Despite my grumbling about this series having enemies which are fighting the protagonists for unknown reasons, I would say that this series is well-done. Apart from the one genderfluid character, all the others are compelling and their lines are strong, as is the story, generally. So, I'd recommend it, although I hope for improvements in the quality in the upcoming season. I would say that this is stronger than some of the other animated series, which is why the current rating is justified.
37 Reviews
Cool American CG sci-fi mecha anime :-)
stevebondi23 February 2021
Compelling, Gritty and Fun
tgumboh11 February 2019
I honestly didn't expect much when I sat down to watch an episode. But boy was I pleasantly surprised. Not only is the story refreshing but you get a chance to understand the characters and what motivates them. The action sequences are beautiful and well done and so is the overall story for the show.
3 episodes in and I'm hooked and can't wait for the 4th episode to drop.
Easily one of the best animations right now IMO
Very strong start, but the first season was too short
jessup-8644615 March 2019
Without a doubt the first episode grabs you by the short hairs and doesn't let go: the big speech from the colonel when they're heading into battle, the music, the action, all of it had me sitting up straight.
Two episodes into the season and I'm all in, great cast (how the hell did they get David Tenant??) great characters, and definitely room for a great story.
But that great story doesn't show up, at least not entirely.
They needed to spend a few more episodes (or at least ONE) giving some details on the Union. The faceless evil shtick felt incredibly lazy given how much work they put into world building. Just basic things like who they are and where they come from would have been enough (I initially thought they were aliens).
Extra episodes would also have helped to flesh out some of the background characters, the walking-tank-thing pilots for example, because I found it kind of sad that I ended up not invested in them at all by the end of the season.
More screen time for Miranda Worth (Dakota Fanning's character) in particular would have been appreciated, especially considering how heavily she was featured in the first couple episodes. Point of fact, I thought she was the main character at first.
All in all, good western mecha show, but not enough episodes to tell the whole story.
7/10 Stars
Anime we were waiting for
Seraph030119 February 2019
I'm just 2 episodes in the serie, and i felt compelled to write a review. Gen: Lock filled a void which was present in animated sci-fi genre. It has emotional depth, intelligent writing, excellent humor (most notably in Dr. Weller and Miguel Garza as comic relief), and likable characters that are wonderfully casted. It feels like a lovechild of Robotech, Ghost In The Shell and XCOM, so what's there not to like?
Likeable Characters, Lackluster Story
Thehagengnome15 April 2019
So, this show is a mix for me. I kind of enjoyed some of the mecha combat, and the character design isn't too bad at all either. But I did not love the CGI at all during many scenes, and I just feel that the story lacks a lot of depth. If I was only to judge the character designs then maybe id give it a higher score, but as it stands with the current story being as lackluster and in many ways basic as it is, I just can't bring myself to give it more than a 3/5. I did see some glimpses of some interesting story aspects, but they were not nearly fleshed out enough to mean much.
LIFT OFF!
nf_zeta1 February 2019
Wow talk about a strong start. The pilot episode gives just info information so you're not lost while still building the world and characters to satisfactory levels. All the while it still doesn't forget the action.
So far I like all the characters, even the ones we've only gotten glimpses into, and that says a lot, as I'm usually quite picky on characters in my favourite genres, 'of which this qualifies.
So far I like all the characters, even the ones we've only gotten glimpses into, and that says a lot, as I'm usually quite picky on characters in my favourite genres, 'of which this qualifies.
An Average show turned into a nightmare.
christopherbhenson5 January 2022
GenLock season 1 is a fun time. It's not anything special, but it's enjoyable with great action. And a fantastic Opening sequence.
THAT is the only reason i'm not rating this show a 1/10.
Unfortunately, after season 1, RoosterTeeth sold the IP and gave everything over to HBOMax and that gave rise to the absolute nightmare that is GenLock Season 2.
As soon as I started watching season 2, the drastic drop in Visual quality, direction, sound design, etc was blatantly apparent. And it only got worse from there.
Random fully nude animated sex scenes, enjoyable characters from the first season killed off for shock value with little to no fanfare , characters making bafflingly stupid or evil decisions for absolutely no reason.
It's an absolute mess that keeps getting worse and worse with each episode leading up to a final episode that is just bafflingly stupid in ways I couldn't even imagine.
