DARLING in the FRANXX: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

DARLING in the FRANXX: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

Time to suit up for some action!

Darling in the Franxx is an action-packed mecha with a unique spin on the genre. The saga comes from producers Eiichi Kamagata (Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill), Mikio Uetsuki (Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, A Silent Voice) and Yosuke Toba (Love Lab, Plastic Memories ). The animation is produced by the collaboration of A-1 Pictures (anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, Birdy the Mighty: Decode), CloverWorks (The Promised Neverland, Wonder Egg Priority), and Trigger (Little Witch Academia, Kill la Kill).

Hiro (Yūto Uemura) must fight for the future. The young pilot was once amoung the most esteemed Franxx pilots. It is up to young parasites – the youth of tomorrow – to save the world by facing the wrath of the klaxosaurs. Yet the deadly klaxosaurs are a threat that might be impossible to truly overcome. Can Hiro save the world?

When Hiro meets a mysterious girl with horns named Zero Two (Haruka Tomatsu), the fight intensifies and the stakes are raised. Can Hiro and Zero Two team up and make the perfect fighter pair to combat the vile klaxosaurs before annihilation? The journey will test Hiro and Zero Two to their absolute limits.

The characters add something compelling to the production. The series has two intriguing leads that manage to make the science-fiction tropes more entertaining. Hiro and Zero Two explore a world struggling to survive: on the brink of collapse. The characters have good chemistry with each other (which in turn helps the characters be more distinct).

One of the best elements of Darling in the Franxx is the animation. The series is lavishly produced. From an animation standpoint, the results are excellent. The animation direction is handled by Masayoshi Tanaka (anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, High School of the Dead). Tanaka manages to impress with a well-established design world. Darling in the Franxx is a complex and visually stunning science-fiction creation that remembers the essence of the genre.

The character designs by Masayoshi Tanaka (Joshiraku, High School of the Dead) are effective. Each of the central characters has a unique visual style. Hiro has a distinct appearance and so does the quirky girl by name of Zero Two. These character designs help the storytelling unfold in a more naturalistic way.

A science-fiction tale.

The mecha designs by Shigeto Koyama (Michiko & Hatchin, Star Driver) make a bold impression. The mecha elements are key to the fight scenes. The giant mecha components might not match that of the best Gundam sagas but as a distinct creation, the mecha designs are impressive and complex. A worthwhile effort by Koyama.

The cinematography by Yūya Sakuma (Occult Academy, Silver Spoon) provides Darling in the Franxx with a compelling aesthetic that brings out the best of the production. Sakuma seems to understand the series is best with a bold visual flair – whether it be the alternating aspect ratios or the cinematic and epic visual cues. A solid approach by the cinematographer.

The score composed by Asami Tachibana (Gundam Build Fighters Try, Between the Sky and Sea) is worthwhile. The music manages to fit the tone of the action-packed anime. While the score isn't as compelling as the best anime series out there, the music still delivers a solid experience with some compelling elements that enhance the anime. The music provides a solid background to the action showcased at the forefront.

Written by Atsushi Nishigori and Naotaka Hayashi (Plastic Memories, True Love Story), Darling in the Franxx is a decent science-fiction creation. While the series lacks the finesse of the best mecha series, the story is still compelling for what it is – a fun science-fiction yarn. Nishigori and Hayashi have managed to explore a unique concept and characters.

Directed by Atsushi Nishigori (Waiting in the Summer, Gunbuster 2: Diebuster), Darling in the Franxx is worth checking out. The anime has an impressive sense of scope and scale. The action scenes are at the forefront of the experience. The epic scale is undeniable. The series was clearly inspired (in part) from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Nishigori brings forth some compelling visuals and audiences will certainly be intrigued by the ambition on display.

DARLING in the FRANXX: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Funimation Entertainment, Darling in the Franxx is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The picture-quality on the release is top-notch. The animation looks remarkably impressive: bold and daring. The encoding is impressive. Action scenes look excellent. The presentation shines well and outside of minor banding is a solid presentation. Colors are also wonderfully reproduced.

DARLING in the FRANXX: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The high-resolution audio tracks are worthwhile. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and engaging. The score is well reproduced within the high resolution sound mixes. The encoding is effective for the series.

DARLING in the FRANXX: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 1:

Episode 6 Audio Commentary

Disc 2:

Episode 12 Video Commentary (HD, 24:11)

Web Previews (HD, 6:20)

Textless Opening Song "Kiss of Death" (HD, 1:32)

Trailers (HD, 7:18)

Pre-Broadcast Special:

Part 1 (HD, 7:22)

Part 2 (HD, 7:15)

Part 3 (HD, 9:27)

Disc 3:

Episode 18 Audio Commentary

Disc 4:

Episode 23 Video Commentary (HD, 24:15)

Playback Special (HD, 24:02)

Playback Special II (HD, 24:01)

Web Previews (HD, 6:24)

Textless Opening Song "Kiss of Death" (HD, 1:32)

Textless Closing Song Episode 16 (HD, 1:34)

DARLING in the FRANXX: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Darling in the Franxx is an intriguing science-fiction anime. The concept is ambitious and bold. Fans of science-fiction anime series such as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Mobile Suit Gundam Wing will be intrigued by the series. The series features stunning animation. The Blu-ray has a solid video-audio presentation and a selection of bonus features. The steelbook edition features exclusive packaging enhancing the release. Recommended.