Zoids
JC
Introduction
"Organized under strict rules and regulations, ZOID
Battles are fighting competitions held on enormous battle
fields using mechanical combat units known as ZOIDS! The
enthusiastic young warriors put their pride on the line and
sharpen their skills against one another. Battle mode
approved. Area scanned. Battle field set up! Ready....
FIGHT!"
The Army
of the Fanboy 80's have come and more are on their
way...
Leading the charge is the little known and most
likely forgotten, ZOIDS! Somewhere around the same time as
Transformers rose to that status of gods, a whole slew of toys
and toy themed cartoons bum rushed the market. There was a
certain corner of that market that relied on partially
motorized toys that you could put together like cracked out
Erector Sets, but were defintely geared toward batttle. There
was Robotics, Starriors, and their third little brother,
ZOIDS.
Then video games came
and so did the toy collectors. Soon all these cool action toys
died off in droves to be replaced by hip Nintendo cartridges
and "toys" that were basically unposable statues. Gone were
Battle Beasts, vehicle Transformers, and Robotech.
Well, looks like the
pendulum is swinging back our way cuz vehicle Transformers are
back, He-Man toys are on their way and both are going to be
recieving a home on Cartoon Networks, Toonami this
fall!
But before them comes the forgotten underdog
known as the slam bang robot actioner know as ZOIDS ZERO,
which airs on Toonami every weekday at 3:30pm Central Standard
Time, with that tagline, "What're you lookin'
at..."
What's' it About?
Much like Big O (which also premiered on Toonami
and will be bring a second season also to come this fall or
winter...) the fans didn't like it at first.
The show follows the
adventures of the sparky hotshot pilot, Bit Cloud and the rest
of the Blitz Team, as they go from one Zoid Battle to the
next. Earning money, status and sharpen their
skills.
Bit's partner and Zoid of choice is the kinda
sorta mysterious, Liger Zero who only he can pilot. Why that
is, I'll leave it up to the series to explain, but don't worry
or think about it too hard, because it's not difficult to
figure out.
They travel the land
in their carrier upgrading their Zoids, finding new and more
powerful mechs, like the Shadow Fox or the Raynous, to use in
regular battles with mauraders or in sanction
competition.
On occasion the
nefarious organization known only as the Backdraft Group,
shows up to give our heroes a hard time and bully them into
unsanction illegal combat that have no rules.
So bottom line...
likeable characters wanderin' 'round the world looking for
some butts to kick. Competition, mauraders, and a mysterious
group that doesn't play by the rules gives the aaaallllll the
reasons they need.
My Opinion
Animation's great. Regular cell combined with
unique CGI animation for all the mechs that looks strikingly
like cell animation. From anything I've seen from Blue
Submarine Number 6 to Titan A.E. this is the best and least
jarring combination of traditional and CGI animation.
No battle to save the
planet to save it from some awesome god-being... no
intergalactic war.... and no real dire plot to bring levity to
the series.
It's super robot
action at it most pure and the consistantly best choreographed
big bot battles this side of a Go Nagai Production! At first
you find yourself asking... why? They aren't fighting for
peace, justice, or saving the world. They're just fighting to
be fighting. Characters battle hard and compete and victory is
the only thing they desire in the end. That and to perfect
their craft as Zoid Warriors.
Maybe after two
episodes, suddenly you find out, that that is all you really
need out of this show! Sure, more depth in plot is fun and
some grave cause or darkness hanging over the heroes pulls you
in to the show more, but... there are plenty of animes out
there like that. You got Gundams, Macross, Neon Genesis, and
Gasaraki out there to fullfill those needs and they do it in
spades!
Sometimes you just
want to sit down, have some fun and watch some big bots run
around, dodge, blast and blown the motherlovin' crap outta
each other! And do it well! Kinda like you used to do with
your Starriors, Transformers, and Battle Beast once upon a
long time ago.
Final Word:
Check it out, seriously. This incarnation of
Zoids will be getting a much deserved break, come July 26th.
For on the following July 29th will herald the coming of Zoids
Chaotic Century, which is infact more plot oriented, but I
find lacking in the quality action department.
So pick your Zoid,
hop in the cockpit and hit that throttle. Time get to get
yours robo fight fans!
Discuss Your Opinions here
at Japan Access.
And check out the Toonami
Digital Arsenal for Downloadable
Zoids Stuff. I highly recommend checking out the
promos.
Peace!
JC