Darling in the FranXX

Darling in the FranXX is set in a distant future where humanity has been pushed to the brink of extinction by giant beasts known as Klaxosaurs. Survivors live inside massive fortress cities called Plantations, and children are raised to pilot giant mechas called FranXX in boy-girl pairs—the only weapons known to be effective against the Klaxosaurs. Denied any real life beyond their assigned purpose, these children grow up knowing little about the outside world and can prove their worth only by defending the remnants of human civilization. Hiro, an aspiring FranXX pilot, has lost his motivation and self-confidence after failing an aptitude test. Skipping out on his class' graduation ceremony, he retreats to a forest lake, where he encounters a mysterious girl with two horns growing out of her head. She introduces herself by the codename Zero Two, which is known to belong to the infamous FranXX pilot called the "Partner Killer." Before Hiro can fully process the encounter, the Plantation is rocked by a sudden Klaxosaur attack. Zero Two engages the creature in her FranXX, but the machine is heavily damaged in the skirmish and crashes near Hiro. Finding her partner dead, Zero Two invites Hiro to pilot the mecha with her, and the duo easily defeats the Klaxosaur in the ensuing fight. With a new partner by his side, Hiro is given a chance at redemption for his past failures, but at what cost?