Terminator Zero is set in the universe of the cyborgs, time travel and humans’ fight for existence but with the anime twist. It starts in 2022 and there is complete anarchy right from the beginning of the series. Here ‘Eiko’, (voiced by Eng: Sonoya Mizuno Jap: Toa Yukinari) a rugged and wild resistance fighter fights a cyborg killer whose voice installed is that of actor Timothy Olyphant. The fight continues nonstop, and just as quickly, we are transported back to August of 1997 – which is significant to fans of the series because it’s right before the events of Judgement Day.
In this version of the story, the action is moved to Tokyo; the protagonist is a scientist named Malcolm Lee, portrayed by André Holland, who suffers from visions of a robot attack. His solution? An AI model called Kokoro voiced by Rosario Dawson which, according to him, can avert the tragedy. But as Malcolm intensively tries to initiate Kokoro, both Eiko and the Terminator come from the future to prevent him. It’s impossible not to get into that story that contemplates complex time travel paradoxes, moral conundrums that melts your notion of predestination and free will.
It is a series that goes into the details of the time travel subject which has not been explored to an extent in the previous installments of the franchise. Tomlin’s writing and Kudō’s direction add new elements to a familiar storyline; The film is set in Tokyo and few new characters such as Malcolm’s children: Kenta, Reika, and Hiro add their own perspectives to the film and their struggles. Misaki, a nanny of the children, is omnipresent, a ray of light in a storm, who gives both kindness, and courage.
In that sense, what sets Terminator Zero apart is that it plays in the spirit of the Terminator while remaining fresh at the same time. The Tokyo background gives a different flavor in terms of culture to robotics and weaponries which is quite a welcome twist to the otherwise clichéd stereotype of Los Angeles. The shoot and fight sequences are intense while at the same time grounded — making the Terminator narrative all the more more engaging than its big screen counterparts; accompanied by amazing animated arts courtesy of Production I. G.
Unfortunately, it is not perfect and is followed by several shortcomings. Occasionally, episode can be boring sometimes with long dialogues that engage in discourses pertaining to the worth of humanity and the rights of AI. However, for those who prefer their sci-fi to be thoughtful instead of dumb, such scenes are no less than the bonus that enriches the movie’s story full of spectacular stunts.
When it comes to casting a voice, then no doubt a clear, beautifully modulated voice is the key factor, here is a look at the cast who shone in this category.
The voice cast of the show in Japanese as well as English could be considered as one of the best features of this anime. He brings Malcolm Lee the personality that the show needs while Rosario Dawson/Yuuya Uchida gives this show the burning curiosity and Atsumi Tanezaki bestows the cold logic that is Kokoro. Timothy Olyphant plays the Terminator in the movie and he does a great job in portraying the role thereby making it one of the most pronounced characters in the series.
When looking at Terminator Zero as a film it is definitely a very good entry into a franchise that has had many highs and lows. It may not be as good as Judgement Day movie but it has a totally new and very entertaining twist to the Terminator series. Thanks to its unique aesthetic, well-developed characters, and heavy-hitting meaningful content, this is a show you can watch both if you’re new to anime or if you’ve been a fan for years. This isn’t a new avatar of the same ideas we have seen time and again, it is a new creation which pays homage to the traditions but has not been afraid to forge into new territory. For those of you who had some doubts about the future of Terminator live-action movie spin-off, Terminator Zero will surely make you think otherwise.
