Pacific Rim: The Black

Lore & Background

Set in the same universe as the original film, the series depicts a world where monsters called Kaiju arise from the Pacific Rim and overrun Australia. Humans build gigantic armed robots, Jaegers, to fight back, but fail, leading to the continent being abandoned except for isolated pockets of survivors. The story follows teenage siblings Taylor and Hayley Travis, who are left behind by their parents after they leave to combat the Kaiju and never return. Five years later, Hayley discovers a long-abandoned training Jaeger called Atlas Destroyer, which she and Taylor activate, setting out on a quest to find their parents. Along the way, they face marauding Kaiju and other survivors who attempt to seize Atlas Destroyer for themselves.

Reader's Guide

Pacific Rim: The Black expands the Pacific Rim franchise into an animated format, offering a direct continuation of the film series' narrative. Produced by Legendary Television and animated by Japanese studio Polygon Pictures, the series was developed by Greg Johnson and Craig Kyle, who also served as showrunners. The decision to use 3D animation with 2D aesthetics led to the involvement of Polygon Pictures, known for this hybrid approach. The series received a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews, with critics noting its striking visuals and expansion of series lore, though it lacked the humor of the films. A prequel graphic novel, Pacific Rim: Blackout, was released on February 22, 2022, written by Cavan Scott and illustrated by Nelson Daniel. The series remains significant as the first animated entry in the Pacific Rim franchise and for its exploration of the aftermath of the Kaiju war on a continental scale.

Did You Know?

• The series was originally announced in November 2018 and was set for a 2020 release before being delayed to 2021.
• The showrunners considered both 2D and 3D animation before choosing 3D with 2D aesthetics, leading them to Polygon Pictures.
• A prequel graphic novel titled Pacific Rim: Blackout was released on February 22, 2022.
• The voice cast includes Martin Csokas as Hercules 'Herc' Hansen, with Max Martini providing archive audio as Chuck Hansen.

The Story of Survival in Abandoned Australia

In the same universe as the original Pacific Rim films, a race of monsters known as Kaiju surges from the Pacific Rim and overruns the Australian continent. Humanity's Jaeger defense ultimately fails, and the land is abandoned, leaving only isolated pockets of survivors clinging to existence. At the heart of this world are teenage siblings Taylor and Hayley Travis, whose parents departed to combat the Kaiju and never returned. Five years after that abandonment, Hayley stumbles upon a long-forgotten training Jaeger called Atlas Destroyer. Together, the siblings activate the machine and set out on a quest to find their missing parents. Their journey is complicated not only by marauding Kaiju but also by other survivor groups who recognize the value of Atlas Destroyer and attempt to seize it for themselves. The series spans two seasons—Season 1 premiering on March 4, 2021, and the second and final season arriving on April 19, 2022—telling this story of loss, determination, and the struggle to reclaim a broken world.

Bridging 2D Aesthetics with 3D Production

Netflix first announced an anime adaptation of the Pacific Rim films in November 2018, originally targeting a 2020 release. The title Pacific Rim: The Black was officially revealed during a virtual Anime Festival livestream in October 2020, alongside confirmation that a second season had been greenlit. The series is produced by Legendary Television and animated by Japanese studio Polygon Pictures, with Greg Johnson and Marvel Comics writer Craig Kyle serving as showrunners. Before production began, Johnson and Kyle debated whether to pursue 2D or 3D animation. Concerns about the high cost of 2D work and its limitations on camera movement within highly detailed environments pushed them toward 3D. However, they insisted on preserving a 2D visual sensibility, which led them directly to Polygon Pictures—whom they regarded as masters of that hybrid approach. Polygon representative director Shūzō John Shiota, who served as executive producer, and producer Jack Liang embraced the opportunity. The studio's staff handled the majority of design work, with input from western supervising director Jae-hong Kim, and both teams convened in Tokyo to finalize the visual language.

A Dual-Language Voice Ensemble

Pacific Rim: The Black features a full dual-language voice cast, with both English and Japanese performances for its principal characters. Gideon Adlon and Yui Shimodaya bring Hayley Travis to life, while Calum Worthy and Yusuke Kobayashi voice her brother Taylor. The ensemble includes Ben Diskin as the enigmatic Kaiju Boy, Victoria Grace and Ayaka Shimoyamada as Mei, Erica Lindbeck and Iku Minase as Loa, and Andy McPhee and Jin Yamanoi as Shane. Recurring roles are filled by Jason Spisak and Yuya Uchida as Ford Travis, Allie MacDonald and Yuko Kaida as Brina Travis, and a supporting cast including David Errigo Jr., Bryton James, Martin Klebba, Leonardo Nam, Nolan North, Vincent Piazza, Ryan Robinson, and Ron Yuan. The guest list adds a notable touch: Max Martini contributes archive audio as Hercules "Herc" Hansen, and Rhys Darby lends his voice to the character Bunyip Man. This bilingual casting structure reflects the series' Japanese-American production identity, bridging Legendary Television's American development with Polygon Pictures' Japanese animation craft.

Critical Response and Franchise Expansion

As the third installment in the Pacific Rim franchise, The Black occupies a unique position as an adult-oriented animated original net animation. The series earned a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 critic reviews, with an average score of 7.10 out of 10. The critical consensus observed that while the show carries forward the gritty tone of the films, it lacks much of the humor that defined the live-action entries. Reviewers nonetheless praised its striking visual presentation and its meaningful expansion of the franchise's lore, concluding it would likely satisfy dedicated Kaiju fans. The promotional build-up included a teaser trailer on February 1, 2021, a full trailer on February 5, and a final trailer on February 26, all preceding the March 4 Season 1 premiere. The franchise's narrative world was further extended on February 22, 2022, with the release of Pacific Rim: Blackout, a prequel graphic novel written by Cavan Scott and illustrated by Nelson Daniel, offering additional backstory to the animated series' events.

Gallery