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Anime has a unique way of capturing emotions and weaving them into unforgettable stories. Among many acclaimed series,Darling in the Franxxstands as one of anime history’s most controversial stories, often overshadowed by Zero Two’s fanservice and popularity.
While the anime has its share of controversies, it’s undeniably regarded as one of the most popular mecha series, largely driven by its romance and fanservice. Even after years of conclusion, fans still wonder: Is it possible to haveDarling In The Franxxseason 2? Though Studio Trigger stays tight-lipped, fans can dive into 2024’s top romance series, inspired byDarling in the Franxx.
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!: A Worthy Successor toDarling in the Franxx’sTragic Legacy
Takibi Amamori’sMakeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!is a breakthrough romance anime of 2024. It stands as one of the most popular anime titles of the Summer 2024 season for its fun and often grounded approach to the slice-of-life and romance genres.
Amidst a wave of trope-heavy high school romances,Makeinestands out as a refreshing take, focusing on the perspective of the rejects and heroines. Interestingly, most rom-com series place the male protagonist on the “losing” side of the relationship; however,Makeineturns the table by putting the spotlight on the heroines.
Makeineis truly a standout anime, which makes its inspiration all the more surprising. Among a roster of captivating characters, Takibi Amamori revealed thatDarling in the Franxx’smosttragic tale served as inspirationfor their work.
Q: How did you come up with the idea to depict the love lives of losing heroines?A: In DITF, there is a blue hair heroine (Ichigo). She’s MC’s childhood friend, a representative, somewhat crabby, has small slender stature, but she had all the elements of a losing heroine.+pic.twitter.com/COBG1CMpX7
After the series won first place in the 2025 edition ofKono Light Novel ga Sugoi!, an annual guidebook revealed thatDarling in the Franxxheavily influencedMakeine’sstory. In aninterview, Amamori answered:
In Darling in the Franxx, there is a blue-haired heroine. She’s the main character’s childhood friend, a representative, somewhat crabby, small, slender stature, but she has all the elements of a losing heroine. And sure enough, she lost to the main heroine in the story.
Darling in the Franxxis among the popular and celebrated mecha anime. Written by Code 000, the series is set in a post-apocalyptic and dystopian world.
Over the years, the show has faced its share of controversies, with many fans arguing that the main plotquickly becomes irrelevant, only to be replaced by fanservice and poor politics. Zero Two takes the majority of the spotlight, with Ichigo sadly falling victim to being sidelined.
Darling in the Franxx Could Have Been Studio Trigger’s First Big Fail After Cyberpunk: Edgerunner’s Success Had the Director Not Made a Major Change
Ichigo was Hiro’s childhood friend and someone who saw the main protagonist as a potential love interest only to get completely sidelined by Zero Two, leaving Amamori sympathizing with her character, leading to the inspiration behindMakeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!He further said:
As I was watching this, I thought about writing a novel in which a childhood friend wins. However, if the childhood friend wins, that means another girl becomes the losing heroine. That made no sense, so I decided to focus only on losing heroines, and that was the beginning of Makeine.
Amamori initially set out to write a story about a childhood friend who wins but soon realized that romance stories often feature a losing heroine, prompting him to shift focus to those overlooked heroines, ultimately redefining the shojo genre.
Though Amamori’s true inspiration may come as a shock to manyMakeinefans,Darling in the Franxxwas the main inspiration for its premise surrounding losing heroines.
Code 000 Embarks on a Treacherous Journey Through Their Series
Code 000’sDarling in the Franxxhas received mixed responses from the community. Despite its popularity, it had several pitfalls. Not to mention, the anime has also been criticized for itssubpar animationby several fans and the distasteful representation of female characters has been met with backlash.
Fans Shouldn’t be Influenced by Cyberpunk: Edgerunners; Darling in the Franxx Season 2 was Never Out of the Question
Apart from being a mecha anime, its storytelling fell flat due to the excessive fanservice. Despite its potential, the series faced extensive flak for its pacing and plot development. Amidst the criticism and backlash, Code 000 carved its space in the mecha genre.
The series ranks among the top 10 mecha anime. Despite a modest score, it remains iconic, with CloverWorks, TRIGGER, and A-1 Pictures forming a successful collaboration.
Darling in the FranxxandMakeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!are available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Mehul Rolta
Articles Published :510
Mehul Rolta is a seasoned journalist with over 3 years in esports and soccer journalism. Transitioning to anime writing at Fandom Wire, Mehul shares his lifelong passion for anime about integrates professionalism. Dedicated to connecting the world of anime globally, Mehul shares thoughts and insights, communicating personal passion with professional insight.
