TV-Series
Description
Ballad Hunter, known as Brad Hunter in some adaptations, is a central character in Zoids New Century Zero. He is a seventeen-year-old freelance bounty hunter or mercenary who works for the Blitz Team, having been with the team before the main protagonist Bit Cloud joins their ranks.
His personality is marked by a cool and aloof exterior, often appearing lazy or indifferent to his surroundings. He has a well-deserved reputation as a miser, as he is constantly concerned with financial gain and frequently refuses to participate in battles unless there is a clear monetary reward or a paycheck on the line. This calculating and sly nature, reminiscent of the wolf or fox motifs associated with his Zoids, means he prefers to weigh the risks and rewards of a situation rather than rush in based on emotion. He is often critical of teammates like Bit Cloud, whom he sees as too careless and optimistic.
However, beneath this cynical and mercenary facade lies a person with a good heart and a personal code of ethics. Despite his claims of only caring about money, Ballad consistently proves himself to be a dependable and loyal ally. He has helped strangers in need, such as assisting other warriors to take down a gang terrorizing a town without expecting payment. He also comes to the aid of his own teammates even when there is nothing to gain and it puts him at personal risk. This duality defines him; he is opportunistic but not heartless, using tricks and surprise attacks to gain the upper hand while ultimately remaining faithful to those he cares about.
Ballad begins the series piloting a blue Command Wolf, first a Light Custom (LC) and later an Assault Custom (AC), which suits his proficiency as a short-to-mid-range combatant who excels with shooting. His role in the story is often that of the pragmatic strategist, providing a calm and calculating counterpoint to the more reckless members of the Blitz Team. A key moment in his development occurs when he becomes obsessed with acquiring the Shadow Fox, a powerful and rare Zoid. This leads him to infiltrate the villainous Backdraft Group, where his own Command Wolf is destroyed and he is captured and tortured with a centrifuge. He endures the ordeal and escapes by stealing the Shadow Fox, whose performance he is able to draw out completely. While he briefly fights against the Blitz Team as a Backdraft warrior to test the Zoid, it is revealed he never intended true betrayal; he simply fell in love with the Shadow Fox. He returns to the team, and the Shadow Fox becomes his permanent partner for the remainder of the series.
Throughout the series, Ballad shows significant growth. He evolves from a distant mercenary who refers to his Zoids merely as weapons to a true teammate who appreciates them as partners and admires the bond Bit shares with his Liger Zero. He becomes more open and willing to sacrifice for the group, as seen in the final battle of the Royal Cup when he holds off the powerful Berserk Fury to allow Bit to rearm his Liger. His key relationships include his initial skepticism and eventual friendship with Bit Cloud, his bickering yet respectful dynamic with fellow gunner Leena Toros, and a developing mutual attraction with rival pilot Naomi Fluegel, which begins after he saves her from a gang. Noteworthy abilities include his physical resilience to extreme G-forces, his cleverness in battle using surprise attacks and environmental tactics, and his skill in hand-to-hand combat. He is known to be a survivor who is cool under pressure and adept at breaking out of facilities.
His personality is marked by a cool and aloof exterior, often appearing lazy or indifferent to his surroundings. He has a well-deserved reputation as a miser, as he is constantly concerned with financial gain and frequently refuses to participate in battles unless there is a clear monetary reward or a paycheck on the line. This calculating and sly nature, reminiscent of the wolf or fox motifs associated with his Zoids, means he prefers to weigh the risks and rewards of a situation rather than rush in based on emotion. He is often critical of teammates like Bit Cloud, whom he sees as too careless and optimistic.
However, beneath this cynical and mercenary facade lies a person with a good heart and a personal code of ethics. Despite his claims of only caring about money, Ballad consistently proves himself to be a dependable and loyal ally. He has helped strangers in need, such as assisting other warriors to take down a gang terrorizing a town without expecting payment. He also comes to the aid of his own teammates even when there is nothing to gain and it puts him at personal risk. This duality defines him; he is opportunistic but not heartless, using tricks and surprise attacks to gain the upper hand while ultimately remaining faithful to those he cares about.
Ballad begins the series piloting a blue Command Wolf, first a Light Custom (LC) and later an Assault Custom (AC), which suits his proficiency as a short-to-mid-range combatant who excels with shooting. His role in the story is often that of the pragmatic strategist, providing a calm and calculating counterpoint to the more reckless members of the Blitz Team. A key moment in his development occurs when he becomes obsessed with acquiring the Shadow Fox, a powerful and rare Zoid. This leads him to infiltrate the villainous Backdraft Group, where his own Command Wolf is destroyed and he is captured and tortured with a centrifuge. He endures the ordeal and escapes by stealing the Shadow Fox, whose performance he is able to draw out completely. While he briefly fights against the Blitz Team as a Backdraft warrior to test the Zoid, it is revealed he never intended true betrayal; he simply fell in love with the Shadow Fox. He returns to the team, and the Shadow Fox becomes his permanent partner for the remainder of the series.
Throughout the series, Ballad shows significant growth. He evolves from a distant mercenary who refers to his Zoids merely as weapons to a true teammate who appreciates them as partners and admires the bond Bit shares with his Liger Zero. He becomes more open and willing to sacrifice for the group, as seen in the final battle of the Royal Cup when he holds off the powerful Berserk Fury to allow Bit to rearm his Liger. His key relationships include his initial skepticism and eventual friendship with Bit Cloud, his bickering yet respectful dynamic with fellow gunner Leena Toros, and a developing mutual attraction with rival pilot Naomi Fluegel, which begins after he saves her from a gang. Noteworthy abilities include his physical resilience to extreme G-forces, his cleverness in battle using surprise attacks and environmental tactics, and his skill in hand-to-hand combat. He is known to be a survivor who is cool under pressure and adept at breaking out of facilities.