APE is political organization that consists of scientists and politicians who govern all of known humanity. All civilian and military organizations report to them or someone under them, with the exception of the special forces pilots, also known as the "Nines," who report directly to APE. They worked with Dr. FRANXX in the creation of the FRANXX program.

APE is ruled by a Chairman, who is known as "Papa" by Children and adults alike and worshipped as a god. Members of APE wear elegant white robes and sport unique mechanical masks.

Members

Seven Sages

The Seven Sages ( 七 ( しち ) 賢 ( けん ) 人 ( じん ) , Shichi Kenjin) or Lamarck Club (ラマルク・クラブ, Ramaruku Kurabu) are the highest members of mankind's governing institution "APE." They are publically regarded as the leaders of humanity and the chairman of the council, known as “Papa”, is worshipped as a god.

The seven adults who assemble at APE HQ. In opposition of the sudden activity of klaxosaur, they pay particular to the awakening of Strelizia and its pistil, Zero Two. They refer to Hiro as the "special specimen."[1].

Other Members

Ideology

APE was established as a means of liberation for humanity’s salvation. By introducing magma energy, humanity gained access to highly advanced technology and built forth a strong economy, and they were able to take it towards the path of the impossible: immortality, and thus would be free to live as of the equivalence of deities. As part of their philosophy, the actions of APE will help citizens live in a society that is devoid of fear but enveloped with utopia. This is encouraged through APE propaganda and strict consequences (including the threat of death) for those who bend and/or break the rules.

Most citizens view APE as something that liberates them from the burden of being human, such as sentimentality (ex. pain and affection), which they had come to consider to be troublesome. However, APE is extremely hypocritical and despite claiming to usher in a utopia free of any inconveniences, they enforce strict laws upon citizens, especially the parasites, making it a totalitarian regime.

Disturbingly, the ideology of APE has deep religious undertones, which fittingly suits their agenda of ushering in a new phase of prosperity, akin to paradise. The parasites are shown to be required to pray to Papa before meals, praying he doesn’t thirst and feels peace in his heart. APE is shown to not align with any known religions, as it is heavily implied it relies on Monotheism, with Papa being the sole authoritarian deity. Throughout the series, APE is shown to be a very influential cult that holds immense power over politics and society.

Overview

Foundation

APE was founded at the start of the twenty-first century following the mysterious arrival of the Chairman and his companions who took control of the internationalization government due to APE’s discovery of Magma Energy. Members of APE introduced magma energy as new mining technology by excavating magma energy from underground the Earth’s surface and it became a new low-cost and all-compassing energy source, allowing technology and civilization to rapidly accelerate.

Path towards immortality

In 2025, the Chairman (who later became known as ‘Papa’ to almost everyone) approached Dr. FRANXX about his research on illegal cloning. APE hoped to speed human civilization via studying the possibility of humans achieving immortality. Although he was uninterested, APE hired Dr. FRANXX to conduct a project on human immortality in exchange for offering him significant funding for his research. With the use of injecting magma energy into the bodies of humans, his research was successful and all the wealthy citizens became immortals but at the cost of their reproductive functions. Initially, only the wealthy citizens could afford this but eventually, this became universally available.

By the year 2036, 70% of the world population had become immortal and the rest were expected to complete their procedures in two years. To combat a population explosion, a law was passed to heavily tax childbirth in East Asia, which caused a drastic decline in the general population as this prevented non mortals from being able to afford bearing children. The frequent drilling of magma energy, however, resulted in the desertification of the southern parts of North America and later the rest of the planet. Some scientists identified the lining of magma energy as the cause by those findings were ignored by APE. As desertification became a global crisis, APE introduced their plantation project, which they referred to to as humanity's ark. These multiple Plantations contained cities and their own ecosystems.

Conflict with the Klaxosaurs

In 2037, the Klaxosaurs began attacking the magma plants. To counter against the klaxosaurs, APE instructed Dr. FRANXX to develop a defense strategy. His research led to the creation of the FRANXX units. However, when the project entered it’s prototype phase, it his a standstill and the units wouldn’t start up. Further research revealed the units required pilots who shared a mental connection and retained their reproductive functions. This revelation was discovered after many lives were lost in the development of the units, but by objecting the pilots with yellow blood cell dosages, the pilots would be able to be conpatible enough to operate the units. Because all the adults had sacrificed their reproductive functions in exhange for immortality, there was a need for new, fertile children. Through Dr. FRANXX’s cloning research, male and female synthetic children called Parasites were created. Kept in isolation throughout childhood, these children were required to develop the emotional responses required to pilot a FRANXX.

