TV-Series
Description
Brad Hunter is a fictional character from the anime Zoids: New Century Zero. He is a seventeen-year-old mercenary who becomes a core member of the Blitz Team, where he is initially hired to bolster their numbers for Zoid battles. His primary Zoids throughout the series are a blue Command Wolf, which he later upgrades to a Command Wolf AC, and eventually a stolen prototype Shadow Fox. His surname is revealed in supporting materials rather than in the anime itself.
In terms of personality, Brad is characterized by a laid-back and cool demeanor, often seen leaning against walls or lying around when not engaged in battle. He presents himself as a practical mercenary, first and foremost concerned with prize money. This mercenary nature means he will rarely enter a fight without a promise of financial compensation, and he often reminds Dr. Toros, the team manager, to remember his pay. However, despite this stoic and sometimes cynical exterior, he demonstrates a strong sense of loyalty and reliability. He does not hesitate to help teammates or allies in genuine danger, such as when he saved Naomi Fluegel from a gang or helped Bit Cloud when he was cornered. He has a particular dislike for carrots.
Brad’s primary motivation appears to be professional, driven by the reward money from battles, which aligns with his background as a freelance bounty hunter. Yet, his actions reveal a deeper desire to be a top-tier pilot and to find a Zoid he can truly bond with. This is most evident when he becomes fixated on acquiring the Shadow Fox, a Zoid he discovers during training in the mountains. He is willing to risk everything, including leaving the team and enduring torture from the Backdraft Group’s Dr. Layon, to pilot this machine. His motivation ultimately shifts from pure monetary gain to a balance of professional pride, loyalty to his team, and personal connection with his Zoid.
Within the story, Brad serves as a grounded and experienced counterpart to the more impulsive and rookie protagonist, Bit Cloud. While initially skeptical of Bit's unorthodox style, he comes to respect him as a comrade. Brad often clashes with his teammate Leena Toros, particularly about her wasteful use of ammunition in battle, but maintains a good friendship with her brother Leon before Leon leaves the team. He is also good friends with the team's operator, Jamie Hemeros, though he sometimes ignores Jamie's strategies in favor of his own tactics. A significant subplot involves his evolving relationship with rival pilot Naomi Fluegel; after he saves her from a gang, a mutual attraction develops, and they share a key moment during the Royal Cup.
Brad undergoes notable development throughout the series. He begins as a detached mercenary but becomes more integrated into the Blitz Team, ultimately proving his true loyalties by tricking Dr. Layon and the Backdraft Group. After his Command Wolf is destroyed, he briefly leaves the team to pursue the Shadow Fox. He is captured and subjected to a centrifuge torture device, which he survives due to his high physical endurance. After escaping and stealing the Shadow Fox, he returns to battle as a member of the Backdraft to test its capabilities. During the fight, it is revealed he had installed his original Zoid Gear, which still registered him to the Blitz Team. Consequently, the Zoid Battle Commission officially recognizes the Shadow Fox as a Blitz Team Zoid, solidifying his permanent place on the team.
As a pilot, Brad is a highly capable short-to-mid-range combatant, excelling in shooting and marksmanship. With his Command Wolf, he favors heavy long-range cannons to deal significant damage. After switching to the Shadow Fox, his skills expand to include close-quarters combat, becoming agile enough to match Bit Cloud’s Liger Zero Jager in a Strike Laser Claw duel. The Shadow Fox is a high-speed, stealth-based Zoid equipped with optical camouflage, sensor baffles, and a versatile 30mm Laser Vulcan turret. Brad’s physical endurance is also notable; he remains conscious under deadly g-forces that would incapacitate others. In battle, he has a tendency to take heavy damage but remain undefeated, using this to set up effective surprise attacks. He demonstrates the ability to quickly master a new Zoid's capabilities, such as using the Shadow Fox's terrain advantages and even unconventional weapons like a net launcher to entangle foes.
In terms of personality, Brad is characterized by a laid-back and cool demeanor, often seen leaning against walls or lying around when not engaged in battle. He presents himself as a practical mercenary, first and foremost concerned with prize money. This mercenary nature means he will rarely enter a fight without a promise of financial compensation, and he often reminds Dr. Toros, the team manager, to remember his pay. However, despite this stoic and sometimes cynical exterior, he demonstrates a strong sense of loyalty and reliability. He does not hesitate to help teammates or allies in genuine danger, such as when he saved Naomi Fluegel from a gang or helped Bit Cloud when he was cornered. He has a particular dislike for carrots.
Brad’s primary motivation appears to be professional, driven by the reward money from battles, which aligns with his background as a freelance bounty hunter. Yet, his actions reveal a deeper desire to be a top-tier pilot and to find a Zoid he can truly bond with. This is most evident when he becomes fixated on acquiring the Shadow Fox, a Zoid he discovers during training in the mountains. He is willing to risk everything, including leaving the team and enduring torture from the Backdraft Group’s Dr. Layon, to pilot this machine. His motivation ultimately shifts from pure monetary gain to a balance of professional pride, loyalty to his team, and personal connection with his Zoid.
Within the story, Brad serves as a grounded and experienced counterpart to the more impulsive and rookie protagonist, Bit Cloud. While initially skeptical of Bit's unorthodox style, he comes to respect him as a comrade. Brad often clashes with his teammate Leena Toros, particularly about her wasteful use of ammunition in battle, but maintains a good friendship with her brother Leon before Leon leaves the team. He is also good friends with the team's operator, Jamie Hemeros, though he sometimes ignores Jamie's strategies in favor of his own tactics. A significant subplot involves his evolving relationship with rival pilot Naomi Fluegel; after he saves her from a gang, a mutual attraction develops, and they share a key moment during the Royal Cup.
Brad undergoes notable development throughout the series. He begins as a detached mercenary but becomes more integrated into the Blitz Team, ultimately proving his true loyalties by tricking Dr. Layon and the Backdraft Group. After his Command Wolf is destroyed, he briefly leaves the team to pursue the Shadow Fox. He is captured and subjected to a centrifuge torture device, which he survives due to his high physical endurance. After escaping and stealing the Shadow Fox, he returns to battle as a member of the Backdraft to test its capabilities. During the fight, it is revealed he had installed his original Zoid Gear, which still registered him to the Blitz Team. Consequently, the Zoid Battle Commission officially recognizes the Shadow Fox as a Blitz Team Zoid, solidifying his permanent place on the team.
As a pilot, Brad is a highly capable short-to-mid-range combatant, excelling in shooting and marksmanship. With his Command Wolf, he favors heavy long-range cannons to deal significant damage. After switching to the Shadow Fox, his skills expand to include close-quarters combat, becoming agile enough to match Bit Cloud’s Liger Zero Jager in a Strike Laser Claw duel. The Shadow Fox is a high-speed, stealth-based Zoid equipped with optical camouflage, sensor baffles, and a versatile 30mm Laser Vulcan turret. Brad’s physical endurance is also notable; he remains conscious under deadly g-forces that would incapacitate others. In battle, he has a tendency to take heavy damage but remain undefeated, using this to set up effective surprise attacks. He demonstrates the ability to quickly master a new Zoid's capabilities, such as using the Shadow Fox's terrain advantages and even unconventional weapons like a net launcher to entangle foes.