If we were just talking about season 1, I would be tempted to give this show a 6 or 7 out of 10.
But the fact is that GenLock Season 2 is quite possibly the WORST THING I'VE EVER SEEN ON TV. And that means it drags to whole show down with it.
RoosterTeeth, if you're listening, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't give RWBY or any of your other IPs to HBOMax or anyone else. Clearly they don't know how to properly handle them.
THAT is the only reason i'm not rating this show a 1/10.
Unfortunately, after season 1, RoosterTeeth sold the IP and gave everything over to HBOMax and that gave rise to the absolute nightmare that is GenLock Season 2.
As soon as I started watching season 2, the drastic drop in Visual quality, direction, sound design, etc was blatantly apparent. And it only got worse from there.
Random fully nude animated sex scenes, enjoyable characters from the first season killed off for shock value with little to no fanfare , characters making bafflingly stupid or evil decisions for absolutely no reason.
It's an absolute mess that keeps getting worse and worse with each episode leading up to a final episode that is just bafflingly stupid in ways I couldn't even imagine.
If we were just talking about season 1, I would be tempted to give this show a 6 or 7 out of 10.
But the fact is that GenLock Season 2 is quite possibly the WORST THING I'VE EVER SEEN ON TV. And that means it drags to whole show down with it.
RoosterTeeth, if you're listening, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't give RWBY or any of your other IPs to HBOMax or anyone else. Clearly they don't know how to properly handle them.
GREAT SHOW SO FAR! (Only on episode 5)
marlonddavis3 March 2021
Great story, chase is a dope character It would be dope to expand on him and union, I havent watched the whole thing yet, only on episode 4 but cant wait for more. Would love to see a Native American character and a black woman in the show to add to the inclusivity. All the characters are great so far. And the action... smh the action is insane! especially for a 3D show.
Before you watch second season
bpabij27 November 2021
So, first season was really great. We had main character and story of good vs. Evil. We had some tactics and planning, we were going into some realistic direction.
After really long time, second season appeared. It's chaotic and actually crashes all your knowledge from first season. All the swearing and sex scenes maybe could be ok, if the rest of the show wasn't so incredibly bad. I gave up at recently released 4th episode, with sex scene so weird I really didn't even want to watch it and I rewinded whole part (even though it was mixed with some important events).
So season 1 I'd say solid 7/10, season 2 - 1/10. Because I really don't want you wasting your time on watching this crap, overall 2/10.
After really long time, second season appeared. It's chaotic and actually crashes all your knowledge from first season. All the swearing and sex scenes maybe could be ok, if the rest of the show wasn't so incredibly bad. I gave up at recently released 4th episode, with sex scene so weird I really didn't even want to watch it and I rewinded whole part (even though it was mixed with some important events).
So season 1 I'd say solid 7/10, season 2 - 1/10. Because I really don't want you wasting your time on watching this crap, overall 2/10.
Excellent Show
connorshepherd-9234123 September 2019
Before my review I should preface this by saying that this show is not based on anything. Obviously they didn't come up with the idea of giant mechs, but they didn't base the show off of anything in particular. The shows creator (Gray Haddock) said in an interview that the show definitely had some inspiration from other anime/cartoons, but it was not based on any previously existing show.
Now that we have that out of the way, I thought that Gen:lock was an amazing creation from the people at roosterteeth productions. They choose (relatively) inexperienced voice actors and they did an amazing job. If you look at another hit show from roosterteeth, RWBY, then you can see that they really stepped up their game for this series. Everything in the show is crisp and clean, it looks like they put a lot of effort into this and it paid off big time.
Plot The plot of the show is a very creative take on the mech-fighting genre of animation. Instead of a show like Neon Genesis Evangelion for example, where they use pilots that are in the mechs, Gen:lock transfers their consciousness from their body to the machine, effectively making the mechs into giant humans. this does cause a lot of limitations for their characters though, like leaving their unconscious bodies vulnerable, a time limit on how long they can use the mechs, and most importantly, their is no eject button. they cant just pull a lever and be out of danger. If they get caught by the enemy, they are stuck in the mech until their time limit runs out and they die, or they get rescued. This is something interesting that they do use in the show.
