The Terminator franchise has been with us for decades now. James Cameron’s original sci-fi action film from 1984 marked a notable shift in pop culture. Coinciding with the advent of technology, The Terminator set the collective fears and imagination of audiences ablaze. In the broader scope, it also made Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger into household names, the latter becoming one of cinema’s most iconic villains. Since then, the series has spawned various sequels, reboots, TV shows, books, and more. Terminator 2: Judgment Day, in particular, is widely considered to be among the very best the genre has to offer. So, what could be left to explore with an animated series, especially following some recent failed attempts in the franchise? Mattson Tomlin’s Netflix original series Terminator Zero is a refreshing answer to that trivial question.
Mattson Tomlin isn’t new to screenwriting or spearheading an entire production, as he’s done both a few times before. Such examples include Netflix’s Project Power, his directorial debut for Hulu, Mother/Android, and his extensive work with the character of Batman in both his own comic book series, Batman: The Imposter, and Matt Reeves’ The Batman films. All of these prepared for what might be Tomlin’s most ambitious outing yet with Netflix’s Terminator Zero, and certainly the most exciting thing done in James Cameron’s world since Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
When DiscussingFilm spoke with Mattson Tomlin a few weeks ago, he stated that despite Terminator 2: Judgment Day being the most iconic installment in the franchise, Cameron’s original 1984 film remains his favorite. For him, the first Terminator movie really tapped into something primal and leaned into horror more than any other installment has ever since. He went on to say that the reason why he chose to use the original T-800 model design for Terminator Zero instead of a more advanced look is because it does feel primal in every sense of the word. It’s a “creature” that continues to stalk its target even when falling to pieces; the T-800 is relentless and will never stop. After watching Terminator Zero, it is clear to spot that passion for Cameron’s original film and the specific thought process of leaning heavily into horror, which this show does so wonderfully.
A less interesting creator may have opted to do another reboot or sequel for the franchise. Instead, working with seasoned anime director Masashi Kudo (Bleach, Chain Chronicle) and studio Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell, Haikyuu!!), Mattson Tomlin manages to carve a new path forward for the Terminator series not by retreading old ground but by telling a story that is parallel and in conversation with James Cameron’s original movie and themes. At the heart of Terminator Zero is Malcolm Lee (André Holland), a scientist in 1990s Japan who has designed an advanced AI, Kokoro (Rosario Dawson), to thwart Judgment Day and give humanity a fighting chance against Skynet. The ultimate fate of his three children, Kento, Hiro, and Reika, matters to him the most. Learning of his efforts, Skynet sends a Terminator (Timothy Olyphant) back in time to kill Malcolm and ensure humanity’s dark future comes to pass.
Human survivors, who have been facing an endless army of machines in a future war since Judgment Day in 1997, then send back a mysterious warrior named Eiko (Sonoya Mizuno) to stop Skynet’s robot assassin and protect Malcolm, kicking the plot into high gear. Bare bones, this is a narrative we’ve come to see from this franchise with nearly every entry now. However, Mattson Tomlin makes the daring choice to de-center the conflict away from John Connor, Cyberdyne Systems, and the events of the first two Terminator films. Rather than reuniting fans with familiar characters, Terminator Zero tells a wholly original story about other humans who are also trying to prevent Judgment Day. This decision pays off big time, as Malcolm and his family are compelling in ways that are quite unexpected.
There is a surprising amount of heart in Terminator Zero, and it’s nice to experience a new adventure in this universe with entirely new characters. This makes the Netflix Terminator anime immediately accessible to younger fans while signaling to older fans that they genuinely cannot predict where this show’s many twists and turns will lead. How the characters view time travel differs as well, with the mechanics of it in Terminator Zero being most similar to what the Avengers got up to in Endgame. This change services the narrative in a really fascinating way and better helps convey the themes about humanity’s complexities that Mattson Tomlin is playing with.
Terminator Zero is not just well-realized and written; it’s also arguably one of Netflix’s most stylish anime originals. If a recent comparison could be made, then it would be more than fair to say the show’s visual flair closely resembles Bleach: The Thousand Year-Blood War. This shouldn’t be surprising, considering Masashi Kudo provided key visuals for that anime series as well. Just like in Bleach, Terminator Zero’s bold character designs grab the viewer’s attention and make the overall style of the series stand out. Terminator Zero’s animation is wonderfully directed and dark, with Kudo being able to pick up on the horror atmosphere Mattson Tomlin outlines in the scripts. Together, both creators are able to bring a Terminator story to life worthy of being compared to the franchise’s iconic beginnings.
Long-time fans of the Terminator franchise can let out a massive sigh of relief if they thought Terminator Zero would disappoint. It is utterly fantastic and worthy of comparison to the brilliance of James Cameron’s original films. Not only are the action and horror elements well done, but the Netflix anime series and its creators also have something meaningful to say about humanity, our resilience, our faults, and how we treat the planet and each other. Moreover, Terminator Zero touches on the nature of the soul and the belief that the future is worth fighting for, even if you don’t get to see it for yourself. Terminator Zero is definitely one of the strongest original releases to come out of Netflix this year, and hopefully, viewership will be there so this team can come back and knock it out of the park again.
Terminator Zero premieres on Netflix on August 29!
Series Directed by Masashi Kudō.
Written by Mattson Tomlin.
Based on Terminator by James Cameron & Gale Anne Hurd.
Executive Producers: Mattson Tomlin, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, & Don Granger.
Voice Cast: Timothy Olyphant, André Holland, Sonoya Mizuno, Rosario Dawson, & Ann Dowd.
Composers: Michelle Birsky & Kevin Olken Henthorn.
Production Companies: Production I.G, Skydance Television, & Netflix Animation.
Episode Count: 8 (Season One).
