TV-Series
Description
"ALDNOAH.ZERO" is a science fiction mecha anime series set in an alternate timeline where humanity has colonized Mars after discovering advanced alien technology known as Aldnoah. The story begins with a historical event called the "Heaven's Fall," where a hypergate on the Moon exploded, destroying much of the Earth's surface and severing ties between Earth and the Martian settlers. The Martians, now calling themselves Vers Empire, declare independence and develop superior technology using Aldnoah, leading to escalating tensions with Earth.
The narrative picks up 15 years later when the Vers Empire launches a surprise attack on Earth under the guise of a diplomatic mission. The Martians deploy their advanced Kataphrakt mechs, which are far more powerful than Earth's military technology. The story focuses on two central characters: Inaho Kaizuka, a calm and analytical Earth-born high school student, and Slaine Troyard, a Terran-born Martian who faces discrimination due to his Earth origins. Both characters become pivotal in the conflict, though their paths and allegiances diverge significantly.
Inaho, along with his classmates and allies, becomes involved in the war after their school is caught in the crossfire. Using his strategic mind and adaptability, he pilots a modified Earth mech to counter the overwhelming Martian forces. His pragmatic approach and ability to exploit the weaknesses of Martian technology make him a key figure in Earth's resistance. Meanwhile, Slaine, who serves under the Martian Princess Asseylum Vers Allusia, struggles with his loyalty to the princess and his resentment toward the Martian aristocracy. Asseylum, a pacifist seeking peace between the two worlds, becomes a target of political intrigue within the Vers Empire, further complicating Slaine's position.
The series explores themes of war, loyalty, and the consequences of technological disparity. The conflict escalates as both sides engage in brutal battles, with Inaho and Slaine often finding themselves on opposing sides despite their shared desire to protect Asseylum. The narrative is marked by political maneuvering, betrayals, and the moral complexities of war, as characters grapple with their ideals and the harsh realities of the conflict.
The first season culminates in a dramatic confrontation that leaves major characters in precarious situations, setting the stage for the second season. The second season delves deeper into the aftermath of the initial conflict, with Inaho and Slaine continuing to play central roles in the evolving war. The story builds toward a climactic resolution that addresses the fate of the Vers Empire, Earth's resistance, and the future of Aldnoah technology.
"ALDNOAH.ZERO" is notable for its intricate plot, morally ambiguous characters, and high-stakes mecha battles. The series balances personal drama with large-scale conflict, creating a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
The narrative picks up 15 years later when the Vers Empire launches a surprise attack on Earth under the guise of a diplomatic mission. The Martians deploy their advanced Kataphrakt mechs, which are far more powerful than Earth's military technology. The story focuses on two central characters: Inaho Kaizuka, a calm and analytical Earth-born high school student, and Slaine Troyard, a Terran-born Martian who faces discrimination due to his Earth origins. Both characters become pivotal in the conflict, though their paths and allegiances diverge significantly.
Inaho, along with his classmates and allies, becomes involved in the war after their school is caught in the crossfire. Using his strategic mind and adaptability, he pilots a modified Earth mech to counter the overwhelming Martian forces. His pragmatic approach and ability to exploit the weaknesses of Martian technology make him a key figure in Earth's resistance. Meanwhile, Slaine, who serves under the Martian Princess Asseylum Vers Allusia, struggles with his loyalty to the princess and his resentment toward the Martian aristocracy. Asseylum, a pacifist seeking peace between the two worlds, becomes a target of political intrigue within the Vers Empire, further complicating Slaine's position.
The series explores themes of war, loyalty, and the consequences of technological disparity. The conflict escalates as both sides engage in brutal battles, with Inaho and Slaine often finding themselves on opposing sides despite their shared desire to protect Asseylum. The narrative is marked by political maneuvering, betrayals, and the moral complexities of war, as characters grapple with their ideals and the harsh realities of the conflict.
The first season culminates in a dramatic confrontation that leaves major characters in precarious situations, setting the stage for the second season. The second season delves deeper into the aftermath of the initial conflict, with Inaho and Slaine continuing to play central roles in the evolving war. The story builds toward a climactic resolution that addresses the fate of the Vers Empire, Earth's resistance, and the future of Aldnoah technology.