Upon getting a sample of hair from the humanoid princess of the klaxosaurs, Dr. FRANXX created Zero Two, a project APE personally oversaw and deemed a highly significant success. Because Zero Two was an artificially human-klaxosaur hybrid with abilities that far surpassed an average parasite’s, APE oversaw her development and subjected her to horrific experiments to test her abilities and prepare her for the day when she would operate Star Entity, a klaxosaur weapon deep under Earth’s surface at Gran Crevasse. To nurture and educate the children as parasites, APE created the Garden, where they would undergo daily tests and drills from birth to age 14, when they are deemed fit to pilot and are eligible for discharge.

Rise to Power

In the opinion of the public, APE is a successful organization that is dedicated to the preservation and protection of humanity, as they meticulously oversee the development of the parasites and were the ones who keep humanity from the threat of extinction thanks to their discovery of magma energy. Hiro says that, without the use of magma energy, which supports humanity’s necessities, humanity wouldn’t be alive. Much of humanity is loyal to APE and follows its authority without questions. APE regards the parasites as simply tools of warfare and considers any death of a parasite to be a welcomed sacrifice for the greater good. However, to boost the parasites’ loyalty and self-confidence, APE occasionally praises them for their duties and rewards them with annual gifts and, in Squad 13’s case, medals. For the friendship ceremony to honor the kissing of Plantations 13 and 26, APE gave the parasites the privilege to be treated as VIPS.

While it is a popular and successful government body, there are some who disagree without APE’s ideals and question it’s interiro motives. Dr. FRANXX is a well-known critic of APE and tends to conduct research and experiments without their knowledge, as he strongly disagrees with their notions regarding gender, emotions, and physiology. Gradually, the parasites begin to question the docturation of APE after each learns fragments of concepts they were never taught: Hiro is told parasites are banned from having names other than their code numbers and they are restricted from having access outside of their assigned environments. Kokoro learns about human reproduction and shares with her friends that they have the choice to live normal lives and leave their mark for their future. Despite this, no one dared to question the legitimacy of APE’s ideals and those who do, as Hiro and Squad 13 eventually do, face critical punishments for acts considered treasonous.

According to the Chairman, APE’s long-standing goal since it’s formation is to obtain control of Gran Crevasse, which APE considers the door to humanity’s liberation. However, because the location is inhabited by countless Conrad, Mohovoric, and Gutenberg klaxosaurs, as well as a super Lehmann klaxosaur underground, APE recruits all remaining parasites, approximately 443, from all 200 plantation to take part in the battle. When the plantations start to become liabilities, APE orders the self-destruction phase, along with Squad 26 being ordered to carry out Protocol 32 (FRANXX self-destruct). By the end of the battle, almost all plantations have been destroyed or left in ruins and the parasite stockpile drops to 60% with 265 parasites becoming casualties. Despite this, APE declares the mission a success after Strelizia and the 9's open the doors of Gran Crevasse, allowing APE to take possession of Star Entity make applications to it. It also began the construction of Hringhorni

Downfall of APE

To prepare for an inevitable conflict with 001 over control of Hringhorni, APE decides to attempt to assasinate her under the guise of persuading her to surrender. Papa sends Lemur and Tarsier for the task. When she refuses, Tarsier tries to kill her but she slaughters them both in retaliation. Shortly after, APE declares D-Day, the supposed final battle against the klaxosaurs. However, 001 tries to take control of Star Entity and becomes infected by a virus implanted by the Chairman. It is then he reveals his true identity: he is the leader of an energy consuming species called VIRM that has been using mankind as an arsenal against the klaxosaurs and now intends to destroy the planet. He and the Vice Chairman proceed to kill and absorb the souls of the other council members and every other human adult before sending an armada of VIRM to fight the klaxosaurs and parasites.

When the battle finally ends, VIRM, along with Papa and the Vice Chairman, are forced to retreat by Strelizia‘s intervention and numerous parasites have been killed in battle. Another battle takes place within Mars’ orbit, with Hiro leading on behalf of humanity, against VIRM and VIRM once again retreating to its home planet. After a two year galactic battle, Hiro and Zero Two confront Papa for the last time and emerge victorious after sacrificing their lives to destroy VIRM‘s home planet and freeing all the souls trapped by VIRM, although Papa and the Vice Chairman survive and vow to face humanity once again.

With the collapse of APE, this led to events of confusion and survival crisis among the survivors. Without access to magma energy, the parasites began attempting to crop their food, but after realizing years of magma energy drilling deprived the soil of natural resources, they resorted to using fertile soil from the plantations, which gradually allowed them to grow the food needed to survive. Eventually, they made a vow to never use magma energy ever again as proof of their commitment to the planet, allowing it to prosper. The managers of the parasites took further action to defect from APE by suspending the code number system and giving individual names to the parasites, especially to the new children who are born in the aftermath of APE, and granting them the right to live their own lives.

