Come with me if you want to watch a Terminator anime.
No spoilers! General thoughts only.
Not really sure if this qualifies as a “hipster” series, seeing as it’s based on a popular movie franchise, but I’ll allow it this one-time because there’s never been a Terminator anime project.
Quick Opinion: I really liked it.
Terminator Zero is an anime set in the Terminator universe, but after watching all eight episodes, I don’t think there’s any required viewing of previous Terminator movies to enjoy it, but doing so will enhance your experience. This is because The Terminator franchise involves time travel and time travel is…messy.
Because of this, Terminator Zero takes place in an alternate timeline. This gives the show room to be as crazy or subtle as it wants to be without having to worry about stepping on previous continuities. And, I think, the creators took full advantage of it. Time travel shenanigans is directly addressed in the show and I think it helps accept this version at face value while posing an interesting question about whether time travel benefits the machines or humans more.
Mammoth Base Opera Castle 