Though it may not be as prominent in the genre as some other franchises, Zoids is still a staple of mecha anime. This is especially the case for those in the West who grew up with the shows. Due to this nature as something of an after-school Cartoon Network throwback, many might assume that it's just a series for kids. In actuality, Zoids: Chaotic Century is a great example of how good storytelling could elevate material and turn it into something for all ages.
Focusing on the realities of war, the complexities of the different factions and drawing from a rather obvious inspiration, the original Zoids anime is far better than many would assume, even if they have no nostalgia for it. Released over 20 years ago, it also cemented the narrative and mythological structure of the series as a whole. Here's why Zoids: Chaotic Century is sure to please both kids and adults.
What Is Zoids: Chaotic Century About?
The setting of Zoids: Chaotic Century is the alien planet of Zi, where gigantic mechanical fauna known as Zoids abound. These creatures have tremendous power, causing them to be used by the human natives as weapons of war. Said war is usually waged between the Helic Republic and the Guylos Empire, although when the series begins, there's a very tenuous ceasefire in place.
The series' main character is Van, who, along with his robotic Organoid Zeke, seeks to find the truth behind the mysterious girl Fiona. As they search for more answers about her esoteric past, they become embroiled in the renewed war between the Helic and the Guylos. What results is a continuous battle involving military tension and gigantic mechanical carnage.
Zoids Imitates the Gundam Series in the Best Ways
As a mecha anime with a wartime premise, it's easy to compare Zoids: Chaotic Century to the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. This includes the plot, which features a war between two separate empires, and the protagonist Van also having some similarities to Gundam heroes like Amuro. This includes his ambivalence to get involved in the factions' war, as well as his mechanical knack allowing him to effortlessly pilot the Zoid mechs. Van even shares Amuro's age (14) at the beginning of the series, further heightening the similarities.
The title of Chaotic Century even seems to be an homage to the "Universal Century" continuity that most of the Gundam anime take place in. This gives the series a sense of familiarity for mecha fans, all while introducing the genre to newcomers. Of course, simply imitating the genre wouldn't be enough to keep viewers' attention, but it's what Chaotic Century does with those ingredients that makes it such a good show for all ages.
Zoids: Chaotic Century Employs Dark Yet Universal Themes
Despite how toyetic the giant robotic animals may seem, Zoids: Chaotic Century truly encapsulates the military/wartime feeling that it's going for. This sees the initial ceasefire between the kingdoms constantly chip away, with many unaffiliated fighters, such as Van and the mercenary Irvine caught in the crossfire. While the show could have easily devolved into a mere showcase for cool giant robots, it instead emphasizes the hardships felt on all sides of these battles.
Likewise, the villains and those who are merely antagonists have a degree of depth not usually found in children's fare. For instance, the aforementioned Irvine starts off trying to capture Van, with his cold and calculating demeanor making him seem like a one-dimensional hunter character. After losing his desire to take Van in, however, he actually joins his group. Even true villains such as Admiral Prozen have a level of substance to their evil, with Prozen arranging all manner of political engineering to ensure his ascension to power. Redemption is a huge theme, as well, with those yet to truly succumb to evil able to change their ways. This is done in a well-written manner that's able to keep from falling into the "power of friendship" trope that many shonen anime utilize.
Although the series is never heart-wrenchingly dark or morose, these themes allow Zoids: Chaotic Century to be watched by younger viewers while still being enjoyable to older anime fans. Unfortunately, actually watching the series is a bit of a task. Zoids: Chaotic Century isn't currently streaming on any anime services such as Crunchyroll or Funimation, with the DVDs and Blu-rays also being incredibly hard to come by. Hopefully, the rights to this now-classic series will soon hit an international streaming service, allowing legions of fans both new and old to watch the Zoids anime that started it all.