Summary
Terminator Zero, Netflix’s animatedTerminatorshow, is the project that I’ve been waiting for since I first watched Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 travel through time. Having rewatchedTerminator 2: Judgment Daycountless times, I find it disappointing that there was never anotherTerminatormovie that good again.Terminator2 received a lot of sequels, from direct follow-ups to prequels to reboots, none of which nailed what made the saga’s first two films so good. WithTerminator7’s statusunclear, I was starting to lose hope the franchise was ever going to find its food again.
Fortunately, whileTerminator’s future on the big screen remains a mystery, the saga is returning in 2024 with a Netflix series.Terminator Zerowill be the firstTerminatorshow sinceThe Sarah Connor Chroniclesand will take place both in 1997 and 2022.Terminator Zero’s timelineand synopsis suggest it will be tied toJudgment Day, which is widely considered the bestTerminatormovie. The fact thatProduction I.G, which is known for series likeHaikyuu!!andGhost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex, is behindTerminator Zeromakes it even more exciting.
Terminator Zero Is The Terminator Animated Show That Should’ve Happened Already
Terminator and animation always felt like a perfect match
Multiple live-action movies and one short-lived TV show later,I don’t think there is a better way to bringTerminatorback than with an anime series.Not only can the serialized format allowTerminatorto tell stories the movies never could, but the animation medium means it can do things the live-action projects never did.Terminatoris one of the most influential sci-fi franchises of all time, yet it still hasn’t received an animated project. Some of the best sci-fi movies and shows ever are animated after all, including all-time classics likeGhost in the Shell.
For a saga that has been around for almost 40 years,it is surprising thatTerminatoris only now getting an animated series.It must be noted that Hollywood’s approach to animated movies and shows has changed recently, with streaming platforms allowing for all sorts of stories to be told in animation form. R-rated animated projects are now much more common than they were a few years ago, meaning there is no better time for aTerminatoranime to be made. AlthoughTerminatorshouldn’t have given up on television afterThe Sarah Connor Chronicles' cancelation, I’m happy that another series is finally happening.
Why An Animated Show Suits Terminator Perfectly
A Terminator anime can lean on the sci-fi aspect of the franchise
Science fiction is a genre that allows stories to go beyond the limitations of the era in which they were crafted, and the same can be said about animation. Whereas live-action movies can only do so much in terms of action and set pieces due to budget and a three-act structure, animated series have virtually unlimited potential when it comes to visuals and stories. Part of the reason whyTerminator 2: Judgment Daywas so successful was its groundbreaking special effects, butrecentTerminatorfilms have played safein that regard.
There have been some fantastic sci-fi and fantasy animated series recently, particularly from Netflix, most of which took an existing IP and expanded it with original stories.
There has not been a game-changingTerminatorrelease sinceJudgment Day, after which the franchise almost became a parody of itself.Terminatorhas relied too much on nostalgia, particularly regarding Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800, a problem that Netflix’sTerminator Zeromight not have. The upcomingTerminatoranime will follow original characters and tell a brand-new story in a media that the franchise has never explored before – this is exactly what I’ve been wantingTerminatorto do for years.Terminator’s first TV project sadly didn’t work, butTerminator Zerois what the franchise needs right now.
Terminator Zero Can Join Other Recent Animated Sci-Fi & Fantasy Hits
Some of the best sci-fi and fantasy shows recently have been animated
There have been some fantastic sci-fi and fantasy animated series recently, particularly from Netflix, most of which took an existing IP and expanded it with original stories. For example,Arcane, based onLeague of Legends, told a prequel-ish story that pleased fans of the game while also charming new viewers all over the world. With stunning visuals and a compelling story,Arcanewas one of the best TV shows of 2021, yet was not the only great animated video game adaptation released by Netflix.Castlevania,Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, andCastlevania: Nocturneare other great examples.
Terminator Animated Series’ Judgment Day Connection Makes The Upcoming Netflix Show Even More Exciting
Netflix’s Terminator Zero has a promising connection to Terminator 2: Judgment Day that makes the upcoming animated series even more exciting.
One of the best anime series of recent years,Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersperfectly illustrates how great aTerminatoranime can be. Even superhero shows likeX-Men ’97have sparked a discussion on the limitations of the live-action format, limitations that animated productions don’t have to deal with. While I hopeTerminatorreturns to the big screen with a live-action project soon,Terminator Zerosounds more exciting thanTerminator7. Whether the Netflix anime will live up to the expectations remains to be seen, but everything about the project sounds promising.
Terminator
The Terminator franchise, launched by James Cameron in 1984, explores a dystopian future where intelligent machines wage war against humanity. The relentless pursuit of key human figures by time-traveling cyborg assassins known as Terminators is central to the narrative. John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance, is the core target of the malicious machines.
