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Zoids were originally a toyline of models released in 1983 by Tomy in Japan. A manga (comic) of Zoids was made about the toys in Japan, and different versions released into the UK and other countries, along with the toys, during the 80's. However, Zoids has not reached mass popularity until recent years when the cartoon series (or anime) were translated from Japanese into English, which of course, led to some older Zoids models, and all new ones, being released as well. Zoids the series is a Japanese anime cartoon featuring large robots known as Zoids. There have been five series of Zoids to date, which can be placed into four categories: Zoids Chaotic Century (the first Zoids anime and done in 89) and its sequel Zoids Guardian Force, Zoids: New Century (made sometime in the early 00's), Zoids: Fuzors, and the newest instalment in the Zoids saga; Zoids: Genesis. Zoids Chaotic Century is set in a time during a war between the Guylos Empire and the Helic Republic, Zoids Guardian Force is set a little while after ZCC and after the war has been resolved... Both of these focus on a young Zoid Warrior called Van, and his friends and he would fit into the first category. In Zoids New Century (aka Zoids New Century Zero) which forms the second category, it is years and years (I'm not sure how much, it varies every different site you visit, possible 100, maybe 1000, maybe more) since the events that happened in ZCC and ZGF. Zoids have been reduced from war machines to participants in fighting competitions of a peaceable world. Zoids:New Century was released before the original series (Zoids:Chaotic Century and Zoids: Guardian Force) aired in English speaking countries, even though it's set a long time afterward in the Zoid time line, and made afterwards as well, which causes a lot of confusion among fans. Zoids: Fuzors has a battle/contest based theme similar to Zoids: New Century, with the main character also piloting a Liger Zero, but seems to have no actual link to the three previous series. It is still set on planet Zi, though likely in a different continuity, and as the name suggests it features an upgrade gimmick in the form of two Zoids fusing to form a more powerful and improved version (eg. Liger Zero Phoenix). Zoids: Genesis is less competition based than New Century or Fuzors and closer to Chaotic Century, though seems to have no link yet with the other series that I am currently aware of. Although set in a post apocalyptic era when Zoids are relatively rare and technology is relatively primitive, Zoids: Genesis has several technological devices not seen in the other series, and features large blade and lance weapons mounted on Zoids like swingable swords. What is a Zoid? A Zoid is a mechanical combat unit, or well, a large animal shaped robot (My friend calls them animal shaped tanks). Zoids vary in size, the average is about 20 meters or so (maybe a bit below that, but Zoids get a lot bigger and smaller as well) and different types of Zoids are different sizes. All Zoids (except organoids, which are very rare) are larger than a car or 4WD, and in most cases, the pilot sits in the Zoid's head in a cockpit with all the controls necessary to pilot the zoid (plus an audio communication system to be able to talk with other Zoid pilots), encased in a normally orange or green view screen (which normally forms the Zoids eyes). Zoids are alive! Yes, despite being robots they live, though not quite in the sense that most humans would understand (they do not eat, breathe etc like animals or humans would, and they can't normally move unless a human is piloting them). They do have a Zoid core, which is like a soul, and if it is destroyed then they die, and some of them have feelings and develop attachments, friendships etc. Most Zoids these days have been domesticated and are as such, not intelligent or self aware enough for most people to think of them as anything but lifeless machines there to do as they command, some Zoids are so self aware that most people will realise they're alive, however a lot of people would still refuse to believe this even if confronted with a Zoid who walked right past them unpiloted. These special Zoids are often referred to as Ultimate X's which are very rare (Liger Zero is one of these) and their own intelligence can make them hard to control (they normally need to like their pilot before they agree to do anything) but in the end, their intellect (the ability for them to think and act for themselves) coupled with the bond they form with their pilot tends to make them more powerful than your average Zoid. Even the most lifeless seeming Zoid will pick up on its owners feelings while they pilot it, and roar when they're angry, hiss when they feel threatened etc. Zoids will also scream (I suppose you'd call it screaming) when in severe pain. Are Zoids only for battle? No, despite the fact that Zoids:New Century mainly shows Zoids as fighting machines, Zoids are also used for pulling large heavy objects or transport (sometimes exclusively, Gustavs are a type of Zoid heavily shielded but slow and used for transporting cargo or about 2 Zoids, Whalekings are massive transporter Zoids capable of carrying hundreds of combat Zoids) and in some cases as portable command centers (Ultrasaurus is so big that it forms the Zoid Battle Commissions HQ). They also make great friends :) What does this site have to do with Zoids? This site focuses mainly upon the first three TV series of Zoids (Chaotic Century, Guardian Force, and New Century), but also has some information on the models and toys, ways for you to talk to other Zoid fans, tests so that you can discover a bit about yourself and how you fit in with Zoids, and places where you can maybe even be your very favourite Zoid character (the RPG section ;) ) as well as a lot of other Zoid related things, such as pictures of Zoids and Zoid characters by fans (Fan Art), and stories (Fan Fiction) of extra adventures in the world of Zoids :) |