Characters The characters in this show were less than I was hoping for because of their voice actors, but they still had their own quirks. You had your classic strong man, strong silent female, Joe average-army man and the ,tech savvy one and if you watch the show you immediately know what I'm saying here, and can probably guess who's who. That being said, they all had things that made them "stand out" more or less. Like strong man is from japan and he can only speak Japanese, Strong silent girl used to be in an insurgency in Ukraine, Tech savvy girl really likes bunny's and swearing (its honestly a little weird but in a funny way), and Joe average-army man, well hes pretty average, but everyone else has something different. I do have to say that their was a moment that they really didn't need to be there when they were discussing whether or not one of the characters was male or female. The creator of the show (Gray Haddock) said in an interview that he wanted to be able to talk about gender and stuff without it sounding out of place, but it really was, and nothing became of it and it just made the individual characters (and me) feel awkward and uncomfortably out of sync. That being said I hope that their just leaving some room to grow for the characters in the next season(s)
Overall I think that Gen:lock was a great show. I thoroughly enjoyed every episode. I think that the plot, animation, voice actors, and pacing of the show was excellent and I hope that the characters improve as the show goes on.
Now that we have that out of the way, I thought that Gen:lock was an amazing creation from the people at roosterteeth productions. They choose (relatively) inexperienced voice actors and they did an amazing job. If you look at another hit show from roosterteeth, RWBY, then you can see that they really stepped up their game for this series. Everything in the show is crisp and clean, it looks like they put a lot of effort into this and it paid off big time.
Plot The plot of the show is a very creative take on the mech-fighting genre of animation. Instead of a show like Neon Genesis Evangelion for example, where they use pilots that are in the mechs, Gen:lock transfers their consciousness from their body to the machine, effectively making the mechs into giant humans. this does cause a lot of limitations for their characters though, like leaving their unconscious bodies vulnerable, a time limit on how long they can use the mechs, and most importantly, their is no eject button. they cant just pull a lever and be out of danger. If they get caught by the enemy, they are stuck in the mech until their time limit runs out and they die, or they get rescued. This is something interesting that they do use in the show.
Characters The characters in this show were less than I was hoping for because of their voice actors, but they still had their own quirks. You had your classic strong man, strong silent female, Joe average-army man and the ,tech savvy one and if you watch the show you immediately know what I'm saying here, and can probably guess who's who. That being said, they all had things that made them "stand out" more or less. Like strong man is from japan and he can only speak Japanese, Strong silent girl used to be in an insurgency in Ukraine, Tech savvy girl really likes bunny's and swearing (its honestly a little weird but in a funny way), and Joe average-army man, well hes pretty average, but everyone else has something different. I do have to say that their was a moment that they really didn't need to be there when they were discussing whether or not one of the characters was male or female. The creator of the show (Gray Haddock) said in an interview that he wanted to be able to talk about gender and stuff without it sounding out of place, but it really was, and nothing became of it and it just made the individual characters (and me) feel awkward and uncomfortably out of sync. That being said I hope that their just leaving some room to grow for the characters in the next season(s)
Overall I think that Gen:lock was a great show. I thoroughly enjoyed every episode. I think that the plot, animation, voice actors, and pacing of the show was excellent and I hope that the characters improve as the show goes on.
Good show but one person seems to lack
hannonsean3 October 2019
The voice of an animated character is EVERYTHING!!! M.B.J is the most boring voice I've ever heard in an animated show. Literally sounds like he just took an easy paycheck and put zero effort into it. Good thing the rest of the cast, even big names, made the show worth it. Great show otherwise.
More please
janssoul26 September 2019
season 2 is bad unfortunately
pj-1236 January 2022
The real problem with season 2 is that it is just not enjoyable to watch. There are really really interesting ideas- learing about the union, the shades of grey of the Polity- but watching Chase brood is a drag. It feels as if the move to hbomax freed up the creatives to get much darker (and add sex scenes which are weird but sure, whatever) The first season was a lot of fun to watch and I was thinking about how it is one of my favorite animated cartoons ever, the story was that immediate and tight. Season 2 is a drag. Its a shame because I dont need a repeat of season 1, I love when shows evolve and change. But this is no longer the show I am interested in seeing. I would have given season 1 a 9 star rating. Season 2 gets a 5.
