Frank Land | |
Appearances | Zoids: Wild ZERO |
Debut | Episode 6 |
Affiliation | Empire |
Age | TBA |
Primary Zoids | Omega Rex |
Japanese Name | フランク・ランド |
Voice Actors | 稲葉実 |
Frank Land is the main antagonist in Zoids: Wild ZERO.
Overview[]
Frank Land is a major character from Wild ZERO, a prominent researcher for the Empire.
He creates several important pieces of technology, and is notable early on for the revival of the Genospino.
He also shows great interest in the Zi-Forming devices.
While he works for the Empire, he is occasionally seen clashing with the superiors of the Empire. His research goals differ with the immediate goal of the military in defeating the Republic, but groups initially work together.
For a large portion of the series, Frank Land uses the Empire to track down Sally Land and retrieve a pendant she has in her possession. He initially sends Luc on this task, and much later Aldridge as well.
As the series progresses his personality, backstory, and motivation are slowly revealed.
He is the biological father of Sally Land, although she is oblivious to this thanks to a large age gap forming while she was in deep sleep prior to the start of the series. He also has a metal arm, similar to the one Leo Conrad has. He keeps this arm hidden with a skin-looking cover most of the time.
In the past, back on Planet Zi, it is revealed he is a researcher. He is considered one of the foremost researchers on Zi, along with Walter Borman. However, when on Earth, he is seen to almost perpetually consider himself second-place to the absent Dr Borman.
Others correctly point out that his achievements on Earth are well above Dr. Borman, as after all, Dr. Land was solely responsible for reviving the Genospino. But Dr. Land knows his research is limited. On Zi, his research was focused on "Destruction", while Borman on "Creation". This also manifested on Earth, with Borman researching the regeneration cubes, while Land researching weapons for the Empire. During his research, Frank Land is exposed to a rough Zoid Factor (similar to Leo Conrad). This gives him a metal arm and the ability to interface with Regeneration Cubes. Unlike Leo, Frank Land's integration with this Zoid Factor is incomplete, leading to runaway delusions at times. This slowly affects him over the course of the series.
But what's not immediately apparent, is that even after the revival of the Genospino, Dr Land strives for more and more powerful Zoids. The Genospino was the best he could do with his research, but it's not the best possible Zoid.
He knew that if he could obtain Dr. Borman's research (specifically the pendant left with Sally) he could tap into the regeneration energy that his research could not replicate. This would allow him to access to virtually unlimited energy. His goal was to use this energy for a singular purpose: the Charged Particle Cannon.
On Earth no Zoids are equipped with this devastating weapon, so Dr Land develops it himself.
He eventually retrieves the pendant from Luc, and uses it to activate the Omega Rex, betraying the Empire in the process, and siding with the newly-formed "True Empire".
After being exposed to Sally's pendant, Dr. Land's Zoid Factor is reawakened, causing his ageing to reverse. He covers this up using bandages, until episode 29, where he takes charge of operating the Omega Rex personally.
After the defeat of the Omega Rex at the hands of Leo Conrad and the Gravity Cannon, Dr. Land goes into hiding. The Omega Rex itself survives and heads back to the "True Empire", but Land (along with the pendant unit) are left stranded having washed up onshore. Eventually he is found by Jamminga. Far too weak to oppose them, he merely tells them not to attack. To his surprise, they comply.
His new body, complete with awakened "Zoid Factor" allow him to control the Jamminga. He takes advantage of this for his own agenda, effectively abandoning the "True Empire".
He uses a Gilraptor with the pendant unit, to track down Regeneration Cubes. With his new powers he finds that he can activate them, much like Leo can.
However, as he does so, he finds himself inadvertently interfacing with Electora Gate. He finds himself drunk with power and ceases to simply activate the cubes. Instead, he begins to commandeer them, pushing them to create a purple light.
If enough cubes are activated, the purple light would doom the planet for humanity. This does not faze Dr Land, instead he focuses on what it would achieve: a world for Zoids alone.
As he activates more cubes, he starts to be consumed, eventually appearing with black eyes, and directly speaking as one with Electora.
He finds his way to the Zero Grizis, using its power he can force the activation of all Regeneration Cubes (even the ones already active with the orange light).
With no allegiances to any factions, Frank Land uses the Zero Grizis to seize Regeneration Cubes. He is essentially locked into a race with Leo Conrad. Whoever activates the most cubes will be able to dominate the network of devices, and achieve their respective goals (orange light, sought by Leo to regenerate the planet, purple light sought by Dr. Land to make a world of Zoids).
He is opposed by the combined might of the Imperial and Republican armies, but they are essentially no match for him.
Eventually, Dr. Land is taken to the final site of the Regeneration Cube network, and is confronted by Leo. Leo and his Rising Liger manage to defeat the Zero Grizis, and Dr. Land is seen disintegrating into the Orange Light from the final activation of the Regeneration Cubes.
Personality[]
Ability as a Zoid pilot[]
As a researcher, Frank Land initially does not pilot a Zoid. He initially seeks Christopher Giller as his preferred pick for a pilot of the Genospino, but is overruled and Aldridge is used instead.
It was not until he is exposed to Sally's pendant that he becomes a significant threat as a pilot.
Reinvigorated, he possesses a similar Zoid Factor to Leo Conrad. This allows him to pilot virtually any Zoid without restraint.
Even without a pilot suit, he is able to use the Omega Rex's Wild Blast many times without backlash.
Relationships[]
- Sally Land: Frank Land is Sally's biological father. He is very distant from her, and it is shown that Sally instead grew up under Walter Borman's care. Sally's main memories of her father, are as a child seeing his robotic arm during his research back on Zi. During the series, Sally does not recognize Frank Land on sight, although the age gap between them is accelerated due to her being in stasis for several decades.
- Hannah Melville: Frank Land is Hannah's adoptive father. Frank Land took her in at an orphanage upon seeing that she possesses some affinity for controlling Jamminga. She greatly looks up to him as her true father, but these feelings are not reciprocated. Frank Land merely uses her as a tool. It is later revealed that Hannah's real father is in fact the previous ruler of the Empire, making her an alternative heir to the Empire. Despite learning of her true birth parents, Hannah still considers Frank Land her father. She goes to great lengths to support him. Eventually she is forced to realise that Land's descent into madness is unstoppable, even by those closest to him.
- Walter Borman: Borman is a long-time friend of Land, who eventually becomes alienated. They both studied together on Planet Zi. Land's lust for power drives them apart and at some time around the start of the series, Land becomes obsessed with finding Borman's research to fuel his own agenda.
- Krysta: Sally's mother, and Frank's former wife. She is prior to the start of the series. Frank keeps a photo of her on his desk. She is Borman's daughter.
Trivia[]
- Frank Land's name and appearance were released on the Zoids Twitter feed prior to his debut in the anime, the obvious question of why he has the same surname and eye colour of Sally Land was raised.
- Frank Land is responsible for several of the key technologies in the series. He builds the "Zoid Operating Visor" that allows the Empire to forcibly control Zoids (like Baan's Gatling Fox). He also develops the "B-Suit", the pilot suit used by both factions to allow their soldiers to use Zoid Wild Blasts without significant backlash.