Netflix’s Terminator Zero anime confirms worldwide August release date

On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, Netflix made an official announcement that their highly anticipated Terminator Zero anime series, based on the popular Terminator film franchise, will be available for global viewing on the service starting on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Along with this exciting news, Netflix also provided a sneak peek of the series through a collection of first look photos, which do not give away any spoilers and are not in chronological order.

One of the most noteworthy of the initial images released for the Terminator Zero anime series features a Terminator unit, its model unknown, appearing battle-worn. The Terminator is dressed in a suit and tie, hinting that the series may contain scenes set in the pre-Judgment Day or post-apocalyptic world.

Despite featuring very futuristic technology, other photos from the Terminator Zero anime series still hint at a focus on the post-Judgment Day world. While time travel has always been a central aspect of the series, the distinction between these initial photos suggests that it may have a larger and more active role in this new installment.

Terminator Zero: Upcoming Anime Collaboration Between Skydance and Production I.G

The first look photos for the Terminator Zero anime show a possible appearance of Sarah Connor, although it has not been officially confirmed. In the images, she can be seen wielding a pistol, possibly in an attempt to fend off one of the notorious mechanical threats. In James Cameron’s original 1984 film, Sarah was the main character portrayed by American actress Linda Hamilton and the mother of John Connor, who becomes the leader of the rebellion against the Terminators after Judgment Day.

Mattson Tomlin holds the roles of showrunner, executive producer, and writer for the Netflix series, while Skydance’s David Elison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger serve as executive producers. The anime series is directed by Masashi Kudo at Production I.G studios, renowned for their work on the Haikyu!! anime series and the currently airing Kaiju No. 8.

The series, which was originally commissioned by Netflix in 2021, will consist of eight episodes. In November 2023, a teaser trailer was released, providing minimal information other than the series being “coming soon.”

The Terminator Zero anime will belong to the series’ official universe, although it will revolve around new characters. At the time of writing this article, it remains uncertain if the series will include familiar characters in minor roles. According to Netflix, the series’ plot is described as follows:

“2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity.

Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children.”