Zoids: A Franchise That Deserves Its Flowers

Ever wondered why Zoids still holds a special place in the hearts of so many mecha enthusiasts? Join me, Jet Black Xtreme (JB), as I share my journey through the iconic Zoids franchise in this episode of the Zone Podcast. From the intense storyline of Chaotic Century, set amidst the fragile ceasefire between the Gylos Empire and the Helic Republic, to the unforgettable characters like Van, Zeke, and Fiona, this episode is a heartfelt homage to a series that captured my young imagination. I'll share my favorite moments and characters, and why those animal and dinosaur-like mechs left an indelible mark on me as a fan.

But that's not all! I'll also delve into the evolution of the Zoids series, including my mixed feelings about the enclosed arena battles in Zoids New Century, the unique setting and challenges in Zoids Genesis, and the fresh twist brought by Zoids Wild with its AI-enhanced Zoids. You'll hear about the dynamics between RD, Sweet, and Amy, and the enduring appeal of Zoids toys and video games. Plus, get a sneak peek at future plans for an extended review. This episode is a blend of nostalgia and critique, perfect for both long-time fans and newcomers alike. Don't miss out on this trip down memory lane!

Chapters

• 0:01 Exploring Zoids
• 13:15 Zoids Franchise Review and Analysis

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Welcome back to the Zone Podcast, where I like to talk about giant robots fighting each other. I'm Jet Black Extreme feel free to call me JB and today's topic is Zoids. Now let's go ahead and zone in on that. Now I'm going to be real with y'all.

Speaker 1: 0:20

It's been a while since I've watched Zoids, but it's one of those franchises that live rent-free in my head Because, first of all, I'm a mecha fan. I pretty much like Talos, but I won't say I rival Talos when it comes to being a mecha fan. Always been into those giant robot fights, like you know mobile suit, gundam, guru lagarde, megas, xlr which, by the way, it was criminal that it got canceled. But doyce is one of those things to where I feel like it was almost lost time until I found out that there was two series that I did not know was going to be a thing. Let me explain. Back when the golden age of Toonami, I want to say there was Zoid's Chaotic Century, zoid's New Century, and then there was Zoids Chaotic Century, zoids New Century, and then there was Zoids Fusers, now Genesis and Wild I'm not familiar with. Honestly, I might go back and watch them. I might even do an extended review on Zoids at a later time, but somewhere in my spirit told me you know what I want to talk about Zoids. So I'm going to talk about Zoids. I'm going to talk about, based on what I remember about this series, kind of challenge myself, challenge my memory. But here's the thing. I believe it was New Century that came out on Toonami first, because I think Zoids was given the Dragon Ball treatment, where we were introduced to Dragon Ball Z first and then they introduced Dragon Ball, because, you know, when it's something that's like not that engaging, you know like shiny keys type shit, yeah, like maybe we weren't ready for such a story. But either way, I want to say that, starting with Chaotic Century, since it was first, this one is more about how there was a war between the Gylos Empire and the Helic Republic and there was a ceasefire, so things are good. But it's almost like they're just itching to start a war again. But really they're just trying to do it in sneaky ways, where they're trying to convince the other side to start the war. So they'll feel like, oh well, you know they started the war, you know that type of shit, and they use these giant robots called Zoids where they like.

Speaker 1: 3:11

The funny thing about Zoids is that they're either like animal mechs or dinosaur mechs and once again, as a kid I was like what? 11, 12, 13. I I'm like you know what. This just speaks to me in a simplistic way, like giant robot animals fighting giant robot dinosaurs, like it just reminds me of power rangers over again, except they don't combine and that's fine. But basically, chaotic Century is about this guy named Van. He got chased by some Zoid pilot, getting accosted. He ends up running across this organoid named Zeke. Now here's the funny thing about organoids Unlike the big robot Zoids, organoids are more like human size and they can combine with Zoids to make them stronger. So sounds familiar. You know what? I'm not letting you talk about it. Point being is that Van Zeke and this mysterious girl that he also brought into Fiona Now Fiona, she has amnesia.

Speaker 1: 4:34

She has little to no memory. She only remembers her name. It's that she needs to go to this thing called Zoid Ebe that can help her dog, her memory. They just pretty much make a whole series based off that. They meet other people. Funny thing is, because they said their name differently.

Speaker 1: 5:00

I was kind of surprised when I hear that there was a guy named Irvine in this show because my first name is Irvine and I see this and his name is spelled almost like mine, except it has an E at the end. Mine doesn't have an E, somebody has an e at the end, mine doesn't have an e. And I'm, like you know what, I feel a little happy, especially considering that he's considered the tough guy with the eye patch. Well, it's not like he has only one eye, he has both of his eyes. It's just that his eye patch focus is more like a camera, kind of like granola from the dragon ball super manga. But I don't think there's like ai in eyepatch, not in her mind.

