Summary
Terminator Zerois an upcoming Netflix anime based on theTerminatorfranchise, and while this is a first for the saga that began in 1984, there is a sci-fi anime based on a different American franchise that proves it will work.Terminator Zerois more exciting thanTerminator7for many reasons, starting from the fact thattheTerminatorfranchise has only had one TV show since its inception,The Sarah Connor Chronicles.The anime series will be set in 1997, which isthe year Judgment Day happened inTerminator2’s original timeline.
Timothy Olyphant has been cast inTerminator Zero, another promising sign for the upcoming series.Netflix has released some great animated series recently from a variety of studios, including Japanese ones in the form of original anime shows. Although famous IPs likeTomb RaiderandTerminatorgetting animated shows on streaming is a relatively new trend, a major Hollywood franchise once got the anime treatment 21 years ago, and it worked greatly.
The Animatrix Is Incredible (& It Shows Terminator Zero Will Work)
The Animatrix was a great anime addition to the Matrix franchise
The Animatrix(2003), a collection of short films released by different anime studios and creators, is one of the best things to come out of theMatrixfranchise. WhereasThe Matrix ReloadedandThe Matrix Revolutionswere both divisive sequels that arguably overly complicated what was already a perfect story,The Animatrixwas a fantastic extension of the original movie’s lore.Released as part of the “Year of theMatrix,”The Animatrixallowed audiences to see the world established in the first film through the eyes of seven different directors.
Final Flight of the Osiris
Andy Jones
The anime medium suitedMatrixperfectly, and it’s safe to say it will work forTerminatoras well. Whereas multiple studios worked onThe Animatrix’s short films,Terminator Zerowas helmed by Production I.G, known for serieslike Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone ComplexandHaikyuu!!The Animatrixincludes nine short films, all of which are considered canon. Whereas some of them referenced established characters such as Neo and Trinity, others had little to no connection to the movies.The Animatrixbeautifully showed the potential of theMatrixfranchise and the universe created by the Wachowskis.
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Why The Animation Medium Is Perfect For The Matrix & Terminator
Science fiction and animation were made for each other
Some of the best sci-fi movies of all time are animated, including classics likeAkiraandGhost in the Shell. The animation medium, particularly how it is used in Japanese productions, allows storytellers to go beyond the physical limitations of a live-action project. It is difficult to believe a movie like Akira would work in live-action, just like 2017’sGhost in the Shellwas incredibly disappointing. Science fiction is a genre about defying limitations, which is why anime films likeThe Animatrixwork so well. Hopefully, the same will be said aboutTerminator Zeroonce it comes out.
Terminator Zeroreleases on July 12, 2025, on Netflix.
WhileThe Animatrixwas canon to the movies and vice versa, it’s unclear howTerminator Zero’s timelinewill fit into the rest of the saga. That said, after multiple sequels, prequels, and reboots, there is hardly a definitiveTerminatorcanon left. This meansTerminator Zerocan tell a self-contained story even if references the movies, just likeThe Animatrixdid. More than 20 years later,The Animatrixis perhaps the best example of a combination between an American movie franchise and Japanese anime studios. Fortunately,Terminator Zerolooks like it could be another great example of it.
The Animatrix
Cast
The Animatrix is a collection of nine animated short films set in the universe of The Matrix. Released in 2003, the anthology delves into the origins of the Matrix, the war between humans and machines, and individual stories that expand on the film trilogy’s themes. Each segment is directed by a different filmmaker, blending various animation styles to explore the complex world created by the Wachowskis.