"ALDNOAH.ZERO" is notable for its intricate plot, morally ambiguous characters, and high-stakes mecha battles. The series balances personal drama with large-scale conflict, creating a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
Episodes
Staffel 1
1Princess of VERS
2Beyond the Horizon
3The Children's Fortress
The Martian Kataphrakt Nilokeras,piloted by Vlad, launches an assault on the United Forces of Earth base in Shinawara. Inaho Kaizuka, a student pilot assigned to the training mech, observes the enemy’s barrier deflects all standard artillery and gunfire. He notes the barrier requires a short recharge period after each deployment. Inaho proposes a coordinated counterattack that uses the base’s howitzers to trigger the barrier, then exploits the cooldown with a crane-mounted cargo container. Lieutenant Marito and base commander Darzana Magbaredge approve the plan, prioritizing the defense of the civilian evacuees inside the base. Vlad, confident in the Nilokeras’s invincibility, advances slowly and ignores the Earth forces’ repositioning. Meanwhile, Princess Asseylum Vers Allusia, disguised as a civilian, witnesses the battle from within the base. Her aide, Rayet’s father, reveals the Martian landing castles act independently, and the royal family’s authority has been usurped by military commanders. Asseylum realizes the war does not reflect her grandfather’s intentions and decides to stop the bloodshed personally. The Earth forces execute the plan: the howitzers fire, the Nilokeras activates its barrier, and Inaho swings the container into the mech during the half-second window before the barrier recharges. The impact crushes the Nilokeras, killing Vlad and ending the immediate threat. In the aftermath, Asseylum removes her disguise and announces her intention to confront the rogue Martians directly. The episode closes with multiple new Martian landing castles appearing in orbit, preparing to deploy additional forces to the area.
4Point of No Return
The Earth military command orders the crew of the Deucalion to relocate the captured Aldnoah-driven warship from the Tanegashima base. Inaho Kaizuka and his fellow cadets continue to protect Princess Asseylum Vers Allusia,who maintains her disguise as a civilian. Count Saazbaum and his orbital knights launch a surprise attack on the base to prevent the Deucalion’s activation. Inaho analyzes a Martian Kataphrakt’s barrier system, identifying a two-second interval between activations after each sustained impact. He coordinates with the Deucalion’s gunnery crew to fire a volley that strikes the enemy unit during that interval, destroying it. The Deucalion’s Aldnoah drive remains inactive because only a member of the Vers royal family can authorize its use. Asseylum steps onto the ship’s bridge, publicly reveals her identity, and places her hand on the drive’s console, activating the ship’s full systems. The Deucalion lifts off and engages in a running battle against pursuing Martian forces. Lieutenant Marito, piloting a Kataphrakt, freezes during combat due to a traumatic flashback to the Heaven’s Fall event fifteen years earlier. The Deucalion escapes the immediate engagement zone, but Count Saazbaum deploys his orbital castle, a massive fortress descending into the atmosphere, and announces the beginning of a full-scale invasion.
5Phantom of the Emperor
The United Forces of Earth launch a coordinated assault on the Martian landing castle near Novgorod to capture a Kataphrakt. Inaho Kaizuka devises a strategy using multiple decoy transport ships to draw fire and pinpoint the castle’s gravity control system. He calculates the activation interval of the anti-gravity field and slips a single missile through the barrier,breaching the hull. Yuki Kaizuka’s unit enters the opening and secures a disabled Martian Kataphrakt for extraction. Saazbaum observes the operation from the Dioscuria and dispatches his subordinate Vlad to intercept the retreating UEF forces. Countess Orlane, piloting a Kataphrakt, engages Inaho’s Sleipnir in close combat but withdraws after her unit sustains damage. Princess Asseylum, residing at the UEF base under the alias Asseylum Vers Allusia, watches the battle and openly questions the necessity of further bloodshed. The Martian Emperor’s hologram interrupts all communications with a decree that the war will continue until the royal family’s authority is fully restored. The announcement extinguishes any prospect of a ceasefire and forces both sides to harden their positions. Inaho’s team extracts the captured Kataphrakt, but Saazbaum’s counterattack destroys multiple transport vessels, leaving the retrieval incomplete. UEF forces retreat under sustained fire, and the Martian knights immediately regroup to prepare a retaliatory strike.
