The showrunner of the new anime adaptation of the Terminator franchise on Netflix had a clear vision of where he wanted the story to focus on.
Since its release in 1984, The Terminator has been at the center of the sci-fi movie franchise, focusing on two main elements: Skynet and the Connor family. The two are forever intertwined, as the yet-to-be-born John Connor is destined to lead the rebellion against artificial intelligence. As a result, the terminators launch a time war in an attempt to prevent this by targeting his mother, Sarah, for assassination.
Since then, every subsequent movie has revolved around the Connors and the machines. Showrunner Mattson Tomlin wanted to take a different direction with the upcoming anime Terminator Zero, aiming to answer a crucial question.
“While collaborating with partners in Japan, I realized the importance of tapping into that strength. It suddenly struck me that we were unaware of the current events in Japan,”he explained to Polygon.
There is no information provided in the franchise regarding events taking place outside of the immediate setting. While it is mentioned that Russia has launched their nuclear weapons, the fate of other regions is left unknown.
The franchise has primarily featured stories set in California, focusing on Sarah and John Connor, which have always had a strong American perspective. However, the latest installment, Zero, introduces a new avenue for the franchise by shifting the focus to a Japanese scientist, Malcolm Lee, who is employed by a Skynet competitor.
As the terminator sets his sights on him, he is once again drawn into the war across time. However, this time he is aided by Eiko, a savior from the future who becomes his protector. This recurring pattern, seen throughout the films, is now viewed from a different angle as Skynet’s fight for survival extends to competing technology companies.
Despite the lackluster response to the previous two installments, Terminator: Genisys and Terminator: Dark Fate, Zero has the potential to revitalize the franchise. Skydance Television collaborated with PRoduction IG, the renowned studio responsible for producing popular anime like Haikyuu!! and many others.
We will discover additional information about Terminator Zero upon its arrival on August 29, 2024.
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