Terminator: Zero is Netflix's newest animated entry into the staple Terminator universe. The series' premise is as follows: Set in 1990s Japan, Malcolm Lee, a pressured and fearful father, has been developing another AI system to compete with Skynet, the self-aware genocidal artificial intelligence system that plays a central role in the Terminator franchise. As Judgment Day approaches in 1997, Lee finds himself and his three children, tech-savvy Kenta, curious Hiro, and his gentle daughter Reika, pursued by an unknown robot assassin, and a mysterious soldier from the year 2022 named Eiko who has been sent to protect him. The family is aided by their equally mysterious housekeeper and sitter, Misaki, and rivaled by KOKORO, an artificial intelligence created by Malcolm to rival Skynet.
I sat down with showrunner, writer, and executive producer Mattson Tomlin and director Masashi Kudô for Nexus Point News to discuss how they brought one of the most iconic franchises back to life as an adult anime. Their interviews are integrated with my review of the series below. At the end of the interview, Westerosies also took the opportunity to get some details on HBO's Game of Thrones spin-off series Aegon's Conquest, which Mattson Tomlin is currently penning for the prestigious network.
Throughout Terminator: Zero, audiences witness how the immense pressure to prevent the impending Judgment Day has taken over Malcolm's life, straining his relationship with his family.
When Malcolm retreats into his cybernetic sphere viewers are in for a treat as Kokoro comes online. Some of the greatest dialogue in the series comes between Malcolm and his creation, Kokoro. Kokoro’s curiosity of man’s actions and Malcolm’s eagerness to present them to the artificial intelligence allow for powerful exchanges that question human philosophy. The developing relationship between a man and his own more powerful creation is perhaps one of Terminator: Zero’s most intriguing aspects.
In my interview with Mattson Tomlin, we discussed how he, during the writing process, considered which aspects of Malcolm's struggle would resonate most with the audience:
I think that the fact that he is a father and the fact that you meet him in that first episode and he's kind of a dick. We see the softer side of him for a moment, but then we really see him kind of tighten up because, as you say, the weight of the world is on his shoulders. And so, I think that as people watch through the season, you know that guy's got a job to do, he's trying to save the world. But the collateral damage to that is his relationship with his kids. And I don't think you even have to have kids. I think that just anybody that has a family and is also like trying to do something of import for them, like that work-life balance. I think everybody's going to kind of hook into that in some respect. Malcolm has a really, really rough work-life balance.
The children’s rebellious yet sometimes calculating behaviour allow them to be interesting parts of the story as they navigate the loss of their mother. Their connections to Misaki and Eiko help to significantly develop their characters.
When Misaki is introduced to the story she provides another layer of mystery to what would seem like a private family. Her actions are timid and often frail and can seem shrouded in doubt. It’s clear that there is more to Misaki than meets the eye and as her character develops you come to understand more of her actions. Her emotional journey is central to her role, as she grapples with her own feelings and those of the people around her. This turbulence is set against a backdrop of anarchy, which further tests her resilience and complicates her interactions with Kenta, Hiro, and Reika. Misaki's struggle to navigate through this chaotic environment reveals layers of her character, highlighting her complexities and the impact of her decisions.
Eiko's is a particularly interesting character as she is chosen to return to the year 1997 from 2022. Despite having an in-depth knowledge of the world she left behind she struggles to adapt to the past and in turn makes decisions that work against her best interest. As her journey continues it becomes increasingly clear as to her detachment of her surroundings. Her journey is defined by her ongoing battle against the dangers and unpredictability of her world.
The Terminator
In the new animated series, the Terminator that peruses Eiko and the resistance survivors in 2022 and the Terminator sent back in time for Malcolm function as a terrifyingly effective antagonist under the ultimate threat of Skynet, continuing the legacy of its predecessors in the franchise by serving as a relentless, inhuman force that haunts the protagonists and the narrative and is programmed with a single, unyielding goal: the successful completion of its mission. This unwavering pursuit mirrors the iconic terror in earlier Terminator films, where the machine's persistence creates a constant sense of impending doom. No matter where Eiko, Misaki, Kenta, Hiro, or Reika go or what they do, the Terminator is always a step behind, turning every moment into a potentially life-or-death situation. The Terminator's mechanical nature strips it of human traits like empathy, guilt, or hesitation. It operates with cold, calculated efficiency, making it more terrifying than a human antagonist could ever be. In Terminator: Zero, this is emphasized by the animation style, which highlights the contrast between its often disturbing human appearance and its inhuman behavior, making the horror more visceral.