Ranks

All members of APE have various ranks based on their loyalty towards the council. These ranks are:

Chairman (a position only ever held by Papa)

Vice Chairman

Council members

Mayors of the plantations

The 9’s (who hold more authority than APE SP)

APE Special Police (a tactical unit under the council)

Military Defense Commander

Parasite Manager

Parasite cadet

The 9's hold a special position within APE as a unit that serves and carries out orders directly under APE’s command. This seems to put them in an elite rank more prestigious than anyone below the Seven member council. Dr. FRANXX, as the chief scientist responsible for humanity obtaining immortality and the one tasked with creating the FRANXX units and parasites, is considered a high ranking member of APE.

Location

APE convenes in the APE Strategic Headquarters, which is a large, circular glass dome located in an unknown region somewhere within outer space. The facility is equipped with a number of displays and holographic projections to assist in any meeting. The Seven Sages of the APE Council do not physically meet up with other members of APE and instead appear via a holographic projection. They typically attend a parasite team’s graduation ceremony and overseas their first startup ritual.

Rules

Upon the formation of the FRANXX and parasite programs, APE formulates a manual that consists of rules for both the parasites and their caregivers. The parasites must abide the rules on and off the field in order to diminish their emotions, preventing them from losing interest in their obligations and becoming rebellious. In APE’s objective, the most important thing for a parasite is to be a tool for protecting the adult population and their plantation’s stability. Emotions are considered unnecessary things.

While APE provides emotional indoctrination for the parasites to strive into achieving their missions and become emotionless, the parasites are still human and not able to completely rid themselves of their emotions. APE does tend to tolerate this as long as the parasites fulfill their oath to follow through with their missions and prove their worthiness, especially parasites who are deemed as favorites from APE’s perspective. For instance, Squad 26 sacrifice their own lives against a Lehmann Super klaxosaur even though 090 was specifically reluctant but chose to go through with the order as he believed it was an honor to die for the APE council. Hiro believes the rules may be important but they are not infallible, and he and Zero Two later come to believe that following the rules will not make them any better as parasites and they will act according to what they believe is the right course.

Every rule has penalties when broken. Questioning the ideals of APE is considered to be treasonous and curiosity of previous society before APE came into power is regarded as an act of rebellion. Those penalties vary from a written reprimand to re-indocturation or pruning. Parasites having romantic relationships are taboo but are not uncommon and are generally tolerated as long as they keep their priorities in mind. The act of sexual intercourse is considered a crime and carries the penalty of re-indoctrination or pruning. The protocol should a pistil become pregnant, the pistil is given the choice of abortion or give birth, although abortion is highly recommended. If the pistil chooses to give birth, the child is to be taken away, placed in the Garden, and raised as a parasite without contact with the parents.

Due to the necessity of having enough parasites in stock as the number of klaxosaur attacks increase, APE regularly gives parasites light punishments that fall short of pruning. For instance, APE altered Hiro’s memories after he openly questioned about the outside world and escaped from the Garden with Zero Two, as they still regarded him as a special specimen, and they even allowed him to remain at Plantation 13 after he initially failed his capacity test. APE called Kokoro and Mitsuru ‘dangerous’ for their rebellious conduct (wanting to get married and have a child) but still found them to be useful enough to punish them with memory altercation. APE was willing to write Squad 13 up with a mere mention in their record for questioning their ideals because of the squad’s high killing record. Also, despite Nana’s breakdown following her partner’s death and the revelation that she was in a romantic relationship with him, APE altered her memories and found her new obedience to be so valuable that she became one of the rare parasites to be allowed to reach adulthood, undergo the immortality procedure, and get promoted as a parasite manager.

Known Rules

1) Protocol 32: A FRANXX unit or plantation must self-destruct to eliminate a threat.

2) A parasite must put a mission and the safety of the plantation first

3) A parasite must follow the commander’s orders

4) A parasite must never show emotions

5) A commanding authority must intervene to stop a parasite from reckless conduct, especially during puberty.

6) A team must work together on the field

7) Parasites are prohibited from engaging in intimate relations, specifically sexual intercourse.

8) Parasites are prohibited from possessing forbidden knowledge within the three prohibitions.

APE instigated three prohibitions that are considered taboo knowledge:

1) Gender differences

2) Reproduction

3) Sentimentality

Trivia

All members of APE are named after various species of primates.

Papa’s nickname is the only one that strays from the etymology of the other council members’ names. Papa is often used in some languages and religious sects to refer to the figure in authority.

All Seven Sages wear masks that resemble various apes and monkeys. Papa’s mask resembles a macaque or chimpanzee, as he is the leader of APE

Gallery

References



