgiving they are. Forgiving Zro for spilling coffee and accidentally smacking them in the face, returning to their usual happy self a few minutes after both the incidents happen. They’re not one to hold much of a grudge unlike of course algebralien 4, who is willing to hold grudges for years at a time.

Number 5 is another passive Zero, not saying much throughout the entire short (Having the overall least amount of lines out of all the Zeros), and often times staying in their own lane and doing their own thing. They don’t get very involved in what the others are doing (Seen with them not making any food at the start).

This is a foil to 5’s insistence to monitor and “Fun Police” the others around him, constantly asserting and attempting to enforce his authority.

Last but certainly not least: Number 3.

I deliberately skipped Number 3 due to the fact I wasn’t entirely sure if they were an exact foil to their number counterpart considering…Y’know. Though, after a bit of thinking I’ve concluded that they’ve displayed personality features that are the opposite of what little we know of 3 now.

Number 3 is, for the most part, loud and rambunctious. They have a fair amount of self confidence, dubbing themselves “The most W Zero” and being the one to initiate locking Zro in the closet to watch The Tape. Whether or not this self confidence comes from a genuinely good self image, or from putting others down(As they are the one to record most of the VHS’ featured in the short, and are often laughing at Zro’s Misfortune in them) I cant say for sure.

However, regardless of that, they still rival Three in terms of character, with Three not even HAVING any speaking lines yet, and being shown to prefer being alone and out of any affairs outside their own.

So! That concludes my labeling and character analysis! Please provide thoughts in the comments or tags cause I love reading character interpretations!!!! Bye!!!