There is little doubt that the Pacific Rim franchise has always focused on the war between Kaiju and Jaegers. However, the franchise's latest offering Pacific Rim: The Black has found a compelling way to reveal what happened after the Uprising. The anime series weaves a tale of human struggle with the mystifying lore of the franchise's universe.
On the surface, The Black looks like a post-apocalyptic drama that involves powerful monsters and despair. However, it also involves a mystery that is linked to the lore of the Pacific Rim universe. The series takes time to introduce its main players then immediately throws them into a dilemma they can't escape.
The show confirms that things immediately went downhill after the Uprising as more Kaiju attack across the globe. In Australia, people are told to head for Sydney where they can remain safe. Unfortunately for young Taylor and Hayley, they need to camp out away from the city while their parents, who are Jaeger pilots, try to get help for them and other survivors.
Unfortunately, they don't come back for another five years and the siblings fear for their parents' safety. Taylor is worried about keeping his sister safe while Hayley is eager to leave their camp to find their parents. Her impulsiveness leads to the discovery of an abandoned Jaeger and the attention of a Kaiju that kills everyone in their camp.
From here, it's a journey to find out the truth about their parents but the teenagers also come across an unexpected ally: A mute little boy who had been left in a tank in a PPDC building. Boy is silent, strange, and surprisingly strong so he's someone to look out for in the show.
The Black stands out for being very different from the other Pacific Rim projects, and it's not just because it's animated. The series lacks the outlandish and sometimes cheesy feel of live-action movies. Instead, it is very serious in its portrayal of how people have started to adapt to a life with Kaiju.
This is perfectly understandable considering that the series is set in a post-apocalyptic Australia with vast deserts and empty cities. Even the Kaiju seem weary because they probably miss the thrill of rampaging through a city filled with screaming people. Interestingly, this allowed The Black to explore a side of the Pacific Rim universe that has been mostly ignored.
In the series, we are introduced to a Kaiju that resembles a Jaeger and is later revealed to be a Drone Jaeger that has evolved to become sentient. It is a naturally neutral entity that needs to feed on Kaiju blood and has a distaste for other Jaegers.
The hybrid is clearly similar to Obsidian Fury, the Jaeger piloted by a Kaiju secondary brain in Pacific Rim Uprising. It also isn't the only thing that has ties to the original films. When trying to ghost drift in Atlas Destroyer, Taylor finds the memories of previous pilots Stacker Pentecost, Raleigh Beckett, and Herc Hansen in the files.
The most unexpected revelation in The Black is undoubtedly Boy's true identity and the involvement of the Sisters of the Kaiju. Early on, Taylor and Hayley were shocked to discover that Boy had been in a tank for five years and fail to notice how the child is drawn to Kaiju. Nevertheless, Hayley bonds with Boy and this comes in handy in the later episodes.
Personally, I thought the Sisters of the Kaiju were the most intriguing part of The Black. These individuals, which were vaguely referenced by Hannibal Chau in the 2013 movie, started out as "Kaiju Cultists" who worshipped the monsters. However, it looks like those who practice BuenaKai (yes, they have a whole religion for this) have taken their beliefs to a whole new level.
The first season of The Black concluded rather abruptly but it also teased on what could happen in Season 2. With the Sisters of the Kaiju closing in on them, Taylor, Hayley, Mei, and Boy could face another problem other than the villainous Shane who is also after them.
Overall, each episode of Pacific Rim: The Black carefully set up the teenagers on a dangerous mission while stumbling into new territory. It's an anime series that holds up on its own but is comfortably set with the Pacific Rim Universe. The characters all have their own unique way of establishing themselves to the viewer so you want to root on them to succeed if only to find out if their journey has been worth it.
But are we actually going to learn what happens next for these characters? Luckily, The Black has already been confirmed for two seasons. Here's hoping that Netflix doesn't change its plans and pushes through with a deeper dive into the Pacific Rim lore.
Pacific Rim: The Black was developed and co-written by Greg Johnson and Craig Kyle for Netflix. The episodes of the first season were directed by Masayuki Uemoto, Susumu Sugai, and Takeshi Iwata. Season 1 is now available for streaming on Netflix.
Related: Pacific Rim: The Black Trailer Reveals New Kaiju and Jaegers
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Netflix