6The Steel Step Mechanism
The Earth forces aboard the captured Vers assault ship Deucalion finalize their control over the vessel. Inaho Kaizuka and the crew test the Deucalion’s systems,discovering that the Aldnoah drive remains active only because the late Count Cruhteo’s authentication was never revoked. Inko and the other pilots prepare for deployment as the Vers orbital knights, led by Count Saazbaum, launch a coordinated assault on the Earth base at Tanegashima. The Deucalion lifts off, its Martian technology giving the United Forces of Earth a rare advantage. In the ensuing battle, Inaho exploits the Deucalion’s superior thrust and armor to engage multiple Vers Kataphrakts. He targets the enemy units methodically, using the ship’s sensor array to predict their attacks. On the Vers side, Saazbaum observes the Deucalion’s performance and issues new orders to his subordinates, prioritizing the destruction of the stolen vessel. Asseylum, still undercover as a civilian, watches the battle from the base and recognizes the Deucalion’s Aldnoah signature, confirming her fears about continued Martian aggression. The Earth forces manage to repel the initial wave but sustain heavy damage, and Saazbaum signals the arrival of additional reinforcements, promising a renewed offensive.
7The Boys of Earth
The Deucalion enters Earth’s atmosphere while Saazbaum’s landing castle pursues it. Inaho Kaizuka analyzes the castle’s plasma cannons and identifies their firing intervals. He devises a counter-strategy that uses the Deucalion’s Aldnoah drive to deploy a plasma wave and its missiles to create interference. The crew executes the plan,but Saazbaum reveals a second hidden cannon, forcing Inaho to recalculate. Inside the castle, Slaine Troyard finds the princess’s servant Eddelrittuo imprisoned. Saazbaum admits to Slaine that he orchestrated the assassination attempt on Princess Asseylum to ignite the war. Saazbaum explains his motive: his fiancée died during the Heaven’s Fall, and he intends to destroy the Vers royal family as vengeance. Slaine holds a gun to Saazbaum but hesitates when Saazbaum argues that Asseylum’s peace overtures would never succeed against Earth’s hatred. On the Deucalion, Inaho redirects the ship’s hypervelocity cannon to destroy both plasma cannons. Saazbaum’s castle deploys a massive drill intended to crush the Deucalion, trapping the ship in a narrow canyon. Slaine resolves to escape the castle and find the princess, leaving Saazbaum alive.
8Then and Now
The United Forces of Earth (UFE) base at Novgorod comes under heavy bombardment from Vlad’s six-armed Kataphrakt. Inaho pilots the KG-6 Sleipnir to draw the enemy into a narrow canyon, where the UFE deploys a concentrated artillery ambush. Vlad detects the trap and uses his Vers mech’s superior mobility to evade, but Inaho exploits a previously observed weakness in the plasma blade emission points to land a critical shot that disables one of the arms. Cruhteo arrives in his own Kataphrakt and orders Vlad to withdraw, asserting his authority over the hotheaded knight. In the hangar, Inaho and the engineering crew analyze the captured Aldnoah core from the earlier battle, concluding that its activation requires a member of the Vers royal family. Slaine, held aboard Cruhteo’s castle, overhears the crew discussing the princess’s death. He privately tells the imprisoned Asseylum that Cruhteo suspects she is still alive and plans to move her to a secure location. Asseylum convinces Slaine to help her escape, revealing a hidden Aldnoah key that can activate a docked Vers transport vessel. They flee the castle under fire, but Cruhteo pursues in his Kataphrakt. Slaine takes control of the ship’s point-defense guns to slow Cruhteo, buying time for Asseylum to initiate the jump drive. The transport enters a fold jump, with Cruhteo swearing to capture them. On Earth, the UFE detects a massive energy signature from the jump, and Inaho identifies the approaching object as the Deucalion, a Martian assault ship now under the princess’s control.
