Zoids: Fuzors
Zoids: Fuzors is an animated/anime series, linked to the Zoids toyline of the same name. It is the fourth Zoids series, following Zoids: New Century Zero in order of production. However, there seems to be no connections at all to the previous series, despite the fact that Fuzors still takes place on Planet Zi. The series is 26 episodes long, however the show had an unsuccessful U.S. broadcast, and was eventually cancelled after 13 episodes. Similar to Transformers: Armada, the show was first broadcasted in the U.S. instead of Japan. (Also the Japanese version contained improvements added to the episodes over the time between releases.)
Series background
Like the rest of the Zoids anime, Fuzors takes place on Planet Zi; however there seems to be no connections at all to any of the previous series. Although the technology in Fuzors seems to be much more advanced, most likely indicating that Fuzors takes place much later after Zoids: New Century Zero. Even though it is not explicitly stated, it is generally considered that Fuzors takes place in its own continuity.
The series focuses on a delivery boy named R.D. who works for a company called Mach Storm, based in Blue City. Mach Storm also moonlights as a Zoids battling team. Everyone is searching for the mysterious Alpha Zoid, and the battles are used to help fund for the search. R.D. learns the ropes of becoming a good Zoid pilot, and eventually discovers the abilities to fuse with other Zoids. Like Zoids: New Century Zero, Zoids battles are also fought for competition, however, instead of the Judge Satellites and wide open areas used for fighting, the battles take place in enclosed arenas. Also, much like Zero, R.D.'s main Zoid is the Liger Zero.
The series initially focuses on the rivalry between the Mach Storm and Savage Hammer teams, as well as other battles. As the series progresses, R.D. and the rest of Mach Storm become embroiled in a conspiracy to take control of Blue City, and fight to stop it.
Fuzors is interesting because it shows a lot more of the world outside the Zoid battles or military seen in the previous Zoids shows. Similarly, its premise - a corrupt politician trying to take control of a city - is far more "real world" then the other series.
Characters
The Mach Storm Team
R.D.
R.D. is a delivery boy who works for the company known as Mach Storm. He becomes the pilot of the Liger Zero. However, he still has yet to grow as a Zoid pilot. R.D. is determined to become better, and usually butts heads with his rival Blake, who pilots the Berserk Fury. After close call while fighting Blake and his Buster Fury Zoid, he is saved by the Fire Phoenix and eventually discovers the ability to Fuse it with the Liger Zero to create the powerful Liger Zero Phoenix.
R.D.'s goal in life is to find the legendary "Alpha Zoid", a Zoid that is more powerful then any other. It is the same Zoid that his father dedicated his life to finding. Even though his father, Harris, left him when he was very young, R.D. is determined to follow in his footsteps. R.D. matures considerably over the course of the series, turning from a brash and somewhat irresponsible young man into a skilled pilot and leader.
R.D. is voiced by Brad Swaile in the English version. His Japanese VA is Kenji Nojima.
Sweet
Sweet is another member of Mach Storm. Even though she doesn't pilot a Zoid, she is usually seen driving a Gustav Traveller. She seems to have a very close and somewhat motherly relationship with R.D., and is usually there for him when he needs help. It's quite obvious that they have feeling for each other, even though they have yet to come out. In many ways, she acts like an older sister to R.D., even though she's younger then him. Sweet seems to see Amy as a rival for R.D.'s affections, even though the rivalry exists only in her head.
Sweet does a lot of the day to day work in running the team, doing financial work as well as cooking and running the base. She also moonlights in other jobs, working as a waitress amongst other things.
Sweet is voiced by Nicole Bouma in the English version. Her Japanese VA is Chie Nakamura.
Helmut
The oldest pilot in the Mach Storm Team (being in his mid 30s), Helmut (known as Maskman in the Japanese version) was a member of the "original" Mach Storm along with Harris, Marvis, Haldo and Graheme. Helmut taught R.D. how to pilot a Zoid, and to this day can still beat him. He has a rather fatherly relationship with R.D., and is his mentor to a degree. Helmut pilots a Command Wolf AC, and has done such for his entire career. His Zoid has been somewhat upgraded, and sports a Strike Laser Claw system amongst other system.
Helmut always wears a mask, but it is never revealed why.
Helmut is played by Brian Dobson in the English version. His Japanese VA is Jouji Nakata.
Sigma
The third member of Mach Storm, Sigma is older then R.D. and tends to look down on him. He is rather cocky and argumentative, and tends to look down on R.D.. Despite this, he is a capable pilot. He usually provides fire support for the team with his Boldguard, whose cannons have been modified to fire various weapons (including the 'capture rings' used to immoblise wild Zoids). After the Boldguard was destroyed, it was replaced with a new Leostriker.