Great show, Good cast, well defined and packed
Klaire-Larnia8 September 2019
Beenb contemplating watching this for a while. Today I did and I LOVED it!
The first episode sets out the stall fairly well and you are given a well packed intro into what the series is about with the second episode bringing the rest of the main characters in. The action is well paced, visually pleasing and has nice anime overtones without being too over the top. All the main characters are likeable, well defined and easy to get to terms with within the first 2 30 min episodes.
It would have been nice to get some backstory as the the war of agreession which is clearling ongoing but hopefully that will come if we get a second series which I hope we do. It would also be helpful to know why the Union seem to have much better tech than the good guys and how the control of the world is made up. It would add some substance where something is missing to give us a feel for why the characters are fightiing and what they are fighting for.
Either way good start, great designs, nicly thought out characters who have their own kwirks and issues all of which are relateable and give them their own strengths. I hope we get a second (longer) season as there is a lot of promise here and puts other, more "high profile" cartoons from major studios and toy manufactures to shame (Transformers)
The first episode sets out the stall fairly well and you are given a well packed intro into what the series is about with the second episode bringing the rest of the main characters in. The action is well paced, visually pleasing and has nice anime overtones without being too over the top. All the main characters are likeable, well defined and easy to get to terms with within the first 2 30 min episodes.
It would have been nice to get some backstory as the the war of agreession which is clearling ongoing but hopefully that will come if we get a second series which I hope we do. It would also be helpful to know why the Union seem to have much better tech than the good guys and how the control of the world is made up. It would add some substance where something is missing to give us a feel for why the characters are fightiing and what they are fighting for.
Either way good start, great designs, nicly thought out characters who have their own kwirks and issues all of which are relateable and give them their own strengths. I hope we get a second (longer) season as there is a lot of promise here and puts other, more "high profile" cartoons from major studios and toy manufactures to shame (Transformers)
Sex scenes added nothing
benthejamsimmons13 December 2021
Was a okay story before chapter two then comes in sex scenes. That were unneeded and unnecessary. A good adult cartoon is one that has good plot and action that doesn't have to stoop to sex where the views are down.
Is a pathetic way of getting more people to watch your show.
Is a pathetic way of getting more people to watch your show.
Makes an impact
texasupstartsquirrel3 February 2019
Strong cast and compelling story. After watching 3 episodes I am still hungry for more. The animation is a feast for the eyes and at the end of each episode I feel like it just started. Can't wait to see this story develop and the world to expand.
Finally a new kind of anime'
schlagzeugplayer2 January 2020
I was looking for something syfy but anime'ish then I found this jem. Finally the anime' is losing its gloppyness . The manga classic style is cool but it's time for change. I'm 3 fps in and login it. It's 9 because the story is great but not original like Cowboy Beebop or Neon Genesis Evangelion but man it's a great watch. A plus is good dialog and almost all great voice acting.
Really Good, but we're all too familiar with this.
Rayofsun713 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A great cast, a great story and I look forward to seeing where this is going but there are many other shows that are very similar to this. Mainly in the anime mecha/sci-fi area. In no way a bad thing and it's no code geass but let's hope this show uses the potential it's been given. 9/10. I will definitely be watching more.
Like A Junior High School Afternoon Project
mithaldu24 February 2019
Deficient in writing, choreography, polish, camera work, and the humans in the show don't even walk like humans do.
It smells and sort of looks like an anime and clearly wants to be one, it has the colors, and the crazy camera sequences you'd find in anime, as well with almost good choreography. However due to a combination of lack of skill and budget, they lack the effects to sell the action, and often have the camera situated such that everything happens in a vacuum and nothing ever connects cause and effect.
Additionally the characters range from bland as cardboard to simple parodies of common character tropes.
Whatever magic they had in RWBY, this merely tries to ape it and fails to sell it.
It smells and sort of looks like an anime and clearly wants to be one, it has the colors, and the crazy camera sequences you'd find in anime, as well with almost good choreography. However due to a combination of lack of skill and budget, they lack the effects to sell the action, and often have the camera situated such that everything happens in a vacuum and nothing ever connects cause and effect.
Additionally the characters range from bland as cardboard to simple parodies of common character tropes.
