Zoids: Fuzors (ゾイド フューザーズ) is an anime series, linked to the Zoids toy line of the same name. It is the third Zoids series, following Zoids: New Century Zero in order of production. The series is 26 episodes long, however, the show had an unsuccessful U.S. broadcast, and was eventually canceled after 13 episodes. Similar to Transformers: Armada, the show was first broadcast in the U.S. instead of Japan (also, the Japanese version contained improvements added to the episodes over the time between releases).

Series background

The series focuses on a delivery boy named RD who works for a company called Mach Storm, based in Blue City, a metropolis on Planet Zi's Eastern Continent. Mach Storm also moonlights as a Zoids battling team. RD learns the ropes of becoming a good Zoid pilot, and eventually discovers the abilities to fuse with other Zoids. Like Zoids: New Century, Zoids battles are also fought for competition, however, instead of the Judge Satellites and wide open areas used for fighting, the sanctioned battles take place in enclosed arenas. Also, much like New Century, RD'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, RD and the rest of Mach Storm become aware of a conspiracy to take control of Blue City, and fight to stop it. Fuzors differs from previous seasons because it shows a lot more of the setting outside the Zoid battles or military. In Fuzors, two, sometimes more, Zoids can combine to become a single unit called a Fuzor. However, not every Zoid can be a Fuzor and for multiple units existing only one is a Fuzor partner to another. For example, Savage Hammer had multiple Leoblazes, but only Matt's Leoblaze (which was owned by Mach Storm) was compatible as part of the Matrix Dragon. A Zi-Fighter's license is a glove for the right hand (that leaves only the middle, ring and small fingers bare) with a mechanical device on the back. This apparently is used for "synchronization" and to bring out the full potential of the Zoid being piloted. Also, it is used to initiate a Fuzor combination. Furthermore, it can work as something of a short-range communicator when outside the cockpit. The command to initiate the fusion is "FUZORS, COMBINE!" for the American version and "ZI-UNIZON!" for the Japanese version while raising a clenched right fist to face level, followed by the name of the Fuzor (ex: RD here raises his gauntlet and shouts "FUZORS, COMBINE/ZI-UNIZON! Liger Zero Phoenix!") Zoids: Fuzors has no connection to the previous Zoids anime produced by Xebec and Digital Frontier. Though this went unmentioned in the show itself, information on the packaging associated with the series' Japanese toy release clarifies that Zoids: Fuzors takes place in the same fictional universe as the Zoids Battle Story, in the same location and during the same time frame as volumes 9-12 of Zoids Official Fan Book EX.

Characters

The Mach Storm Team

The Savage Hammer Team

Richter Scale

The Peace Keeping Bureau (PKB)

Other characters

Reception

Despite the success of the previous two Zoids anime series in the United States the series was eventually cancelled because of low ratings halfway through. The cancellation of Hasbro's 'New American Release' model line is also believed to have contributed to the removal of Fuzors from the air. After Fuzors, Zoids disappeared from the U.S. airwaves. However, Fuzors completed its 26-episode run in Australia, and was subsequently shown in Japan.

Episode list

Animation

The computer animation for Fuzors was handled by a new studio, Tokyo Kids. The new studio handling the animation resulted in a different art style from what was seen in the previous series, in terms of both human character design and Zoid CG renderings. A large proportion of the background objects and scenery were created from 3D models, and many large-scale scenes, particularly those in the 'Zoids Battle Arena', were rendered entirely in 3D. Many of the Zoids featured inferior motion to the previous series, with clumsy looking run cycles. However, many Zoids also featured greater movement of parts and details. Examples include the Fire Phoenix's wing feathers moving as it flies and the wings flapping like a real bird (the model kit's wings could do no such thing), the fins on Gorheks and Gojulas Giga moving as the Zoid walks, and the small antennas on a Dark Horn twitching. The series featured more brand new Zoids than any other previous Zoids series, mostly Blox Zoids. Additionally, the animators were working on a lower budget than those on the previous shows. While the series reused animation models from the earlier shows, several of them were altered. New animation models were also created for some previously seen Zoids. Examples include:

Japanese edit

Like the previous series, there is a significant difference between the Japanese and American versions. However, where the American versions of the first two 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 releases to alter 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, where they scrapped the original version and made a completely new one which was almost entirely different from 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 from 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. The opening animation of the American version 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. For some reason, this scene never occurred in either the U.S. or Japanese versions. Daisuke Kishio and Takahiro Sakurai, the voice actors of both previous series' respective heroes Van Flyheight and Bit Cloud respectively, appear in minor roles in this series. Daisuke Kishio voices Mach Storm ally Doug, while Takahiro Sakurai voices the minor villain Jean Holiday.

Theme songs

Opening Ending