Later in the series, Sigma and Helmut's Zoids gain the abilty to fuse into the Command Striker.
Sigma is played by Ted Cole in the English version. His Japanese VA is Anri Katsu.
Amy
A freelance agent within the Team, Amy seems to only work as a part of Mach Storm when it suits her. Amy uses her looks to get her way, and seems to enjoy setting up Mach Storm to further her own aims. She's not a bad person per see, more of greedy and selfish. Despite this, she does help out the team in battle, even when it seems like there's nothing in it for her. Amy pilots a König Wolf Mk II.
Amy was the subject of controversy within the fandom; many fans deriding her ability to pilot, based on the fact that she seemed to be easily defeated. The truth was that the fans were expecting the König Wolf to be an unbeatable "Super Zoid" and, as a result, were not impressed with its fairer depiction in the anime.
Amy is voiced by Chiara Zanni in the English version. Her Japanese VA is Manabi Mizuno.
Matt
A young boy (about ten) who was living alone in the city when R.D. found him. Matt's mother had died, and his father had moved away to work. Matt was taken in by R.D. and become an unnoffical member of the team. Impressed by R.D., he decided to become a Zoid pilot and learned to pilot the team's Leoblaze. The rest of Mach Storm, however, were not impressed. This plan backfired, as the Leoblaze was stolen by Savage Hammer and used to form their Matrix Dragon.
Dan
Dan is the main mechanic for Mach Storm. Always reliable and eager to help out the Mach Storm team, he becomes really excited one he learns that Zoids have the ability to fuse. He tries to go out of his way to discover ways to fuse each of Mach Storm's Zoids. Dan first joined Mach Storm when he was stranded in the middle of a desert after his truck ran out of gas. He runs into R.D. and Sweet, and begs them to join the team, mostly because R.D. pilots a Liger Zero, which is Dan's favourite Zoid. He can pilot a Zoid himself, and uses a Heldigunner later in the show.
Dan is voiced by Michael Dobson in the English version.
Hop
The manager of the Mach Storm team, Hop seems to be perpetually worried about the team's finances. Not a fighter by any means, he is completely unprepared for any sort of combat. He tends to worry about the team's situation, their reputation, and how much money they're going to spend on repairing their Zoids. When confronted with danger he suggested going to see his sister in another city for a while. Despite all this, he is still very reliable and gets along well with the rest of the team.
Hop is played by Russell Roberts in the English version. His Japanese VA is Tetsuo Sakaguchi.
The Savage Hammer Team
Blake
Blake (Blade in the Japanese version) is the main antagonist of Fuzors. He has an intense rivalry/hatred for R.D. for apparently unknown reasons. The lead pilot of Savage Hammer, he uses a Berserk Fury that has the (unique) ability to fuse with a Buster Eagle, forming the Buster Fury.
Blake seems to be driven entirely by his hatred of R.D., but despite this, he has a close friendship with his co-pilot, Luke. He also strongly believes in the bond between a Zoid and its pilot, stating that a Zoid will never willingly betray its pilot.
Blake's Zoid is destroyed by the Energy Liger; it is later replaced with a Gai Ryuki. His hatred of R.D. stems from his first ever battle; his Genosaurer was easily defeated by R.D.'s Liger Zero. However, Sandra sabotaged his Zoid and blamed R.D. for it.
Blake is voiced by Brian Drummond in the English version. His Japanese VA is Junji Majima.
Sandra
The manager of Savage Hammer, Sandra is a rich businesswoman and very influential within Blue City. She formed the team and supplies them with their Zoids, as well as fuels their ongoing feud with Mach Storm. She seems to enjoy setting up the two teams against each other. Sandra is very well connected, with contacts amongst the city's criminal elements.
Sandra's father, Graheme, was a member of the original Mach Storm. However, after he was apparently killed by Helmut, she formed Savage Hammer to get her revenge. In the end, however, it was Marvis who killed him and framed Helmut for it.
Sandra is voiced by Tabitha St. Germaine in the English version. Her Japanese VA is Junko Yuya.
Burton
Another member of Savage Hammer, Burton usually acts as Blake's second. Snidely and superior, he tends to look down on everyone around him. At the same time, he spends a lot of time todying to Sandra. Blake is something of a coward, and is usually the first to run when things look bad. He pilots a Lord Gale.
Burton is played by Allesandro Juliani in the English version. His Japanese VA is Ryuuzou Ishino.
