Originally announced back in 2021, the all-new “Terminator: The Anime Series” is coming soon to Netflix, and a first-look teaser was debuted out of “Geeked Week” this afternoon.
Check it out below and read on for everything you need to know.
The anime hails from Japanese animation studio Production IG (Ghost in the Shell). The eight-episode series is part of the Terminator universe but will center around new characters.
Here’s the official synopsis…
“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.”
“Terminator: The Anime Series” comes from Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer Mattson Tomlin (Project Power, The Batman II), Executive Producers Skydance (David Ellison, Dana Goldberg & Don Granger), and Director Masashi Kudo.
Mattson Tomlin said in a statement back in 2021, “Anyone who knows my writing knows I believe in taking big swings and going for the heart. I’m honored that Netflix and Skydance have given me the opportunity to approach Terminator in a way that breaks conventions, subverts expectations and has real guts.”
John Derderian, Netflix, Vice President of Animation Series, added, “Terminator is one of the most iconic sci-fi stories ever created–and has only grown more relevant to our world over time. The new animated series will explore this universe in a way that has never been done before. We can’t wait for fans to experience this amazing new chapter in the epic battle between machines and humans.”
Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, President and CEO of Production I.G. chimed in, “I asked my long-time friend and colleague Mamoru Oshii what he thought about the idea of turning the Terminator into an animated series. His response was “Ishikawa, are you out of your mind?” At that instant, I was confident we should get onboard. As huge fans, our team at Production I.G is putting their heart and souls into creating this series. We hope fans will enjoy it!”
Launched in 1984 with James Cameron’s original action-slasher, the Terminator franchise to date includes six films and a short-lived spinoff television series. The franchise did head into the world of animation with Terminator Salvation: The Machinima Series back in 2009, a web-series. That series took place between the events of Rise of the Machines and Salvation.