Terminator as a series of films will forever remain a cinematic classic that will be actively quoted and considered a source of inspiration. It has done too much for the development of science fiction in general and the subgenre of "reflections on the dangers of artificial intelligence" in particular. And this is despite the fact that almost since Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines there has been a debate about the quality of the franchise, and Terminator: Dark Fate almost put an end to the whole story.
However, 2024 seems to be a very good year for the return of classic franchises. Alien has already received similar treatment thanks to the incredibly good Alien: Romulus. And now it's time for the Terminator, which Netflix, Production I.G. and Skydance Television tried to revive in Terminator Zero. The result is a show that not only combines the Western franchise and Japanese animation well, but also provides a competent and fresh take on a familiar universe.
| Title | Terminator Zero |
| Genre | science fiction, action, animation |
| Directors | Mattson Tomlin, Masashi Kudo |
| Starring | Timothy Olyphant, Rosario Dawson, Andre Holland, Sonoya Mizuno, Ann Dowd and others |
| Channel | Netflix |
| Episodes | 8 |
| Year | 2024 |
| Website | IMDb |
In the post-apocalyptic year 2022, humanity is trying to fight back against an army of machines, but defeat seems inevitable. However, the evil artificial intelligence Skynet has decided not to slowly finish off humanity, but to take a radical step. It sends a Terminator robot back in time to destroy scientist Malcolm Lee. He is developing an AI called Kokoro, which poses the greatest threat to Skynet. To protect the scientist, the rebels send a girl named Eiko back in time. The location for the battle for the future is Japan in 1997, and not only the future but the state of reality itself depends on the actions of the protagonists.
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Still from the series Terminator Zero[/caption]
The mere fact that the Japanese studio Production I.G. is involved in the production of the show already deserves attention and interest. After all, it is known for incredibly high-quality projects like Ghost in the Shell, Psycho-pass, and FLCL. The studio knows how to make high-quality and serious sci-fi without hyperbole and caricatured moments that are typical for anime. And Production I.G. has retained this thoughtful style in Terminator Zero.
We can argue a bit about what exactly to call this type of show. After all, "anime" usually means something exclusively from Japanese studios. And Netflix and American Skydance Television also worked on Terminator Zero. So someone will call it just an animated series. But what you can't argue with is the high visual quality of each episode.
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Still from the series Terminator Zero[/caption]
Terminator Zero looks as beautiful as possible and successfully immerses viewers in the gloomy atmosphere of the almost inevitable end of the world. Japan in 1997 was gloomy and almost unfriendly. But you can still find interesting, even cute moments in it, such as advertising posters for the first PlayStation and Nintendo 64. Of course, with changed names to avoid legal problems. And the future of 2022 resembles masterpieces like Ergo Proxy and Texhnolyze in style and general spirit.
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Still from the series Terminator Zero[/caption]
Yes, the animation in Terminator Zero is definitely not the best in the genre. Especially if you compare it with the over-the-top moments of the latest One Piece series or almost all anime by MAPPA. At times, you will notice too simple computer graphics, and some characters will lack smoothness of movement. On the other hand, there are some interesting segments in Terminator Zero that are artistically and animation-wise interesting. The most important thing is that the animation works in synergy with the plot and allows you to enjoy it to the fullest.
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Still from the series Terminator Zero[/caption]
The story in Terminator Zero is serious and complex. Perhaps even too complex, because some storylines seem redundant, while others, potentially more interesting, do not receive adequate development. However, the overall story catches on from the very first episode. The script constantly throws up unexpected plot twists and interesting situations. Some dialogues raise extremely philosophical topics about the value of human life and the possibility of coexistence between machines and humans.
However, keep in mind that the show does not explain the nuances of the Terminator Zero universe. Therefore, people who are completely unfamiliar with the franchise will find some moments hasty and far-fetched. But fans of the universe created by James Cameron will definitely feel the level of respect with which the creators of Terminator Zero approached the production of the show. Even in details such as the design of individual mechanisms, you will be able to find interesting references.
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Still from the series Terminator Zero[/caption]
The last installments of the Terminator series were often criticized for their rushed plot. However, the episodic format of Terminator Zero allows you to work with characters and situations more efficiently, revealing all the necessary moments in full. This is despite the fact that each episode lasts only half an hour, which means that it will take you four hours to watch the entire show. The director's cut versions of some movies are longer, but they still feel more empty and incomplete than Terminator Zero.
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Still from the series Terminator Zero[/caption]
But even though the themes, their presentation, and the overall tone of Terminator Zero are quite adult and serious, the show is unlikely to be a revelation for sci-fi fans. Netflix has already given us all a more serious and intricate show, Pluto, which you regularly think of while watching Terminator Zero. The themes of these two anime are too similar, but Pluto definitely wins in terms of the level of elaboration.
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Still from the series Terminator Zero[/caption]
But it's a great honor to be almost on a par with Naoki Urasawa's masterpiece. Especially if you remember what a bad taste the last attempts to bring the Terminator series back to life left behind. "Terminator Zero is an interesting, exciting show with high-quality animation and plenty of thought-provoking moments. It reminds us of the times when science fiction was the leading genre in anime, and its worthy representatives were released regularly.
The situation has changed now, but Terminator Zero proves that there will always be a place for fantastic Japanese animation in the world. And for Terminator as a whole. As long as the approach is right.