Luke
A supporting member of the team, Luke isn't normally a combat pilot, being more of a technical expert and analyst. He served as a backup to Blake, piloting the team's Buster Eagle when it fused with the Berserk Fury.
Luke also developed the Gai Ryuki, possibly from the wreckage of Blake's Berserk Fury. He was later brainwashed by Alpha, and joined his forces. When working for Alpha he piloted a Leogator, and was a part of the Seimosaurus crew.
The Richter Group
Alpha Richter
A wealthy businessman and member of the Blue City Council, Alpha is one of the most powerful and influential men in the city. He also is secretly plotting to take control of the city and use that as a stepping stone to greater things. To this end, he has been manipulating events to steer him into control of the city.
Alpha develops the Seismosaurus as his ultimate weapon which will allow him to crush any resistance to his rule. Sandra is his adopted younger sister, and he helped her start Savage Hammer, as well as supplying them with their Zoids. Both Luke and Burton, as well as Marvis and Dr Pierce are also working for him.
Alpha's name is a rather clever pun; the Richter Scale measures the strength of earthquakes, while the Seismosaurus' name means "Earthquake lizard".
Rebecca
Alpha's assistant, Rebecca is also a Zoid pilot and a spy for his organisation. She infiltrates the Mach Storm team posing as a Zoid pilot, and provides information on their activities. She is also very loyal to Alpha, willing to stand between him and the rampaging Gojulas Giga. Rebecca piloted a Dimetraptera.
The Peacekeeping Bureau (PKB)
Gummie
The cheif of the PKB, Gummie often doesn't act the part. A big, loud man, he tends to act more like a cowboy then anything else. He enjoys his job, and hates the paperwork and politics that comes with it, preferring action over words. He is friends with R.D., and tends to let him off from minor matters (like speeding in his Liger). A cop for most of his adult life, Gummie believes that the PKB are there for the good of the city. He has a very strong bond with his Gojulas Giga, which he sees as the pride of the PKB's arsenal.
Gummie is played by Phil Hayes in the English Version. His Japanese VA is Kiyoyuki Yanada.
Ciao
A member of the PKB, Ciao appears to be the closest thing the PKB has to Gummie's second-in-command. A generally nice girl, she is rather quiet and reserved on occasion. However, she's also very brave and dedicated to her job, willing to stand up to some of the worst threats the city has faced. Ciao pilots an Arosaurer.
Ciao is voiced by Tabitha St. Germaine in the English version. Her Japanese VA is Ayumi Tsunematsu.
Dee
A member of the PKB and usually Ciao's partner, Dee is a realatively simple and straightforward man. He's also a loyal and brave officer, willing to stand up alongside other members of the PKB against any threats. Dee pilots a Gorheks.
Other Chracters
Haldo
A longtime friend of Helmut's and a former member of the Mach Storm team, Haldo is now a transport pilot who hauls goods in his Gustav. He still supports the team by offering them work, and has helped them out on several occasions. He provided Sigma with his Leostriker, and later helped smuggle the team out of the city after being imprisoned by Alpha.
Dr Pierce
A scientist who works in Blue City, Pierce is the leading expert in Zoid technology and Fuzors. He provides assistance to the Mach Storm team on several occasions.
Template:Spoiler Dr Pierce is secretly working for Alpha, developing new Zoids for him. He created the Energy Liger and Gorillatron (Raykong in the Japanese version) as the "ultimate Zoids". However, Alpha discarded them in favour of the Seismosaurus. Embittered, Peirce used the Zoids to undermine Alpha's plans. Template:Endspoiler
Marvis
A former member of the Mach Storm Team, Marvis used to be Helmut's best friend and Sigma's mentor. However, he had a falling out with the team, which caused him to go on a ramapage; killing a maeber of the PKB. He was hunted down and captured by Helmut, and imprisoned. However, he was able to escape, and tried to get his revenge on Mach Storm. Marvis piloted a Shadow Fox
Template:Spoiler Marvis is actually working for Alpha, and later ousts Gummie to become the chief of the PKB. After his Shadow Fox is destroyed, he gets a Styluarmor as a replacement. Template:Endspoiler
Rastanni
The leader of the Black Impact team, Rastanni is considered to be one of the top pilots in the whole Zi Fighter league until his defeats at the hands of the Dark Assassins and later R.D. He comes to see R.D. as a rival and a threat to his position, and teams up with several other Zoid pilots to eliminate him from the competition. Despite this, he is actually a decent person. He, and the rest of his team, pilot customised Blade Ligers.
