The Terminator series enjoys an extremely dedicated fanbase that remembers the movies by heart. First announced in 2021, Netflix’s Terminator Zero anime is finally here. It bears the responsibility to live up to the expectations and experiences fans have had with the Terminator series, especially the original James Cameron classic.
To the joy of fans, Terminator Zero anime was in good hands as Masashi Kudo and Mattson Tomlin had always planned to keep the key elements of the original movies intact.
Kudo is the director at helm and Tomlin is the writer in charge. With its recent Netflix release, the anime has made some significant changes to the setting, but it has done one thing right which puts it closer to the original movie as compared to its successors.
Bringing Back the Horrors of the Original Terminator was the Goal
For a series with a legacy like the Terminator series, where every movie is sure to be a blockbuster, it’s hard to introduce big changes like a different cast. After all, the characters are a huge reason that hooked the fans to the series. Aware of all these challenges and the charm of the original film, Masashi Kudo and Mattson Tomlin were ready to take risks to bring back something that is unique to the first film of the series. Upon being asked about the history with the series, Masashi Kudo shared (via anitrendz or Anime Trending interview) how he has always been a fan.
When I heard the title, I actually asked him, “Are you asking about that Terminator?!” Obviously, I’m a huge fan of the franchise. I’ve watched all the films from the first one to the latest one.
The familiarity with the franchise reflects in the approach and words of Kudo as he shares how he wants to bring back the horror aspect of the original film. It was a priority to ensure that Terminator Zero carried the same creepy and unsettling feeling from the original. Tomlin shared the same desire, the horror was one way to justify the existence of Terminator Zero.
But when trying to figure out how to justify Terminator: Zero’s existence, the answer for me was, “Well, let’s go back to the horror roots because that’s something that we haven’t really seen for 40 years.”
Hearing Kudo and Tomlin talk about having horror as the primary focus is great, as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator in the original Terminator was extremely creepy. His presence was enough to send chills down the spine in the scenes where he ruthlessly chased Sarah Connor. No matter what you hit it with, the Terminator would strike back.
Having that thrill and fear of the unstoppable and powerful antagonist return is all fans could ask for, but only if it’s done well. The Terminator series after the first two movies became more action oriented and completely dropped the horror aspect, so its nice to have that back.
The Reception of Terminator Zero So Far
Ever since the project was first announced, fans have been excited to see how the anime would turn out. The trailer helped in accentuating the excitement as it exhibited the brutality of the Terminator. The series has released on Netflix, and so far the reception has been mixed, with fans stating the negatives and the positives.
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Kudo mentioned in the interview how it would feel like an accomplishment if Terminator Zero is someone’s entry to Terminator Franchise. Given that, they’ve packed the series with enough for pre-existing fans as well as the new ones. Despite its flaws, Terminator Zero seems like an earnest attempt at experimentation while honoring what the Terminator series is so highly regarded for.
Terminator Zero is available to stream on Netflix.
