Research on Victoria Housekeeping in Zenless Zone Zero

Now, all Proxies are about to welcome Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.2, where we will learn the story of Obol Squad. If you ask me which faction among many is my favorite, I might still say Victoria Housekeeping Co.. It boasts uniquely styled maids and the handsome Lycaon. In this article, let's explore this faction-arguably the most distinctive in design since launch!

Zenless Zone Zero Victoria Housekeeping Faction Background

Before delving into individual character analyses, let's explore the cultural elements behind this faction! "Victoria," "Housekeeping," "Maid"-connecting these terms takes us back to a real historical era. On June 20, 1837, the 18-year-old Alexandrina Victoria learned she would become the new Queen of England. Neither she nor her subjects could foresee that they were about to witness the empire's final golden age-known as the Victorian era.

The name "Victoria" became synonymous with "nobility" and "elegance." During this period, Britain leveraged its formidable strength to achieve world-leading industrial advancements and dominate global trade. Despite industrial innovation, class society grew increasingly rigid.

At the time, hiring servants was a hallmark of gentlemen. Not only aristocrats but affluent middle-class families employed servants to flaunt their social status, leading to a surge in domestic staff. Owning servants symbolized power and prestige; elite nobles hired large retinues. Before the Victorian era, households primarily employed male servants-butlers and stewards. After Britain imposed taxes on hiring male servants, demand for maids skyrocketed, as their employment cost was less than half that of male servants. This drove the female servant hiring rate to its peak.

Early maids wore no standardized attire, typically layering aprons over everyday dresses. The iconic maid uniform-dark long skirts with white bibs, aprons, and mob caps-took shape during this era. This attire gradually evolved into the image we recognize today.

Against this backdrop, Home Economics emerged alongside servant culture. Home Economics focuses on improving household management and life skills, aiming to enhance family well-being and societal stability. Initially developed in Europe and America, it emphasized training in domestic management, cultivating a new class of servants who embodied refinement and technical expertise. These individuals were no longer seen as lowly laborers but as embodiments of upper-class cultivation.

In Zenless Zone Zero, Victoria Housekeeping Co. encapsulates this cultural legacy. Each character's design is full of unique charm and greatly loved by Proxies. The official Victoria Housekeeping character figures are now available, so don't miss out if you're a fan!

ZZZ Ellen Joe Figure

ZZZ Von Lycaon Figure

ZZZ Rina Figure

ZZZ Corin Wickes Figure

Now, let's explore its members!

Zenless Zone Zero Ellen Joe

Ellen Joe is a maid of the Victoria Housekeeping Co. faction. As an Ice Attribute Attack character, fulfilling her master's commissions is a goal she strives to achieve even within the Hollows. We see Ellen, with her long tail, gliding through the battlefield like a real shark, radiating a suffocating yet mesmerizing chill. Seizing opportunities, she surges like ocean waves, wielding sharp scissors to savagely strike enemies. Yet amid her fierce prowess, glimpses of her expressive face-filled with disdain, annoyance, and resignation-evoke an unexpected tenderness.

Ellen Joe Shark

As part of the Victoria Housekeeping Co. faction, which incorporates horror elements into its design, Ellen embodies the classic disaster-horror film icon-"Jaws". "Jaws" is renowned as director Spielberg's breakthrough work, depicting a police chief and fisherman battling a terrifying man-eating great white shark in a remote coastal town. It was the first film to gross over $100 million in North America, drawing 67 million admissions during its run and pioneering the Hollywood summer blockbuster trend. Without flashy special effects, it relied on a mechanical shark prop and masterful cinematography to deliver a uniquely mysterious and terrifying experience. Spielberg's ingenuity made sharks an enduring symbol of classic disaster films.

Ellen Joe Skills

Beyond sharks, Ellen Joe's skill designs incorporate various ocean-related terminology. Combined with her Ice attribute power, this clearly showcases her formidable combat prowess. For example, Ellen's most visually striking Dash state (Roaming Hunt) and Dash Attack (Cold Snap) mirror the hunting behavior of sharks in the ocean-fluid yet powerful.

The Dodge Counter is named "Reef Rock", referring to submerged rocks or reefs that pose navigational hazards, often causing damage and losses to maritime shipping.

Ellen Joe Weapon

After discussing so many skills, let's examine Ellen's eye-catching weapon that tears through enemies. Aligned with her maid role, gardening is an essential part of affluent household management. Thus, Ellen wields not an axe or broadsword, but an oversized gardening shear. Most gardening shears feature an arc-shaped design to reduce friction with trees and shrubs, ensuring precise trimming. This semi-circular design resembles fish heads when viewed sideways, perfectly complementing Ellen's aquatic motifs. Shark patterns adorn the weapon, further reinforcing her theme.

