Anby Demara

Former member of a special forces unit, now the efficient heart of the Cunning Hares.

Anby Demara is a calm and collected Agent affiliated with the Cunning Hares, a small-scale temp work agency that accepts commissions larger agencies refuse. She is renowned for her unusual competence and efficiency in combat, though she struggles with other aspects of daily life. Originally designated as "Soldier 0," she served as part of a special forces unit. After joining the Cunning Hares, Anby adopted the family name Demara, transitioning from a weaponized asset to a member of a makeshift family. Her character design follows miHoYo's "backwards designing" strategy, where her movements and weapons were defined before her visual appearance was finalized.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: Cunning Hares

Lore & Background

Anby's history is rooted in her time as "Soldier 0," a member of an elite special forces unit. Her life changed when she joined the Cunning Hares and took on the surname Demara, marking a move away from her designation as a number toward a role within a family dynamic that values her unique skills while accommodating her social limitations. The Cunning Hares, operating out of New Eridu, accept commissions that larger agencies refuse, often due to financial or reputational risks. Within this group, Anby's stoic nature and combat prowess provide the necessary stability for missions involving dangerous Hollows. Her backstory highlights a journey from being a tool of war to finding belonging in a ragtag team that includes an energetic android gunslinger named Billy Kid and a mischievous catgirl Thiren known as Nekomata Mana.

Reader's Guide

She follows the game's standard design philosophy where movements and weapons were designed first to ensure efficient communication between teams. As part of the Cunning Hares, she operates within a group that takes on various commissions for clients unable to hire larger agencies. Players can expect her character design to reflect her history as a former special forces captain, with the development team emphasizing quality over quantity.

Combat Identity and Origins

Anby Demara was originally known as "Soldier 0" (零号; Líng Hào), the captain of Silver Squad, a special forces unit consisting of clone soldiers. Her transition to the name Anby Demara occurred after she was found by Nicole, who adopted her into the Cunning Hares. This backstory establishes her as an unusually competent and efficient fighter who struggles in non-combat situations.

Faction Dynamics and Agency

The Cunning Hares are a small-scale temp work agency formerly known as the Gentle House. They specialize in taking on commissions for clients who cannot or will not hire larger, more reputable agencies. The group's roster includes Nicole Demara, the savvy founder; Billy Kid, an energetic cyborg gunslinger from the Intelligent Constructs race; and Nekomiya Mana (Nekomata), a catgirl Thiren who initially planned to kill the group but joined them after witnessing their rescue of neighbors. Anby serves as a core member whose combat efficiency balances the chaotic personalities of her teammates.

Design Philosophy and Evolution

Anby's design was created using miHoYo's "backwards designing" strategy, where character movements and weapons were designed before the visual appearance itself. This method allowed for more efficient communication between the development teams. The source notes that designs can be altered up until the last minute or even after a character's first appearance in the game. While specific changes to Anby are not detailed, the text cites Hoshimi Miyabi as an example of this process, where eye models were updated in Version 1.3 despite her debut in Version 1.0.

Narrative Integration and Storytelling

Prior to official release, characters like Anby are promoted through teasers on social media. Additionally, certain characters have "Agent Stories" that provide backstory and personality traits not fully explored in the main storyline. The source confirms that Anby has a backstory involving her time as Soldier 0 and her adoption by Nicole, which is likely explored in these dedicated narrative segments. The game utilizes a gacha system where players spend currency on time-limited character banners to acquire agents.

What players say: Player verdict on Zenless Zone Zero — Rotten Tweets