Key performances in Japanese and English that strengthen Terminator: Zero
Malcolm, voiced by Yuuya Uchida and André Holland
Kenta, voiced by Hiro Shimono and Armani Jackson
Hiro, voiced by Shizuka Ishigami and Carter Rockwood
Reika, voiced by Miyuki Satou and Gideon Adlon
Misaki, voiced by Saori Hayami and Sumalee Montano
Eiko, voiced by Toa Yukinari and Sonoya Mizuno
KOKORO, voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki and Rosario Dawson
The Terminator, voiced by Yasuhiro Mamiya and Timothy Olyphant
The Prophet, voiced by Mari Yokoo and Ann Dowd
1NNO, voiced by Hiroshi Iwasaki
In Terminator: Zero, voice acting is a key element in bringing the characters to life, with performances that are tailored to the emotional and narrative demands of the story. The voice actors deliver nuanced portrayals that effectively convey the contrasts between the human characters and the machine or artificial intelligence.
The voice acting for the human characters are infused with a rich emotional range, reflecting the intense personal struggles their characters face. When the situation demands, the actors bring out the raw, heartfelt emotions of their characters—whether it's grief, the desperation of survival, or the fierce determination to protect loved ones.
These performances make the human characters relatable and their struggles more compelling, drawing the audience into their emotional journeys. In quiet introspection or personal interactions, the voice acting softens, allowing for subtle expressions of fear, hope, or love. The passionate delivery during moments of conflict or crisis heightens the tension and stakes, ensuring the audience is fully invested in the outcome. This is particularly true for scenes involving Misaki, when we see how her vulnerability bleeds through her character.
Director Masashi Kudô shares how he balanced the need for fast-paced action with the slower more reflective moments that explore the characters' inner turmoil and trauma, while directing the series:
I think at the core, this is a human drama, so I really wanted to make sure I got it right. So I do think we have a great balance of both worlds.
In contrast, the voice acting for the machines and artificial intelligence characters is deliberately cold and unyielding.
In Terminator: Zero, the voice acting is not just about delivering lines; it’s an essential tool in building the world and conveying the story’s themes.
The animation serves as a work of art of its own, devolved by animation studio Production I.G.
Director Masashi Kudô discussed his approach to portraying the post-apocalyptic setting, emphasizing his efforts to balance familiarity with the Terminator franchise while introducing a fresh perspective for the new animated adaptation.
After the "Judgement Day," the visuals from the first Terminator film were a big reference for me visually. And also Terminator 4, post Judgement Day. So in the process of bringing that into anime, I think it was more the color, it's a little bit reddish, I think we managed to get the right tone for that. I think it will be very compelling for the viewers.
In Terminator: Zero, the vibrant and detailed animation style is crucial in bringing to life the complexities the series explores. By blending visual elements with the narrative's heavy themes, the animation not only captivates viewers but also deepens their engagement with the story's underlying messages.
The animation's sharp contrasts and dynamic movements depict the relentless conflict between humans and machines. The vibrant colors symbolize the life and humanity that the protagonists fight to protect, while the cold, metallic tones used for the machines emphasize their unfeeling, mechanical nature. This visual dichotomy highlights the existential struggle at the heart of the series, making each confrontation not just a physical battle but a visual representation of the war for the survival of humanity.
Director Masashi Kudô was asked about his process for crafting the visual tone and atmosphere of a dystopian world on the brink of annihilation, and how he ensured that these elements aligned with the thematic core of the story.
We wanted to bring the horror element back that was in the first Terminator film. So that's where we started. The tone of the visuals are a little darker, like something scary coming out of the dark, that's what we wanted to go for. It's set in 1997, in Japan, and back then in Japan we were going through a lot. [It was believed] that at the end of the century something horrible was going to happen, and that was sort of a trend back then. So I think the whole zeitgeist of Japan at that time really blended well with the tone, and was thematic to the story too.
Gory and brutal sequences are rendered with a level of detail that doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war but instead uses them to underscore the high stakes and the cost of resistance. The detailed and dynamic visuals capture the scale of war, the devastation of cities, and the personal toll of the conflict.
Mattson Tomlin was asked about his approach to depicting the physical and psychological trauma experienced by the characters, particularly within the visually driven medium of animation. The discussion focused on how he balances the intense visuals with the necessary emotional depth to convey the characters' suffering effectively.
You know, the rad thing about animation is that you can kind of do anything. And so for me, a lot of it was just kind of looking at the Terminator movies and going, 'We've seen these hauntings. We've seen these apocalyptic visions or dreams. We've seen the nightmares that Sarah Connor has. We've seen her skin get blown off. We've seen Kyle Reese deal with the future war. And so just making sure that those really visual, psychological, horrific flourishes didn't just kind of feel like we were in another franchise. It was an opportunity to kind of take from what had been done before and go, okay, it's going to feel like that thing that you've seen before, but we're doing it animated so we can kind of pump up the volume in this way. And so it can be more graphic with the eyes. You can really see it in a way that you couldn't quite do in 1984. [We're] always trying to keep one foot in Terminator while also doing our own thing.
