OVA
Description
Dr. Franken Von Volger—alternately spelled Von Vogler or Von Folger—was a brilliant scientist and theologian who co-developed the revolutionary Shizuma Drive, a renewable energy source. He worked alongside Dr. Shizuma and fellow researchers in Bashtarle, Belgium, to address humanity's energy crisis. Before the drive's activation, Von Volger identified a critical design flaw and issued warnings, but was overruled. The subsequent experiment caused the Tragedy of Bashtarle: a catastrophic meltdown that annihilated the region and killed one-third of Earth's population. During the disaster, Von Volger stayed behind to stabilize the reaction and was rescued solely by his son Emmanuel's teleportation ability.
Afterward, Dr. Shizuma publicly blamed Von Volger for the catastrophe, vilifying him. Consumed by guilt, Von Volger withdrew to Bashtarle's ruins with Emmanuel, growing increasingly despondent and malnourished. Upon witnessing completed Shizuma Drives in mass production, he locked himself inside his ruined laboratory. Days later, he emerged near death, entrusting Emmanuel with three modified Shizuma Drive prototypes and the instruction to "stop Shizuma" before dying in his son's arms.
Von Volger's final act stemmed from a discovery made in isolation: the Shizuma Drive emitted an undetectable toxic byproduct that would accumulate in Earth's atmosphere and eradicate all oxygen. He modified the prototypes to emit a neutralizing energy wave, eliminating this flaw globally. He documented the plan but died before explaining it, causing Emmanuel to misinterpret "stop Shizuma" as a vengeance quest. This misunderstanding drove Emmanuel—now Genya—to join the terrorist group Big Fire and construct the Eye of Volger to destroy all Shizuma Drives.
In other media, a variant appears in the Tetsujin 28 franchise as Dr. Schtein Franken (Professor Graybeard), a recurring antagonist who created the robot Black Ox. This version diverges significantly; in the 2004 anime adaptation, Franken participated in the Tetsujin Project, attempting to reanimate corpses including his deceased son Yoshihisa. His creation strangled him, and he killed it in retaliation.
Von Volger fathered two children: Emmanuel (Genya) and Falmelle (later Ginrei), both inheriting teleportation abilities that saved them during the Bashtarle disaster. His legacy centers on unintended consequences—his attempt to prevent catastrophe led to his vilification, while his dying plea for redemption was misconstrued as a call for destruction.
Afterward, Dr. Shizuma publicly blamed Von Volger for the catastrophe, vilifying him. Consumed by guilt, Von Volger withdrew to Bashtarle's ruins with Emmanuel, growing increasingly despondent and malnourished. Upon witnessing completed Shizuma Drives in mass production, he locked himself inside his ruined laboratory. Days later, he emerged near death, entrusting Emmanuel with three modified Shizuma Drive prototypes and the instruction to "stop Shizuma" before dying in his son's arms.
Von Volger's final act stemmed from a discovery made in isolation: the Shizuma Drive emitted an undetectable toxic byproduct that would accumulate in Earth's atmosphere and eradicate all oxygen. He modified the prototypes to emit a neutralizing energy wave, eliminating this flaw globally. He documented the plan but died before explaining it, causing Emmanuel to misinterpret "stop Shizuma" as a vengeance quest. This misunderstanding drove Emmanuel—now Genya—to join the terrorist group Big Fire and construct the Eye of Volger to destroy all Shizuma Drives.
In other media, a variant appears in the Tetsujin 28 franchise as Dr. Schtein Franken (Professor Graybeard), a recurring antagonist who created the robot Black Ox. This version diverges significantly; in the 2004 anime adaptation, Franken participated in the Tetsujin Project, attempting to reanimate corpses including his deceased son Yoshihisa. His creation strangled him, and he killed it in retaliation.
Von Volger fathered two children: Emmanuel (Genya) and Falmelle (later Ginrei), both inheriting teleportation abilities that saved them during the Bashtarle disaster. His legacy centers on unintended consequences—his attempt to prevent catastrophe led to his vilification, while his dying plea for redemption was misconstrued as a call for destruction.