Terminator Zero is a 2024 Terminator anime series. which premiered on August 29, 2024 on Netflix.
Synopsis[]
Official synopsis from Netflix's press site:
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.
Plot[]
The series will have 8 episodes set in the past and a future war.[1] The events in the past take place in Japan,[2] 1997 (just before Judgment Day), while the events in the future take place in 2022.[3]
Characters such as John Connor, Sarah Connor, the Model 101, and Miles Dyson will not feature.[4][5] It has been indicated that the series will tie in with past entries in the Terminator franchise, but will also be relatively stand-alone.[6]
Cast[]
Terminator Zero stars:
- Timothy Olyphant as The Terminator,[2] a cybernetic assassin sent back in time to eliminate Malcolm Lee.
- Sonoya Mizuno as Eiko, a resistance fighter, sent back in time to stop Malcolm from launching Kokoro.
- André Holland as Malcolm Lee, a genius computer programmer and father of three.
- Armani Jackson as Kenta Lee, Malcolm's eldest son.
- Gideon Adlon as Reika Lee, Malcolm's youngest daughter.
- Carter Rockwood as Hiro Lee, Malcolm's younger son.
- Sumalee Montano as Misaki, Malcolm's housekeeper and the Lee children's babysitter.
- Rosario Dawson as Kokoro, an advanced AI and Japan's answer to Skynet.
- Ann Dowd as the Prophet, a philosophical guide for the human resistance in the future.
- Julie Nathanson as Annie, Eiko's fellow resistance soldier during the year 2022
Episodes[]
Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director(s) | Airdate | # |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model 101 | Writer: Mattson Tomlin | Director: Masashi Kudō | August 29, 2024 | #1 | |
In 1997, a haunted scientist brushes his family aside for an all-consuming project. In 2022, a renegade fighter battles a powerful robot for vital data. | |||||
Model 102 | Writer: Mattson Tomlin | Director: Masashi Kudō | August 29, 2024 | #2 | |
Eiko and the Terminator arrive in 1997 with identical missions: find Dr. Malcolm Lee. Meanwhile, Lee's three children sneak out of their apartment. | |||||
Model 103 | Writer: Mattson Tomlin | Director: Masashi Kudō | August 29, 2024 | #3 | |
Malcolm confides in Kokoro about his recurring nightmare. The three children continue their underground trek, unaware of looming danger. | |||||
Model 104 | Writer: Mattson Tomlin | Director: Masashi Kudō | August 29, 2024 | #4 | |
As a desperate Eiko attempts to elude the police, Misaki's mysterious past comes into focus. Malcolm wrestles with the nature of fate. | |||||
Model 105 | Writer: Mattson Tomlin | Director: Masashi Kudō | August 29, 2024 | #5 | |
Malcolm brings Kokoro online. The boys disagree about Misaki's motivations. Eiko realizes she's entering unknown territory. | |||||
Model 106 | Writer: Mattson Tomlin | Director: Masashi Kudō | August 29, 2024 | #6 | |
The Prophet debates the paradox of time travel with Eiko. Malcolm shares a painful memory with Kokoro as the children hope to reunite at Cat Town. | |||||
Model 107 | Writer: Mattson Tomlin | Director: Masashi Kudō | August 29, 2024 | #7 | |
Malcolm recalls past efforts to thwart the machines — and his desire to build a god. With Kenta captured, the Terminator prepares for the endgame. | |||||
Model 108 | Writer: Mattson Tomlin | Director: Masashi Kudō | August 29, 2024 | #8 | |
Kenta wrestles with a brutal choice and the Terminator reveals a shocking truth as the future of humankind hangs in the balance. |
Reception[]
Zero was positively received by the majority of critics, receiving a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.[7]
Development[]
Zero was designed to lean into the "body-horror, serial-killer feel" of The Terminator. The series also incorporates Japanese horror elements. The staff focused on emphasizing darkness, determining what to show and what to leave unseen.[8] James Cameron had no involvement with the series.[9]
The decision was made to focus on characters other than the Connors. Similarly, the decision was made to set the series in Japan, as all the movies prior had taken place in the United States (or in the case of Dark Fate, Mexico). According to Mattson Tomlin, as the IP has rarely branched out beyond these locations (save mentions of Russia), it was a chance to see how events played out in other parts of the world.[10]
The show's themes were taken from prior movies. In an interview, Tomlin summed up the main themes of the Terminator IP as killer robots from the future, the fear of nuclear war, and family.[10]
On February 26, 2021, Netflix announced the development of a Terminator anime series with Skydance Media, Mattson Tomlin, and Production I.G.[11]
The teaser and synopsis were released by Netflix on November 11, 2023 with the title Terminator: The Anime Series.[12] The title, release date, and first look images were revealed on May 15, 2024. All episodes were released on August 29, 2024.[13]
Gallery[]
Posters[]
Promotional stills[]
These are promotional screenshots released by Netflix for the promotion of Terminator Zero.
