Dr. FRANXX

 is a character in DARLING in the FRANXX.

As a scientist, he contributed an enormous amount to the creation of the FRANXX. He is a member of APE who's also responsible for the construction and management of FRANXX.

Appearance
He has the appearance of an older man, sporting grey hair and a mustache. He normally wears a white coat similar to the other adults in the setting, along with white gloves, and he also uses a cane. Half of his face, thumb finger, index finger, and middle finger of his right hand are mechanical.

Personality
He has the nature of a calm individual, with a lecherous streak as shown when he groped Nana. He takes pride in his creations, but does seem rather disinterested in the formal procedures, such as when he was asked to attend the ceremony.

Some of his decisions were counter-intuitive. His decision to not inject more yellow blood cells into Hiro to observe how Hiro will develop shows that his way of thinking is different from others.

He's also quite adventurous, never sitting in one place. He always tries to find the best seat whenever there's a big battle.

In his thirties, he was known as Dr. Frank Werner, a talented and well-known scientist who's always invested in his research and is furious whenever somebody enters his lab without permission.

He had feelings for Karina Milsa, his former colleague and she liked him too. But before they could be officially married, she died in a tragic FRANXX trial.

History
He appears in episode 01, escorting Zero Two along with the cargo needed for testing that he intends to carry out at the Thirteenth Plantation. When the Mohorovic-class Klaxosaur appeared, he observed it before Strelizia dispatched it.

In a flashback in episode 13, he is shown to have run experiments on Zero Two, and later erasing her and Hiro's memories.

In episode 17, he was offered work by the Lamarck Club, who saw potential in his abilities. It was there that he met his colleague, Karina Milsa. Over time, Karina came to like Frank and invited him to dinner. It was then that Frank came to realize that he liked Karina. Soon, they would be husband and wife but the emergence of Klaxosaurs lead to the need to create a weapon to counter them - the FRANXX. Karina volunteered for the 13th FRANXX trial in 2042, which unfortunately ended in a disaster. He was seen mourning over her grave. He then grew even more invested in his research.

Zero Two
The doctor seems to have an almost parental relationship with Zero Two, given the tone he speaks to her with and how casually he accepts her behavior.

In episode 13, during one of Dr. Franxx's experiments on Zero Two, he considered her as a special parasite, "a marvelous creation" from the discovery of her abilities.

Hiro
Hiro had survived 3 sorties with Zero Two, which makes him an "interesting specimen".

During their personal meeting in episode 7, he says that "that boy (Hiro) could be the one to fulfill her (Zero Two) wish".

In episode 15, they had another chat. He remarks about how Zero Two is such a marvelous creation, yet is always so lonely, like a Klaxosaur. Hiro objected, saying that she's human. Intrigued, the doctor turns around to look at Hiro. He says that he had thought she (Zero Two) may have finally found a partner as Hiro prepares to leave for Zero Two.

In episode 19, Hiro says he saw him in Zero Two's memories and that he can't forgive him before walking out.

Papa
Papa refers to Dr. Franxx as Werner as they were scientists who collaborated in the past. Papa and other members of the Lamarck Club was generous enough to give him more than enough money for him to continue his research.

Karina Milsa
She was engaged to Dr. FRANXX, who was known as Werner Frank at that time. She first met him when Werner got a job at APE, and got to know him before she proposed to him, and Werner gladly accepted her proposal. However, Werner went to investigate a Klaxosaur corpse in Alaska during when they were about to get married. She signed a marriage certificate, and waited for Werner to return so she could get his sign on the certificate as well, so they would be officially married.

Etymology
His real name is Werner Frank (ヴェルナー・フランク), both of which are Germanic.

Trivia

 * Dr. FRANXX is the one who named and classified the robots as FRANXX but is unclear if it came from his name or if his name came from naming the robots.

Doktor Franxx