Speaker 1: 5:54

But aside from him, they also meet people like raven and who else hills, reese and other folks. It was like this one dark-skinned girl that her name is kind of Moon Bay. Moon Bay, that's right. I liked her. She sings and all that, but rarely stays on key. No, ultimately she's a good person, even though she can come up like greedy and selfish, but I still like her. Yeah, I like all these characters honestly. Uh, not so much raven, I, I don't know. He's like anti-social and all that. So I just did, he kind of reminded me of uh, what's his name from, uh, pokemon, black and white virgin. Uh, that one rival. That kind of reminds us of ourselves when we're like playing pokemon paul, that will be ron paul on a while, thinking his name is trip for some reason, but his name's paul.

Speaker 1: 7:03

Yeah, basically, chaotic century is more like the warlike theme for the zoids franchise and Van Rys in a shield liger that eventually evolved into a blade liger and whatnot, thanks to Zeke and you know, meeting certain prerequisites and all that. And it was split into two seasons, like I already pretty much gave you the gist of the first season, but the second season, guardian Force, is more like okay, the gang for the most part joins this new military called guardian forest. It gives me girl of gone vibes. I don't think this second season gives me girl of gone vibes, where it seemed like, oh well, van just started up as this drifter out into the wild, just, you know, trying to get to where they need to get to. And next thing, you know they're now part of a military force and not exactly alike, but I feel like, as far as turn of events, it just kind of feels similar. That's all I'm saying. But for the most part, yeah, like chaotic century was decent. I like it. But unfortunately it's not like zoe's new Century where it was like the easiest to get into.

Speaker 1: 8:41

Now, new Century was more about how it takes place long after Chaos Century Assume at least one century and instead of it being like all about war, boys are now pretty much for sport, like you just ride into these boys and you entering tournaments and all that. So they kind of made it to a sport and the main character for this one is Big Cloud and he's right in the signature liger zero, who also have these other forms like jaeger, schneider and panzer. Uh, I'm more of a fan of schneider, you know, because the orange and the blades and shit. Um, panzer and uh, jaeger is cool and all Like. Jaeger is more for speed and agility. Panzer is more like the tanky heavy armor type. But I like Schneider because, you know, I just like the style of it. Excuse me. We have Lena. We have Brad, who ends up being an antagonist in the later half of this part of the franchise. Antagonists in the later half of this part of the franchise. We have Jamie Dr Tauros.

Speaker 1: 10:05

Yeah, like this was the most entertaining section of the Zoids franchise and okay, if I were to give a rating, chaotic Century gets a 7. It feels like a 7. I'll give New Century an 8 because it was like more engaging, it's like easier to figure out what the hell is going on and you know not to say like make a habit of turning your brain up. But what can I say is like I just felt like it was more exciting in new century than chaotic century, but chaotic century is still good. It's just more like spiritually it feels like a seven. New century feels like an eight to me. It's my personal feelings, don't take it personally.

Speaker 1: 11:12

Ah, oh, yeah, like there was this one team where they kind of remind me, uh, was it a backdraft? Or yeah, those guys where they be having these unsanctioned battles and they'll have like, uh, okay, this is the part where it kind of reminds me of metabots, where they have that this referee guy, but in zoids they have a robot referee and the thing is that the backstrap Organization kind of functions Like the Robo Robo game in MetaBots, where they're like these Notorious Thug, like Motherfuckers that you just like have these underhanded shit. Also, giving me Team Rocket vibe just a little bit, but mainly Jesse and James, but uh, I mean all of Team Rocket, most of these teams and Pokemon, but you mainly see that from Jesse and James. But uh, I mean all of Team Rocket, most of these teams and Pokemon, but you mainly see that from Jesse and James, all that underhanded shit. Point being is that the backdraft group would have their own ref and that ref would be like very biased and every time they show up I'm like, oh my god, these guys. But yeah, other than that, I would say, definitely give new century a chance.

Speaker 1: 12:32

Like honestly, there's really no relation to any of the five anime shows. It's kind of like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure to a degree, except it's very loosely connected. The only connection is that shit happened during different timelines, like different eras. They're going further and further into the future. Speaking of which, let's talk about Zoid's Fusers. Fusers was the last one that I've seen on TV before.

Speaker 1: 13:15

I just kind of fell up on Zoids, but it kind of feels like a six to me. Why? Because I did like the idea of okay, you now can fuse with two. You can fuse two Zoids together and they can become stronger. You can fuse two toys together and they can become stronger. But the one thing that gives it a six is that I don't like how they're like in this arena. To where this enclosed arena? To where it just feels like I don't like it. Where this enclosed arena? To where it just feels like, eh, I don't like it. It just feels a little constrained. It's like the way battles are more exciting when it's like out in the open. Otherwise it was alright.

