Netflix has announced “Terminator Zero,” a new anime series inspired by James Cameron’s legendary sci-fi film franchise, set to premiere on August 29th.
The series will consist of eight episodes and will debut on the same day as The Rings of Power season 2, offering viewers diverse entertainment options.
Developed and executive produced by Mattson Tomlin, Terminator Zero introduces new characters within the familiar universe of Cameron’s franchise. Animation for the series is being handled by Production IG Studios and Skydance Animation. Tomlin has confirmed that all eight episodes will be released globally on the same day, with the potential for future seasons.
First-look images indicate that the series draws visual inspiration from the original Terminator movies as well as Production IG’s previous work on Ghost in the Shell and Haikyu!
What can audiences expect from the series? The story is set across two time periods: 1997, when the AI Skynet becomes self-aware, and 2022, during a prolonged war between human survivors and machines. A soldier is sent back in time to alter humanity’s destiny, encountering Malcolm Lee, a scientist who has created a new AI to rival Skynet.
“As Malcolm grapples with the moral dilemmas of his creation, he is pursued by a relentless assassin from the future, dramatically affecting the lives of his three children,” the synopsis reveals. The series is directed by Masashi Kudo, known for his work on Bleach.
In an interview with EW, Tomlin emphasized that the show acknowledges all previous films in the franchise, stating, “We’re not going to pretend that the third movie didn’t happen. We’re not going to pretend that the sixth movie didn’t happen.”
He also mentioned a shift away from the “muscular sci-fi action” of the later films, opting instead to emphasize the horror elements reminiscent of Cameron’s original movies.
