Terminator Zero - (Netflix) 

By: Rachel Brodeur

The threat in the rise of AI seems more imminent and exciting than ever in Netflix’s Terminator Zero. It is the first time audiences get to experience the cyborg saga reimagined as an anime set primarily in a fictionalized version of 1997 Japan. It follows the typical terminator trajectory of killer robots sent from the future programmed with goals of potentially preventing or ensuring a human versus machine apocalypse, but with the visual elements and action sequences characteristic of the anime style.  

Terminator Zero finds success in a strong localized story with three siblings at its focal point. Children of a brilliant software engineer, they are unknowingly pushed into the action and must try to survive. The simplicity of the story is relatable, exciting and emotional and it allows Zero to avoid the pitfalls of previous installments of the Terminator franchise where convoluted storylines of generals and large-scale wars provide action with little substance. 

In typical anime fashion, the voice acting features dramatic poignant dialogue, punctuated with intentional moments of silence and piano notes marking emotional moments. Fans of the genre who listen to the series in Japanese will recognize voices from franchises such as Soul Eater, Attack on Titan, and Berserk, and the English dubbed version features voice talents of Rosario Dawson (Rent, The Lego Batman Movie) as a computer program, and Timothy Olyphant (Justified, Santa Clarita Diet) as a terminator. Terminator Zero is an excellent entry point for those new to anime. Audiences can expect high intensity fight scenes and gripping emotional moments. The storyline may be simple, but the characters are complex, and several are shrouded in moral ambiguity that makes this one of the most interesting Terminator stories in the canon. 

Rachel’s Rating: 9/10

Netflix’s Terminator Zero offers a fresh take on the Terminator universe while serving as an excellent entry point for anime newcomers. The story stays true to the fears of an AI takeover, but adds an interesting family dynamic to the survival, making it both high energy in its action and emotionally engaging.