Video[]
Trivia[]
- In early August 2024, three weeks before the official release, the entire first season of Terminator Zero was unofficially leaked online. The leak was part of a massive leak of multiple animated shows.[14][15][16]
- The series debuted on August 29, 2024. Perhaps not coincidentally, this is the same date (though not year) of Judgment Day as depicted in the second film.
References[]
- ↑ Tomlin, Mattson [@mattsontomlin] (January 4, 2022). "The animation process is starting... I couldn't be more excited about my collaborators. The scripts are done and in great shape... An eight episode first season... Set in a past... But that isn't to say a Future War doesn't figure in prominently... 😎". Twitter. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved on September 27, 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Aidan Kelley (June 10, 2024). Skynet Sets Its Sights on Japan in New 'Terminator Zero' Images. Retrieved on June 13, 2024.
- ↑ Leite, Marceio (May 20, 2024). Upcoming Terminator Animated Show Is Delivering Exactly What The Franchise Has Been Missing For 15 Years. ScreenRant. Retrieved on May 24, 2024.
- ↑ Lethbridge, Tommy (May 18, 2024). Netflix's New Terminator Show Already Looks Better Than Terminator 7 With Arnold Schwarzenegger. MSN. Retrieved on May 25, 2024.
- ↑ George, Joe (July 15, 2024). Terminator Zero Trailer Introduces a New Skynet Rival. Den of Geek. Retrieved on July 22, 2024.
- ↑ Wilding, Josh (July 15, 2024). TERMINATOR ZERO Trailer Ushers In A New Era Of Storytelling For The Long-Running Sci-Fi Franchise. SFF Gazette. Retrieved on July 20 2024.
- ↑ Cassidy, Mark (August 29, 2024). TERMINATOR: ZERO Is Now Streaming; Hits Rotten Tomatoes With A Perfect 100%. SFF Gazette. Retrieved on September 1, 2024.
- ↑ Travis, Ben (July 2, 2027). Terminator Zero Anime ‘Incorporates J-Horror Elements’ Into The A.I. Apocalypse – Exclusive Image. Empire Online. Retrieved on July 5, 2024.
- ↑ Hibberd, James. James Cameron Talks ‘Avatar,’ ‘Alien: Romulus’ and Whales in Spicy Chat: “Damn Right I’m Overbearing”. Retrieved on 19 August, 2024.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Egan, Toussaint (August 22, 2024). Terminator Zero’s showrunner knows that Terminator is bigger than the Connors. Polygon. Retrieved on August 25, 2024.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (February 26, 2021). 'Terminator' Anime Series in the Works With 'The Batman' Co-Writer Mattson Tomlin. The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved on February 27, 2021.
- ↑ Rice, Lynette (November 11, 2023). ‘Terminator: The Anime Series’: Netflix Drops First Teaser For Eight-Episode Series. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved on November 12, 2023.
- ↑ Romano, Nick (May 15, 2024). Terminator Zero exclusive first look takes the sci-fi saga to Tokyo. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved on May 15, 2024.
- ↑ Pineda, Rafael Antonio. "Episodes of New Ranma 1/2 & DAN DA DAN Anime, 1st Mononoke Film Leaked Online (Updated)." Anime News Network. 6 Aug 2024.
- ↑ Colbert, Isaiah. "Every Episode of Terminator Zero Leaks Online Ahead of Its Release on Netflix." IGN. 7 Aug 2024.
- ↑ Spangler, Todd. "Episodes of Netflix Anime Shows Including ‘Arcane,’ ‘Terminator Zero’ Leak Online; Streamer Cites Security Breach at Post-Production Partner." Variety. 9 Aug 2024.