Terminator Zero is an animated series based on the immensely popular Terminator franchise. Terminator is a household name in the film world that has been making ears prick up and eyes sparkle for decades. From the typical skeletal-looking robots to the intriguing 'Judgment Day', attempts have been made time and time again to breathe new life into this story. And now a new series based on the hugely popular Terminator franchise has been released. After the first two successful films, each with Arnold Schwarzenegger in his iconic role as T-800, it has not always been a good continuation of this film series. You could say that it went from decent to downright bad. This time we don't get a movie but a brand new animated series that has been given a real anime look. The story was written by Mattson Tomlin (Batman: The Imposter) and directed by Masashi Kudō (Bleach (2004)).
Here too, Judgment Day is the central theme of the story: The day that AI becomes aware of itself and heralds the start of a bitter war between humans and machines. We follow two different characters, each in a different time period. In one (1997) we follow Malcolm Lee, a researcher who struggles with nightmares about the end times. In the other (2022) we see Eiko, a resistance fighter who is being pursued by an android.
Even though it is only the first episode, the story is already very interesting. Malcolm Lee is a character with depth and this is made clear by seeing him in both his home and work situations. The fans may already be able to connect some dots, but even without prior knowledge the story is not confusing thanks to the unhurried structure. Using the Japanese anime drawing style, the series also succeeds in creating a menacing and ominous world.
The two different stories also alternate pleasantly thanks to the difference in structure and tone. One (1997) has a more narrative character, while the other (2022) is more focused on action and intrigue. This keeps the viewer fascinated by how the story unfolds gradually.
Overall, this first episode is a promising start to the series. There's plenty of food for thought that will leave you impatient for the next episode.
So fingers crossed that with this great start the Terminator franchise will revive again in the coming episodes.
