Baboon

 is a character in DARLING in the FRANXX. He is a member of the Seven Sages of APE.

Appearance
Baboon wears a white and gold robe and a primate mask, like the other members of the Seven Sages. His headdress is unusually long compared to most of the Seven Sages and falls towards the back.

Personality
Not much is known about Baboon's personality. He seems to be of one mind with Papa and sees the parasites and FRANXX squads as dispensible tools of warfare. As such, he does not hesitate to sacrifice lots of parasites so APE's ultimate goal of eradicating the klaxosaurs for the good of humanity can be fulfilled. However, his motive for doing such differs from Papa and Vice Chairman as they are later revealed to be part of a hostile alien race named VIRM. Despite being human, Baboon seems to have lost much of his humanity as he doesn't understand or have emotions, which can be attributed to the immortality process he underwent before.

Episode 01: Alone and Lonesome
APE, including the Vice Chairman attend the graduation ceremony of Squad 13 at Plantation 13. However the startup ritual is interrupted when a Maho Klaxosaur attacks the plantation.

A stampede mode Strelizia attacks the Klaxosaur. Papa is dismayed that Zero Two has devoured another stamen and the Vice Chairman says it’s hard to tell which is the real monster

Episode 02: What It Means to Connect
APE does not attend the startup ritual when it resumes the next day.

A request for kissing with Plantation 26 to restock magma energy is requested, and APE authorizes it. They then decide to hold a mock battle for Hiro to decide whether or not he can still be promoted to a parasite.

Episode 04: Flap Flap
At APE HQ, Papa announces that Klaxosaur activity has increased, and large ones are showing up everywhere. VC says the 9’s are dealing with them for now, but they still have other tasks to complete. One asks how long Strelizia will be allowed to goof off, now that Hiro's aptitude has been ascertained, they have no reason to leave it there. Marmoset says that it isn't wise to let her mix with tainted stamens any longer.

Episode 07: Shooting Star Moratorium
APE marvels at Hiro's ability to pilot Strelizia. VC notes that Zero Two's search for a partner has finally ended. Marmoset says that she still needs to be monitored closely. Papa says that Plantation 13 should be their top-priority surveillance subject and says that Code 016 is tasked with bringing her to the Gran Crevasse

Episode 10: The City of Eternity
APE discusses how Squad 13 is moving ahead compared to other squads. However, they are concerned individualized FRANXX giving a unique asset to the squad as a whole is creating an imbalance with APE’s ideology of calmness and informality, thus making the children imperfect. They decide to move on to the next stage of their plan, as klaxosaur activity has been detected in the depths of the Gran Crevasse recently and it is Squad 13’s duty to escort Zero Two to the Gran Crevasse. Papa agrees and says he will arrange for the squad to undergo maintenance at the Garden. Tarsier suggests that they reward the children and explains it has been custom since ancient times to reward soldiers as inspiration and their way of life reflects a bygone era. Papa agrees.

Episode 15: Jian
APE holds a briefing with Dr. FRANXX before the siege of the Gran Crevasse over how  Zero Two devoured all of her stamens and Pap calls her a hellcat. As the Seven Sages discuss, one of them says that they may finally get their wish if they take over Gran Crevasse. Another says that Hringhorni'sconstruction is proceeding smoothly. One says, if they have both, they can bury "those pests" once and for all. One happily exclaims that the time has come. Dr. FRANXX begins to walk off and is asked where he is going (referring to him as "Werner"). He says he wants to watch it from a front-row seat.

After Plantation 26 is destroyed, VC says to get 090 on the line and tells him they're moving to Protocol 32. When he notices Code 090 hesitating he adds that it's a great honour.

Episode 16: Days of Our Lives
One of the Seven Sages says their parasite reserves have dwindled to 60% after the last battle. Another asks if they didn't go too far blowing those plantations up. The Vice Chairman says that the end justifies the means. Humanity now has control of the Gran Crevasse. He says Hringhorni's construction has entered the final phase. Papa says that he sent two messengers and it will likely be their final warning to the klaxosaurs. One says that there is no need for two keys.

Episode 17: Eden
APE sends the 9’s to Mistilteinn to check on Squad 13.

