Netflixattempts to renew the flailingTerminatorfranchise with the anime seriesTerminator Zero. But has the streamer, alongsideThe Batman: Part IIwriter Mattson Tomlin, succeeded? Or is the series another tale of the cyborg from the future ready for the scrap heap? Thankfully, the first reviews forTerminator Zerosuggest it is very much the former,with Tomlin having reactivated the floundering franchise by bringing something new to proceedings while also going back to its roots…
Starting with Grant Hermanns ofScreen Rant,Terminator Zerois hailed as nothing less than “The BestTerminatorInstallment We’ve Gotten In Years,” and is even “worthy” of both the acclaimedoriginal movie and its equally acclaimed sequel.
“With Terminator Zero, not only does the franchise explore a new medium in the form of an anime after the short-lived Sarah Connor Chronicles and tie-in CGI web show Terminator Salvation: The Machinima Series, but it also finally offers a story worthy of Cameron’s beloved original titles.”
Ron Hilliard ofDiscussing Filmechoes these sentiments, awardingthe Netflix anime seriesa perfect 5/5 and praising the creators for taking the franchise back to its horror roots while also saying something “meaningful to say about humanity.”
“Long-time fans of the Terminator franchise can let out a massive sigh of relief if they thought Terminator Zero would disappoint. It is utterly fantastic and worthy of comparison to the brilliance of James Cameron’s original films. Not only are the action and horror elements well done, but the Netflix anime series and its creators also have something meaningful to say about humanity, our resilience, our faults, and how we treat the planet and each other.”
Terminator Zero
2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity. Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children.
Lurching back towardsthe horror of the firstTerminatorwas also met with praise from David Opie ofGamesradar+, who says:
“With Terminator Zero, the franchise also makes a welcome return to the terror of Cameron’s first movie, which was essentially a horror in all but name (albeit in a sci-fi setting).”
Daniel Fienberg ofTHR, meanwhile, found a lot of promise inTerminator Zeroand cannot wait to see where the series goes from here now all the pieces have been put into place.
“Given the brand name and Netflix’s clear success with anime properties, it should be the start of an interesting multi-season run, rather than yet another one-and-done dead end.”
Despite the Praise, Terminator Zero Is Not Without Its Critics
Despite all the high praise,Terminator Zerois not without its critics. Shawn Van Horn ofColliderfelt the anime lacked the “magic” of James Cameron’s efforts. Though they did state that it’s “worth a watch” nonetheless.
“If you’re a fan of the movies, definitely check it out, because it’s worth a watch. Just don’t expect to be taken back to the awe-inspiring time of those first two James Cameron movies. That magic won’t be back.”
Finally, Sayantan Gayen ofCBRfound a disappointing lack of depth in the series, but did praise the thrilling climax.
“Although Terminator Zero drops the ball in the build-up and narrowly makes up for it with its climax, the Netflix series feels uncooked to a fault.”
Terminator Zero Director Masashi Kudō Reveals the Changes He Needed to Make to the Franchise
The director and animator in charge of Netflix’s Terminator series dives deep into the show’s cultural and artistic details.
Created by Mattson Tomlin and executive produced by Skydance Animation by Production IG Studios,Terminator Zerois directed by Masashi Kudo (Bleach, Chain Chronicle: The Light of Haecceitas) and focuses on a new set of characters in anew chapter in the iconic franchise. You can check out the official synopsis forTerminator Zerobelow.
“2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines.
1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity.
Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children.”
Starring Timothy Olyphant, André Holland, Sonoya Mizuno, Rosario Dawson, and Ann Dowd,Terminator Zerois now available to stream on Netflix.
