The newly animated sci-fi fantasy series, “gen: Lock” is created by Gray G. Haddock the head of animation at Rooster Teeth. The series was released Jan. 26 with an extra episode for its first members with the voice talents of David Tenant as Dr. Rufus Weller and Monica Rial as Colonel Racquel Marin.
@roosterteeth
The show is set 50 years in a dystopian future where the Vanguard, a militant organization, working with the Polity is struggling to defend the territories of the United States against the authoritarian regime the Union. They are sweeping the nation with its use of nanotechnology that can strip and break down organisms, machinery, and systems. To combat the Union’s nanotechnology, the Vanguard recruited the assistance of Dr. Rufus Weller to create a classification of androids known as, Holon’s. The Holon’s can upload the human mind into a mainframe of the machine as code enabling the user to move the mech as if it were their bodies. However, because technology is only compatible with specific nervous systems, only six possible candidates are fit. They are a former interceptor pilot, a hacker, a covert operative, a former union pilot, a ranger and a cook. None of them seem particularly ecstatic about joining a unit to save the world from total domination, but it seems they have much of choice.
Haddock and his team of storytellers and animators took on an interesting interpretation of how the world might change 50 years from now utilizing pieces of technology that are currently already used within the present and pushing it further to make the world seem plausible. For example, Haddock and his team used the virtual reality headsets to project a holographic image to communicate to loved ones over long distances. Furthermore, the show has a diverse cast that ranges from Japan to Europe demonstrating just how far the Rooster Teeth community has grown over the past few years in their styles of animation and storytelling.
Miranda Worth (Dakota Fanning) in the Vanguard base. @roosterteeth
Regardless of the growth in Rooster Teeth’s animation and storytelling, there are still things that can be difficult to do when transitioning from one world to the next. For example, the organizations within “gen: Lock” are never really explained about who they are and what they stand for, and that is a bit of a problem. This prevents the audience from fully engaging within the story which is tragic as Rooster Teeth and their team is known for telling hilarious and inspiring stories. The two main adversaries the Polity and Union are not given a clear indication of what they stand for. This is a high chance you’re going to lose the audience.
Overall, the show is exciting and intriguing. From the pieces of technology used within the world to the way that it functions differently than the world of other of Rooster Teeth’s animated productions, this show gets a rating of 3 out of 5, despite some questions being left unanswered.
