One of Toonami’s best mech anime was a Pokemon-like better than it had any right to be

Zoids is an anime series that aired on Cartoon Network’s Toonami programming block in 2001. It was meant to capitalize on the popularity of Pokemon, With its similar setup of human/beast partners competing in tournament-style battles. The series perfectly blends elements of foundational Toonami shows, such as gundams slick mac fights, Best wars‘ Incorporation of exotic animals, and a lovable cast of recurring characters, as in Tenchi Universe.

While Zoids‘ Name recognition is nowhere near that of Pokemon today, seeds: New century And Zoids: Chaotic century They are much deeper than Ash and Pikachu’s adventures ever were.

Zoids is set on Planet Z, where sentient robotic animals roam the Earth, used by humans as weapons of war, and eventually, they are used for sport in times of peace. New century is actually the second series, canonically, but its premise lends itself to the Pokemon-obsessed American audiences at the time, and Cartoon Network chose to air it first.

The season follows Bit Cloud and his partner, Liger Zero, leading the Blitz team in Zoid Battle Commission tournaments, and clashing with an organized crime organization, the Backdraft Group. However, the following year, Cartoon Network released the thematically more mature Zoids: Chaotic Century, What details about the wars that were before New century.

Zoids brought mech warfare and a more introspective tone to the genre of monster anime than Pokemon

Wan and Zeke avoid the clichés Ash and Pikachu succumb to

in Zoids: Chaotic CenturyVan, an orphan from the war between the Holy Republic and Guillos Empire, and his raptor-like organoid, Zeke, embark on an adventure to uncover the past of an amnesiac girl named Fiona. Wan finds purpose in piloting his Liger Zoid, shifting from political apathy and pacifism to acceptance of his duty to bring peace to Planet Z.

While the plethora of cool mecha beasts is a highlight of the series, Chaotic century Resist making Zoid battles the absolute focus, and Klug weaves in a poignant story about the terrible reality of war For all involved.

in PokemonAsh and Pikachu are on a fairly shallow quest to prove their supremacy on the battlefield, whereas Van and Zeke are drawn into war out of necessity, to protect their homeThe Wind Colony. After defeating the Guillos Empire, Juan becomes a full-fledged Holy Republican Army officer in the titular Guardian ForceThe second season of Chaotic century. Van’s personal beliefs are constantly challenged and refined, whereas Ash is stuck in a cycle of defeat and repetition.

Zoids is perfect for older fans of monster anime looking for something with more meat on the bones

The complex story behind Zoids is almost as interesting as the series itself

Zoids Started as Mechabonica model kits made by the Japanese toy company, TOMYwhich were re-released in North American and European markets under the name Zoids in 1982. Chaotic centurys debut in 2001, the only history or lore surrounding the mechanical animals came from brief descriptions of warring factions printed on the packaging of the model kits. Today, the task of creating a story based on a popular toy is synonymous with Transformers And GI JoeHowever Zoids Far exceeds these, both in world-building and emotional depth.

Even the capitalistic intentions behind New centuryThe release strategy doesn’t diminish his story, although the tone and subject matter are much lighter. A scavenger and mechanic named Bit Cloud happens to have the magic touch with the Lightning Team’s previously inoperable Liger Zero, so he joins their crew as its pilot, eventually leading them to many victories.

The unexplained connection between Bit and League Zero is much closer to Ash and Pikachu’s “power of friendship”. Chaotic centurys won and Zeke. This dynamic works for New centuryWhich is essential A fun 26-episode tournament arc with lower stakes.

Both Zoids Chaotic Century and New Century rank among Toonami’s best anime

Zoids should be as prominent as its Toonami peers

Both Chaotic century And New century Proving Toonami’s curated collection of anime was more than just flashy titles like Sailor Moon And Dragon Ball pAnd Zoids Overall stands among high-concept peers, vi Great O And Blue Submarine No. 6. The following season, Zoids: Fusors, Squanders the momentum and fails to live up to its predecessors, with inferior animation and a soilless plot revolving around two zoids fusing into one. latest series entries, Zoids Genesis And zoids wild, have similarly failed to recapture the quality and cohesiveness of the first few seasons.

Zoids is currently unavailable for streaming and physical copies are hard to come by, which is a shame. It deserves a chance to be introduced to new audiences and fill in any gaps for Toonami viewers who missed an episode or two.

The fact that Cartoon Network aired the last four episodes of Chaotic century Like a Saturday morning marathon Shows off both the cinematic quality and complex narrative of Zoids That requires an extended viewing experience. It also speaks to the sometimes erratic release schedule of anime in the early 2000s, and the limited opportunities for viewers to find closure.