9Darkness Visible
The Deucalion attempts to break through the Vers orbital blockade while Saazbaum’s Tharsis pursues. Inaho Kaizuka initiates a hyperdrive jump to evade, but Saazbaum’s precognitive ability, granted by his Kataphrakt’s Aldnoah drive, allows him to intercept the trajectory. The Deucalion sustains damage, and the strain on its Aldnoah drive threatens a reactor overload. Inside the vessel, Asseylum Vers Allusia, still posing as her servant, demands Inaho allow her to broadcast a ceasefire order using her royal authority. Inaho refuses, pointing out that Saazbaum’s actions already show disregard for the Martian crown’s commands. Saazbaum hails the Deucalion and reveals his motive: he intends to prolong the war to avenge his former comrade, killed during the first Earth-Mars war, and he views the conflict as a means to overthrow the Vers royal family. Inaho devises a countermeasure using the Deucalion’s decoy launchers and the terrain of a nearby asteroid field to set a multi-layered ambush. The tactic temporarily disables the Tharsis’s main sensors and lets Inaho land several direct hits, damaging the Tharsis’s arm and drive system. Saazbaum retreats to regroup, but the Deucalion’s Aldnoah drive reaches critical instability, forcing the crew to execute an emergency shutdown. With propulsion lost, the Deucalion drifts into the asteroid belt, stranded and without any means to call for reinforcements. Saazbaum, aboard his damaged but functional Kataphrakt, transmits a declaration that he will personally eradicate the Deucalion’s crew, setting the stage for a final confrontation.
10Episode 10
Saazbaum reveals to Slaine that he orchestrated the assassination of Princess Asseylum to incite a war that would dismantle the Vers Empire’s feudal system. Slaine, held captive aboard Saazbaum’s floating castle, refuses to join him and maintains his loyalty to the princess. On Earth, Inaho and the UEF personnel interrogate a captured Martian soldier and confirm that the enemy knows the princess survived the assassination attempt. Inaho devises a plan to destroy the orbital gate’s control mechanism, cutting off Vers forces from their supply lines. The UEF command accepts the operation despite its low probability of success. Marito confronts his memories of the Heaven’s Fall disaster as the Deucalion crew prepares for the assault. Saazbaum activates the orbital gate’s landing castle deployment system, ordering all Vers forces to begin a coordinated global invasion. The countdown to the attack leaves Slaine unable to warn anyone of the impending assault. As the Deucalion launches toward the gate, Inaho receives a transmission from the princess, who decides to broadcast her survival to the entire Earth and Vers forces. The episode concludes with Saazbaum’s invasion fleet advancing and the princess’s broadcast about to commence, setting both factions on a collision course.
11Episode 11
The United Forces of Earth launch a coordinated assault on the Martian landing castle at Novostalisk. Inaho Kaizuka directs the counterattack, using data from previous engagements to predict enemy Kataphrakt movements and deploy decoy units. Martian knight Vlad engages the UFE forces but falls to Inaho’s tactical deception, his machine destroyed in a trap that exploits its optical camouflage. Saazbaum commands the remaining knights from his own Kataphrakt, the Dioscuria, yet withholds direct intervention to observe the battle. Slaine Troyard, held aboard the castle, reveals to Saazbaum that Princess Asseylum survives, information Saazbaum immediately uses to justify his personal vendetta against the Vers nobility. Saazbaum launches the Dioscuria, targeting the UFE lines with overwhelming artillery and kinetic strikes, forcing Inaho to retreat and recalibrate. Inaho’s countermeasures, including precise ballistic calculations and explosive decoys, temporarily disable one of the Dioscuria’s plasma blades but fail to stop its advance. The Dioscuria’s superior mobility and firepower push Inaho’s Kataphrakt to its limits, and the battle devolves into a stalemate with mounting casualties among Earth’s armored units. Asseylum remains in hiding aboard the UFE vessel, unaware of Saazbaum’s discovery or the full scale of the assault. The episode closes with the Novostalisk landing castle descending toward the city’s industrial sector, forcing the UFE to commit all remaining reserves to a final defense against Saazbaum’s direct attack.