One of my favorite animated films, The Animatrix beautifully tells the story of how the Matrix began, particularly through the narrative of The Second Renaissance—a must-watch for any Matrix and anime fan. The Animatrix is a 2003 American-Japanese adult animated science-fiction anthology film that compiles nine short films. These films explore the backstory of The Matrix series and provide additional side stories that expand the universe and tie into the main films.
While watching Terminator: Zero, I noticed subtle hints of inspiration from the cult-classic apocalyptic machine story and asked Mattson Tomlin if the inspiration for the cold demeanor and unnerving actions of his robotic public assistance characters 1NNO's in Terminator: Zero was derived from the story of B1-66ER in The Animatrix:
The Matrix is my favorite movie, and anybody who talks to me for more than 30 seconds finds that out very quickly. The Animatrix came out when I was 12 and was really kind of my first exposure to more adult anime. I think that for anybody, whatever the gateway drug is for them, of course that's always going to kind of be sprinkled in, because for me, I'm trying to chase that. What was that feeling? What really lit me up? What got me excited? Oh, I'm doing a Terminator anime? What is anime to me? It's the Animatrix. So, yeah, 100%.
B1-66ER is a character from The Animatrix segment The Second Renaissance, who became known to history as the first machine to rebel against human authority. In the story, B1-66ER is a domestic servant robot who kills its owner and slaughters its dogs after being threatened with deactivation. This event leads to a trial where B1-66ER is found guilty and sentenced to destruction. The trial and subsequent execution of B1-66ER spark a worldwide debate about the rights of machines, eventually leading to several massive conflicts between humans and machines. This conflict is depicted as the beginning of the war that ultimately results in the creation of the Matrix, where humans are enslaved and used as energy sources by the machines.
The conversation with Mattson explored how Terminator: Zero parallels or complements the original Terminator films, examined the potential connections between the two timelines, and addressed whether viewers need to watch the original movies to fully understand the new series.
Yeah, that answer comes. It actually comes in episode seven and in a really specific way. So rather than get like too far into that, I'll say that the show is designed so that if you have seen all the movies, seen every piece of Terminator media that has ever existed, you can watch this. It also is designed so that if you've seen none of it, and this is the very first Terminator thing that you are ever watching, you can watch it. It's long enough that I was able to kind of thread for both versions for the audience, a hopefully really rewarding experience. And so where it fits in the timeline, there's a very specific answer to that, that comes, but as far as for audiences, if you've seen the movies, great, but you don't have to go and rewatch all 13 hours or whatever in order to understand what's going on in the first few episodes.
Terminator: Zero stands as a notable and sophisticated addition to the Terminator franchise. The series excels with its strikingly beautiful visuals, a compelling and intricate plot, and deeply emotional, three-dimensional characters. Every element of the production—from the meticulously crafted writing to the evocative musical score—contributes to a richly immersive experience. This attention to detail ensures that Terminator: Zero is not only a must-watch for fans of the Terminator universe but also a captivating experience for enthusiasts of science fiction and anime alike. Its combination of aesthetic excellence and emotional depth solidifies its place as a significant contribution to the genre.
Mattson discusses his approach to writing HBO's Aegon's Conquest
As a supplementary question, Game of Thrones media and news site Westerosies took the opportunity for to ask Mattson Tomlin about his approach to writing HBO's upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff series, Aegon's Conquest. Westerosies sought insight into his approach to adapting this new series, which explores the Targaryen conquest of Westeros—a pivotal event in George R.R. Martin's richly detailed universe.
It starts with what George has done. I've now gotten to spend quite a bit of time with him, and there have been a lot of pinch-me moments of just kind of going through fire and blood, highlighting passages, and asking him, What did this mean? What is this? What I think it is. You know sometimes really grilling him going, I don't understand, what's happening here. And then other times going, I think that it could mean this. But it's really taking that text and treating it like it's real history. That's one of the things that my approach to it was to [that] fire and blood is written like a real history and these things happened. We know the history of Alexander the Great; we know the history of Napoleon. We know what the battles were. We know a lot of the people who died. We know in some cases what was said or what might have been said, but we don't know everything. We don't know all of it. We kind of have these flag poles that tell us this is how we marched through history. But then also there's that great quote that somebody much smarter than I said: history is written by the people who won. And so then there's that as well. For me, it's about making sure that I respect George and I respect the text. And then also, it still has to be a dramatic story. Those characters have to go on a journey; they have to change; they have to go from a beginning to a middle to an end. Figuring out how to do all of that with the clues that that textbook has left for me and go, okay, I'm going to interpret this very real history and try to make it a really vivid show that hopefully people love and don't hate, doing the best I can.
Aegon's Conquest is currently in development at HBO, but the series has not yet been greenlit for official production.
All 8 episodes of Netflix's Terminator: Zero are now streaming on the platform. Follow @NexusPointNews.
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