Papa and the Vice Chairman converse over the Klaxosaur Princess. Papa says that the klaxosaur princess chose to go down the path of annihilation. The Vice Chairman says they'll feel the pain of having their earth scorched by their own creation. The 9’a return and 9'α says there's something he needs to know.

Episode 18: When the Sakura Blooms
APE sends the 9’s and SP unit to arrest Kokoro and Mitsuru for violating the rules of engaging in an intimate relationship and possessing forbidden knowledge.

APE wonders what happened with the Klaxosaur Princess. Gorilla says he thought she would just surrender and asks why they weren't told she was to be assassinated. Marmoset says they seek a world where APE and humanity can live for all eternity. Vice Chairman says they predicted what happened and it won't be a problem since they already possess the replacement key. Papa tells them to look at the big picture and that they will be released from their bodies when they realize their ideas.

Episode 19: Inhumanity
Dr. FRANXX co fronts APE on erasing Kokoro and Mitsuru’s memories without his consultation. Marmoset explains to Dr. FRANXX that they wanted to eliminate all irregularities before their operation. Dr. FRANXX warns that, if they continue, there's no guarantee that the children will remain obedient. Another member says that they haven't done anything to any of the other members of Squad 13 but those two. When Dr. FRANXX asks why, the vice chairman answers they decided to rid the parasites of all unneeded emotions and memories. Dr. FRANXXasks why he wasn't consulted, Papa asks him to behave since he wished for their plan to come to fruition as well. Once they hang up, he thinks that he's no different than they are.

In a flashback, APE is shown to have hired Dr. FRANXX to lead a project on human immortality and lead the co structure of the Plantations when the planet began suffering from desertification.

Hiro asks that Kokoro and Mitsuru’s memories he restored but Papa says that is impossible. The Vice Chairman says that what they're doing is a severe breach of protocol and would normally be punished, but they'll let it off with a mere mention on their record. He says to return to their waiting quarters. Futoshi demands that they apologize. Zorome asks how many klaxosaurs they have to kill before they can become adults. They don't answer and Zorome asks what they're living for. Hiro says that they took away Zero Two and his precious memories as well as Kokoro and Mitsuru's. He says they can't see him as their Papa and to set them free once the battle is over. Papa agrees, as long as they fulfill their duties in next mission.

Episode 20: A New World
APE has a brief meeting with Dr. FRANXX, Hiro, and Zero Two before the final battle.

On D-Day, at Bird Nest, all the parasites from every plantation attend the assembly. Vice Chairman says that APE has always desired peace and prosperity for mankind. Marmoset tells them to offer all of themselves. Papa says they will finally prevail. 9'α watches the squad and becomes annoyed when he sees Zero Two yawn.

When the Klaxosaur Princess invades the Gran Crevasse and forces Hiro to link with her,  Gorilla says that the worst has come to pass and the work on Zero Two will be in vain. Marmoset says that if she connects to Star Entity, they'll be defeated. The Vice Chairman says they've already taken measures.

As she begins the implanting process with Star Entity, Papa says that he was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but they have no choice. Vice Chairman says they wanted to take it and Hringhorni to space as soldiers. Papa says that, if they can't have it, then it can go down along with the planet and they will return to their original roles. Klaxosaurs begin popping out from the ground and shooting into space. They shoot spaceships in the sky. Star Entity wakes up and Dr. FRANXX says its beautiful. 001 says that the humans made her ugly, but it's okay. She says a long time ago when they were attacked by invaders from the expanse of space, they fought and drove them off and then holed up in the earth to prepare. They shoot at a VIRM fleet. They shoot back and 001 says that she won't let them touch their planet. It shoots back and destroys it. Papa says its futile and she asks what VIRM did to their child. Papa and vice chairman's masks fall and the Vice Chairman says that Star Entity is a mass of life that could disturb the universe's peace. Papa says that if the klaxosaur princess took over the implanting process, they programmed it to explode. They say that the planet will explode and leave nothing behind. Papa says that they'll take them to eternal paradise.

Episode 21: For You, My Love
As Papa and Vice Chairman reveal themselves as VIRM, the other stages are confused. The two the absorb their souls, killing Baboon, Marmoset, and Gorilla instantly.

Relationships
Baboon has a strong unanimous partnership with the other members of APE.