TV-Series
Description
Pascal is a machine lifeform in NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a who stands apart from the hostile machines that dominate the world. He is disconnected from the Machine Network that binds other machine lifeforms, which allows him independent thought and the freedom to live by his own beliefs. He has a soft demeanor and a gentle personality, and he is exceptionally knowledgeable, with a deep curiosity about the history of humans and the history of machine lifeforms.
His background is given more attention in the anime than in other tellings of the story. Pascal was originally a warrior who fought alongside machines of his own model. During a fierce battle, he fell into a deep abyss and came into contact with a mysterious sphere, the same object that would later become the sacred centerpiece of his village. That encounter changed his outlook completely, and he turned away from violence. Having experienced war firsthand, he chose peace deliberately. He went on to build a community in the forest where machines who shared his beliefs could live together without fighting, and this village became home to both adult machines and young machines, with the children affectionately calling him Uncle.
Pascal's core motivation is protection and coexistence. He believes machines and androids do not have to be enemies, and his village maintains a truce with the android Resistance, trading with them in peace. He welcomes the YoRHa androids 2B and 9S and offers them assistance during their mission. His deepest commitment, however, is to the children of his village. He teaches them emotions, including joy, sorrow, curiosity, and fear, hoping they will come to value life so they will not throw it away recklessly. This act of care ultimately leads to tragedy. When hostile machines attack the village, he fights to defend it, but the adult machines are wiped out. He leads the children to safety, only for an infected child to spread a logic virus that devastates the Resistance camp, and the remaining children are killed in their shelter.
The anime gives Pascal a more developed personality. He is more expressive, knows how to make jokes, and does not hesitate when the safety of the village children is at stake. His development traces a movement from quiet hope to utter despair. After losing his community and every child he tried to protect, he chooses to end his own life rather than forget them. He takes an infected child into his arms, is bitten, and deliberately overheats his own generator, destroying himself while entrusting the future to A2.
In terms of abilities, Pascal relies mainly on his intelligence and learning rather than combat, but he is not defenseless. He has a strong attachment to knowledge, philosophy, and books, and he uses his understanding of the world to guide his community. Despite being a pacifist, he is capable of fighting when he must, and he stands alongside A2 against overwhelming machine forces during the village's destruction. His separation from the Machine Network is itself a significant trait, as it leaves him outside the network's influence and allows him to follow his own convictions. His final act also shows his ability to override his own systems, choosing to die with his memories intact rather than live on without them.
His background is given more attention in the anime than in other tellings of the story. Pascal was originally a warrior who fought alongside machines of his own model. During a fierce battle, he fell into a deep abyss and came into contact with a mysterious sphere, the same object that would later become the sacred centerpiece of his village. That encounter changed his outlook completely, and he turned away from violence. Having experienced war firsthand, he chose peace deliberately. He went on to build a community in the forest where machines who shared his beliefs could live together without fighting, and this village became home to both adult machines and young machines, with the children affectionately calling him Uncle.
Pascal's core motivation is protection and coexistence. He believes machines and androids do not have to be enemies, and his village maintains a truce with the android Resistance, trading with them in peace. He welcomes the YoRHa androids 2B and 9S and offers them assistance during their mission. His deepest commitment, however, is to the children of his village. He teaches them emotions, including joy, sorrow, curiosity, and fear, hoping they will come to value life so they will not throw it away recklessly. This act of care ultimately leads to tragedy. When hostile machines attack the village, he fights to defend it, but the adult machines are wiped out. He leads the children to safety, only for an infected child to spread a logic virus that devastates the Resistance camp, and the remaining children are killed in their shelter.
The anime gives Pascal a more developed personality. He is more expressive, knows how to make jokes, and does not hesitate when the safety of the village children is at stake. His development traces a movement from quiet hope to utter despair. After losing his community and every child he tried to protect, he chooses to end his own life rather than forget them. He takes an infected child into his arms, is bitten, and deliberately overheats his own generator, destroying himself while entrusting the future to A2.
In terms of abilities, Pascal relies mainly on his intelligence and learning rather than combat, but he is not defenseless. He has a strong attachment to knowledge, philosophy, and books, and he uses his understanding of the world to guide his community. Despite being a pacifist, he is capable of fighting when he must, and he stands alongside A2 against overwhelming machine forces during the village's destruction. His separation from the Machine Network is itself a significant trait, as it leaves him outside the network's influence and allows him to follow his own convictions. His final act also shows his ability to override his own systems, choosing to die with his memories intact rather than live on without them.