Gab Hernandez 
Netflix has dropped a teaser trailer for Terminator Zero, an anime spinoff based on the classic action franchise.
Terminator, like many properties originating in the 1980s, experienced a tumultuous time in the era of reboots. The multiple reboots of Terminator are paradoxically canon and non-canon all at once, thanks to the time-traveling aspects of the franchise’s lore.
Fans wouldn’t mind the confusing canon if the stories were good. Unfortunately, the critical reception of recent Terminator movies has leaned heavily towards the negative. Even so, the gritty sci-fi apocalypse of Terminator still excites hardcore fans. The Terminator Zero anime may be the clean slate they’ve long awaited.
What is Terminator Zero’s story?
The Terminator Zero anime story jumps between the past and present, detailing the lead-up to the first years of war with Skynet. The anime follows Malcolm Lee, an AI scientist looking to rival Skynet with his creation in 1997, and Eiko, a resistance fighter from the far future of 2022. The series features a new Terminator, a ruthless machine with no intention of hiding its true nature, thanks to its damaged face.
Production I.G., known for sci-fi anime classics Ghost in the Shell and Psycho-Pass, headlined the anime’s production. It also features an all-star cast, with the eponymous Terminator voiced by Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood) and Rosario Dawson (Daredevil) behind the AI. Other notable names include Sonoya Mizuno (House of the Dragon) as Eiko and Andre Holland (Moonlight) as Malcolm Lee.
When is the release date of Terminator Zero?
Terminator Zero will see its release date on August 29, 2024. Amusingly, August 29 is also the canonical date of Judgement Day in the Terminator canon, the day the Earth fell to the machines. The series will have eight episodes and treats all of the prior films as canon. It will actually be set in Japan, so there may be some differences relative to the films that largely take place in America.
Further differentiating the series from its parent franchise is the lack of Sarah and John Connor as main characters. Given the feelings of most fans with the two characters recently, the shift away from them may prove a wise choice. Either way, fans won’t have to wait for long to see how anime does the Terminator franchise justice.