Rattle and Malloy Darshes
A pair of young, rich men who fight in the Zi Fighter tournament as the Dark Assassins Team (Darshes team in the Japanese version). Rattle pilots a Killer Dome, while Malloy pilots a Dark Spiner, and the two Zoids are capable of fusing to form the Killer Spiner. The pair of them are somewhat overconfident in their abilities, seeing their Fuzor as being invincible.
Julia and Boone
A pair of pilots who were the leaders of the Dark Forces, a bandit group who operated in the deserts outside of Blue City. They piloted a Brachiozilla and Missile Tortoise, which had the rather unexpected ability to fuse into the Brachio Tortoise. The group attacked the Mach Storm team in order to steal a cargo that Haldo was transporting.
Keith
A former Zi-Fighter and Amy's former lover, Keith was soundly beaten in a championship battle land left the league. He returned with a Holotech Sabre Tiger, an unusual Zoid that had the ability to turn invisible and conceal itself from sensory detection. Using the Zoid, he went on a rampage, attacking other Zi-Fighters. He was able to destory two Blade Ligers, the Dark Assasins' Killer Spiner and Sigma's Boldguard, amongst others, before being stopped by the Mach Storm team.
Jean
A skilled acrobat in a circus, Jean was, in fact, a professional Zoid thief working with a gang in Blue City. He tried to woo Ciao, which didn't help him out when she discovered his true nature. He and his team were taken out by the PKB, with Ciao personally disabling his modified Arosaurer.
Rotten Roger, Gregor the Impaler, Sally Storm
A trio of Zoid pilots, considered to be three of the best of the league, they piloted a customised Genosaurer, Redhorn and Raynos respectively. The three of them were entered into a battle royale, along with R.D. and Rastanni. Even though the battle was a free-for-all, the four of them teamed up on R.D. In they end they were defeated, thanks largely due to Roger deciding to take on the Fuzor all on his own.
Doug
A kid who lived in a small town outside of Blue City, Doug hired Mach Storm for help to protect his community against rampaging wild Zoids. However, amongst the wild Unenlagia was a pair of Zoids that the team hadn't expected, a Dispellow and Evo Flyer that destroyed Doug's Helcat.
Doug later replaced the Helcat, and joined Mach Storm in fighting Alpha.
Venus
A strange girl who lived in a forest outside of Blue City, Venus seemed to be able to talk to R.D.'s Liger Zero. She lead R.D. and the Zoid to a place in the forest where an ancient Zoid was resting. While R.D. fought Blake, she tried to revive the ancient Zoid, seemingly praying to it.
Template:Spoiler The Zoid was the Jet Falcon which was able to fuse with the Liger Zero to form the Liger Zero Falcon.
While not explicitly stated, it was implied that Venus was the spirit or reincarnation of the Fire Phoenix. Template:Endspoiler
Reynard
Rastanni's older brother, Reynard is a skilled scientist who wanted his brother to follow in his footsteps. When Rastanni became a Zoid pilot, a rift formed between the two, leaving Reynard embittered and envious. He created the Chimera Dragon, and used it to take control of the Black Impact team from his brother.
Vareth
The leader of a team of mercenaries, Varteth (Baluf in the Japanese version) and his comrades hail from a tribe who forsook technology and left to live in a remote reigon of the continent. None to bright, Varteth is rather loud and boisterous, often acting the part of a sterotypical Viking. Despite this, and his frequent mistakes, he is the unquestioned leader of his team. He is also a capable warrior, very loyal to his people, and supports the Mach Storm team against Alpha. Vareth's unusual personality is reflected in his Zoid of choice, a Gravity Wolf.
Dart
The second member of Vareth's team, Dart appears to be a ninja of sorts. He always carries a sword, and keeps his face hidden, even when eating. He has a number of unusual personalty traits, most notably his refusal to open doors - he prefers to cut them open with his sword. He also seems to have a crush on Sweet. Dart pilots a Gravity Saix.
Sabre
The third member of the team, Sabre can be considered the most normal of them; although "normal" is a relative term. Like the othrs, she's rather naive and stands out, often stoping to stare at seemingly normal and mundae things like traffic lights and vending machines. Like the other members of her team, she is a skilled warrior. Sabre pilots a Gravity Saurer.
Episode Listing
- Episodes 14-26 (Unaired in U.S.)
- 1. Knockover on Planet Zi
- 2. 1 + 1 = ?
