Masashi Kud Interview Talks Terminator Zero Anime and Adapting an American Icon

With fans loving Terminator Zero, a bold new anime project coming to Netflix on August 29, 2024, veteran anime character designer and director Masashi Kudō is uniting Japanese and American aesthetics for an exciting new series. Anime fans particularly recognize Kudō for his longtime contributions to adored franchises like Bleach, Tower of God, and Hayate the Combat Butler. Still, as a director, he takes on additional responsibilities in adapting an American icon. With Terminator Zero having debuted at the end of August 2024 and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War having debuted in the Fall, things aren't slowing down for Masashi Kudō.

With projects dating back to 1996 with artwork for Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Masashi Kudō's work has evolved as a crew member and eventual production leader for Terminator Zero. However, as a director for this beloved anime produced by Production I.G., Kudō feels a strong responsibility for handling such beloved intellectual property as a professional and a fan. Masashi Kudō recently appeared at Anime NYC, and before he and Terminator Zero's creator/showrunner Mattson Tomlin appeared on a Netflix panel promoting the series, he sat down with us briefly to discuss his work on the series.

As a character designer for some huge franchises in the past, how have your experiences directing Terminator Zero shaped an anime vision of a 20th-century classic?

Masashi: I'm happy to participate in creating the path, but I feel my work is still evolving and improving. Being part of the Terminator franchise has been lots of fun. I've been a fan of the franchise since the original Terminator, and I've really enjoyed the experience of participating.

Regarding these character designs in interpreting this Terminator franchise into an anime that'll appeal to anime fans, how has it been for characters like the Terminator, who have typically been characterized differently?

Masashi: This series is based in Japan, so instead of a large Caucasian man, we had to create a Terminator to blend into Japanese society in shape and form. That has been the difference between live-action and animation for the series here.

Even though it's a T-800 endoskeleton, the frame is slightly smaller than in the past. The frame can then support this Terminator disguising as a Japanese person.

In creating this series and your elaborate body of work in the past, have you found yourself bringing different touches of your artistic style from previous shows into Terminator Zero?

Masashi: As far as influence and bringing his expertise and knowledge, which I've developed over the years, I'm putting everything into this. All of my background contributed to making this a success.

Related

Are you excited for Terminator Zero?

Terminator Zero is the first ever anime addition to the iconic franchise. To say that I am very excited is an understatement. From the trailers that have been released, it seems this series is going to embrace the horror aspect of Terminator, which has me thrilled. As a big fan of anime, I am loving the stylistic choices that have been made. On top of that, the voice cast is incredible, and I cannot wait for this to be released on Netflix.

One last question for Bleach fans: With Thousand-Year Blood War, will the Hell Arc epilogue chapter be adapted?

Masashi: I can't say. *laughs*

Thank you to Masashi Kudō and Netflix for talking with us at Anime NYC!

A covert team is tasked with preventing a future dominated by sentient machines. As they battle advanced androids and uncover hidden agendas, they strive to alter the course of history, facing moral dilemmas and high-stakes conflicts in a race against time.

Character(s) The Terminator , Kokoro , Malcolm Lee , Eiko , The Prophet

Release Date August 29, 2024

Seasons 1

Creator(s) Mattson Tomlin