Ellen Joe's Outfit

After understanding Ellen's design inspiration, we can now examine her costume details. Let's appreciate them from top to bottom. Beneath the maid's iconic headscarf lies a serrated accessory resembling shark teeth, echoing the neckpiece components to form a complete set of shark jaws.

Additionally, subtle red highlights peek through her predominantly black hair, evoking the image of a shark's gaping maw beneath smooth skin. Moving downward, the design language consistent across Victoria Housekeeping Co. becomes evident: extravagance constrained by structure. Ellen's upper body features five black leather straps, with cuffed sleeves sharply contrasting her pale arms against the black uniform. Straps extending from her neck to the waist visually frame a central space, drawing focus to the midsection.

Flowing tassels at the back enhance her agility during Roaming Hunt, while her skirt-unlike typical maid attire-uses textured leather to mimic shark skin. The side design is particularly ingenious: leather lacks stretch and breathability, so slits were added for mobility. To maintain elegance, these slits are crisscrossed with straps in an "X" pattern.

Her fishnet stockings feature spiked patterns and lace trim at the seams, mirroring the sharp motifs on her gloves and headpiece to amplify her predatory aura. Even hidden details bear shark-inspired scar marks in a diamond pattern, reflecting British aesthetics.

Finally, her iconic tail boasts "Shark" graffiti and doodles-fishbones, stickers, band-aids-preventing monotony while reinforcing the theme. Fans quickly noticed Victoria Housekeeping Co.'s signature trait: latex suits. Widely used in sports and film, latex minimizes drag in speed skating and diving-perfectly aligning with Ellen's "ice" and "ocean" identity.

Beyond design, Ellen's charm lies in her personality contrast. Pre-release assumptions of a fierce maid dissolved when her student persona emerged-a relatable teen with friend circles. This duality creates depth: combat ferocity versus daily laziness.

In battle, Ellen speaks sparingly yet expresses vividly through facial cues-highlighted in official promos. As her profile states, she "hides her thoughts but betrays them through expressions." We glimpse her yearning for simple joys: relaxing with friends, work-life balance, and frustration with overtime. This "heartfelt expressiveness" reveals her humanity beneath the stoicism.

Whether facing formidable foes or strolling with friends at sunset vying for lollipops, Ellen remains that ordinary girl-sharp fangs bared only at enemies.

Zenless Zone Zero Von Lycaon

The leader and external representative of Victoria Housekeeping Co. As an Ice Attribute Stun character, his formidable mechanical legs dominate the battlefield, with leg armor radiating a piercing chill capable of striking enemies dozens of times in an instant. In him, we witness the sense of security Lycaon brings, sometimes even making us forget his original archetype-a creature that instills fear in humans: the werewolf.

The Character Design Prototype of Von Lycaon

The origin of "werewolves" traces back to ancient Greece, appearing in Greek literature and mythology. For instance, historian Herodotus wrote in his Histories: "I encountered a shocking event among a nomadic tribe northeast of Scythia. People there would transform into wolves annually for several days before reverting to human form."

Additionally, in the 2nd century BCE, Greek geographer Pausanias recounted the tale of Lycaon, regarded as the first werewolf. Originally the king of Arcadia, Lycaon had multiple wives, sons, and a daughter named Callisto. When Zeus visited Arcadia to receive worship, Lycaon tested his divinity by slaughtering one of his sons, cooking him, and serving him to Zeus. According to Ovid's Metamorphoses, Zeus detected this atrocity and cursed Lycaon into a wolf as punishment for his cruelty and arrogance.

By the Middle Ages, "werewolves" entered mainstream consciousness, joining ghouls, vampires, and witches as omens of misfortune. Over centuries, werewolves evolved from real-life heresy accusations to literary symbols, becoming globally recognized icons. In 1935, the first werewolf film Werewolf of Londonpremiered, cementing the werewolf's place as a classic horror figure on screen. Werewolves later appeared in franchises like Twilightand Harry Potter.

Given that Lycaon has such deep connections to the werewolf identity, the "Von" prefix must also carry significance. In Icelandic, "Von" means "hope," while its more profound meaning stems from German. Notably, after the 17th century, "Von" gradually became part of noble names-a special marker of aristocratic lineage indicating ancestors granted titles by royalty. Though no longer denoting nobility today, this single word embodies Lycaon's noble-like aura.

ZZZ Lycaon's Outfit

After understanding Lycaon's design inspiration, let's revisit his character details. As previously mentioned, Victoria Housekeeping Co.'s aesthetic balances flamboyance with restraint. This is especially evident in Lycaon: outwardly elegant and rational, yet he reveals innate savagery when facing threats. This wildness "wrapped" or "restrained" by elegance makes him irresistibly compelling!