- 3. Enter the Fire Pheonix
- 4. Fuzors Combine! Liger Zero Pheonix
- 5. The Kid Called Matt
- 6. Ambush in the Wasteland
- 7. The Unseen Enemy
- 8. Calling Leo Striker (U.S. version: Blue Lightning)
- 9. Visitor from the Past
- 10. What Comes Around... (U.S. version: Good Work, Peacekeepers)
- 11. Brutal Battle Royale
- 12. Three-Way Collision (U.S. version: R.D. battled Matt)
- 13. Three Teams Face Off
- 14. Lost Worlds
- 15. Lost Wings
- 16. A Close Friend
- 17. Nightmare in the Sky
- 18. Glory to the Man
- 19. Showdown at High Noon
- 20. Evolution
- 21. The Waters Surface and the Undercurrent
- 22. The Rampage of the God of Destruction
- 23. The End of Mach Storm
- 24. The Legendary Zoid
- 25. Showdown
- 26. Blue Skies over Planet Zi
Series comments
After the success of the previous three Zoids shows, the fanbase in the U.S. had high expectations for Fuzors. However the show was not well-received by fans. Many criticized the show for having uninteresting characters, non-existent plot, weak fight scenes, and disliked the way the show seemed to upstage the traditional Zoids for the sake of the Fuzors. Many fans saw Fuzors as being inferior to the past three Zoids animes, and consider it the show that did the franchise in the U.S. The show eventually fell due to low ratings, and was cancelled before the series could even finish. The cancellation of the New American Release by Hasbro may have contributed to the decision to remove it from the air.
After Fuzors, Zoids practically disappeared from the U.S. airwaves and despite rumours, there seems to be no possibility of Fuzors finishing its U.S. run, nor any chances of the fifth Zoids series, Zoids: Genesis of ever coming to the U.S. However, Fuzors completed its 26 episode run in Australia, and was subsequently shown in Japan. Many Zoids fans claim Fuzors improves dramatically in the later episodes and, as a result, the show has developed its own little fanbase.
The computer animation for Fuzors was handled by a different studio to the previous series. Many of the newer Zoid animation models have more detail in them then older models reused from earlier series. Likewise, all the Zoids tend to feature more advanced shading then previous series. There is also a lot more use of 3D models for creating background objects and scenery. Many large scale objects, like the Zi Battle arena and sections of Blue City, were created entirely in 3D.
Unfortunately, many of the Zoids featured inferior motion to the previous series, with clumsy looking run cycles. However, many Zoids also feature more movement of parts and details. Examples include the Fire Phoenix's wing feathers moving as it flies, the fins on Gorheks and Gojulas Giga moving as the Zoid walks, the small antennas on a Darkhorn twitching and so on. In defence of the animators, it has to be said that the series featured more brand new Zoids then any other previous Zoids series.
While the series reused a lot of animation models from the earlier shows, several of them were altered or used different animation models to previous shows. Examples include:
- The Blade Liger received an entirely new animation model, one that was far more accurate to the model then the on used in previous shows.
- The Sabre Tiger's model was altered to include the numerous small cannons that had been omitted from its animation model in the previous shows.
- All the Darkhorns seen sported dual Beam Gattling cannons and two horns.
- All the Redhorns featured had Darkhorn-style glowing green canopies and powerplants.
- All the Iron Kongs seen in the show featured Beam Gattling cannons on their shoulders in place of their usual weapons; this version was first seen in Zoids: Chaotic Century.
- All the Gunsnipers seen were of the heavily-armed custom configuration used by Leena Toros in Zoids: New Century Zero.
Like the previous series, there is a substantial difference between the Japanese and American versions. However, whereas the American verisons of the first three series had material removed from them, the Japanese version of Fuzors had new material added to it. The animators took advantage of the year's difference between the American and Japanese screenings to alter and change some elements of the show.
Most of the first thirteen episodes feature differences in footage, usually minor changes through the addition of extra visual effects during fusion sequences. The most notable exception is episode 2, which is almost entirely different to its American counterpart. This change introduced a continuity error. In the Japanese version of episode 2, the Killer Spiner featured a new transformation sequence completely different to the one used in the American episode. However, in the Japanese version of episode 7, the Killer Spiner uses the same transformation as the American version.
Interestingly enough, the opening animation from the American version of Fuzors from episode 20 onwards depicts a sequence of the Energy Liger running alongside the Liger Zero Falcon, its energy charger connecting to the Falcon’s body. Oddly enough, this scene never occurred in either the US or Japanese versions of Fuzors.
Theme Songs
- Opening
- "Enemy of Life" by 2Am
- Ending
- "Self-Control 2004" by 2Am