Speaker 1: 14:14

Like you have the main character, rd. He also has a Liger Zero. There was one other character that I'm thinking Sweet was it? Yeah, sweet, and he has the Mockstorm. Even though she doesn't pilot a Zoid, she's usually seen with this other thing like Goose Dog, traveler, that thing, yeah, so also it's like, mmm, kinda sorta have a like a this romantic interest in RD. But it's like kinda weird, especially when it's like between it's more like a love triangle between Rd sweet and this other chick, amy, uh, even though sweet kind of sees it like it's all in her head and she's like, oh, you're trying to take my man with. So I'm trying to think who's that one guy that had the, that phoenix. But essentially I like it when they fused the lera Zero with this Phoenix Zoid and that was kind of cool. But once again, why put it in a fucking enclosed arena? That just kind of waters down the imagination for me, but otherwise I'm not complaining.

Speaker 1: 15:52

6 out of 10. Not bad, just kind of a downgrade, like it had something. You you know the fusing part. But, and another thing, zoe's genesis now at this point entirely new territory, but I'm going off based on Some research that I'm doing. So Zoids Genesis is more like Keep in mind, still going further into the future, but now it's more like a Pudel Japan Theme now.

Speaker 1: 16:33

And there is another Rougie, who Also surprise, surprise, have a Liger type Zoid. There is another Boy, uh Ruji, who Also Surprise, surprise, have a Liger type Zoid. And it's been sweet. Uh Ruji takes on the Murasame Liger Zoid Woo and, kind of like with Van he, leaves his Village. Well, unlike Van he and two other foes, rakhan and Raimi, they fucked up a generator in their village and they pretty much have to go out and get the means to fix it. And that's pretty much all I know about this series.

Speaker 1: 17:24

Concept wise, I'm like okay, well, if it's like I don't know, like let me look here like they're like bio Zoids, alright. Well, like I said, I will get back to this series and the next one In an extended version Of it. But let's go ahead and see about what's Zoids Wild about. Okay, so Zoids Wild, it's an interesting one because this time I believe that with the advancements in AI you don't have to pilot the Zoid per se or more like the Zoids now have more Personalities where, like with Liger Zero and New Century, where it well, pretty much Most of these Zoids like, well, the main Character Zoid, it's not seeming like they have A spirit of their own and I guess the Emphasis on that is More implied, well, more obvious.

Speaker 1: 18:37

Excuse me in this one, but once again, didn't really see it yet, but if I go back and watch all of Zoids and feel like doing an extended version of it, I'll let y'all know. Now I do believe voice every now and then my said what, how are they gonna go out on me? But um, for the most part it's always did have some video games. Didn't play them but, and probably too old and probably gets entertaining, is that I hope? But they also have a toy line that's still going pretty strong. Like I'm pretty sure there's some Facebook groups that likes they'll share their model kids at what not? But at this point I still love Zoids for what it was, at least as far, far as like Chaotic Century and New Century. That was my jam back then. But at this point they already have Zoids Wild.

Speaker 1: 19:45

So I'm not really asking for a new anime anytime soon, I mean, unless you feel like being generous. Uh, who did Build this? Uh is, who did build this studio? Olm Team Sakurai? Let's see. Is that the case with all of them? Because, you know, sometimes these things get passed on to different studio publications, like, for instance, zoid Genesis was being licensed by Viz Media and the Zoids, well, it's really Hasbro and Viz Media. So, yeah, I want to say Hasbro and Viz Media are the main ones that handles, or at least make it available to America.

Speaker 1: 20:59

But I'm not asking for a new anime anytime soon, unless you feel like being generous. Hasbro, biz Media, if you're just so happy to be listening, because, who the fuck knows, at this point I'm gonna be calling out bullshit and they just end up doing it behind my back. But, um, a new video game? And they just end up doing it behind my back. But, um, a new video game might be good. Well, at least not Wait, hold on, hold on. Just came out with a video game not too long ago, a video game for the Switch.

Speaker 1: 21:41

It's cool that it's all aimed at boys between 10 and 12, because I got into zoids when I was like 10 or 12 years old. Did I just say that earlier? So, yeah, like we're not really asking for a new anime, maybe not even a new video game, and if you still got the toy line going, then that's great too. Uh, honestly, I just think zoids just deserve a little bit more attention. Like I just don't want to get too swallowed up by like gundam and whatnot, because, hey, I'm still a gundam fan, but I'm just saying, like Zoids, just like Metabots, I just think some things deserve their flowers. Like I just feel like some things just couldn't be easily forgotten when they really had something, like it had a certain charm that could have worked if there was more fandom, if you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1: 22:36

With that being said, you know what I'm saying? Uh, with that being said, you know what? That's all I wanted to talk about. Oh, wait a minute, the Zoids Wild games. Like they had like a bunch of games, but essentially the last one was released as far back as 2020. Uh, so yeah, like that wasn't too long ago. So you know, that's cool. Like I want to say the zoids franchise is doing fine. I just feel like it just deserves a little bit more attention. That's my personal opinion. But with that being said, I'm gonna go ahead and close this review out. Uh, once again, if I decide to do an extended version, like give you the whole play-by-play of all five of the anime shows, I will let you know in a later time. But until then, you stay nerdy and remember that great things are coming. I'm gonna go ahead and zone out of here. So have yourself a good morning, good afternoon and good night you.