Lycaon's outfit centers on a refined suit adorned with accessories. His snow-white head is mostly concealed, revealing only one striking eye. The muzzle-commonly used on pets to prevent biting-is loosely fitted to allow speech.

A high collar partially obscures his neck but fails to hide the restraint straps extending downward. Lycaon's "straitjacket" is a core Victoria Housekeeping motif. Below, a red tie stands out as one of his few vibrant accents, adding visual charm. His chest pocket likely holds a pocket watch-essential for a butler to track time and complete tasks punctually.

Further down, restraint straps crisscross his arms. Though his attacks focus on kicks, he wears gleaming knuckledusters. His back features a proud gray-white tail-a canine charm point.

His legs are combat powerhouses: mechanical limbs radiating strength. Observant eyes note the high-heeled prosthetics, structurally aligned with wolves' physiology. Wolves are medium-large with slender limbs, running on their toes for agility and swift turns. Longer forelegs justify the heeled design for optimal mobility.

The tail's charm shines in PVs and lore. Despite his calm elegance, Lycaon's canine instincts surface when delighted-his ears and tail wag subconsciously. He seems aware yet troubled by this trait, a common canine quirk.

Choosing Lycaon as Victoria Housekeeping's leader aligns with wolf pack dynamics. His poised demeanor reflects wolves' intelligence and teamwork: no infighting, mutual support, and clear roles. Managing complex affairs proves his capability. Every gesture exudes control befitting a butler, yet his eyes hint at lingering ferocity beneath the tailored suit.

Zenless Zone Zero Alexandrina Sebastiane

As a Support character, Rina floats imperceptibly across the battlefield. Two ghostly Bangboos weave and collide, clearing the field while showcasing her multifaceted design.

"Alexandrina" likely derives from the full name of Britain's Queen Victoria-Alexandrina Victoria. Her reign marked the peak of the British Empire's "sun never sets" era, characterized by colonial expansion and territorial conquests. During her decades on the throne, Britain transitioned from laissez-faire capitalism to monopoly capitalism, achieving industrial and technological supremacy that solidified its constitutional monarchy. This made Queen Victoria a symbol of peace and prosperity.

"Sebastiane" originates from the Latin word "Sebastianus", meaning solemn, dignified, and venerable. While traditionally a masculine name, its association with butlers stems more from Japanese pop culture than Western traditions.

In the 1974 anime "Heidi--a Girl of the Alps" and 1978 anime "ペリーヌ物語", Sebastiane was portrayed as an empathetic young man devoted to his master. This depiction popularized "Sebastiane" as a cultural shorthand for idealized butlers in later media. Combining these names reflects Britain's historical development of home economics.

Beyond its connection to the "butler" identity, Sebastiane also corresponds to the classical music elements embodied by Rina. Classical music is not only her signature but also the musical style of the entire Victoria Housekeeping Co. Historically, another notable "Sebastian" linked to music is Johann Sebastian Bach, hailed as the "Father of Western Music."

On Rina's character card, four distinct musical pieces reflect her various personas:

1. "A Midsummer Night's Dance" corresponds to Mendelssohn's work for Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. As a leading figure of German Romanticism, he is celebrated as a "master of lyrical landscapes," renowned for his exquisite, elegant, and lavish compositions.
2. "Twisted Fate Concerto" and " Silent Sonata Pathetique" reference Beethoven's Symphony No. 5("Fate") and Sonata Pathétique. Beethoven, the "King of Symphonies," revolutionized classical music through innovations in sonata form and symphonic structure.
3. "New World Symphony" is the work of Dvořák, a 19th-century Czech composer and key figure in the Nationalist music movement.

Beyond her character card, Rina's skills are infused with musical references:

Quick Assist: "Duple Meter Allemande"

Originating in Germany, the Allemandeis a slow duple-meter dance characterized by simplicity and calmness-mirroring Rina's poised movements.

Evasive Assist: "Triple Meter Courante"

A French dance popular in the 17th century, the Couranteevolved into an instrumental piece by 1725, known for its lively triple-meter rhythm.

Assist Follow-Up: "Quadruple Meter Gavotte"

An ancient French folk dance in quadruple meter, the Gavottebegins on a weak beat and carries a stately Baroque elegance.

Rina's design blends horror and whimsy:

1. Ghost Motif: Her floating posture and ethereal Bangboos evoke playful spectral imagery, contrasting with her dignified role.
2. Puppeteer Elements: Mechanical arm components and invisible strings allow her to control the Bangboos Anastasia and Dousella-named after Cinderella's stepsisters in Grimm's Fairy Tales, with designs reflecting their gruesome fates (one-eyed and one-legged).
3. Gothic Elegance: Her Victorian maid gown features a split crimson bodice, asymmetrical stockings, and spikes inscribed with "House of Windsor," balancing solemnity with subtle rebellion.