12Childhood's End
Slaine Troyard boards the Deucalion and confronts Inaho Kaizuka, demanding the handover of Princess Asseylum. Inaho refuses, asserting that Asseylum chose the path of peace on her own. Slaine draws his firearm, leading to a physical struggle that ends with Slaine shooting Inaho in the back. Before Slaine can take Asseylum, the Deucalion comes under attack from the Martian orbital knights led by Count Saazbaum. Inaho, despite his wound, returns to the cockpit to pilot the Deucalion against Saazbaum’s Dioscuria. He uses a gravity-manipulation tactic to destabilize Saazbaum’s landing castle, forcing Saazbaum into direct combat. Meanwhile, Slaine reaches Asseylum’s chamber and attempts to escape with her in a small vessel. Saazbaum intercepts the vessel and shoots Asseylum, revealing his personal vendetta against the Vers royal family. Inaho engages Saazbaum, executing a calculated maneuver to disable the Dioscuria and impale Saazbaum. As Inaho stands over Saazbaum, Slaine arrives and shoots Inaho in the head, believing Inaho had killed Asseylum. Slaine then takes the wounded Asseylum and flees, leaving Inaho motionless on the ground. The episode concludes with Slaine declaring he will protect Asseylum, now positioned between Martian loyalties and Earth forces.
Cast
- Kaoru MizusakiYū Shimamura
- Cruhteo
- FemianneDana Friedrich
- Saazbaum
- Calm Craftman
- Rayet Areash
- Inaho Kaizuka
- Slaine Troyard
- Koichiro Marito
- Soma Yagarai
- Inko Amifumi
- Yuutarou Tsumugi
- Shigou Kakei
- Kouichirou Marito
- Souma Yagarai
- Soma Yagari
- Darzana Magbaredge
- Yutaro Tsumugi
- Shigo Kakei
- Yuki Kaizuka
- Kaoru MisuzakiTrina Loo
- Yuki Kaiduka
- Kisaki Matsuribi
- Eddelrittuo
- Inaho Kaiduka
- Asseylum Vers Allusia
Comment(s)
Staff
- DirectorEi Aoki
- ScriptKatsuhiko Takayama
- Episode DirectorYasuhiro MatsumuraMakoto BesshoTaiki NishimuraKaoru YabanaAkio HosoyaGeisei MoritaShū WatanabeMasaki UtsunomiyaTatsuma MinamikawaMakoto Katō
- MusicHiroyuki Sawano
- Character DesignMasako Matsumoto
- Chief Animation DirectorMasako Matsumoto
- Mechanical designKenji TeraokaI-IV
- Character Conceptual Design
- Cgi DirectorShinji Nasu
- ProducerTomoyuki ŌwadaKozue KananiwaMasayuki NishideMadoka ItoShizuka KurosakiShinichiro KitazawaDigitarouHiroyuki Kobayashi
- Series CompositionKatsuhiko Takayama
- StoryboardEi AokiTakafumi HoshikawaKeiichi SasajimaYūichi NiheiMakoto Katō
- Unit DirectorMakoto Katō
- Original creator
- Art DirectorAkira Itō
- Animation DirectorNarumi KakinouchiMichio SatōYūji MukoyamaJun NakaiMasako MatsumotoKenji HattoriAkira KoshiishiMasami InomataJun FujiwaraKoji MaruokaMin Bae LeeKazuhiro MutōHiroaki IkedaRika KatōTakaaki NaganoIsamu SuzukiAki KumadaKazuhiro NasuShinpei KobayashiTomoko TsujiSang Min KimTetsutarō YuiMidori Yamamoto
- Art designYohei Kodama
- Sound DirectorJin Aketagawa
- Director of PhotographyTomonori Katō
Production
- ProductionMOVICAniplexTokyo MXMAGES.Nippon BS Broadcasting CorporationHoubunshaAsahi Broadcasting CorporationNitroplusOlympus KnightsProject AZ
- Animation ProductionA-1 PicturesTROYCA
Relations
![Aldnoah.Zero [Re+]](https://cdn.kurenai.com/infos/anime/12955/big.jpg)
Music
Ending
“A/Z”
“aLIEz”
Insert songs