Whatever magic they had in RWBY, this merely tries to ape it and fails to sell it.
AWESOME, JUST AWESOME!!
hannibalsowner22 September 2019
Nice, sometimes great fight scenes, but stupid plot
gtenalokes1 March 2019
I enjoy the fights but The plot is weak, the story is way too focused on Chase
Who are the good guys here, we in episode 6 and we literally know nothing about the other side (the union)
They can make giant battle humanoid robots but can't make Chase a robot body... (RoboCop-ish) ...
"Union Chase" can't talk properly but fights very very well... Curious!
Who are the good guys here, we in episode 6 and we literally know nothing about the other side (the union)
They can make giant battle humanoid robots but can't make Chase a robot body... (RoboCop-ish) ...
"Union Chase" can't talk properly but fights very very well... Curious!
The Perfected Formula for a Sci-Fi Futuristic Anime
prabhunster1 March 2019
I think we've officially reached the pinnacle in the abundance of Sci-Fi Futuristic Anime shows, especially since Netflix started contributing. A genre which I loved, but over the years I've become jaded on. While the shows were all unique in some fashion, they nonetheless begin to blend together over time.
However, it was Gen:Lock that unexpectedly reignited my spark for the genre. I was immediately engaged and had that long-lost "Hell Yeah!" feeling.
The graphics are brilliant, as is the music. The sci-fi futuristic technology is cool albeit not entirely original. The voice-acting is well received with fun and interesting characters.
On the other hand, many similar shows have also successfully achieved these same elements, so I found myself wondering, what made THIS show stand out?
Simply put, Gen:Lock got the formula right.
As opposed to many of its predecessors, it doesn't dwell on a long-winded, convoluted history of the reasons of why "Side A" is at war with "Side B". The backstory we are given is that there's a governing body and a resistance, and frankly it's enough to go on without raising unanswered questions.
Having cut that initial larger backstory, the show isn't bogged down by many simultaneous plots or a mountain of characters to try and keep track of.
Rather, the focus (in addition to the futuristic tech) falls on the cast of roughly 5 or 6 characters. And of course, less backstory dialogue leaves room for more jaw-dropping action sequences =) It truly is a show you can hop right in to!
Although the plot is straightforward, I don't want to leave the impression that the show is dumbed-down or one-dimensional by any means. I've only seen 3 episodes so far and there is already plenty of allusion to the secrets and mystery of the experimental technology, as well as the characters themselves, all of which are progressively unfolding.
*As an aside, being that this is an American show, I do appreciate that I can better relate to the show's culture, characters, and dialogue etc. However, I won't say that that aspect alone makes the show "better". For me, I just consider it icing on the cake*
10/10 **********
However, it was Gen:Lock that unexpectedly reignited my spark for the genre. I was immediately engaged and had that long-lost "Hell Yeah!" feeling.
The graphics are brilliant, as is the music. The sci-fi futuristic technology is cool albeit not entirely original. The voice-acting is well received with fun and interesting characters.
On the other hand, many similar shows have also successfully achieved these same elements, so I found myself wondering, what made THIS show stand out?
Simply put, Gen:Lock got the formula right.
As opposed to many of its predecessors, it doesn't dwell on a long-winded, convoluted history of the reasons of why "Side A" is at war with "Side B". The backstory we are given is that there's a governing body and a resistance, and frankly it's enough to go on without raising unanswered questions.
Having cut that initial larger backstory, the show isn't bogged down by many simultaneous plots or a mountain of characters to try and keep track of.
Rather, the focus (in addition to the futuristic tech) falls on the cast of roughly 5 or 6 characters. And of course, less backstory dialogue leaves room for more jaw-dropping action sequences =) It truly is a show you can hop right in to!
Although the plot is straightforward, I don't want to leave the impression that the show is dumbed-down or one-dimensional by any means. I've only seen 3 episodes so far and there is already plenty of allusion to the secrets and mystery of the experimental technology, as well as the characters themselves, all of which are progressively unfolding.
*As an aside, being that this is an American show, I do appreciate that I can better relate to the show's culture, characters, and dialogue etc. However, I won't say that that aspect alone makes the show "better". For me, I just consider it icing on the cake*
10/10 **********
To infinity and beyond!
andrealmeidasampaio17 March 2019
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