As the longest-serving member of Victoria Housekeeping, Rina embodies grace and mischief-her noble demeanor underscored by classical melodies and whimsical charm.

Zenless Zone Zero Corin Wickes

Corin, one of the maids of Victoria Housekeeping Co., is obedient but severely lacks confidence. She constantly worries about failing tasks and fears being disliked by others, always appearing flustered and stammering when anxious.

No matter what happens, Corin often apologizes. Yet each apology transforms into brutality in her hands-enemies are swiftly torn apart by a giant circular saw that starkly contrasts her petite frame.

The horror elements inherent in the Victoria Housekeeping faction are unmistakable. For Corin, the key motifs are "Frankenstein" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Frankenstein is a iconic horror figure originating from Mary Shelley's 1818 short story.

The protagonist, Frankenstein, is a biologist obsessed with the origins of life. Driven by criminal intent, he frequents morgues, assembling a giant human body from parts of different corpses. When the monster finally opens its eyes, Frankenstein is terrified by its ghastly appearance and flees. The monster pursues him relentlessly, demanding companionship, warmth, and friendship, leading to a series of eerie mysteries and murders. This tale is considered the first true science fiction novel and a masterpiece of Gothic literature, adapted into countless films.

A clue lies in Corin Wickes' name: In James Whale's 1931 classic film Frankenstein, the actor portraying the scientist was named Colin Clive.

The Frankenstein elements in Corin are subtle and require close observation. When she achieves Mindscape 6, her character artwork reveals large sutured scars on her arms. Combined with her backstory-a critical illness before joining Victoria Housekeeping Co.-it evokes the image of Frankenstein's monster stitched together from corpse parts.

In the 2015 Fox film Victor Frankenstein, the monster possesses two hearts. Corin's plush bear also harbors a heart within its chest.

Regarding "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Corin's chainsaw-tearing through enemies-is the most direct reference. Beyond this, the real-life killer Edward Theodore Gein was introverted, socially awkward, and even shy-a stark contrast to his crimes. This duality is mirrored in Corin's gentle demeanor juxtaposed with her brutal combat style.

Beyond these inspirations, Corin's debut scene-sawing through a train car to shock Neko and the player-directly homages the iconic moment from the masterpiece "The Shining".

Corin Weapon

Corin's weapon is as eye-catching as Ellen's. Ellen wields an oversized gardening shear, while Corin's weapon is an enlarged circular saw. Small circular saws relate to maid duties in woodworking-wood saw blades are fundamental tools for timber processing. Large circular saws, with their superior performance, are widely used for cutting steel.

Corin's Outfit

Next, let's explore Corin's design elements through her artwork. Compared to Ellen's latex maid outfit, Corin's attire aligns more with traditional maid uniforms. The color scheme is primarily white with dark green accents-green being the signature hue of the Frankenstein horror motif. The grid-like dotted lines across the garment evoke surgical incisions or sutures.

Both Ellen and Corin's outfits feature three black-red bows, likely symbolizing their student identities. Beyond the traditional maid headdress, four giant screws pierce the front and back of her head, echoing six screws descending from her neck. The voluminous skirt might appear top-heavy, but the screws provide visual balance. The cuffs mirror the garment's dotted-line design.

A leather belt cinches her waist, attached to a massive chain. Following the chain backward reveals it connects to a bear backpack on her back. The worn bear-with nut eyes and a zippered face resembling stitches-blends eerie charm with cuteness. Inside the bear beats a heart, Corin's most intriguing design element.

At her wrists, three leather gloves stack beneath an oversized metal gauntlet, creating a unique silhouette on her petite arms. Like straitjackets and restraints, handcuffs symbolize methods of confining patients.

Moving down to her skirt hem, instead of soft fabric, sharp serrated edges mimic her circular saw. While safety-conscious, such attire would be challenging to wear. Thankfully, a full-length zipper on the backside offers practical dressing. Metal accessories on Corin are intentionally oversized, contrasting her adorable persona. Beneath the skirt bloom bloomers, epitomizing youthful charm.

Corin has always been a hardworking child. Every effort she made in the past holds its own meaning. Though insecure, she has long earned the recognition of her fellow Victoria Housekeeping Co. members. What she truly needs is perhaps to acknowledge her own worth.

This concludes our exploration of all four members of the "Victoria Housekeeping Co." faction. We hope this deep dive into their horror-inspired designs has deepened your appreciation for them! Many other intriguing factions await in Zenless Zone Zero-stay tuned for future discussions! Of course, don't miss our upcoming articles and in-site merchandises!