The Zeta Project is<!--do NOT change to "was", per Wikipedia MOS:TV guidelines--> an American animated science fiction television series produced by Warner Bros. Television Animation, which originally aired on Kids' WB between January 27, 2001, and August 10, 2002. It is the sixth series of the DC Animated Universe, and a Batman Beyond spin-off series. The series was created by Robert Goodman.
The story's main character, Infiltration Unit Zeta, is a humanoid robot (synthoid) designed to carry out covert assassinations on behalf of the National Security Agency. When Zeta discovers that one of his targets is innocent, he experiences an existential crisis about goodness and the value of life; following this epiphany, Zeta finds he can no longer kill. He refuses to continue working as an infiltration unit and abandons his mission, going rogue. As he tries to find his creator, Dr. Selig, Zeta is pursued by a team of NSA agents led by Agent Bennet and aided by a 15-year-old runaway, Rosalie "Ro" Rowan.
The series was cancelled after two seasons and 26 episodes. Blade Runner, and The Fugitive, and follows Zeta and Ro as they attempt to prove he is non-violent, while the NSA agents pursuing him presume the terrorists he was investigating before going rogue have reprogrammed him for an unknown purpose. To prove his innocence, Zeta and Ro search for his creator, the elusive Dr. Selig.
A spin-off of Batman Beyond, Goodman initially pitched the series with plans to be darker than the original show.
Despite the lighter tone adopted by the final product, Kids' WB felt The Zeta Project was too dark throughout its run and almost canceled it entirely following the September 11th attacks due to its plotlines involving terrorism and commentary on the NSA. The series continued for one more season before Goodman left, believing that network demands were pushing the series away from his vision.
Characters
Infiltration Unit Zeta
Zeta is a synthoid who was originally designed to gather information and kill select targets for the NSA. However, after realizing that one of his targets was actually innocent, he refused to kill anymore and went on the run. Ever since, Zeta's creators have been pursuing him, convinced that he was reprogrammed by terrorists. Zeta hopes that his creator, Dr. Selig, can prove his innocence, and so is searching for him. He meets Rosalie after saving her from a street gang, and in return she helps him escape from the agents pursuing him. Though Zeta no longer possesses most weapons he was originally equipped with, his arms are equipped with saw blades and cutting lasers; he also possesses various non-lethal tools, such as welding lasers, a computer interface, and an unlimited credit card. He has a high-endurance metal frame and the ability to project a hologram around himself and alter his voice. Additionally, he is faster than a human, can perceive wavelengths outside human perception, and is self-repairing to a limited degree.
Rosalie "Ro" Rowan
Rosalie Rowan is a 15-year-old girl who grew up in foster care in Hillsburg with Sheriff Morgan and his family before being assigned to a state-run home on Gaines Street. The only thing she knows about her family is vague memories of an older brother, who she was separated from years ago by the foster care system. She ran away from the state system at fifteen years old and joined a gang to have a home. But when she refused to take part in robbing a bank to prove herself to the leader, she left the gang. As she and Zeta search for his creator, Ro embarks on her own journey as she searches for a "family" to belong to. She serves as Zeta's guide to "passing" among humans, and teaches him lessons about being human. Additionally, she is a source of comedy in the series, contrasting with Zeta's stoic nature. She is visually inspired by Pris from Blade Runner.
Agent Orin West and Marcia Lee
Formerly Scout Unit Four, partner NSA Agent Orin West and Marcia Lee fail to capture Zeta at the Wood Valley Maryland hoverbus station and are assigned to work for Agent Bennet as punishment, dedicating themselves to capturing Zeta.
West is clumsy and overeager, while Lee is more controlled and by-the-book and keeps him in check. Lee has her doubts about Zeta's guilt and is willing to believe he might be peaceful, which sometimes putting her at odds with Bennet. Lee eventually leaves Bennet's team and is replaced by Agent Rush.
West shares a last name with and resembles Wally West, who is also voiced by Rosenbaum. However, showrunner Bob Goodman has stated this was coincidental.
Infiltration Unit 7
IU7 is the next generation of Infiltration Unit after Zeta, which Agent Bennet unleashes to capture its predecessor. Like him, it is a synthoid with mimicry skills and wields a large arsenal of weapons, but its metal frame is larger, powerful, and heavily armed. Because of the single-mindedness of IU7's programming, Zeta and Ro usually find ways to outsmart it.
Voice cast
Protagonists
{| class="wikitable"
|- "
! Voice actor || Role
|-
| Diedrich Bader || Zeta
|-
| Julie Nathanson || Rosalie "Ro" Rowan
|-
| Eli Marienthal || Kid Zee
|}
Supporting cast
{| class="wikitable"
|- "
! Voice actor || Role
|-
| Lauren Tom || Agent Marcia Lee
|-
| Ulysses Cuadra|| Bucky Buenaventura (Season 1)
|-
| Blayn Barbosa || Bucky Buenaventura (Season 2)
|-
| Grey DeLisle || Andrea Donoso
|-
| George Segal || Eli Selig (Season 1)
|-
| Hal Linden || Eli Selig (Season 2)
|-
| Lukas Haas || Casey MacCurdy
|-
| Will Friedle || Terry McGinnis/Batman
|-
| Kevin Conroy || Bruce Wayne
|}
Antagonists
{| class="wikitable"
|- "
! Voice actor || Role
|-
| Kurtwood Smith || Agent James Bennet
|-
|Michael Rosenbaum
|Agent West
|-
| Erika Alexander|| Agent Rush (Season 1)
|-
| Dominique Jennings|| Agent Rush (Season 2)
|-
|Keith Szarabajka
|Rodin Krick (Season 1)
|-
| Richard Moll || Rodin Krick (Season 2)
|-
|Robert Costanzo
|Titus Sweete
|-
|Stuart Pankin
|Donald Tannor
|-
|Jim Wise
|Dr. Byrne
|-
|John Rhys-Davies
|Edgar Mandragora / The Albino
|-
|Kate Jackson
|Bombshell
|-
|Phil LaMarr
|Schiz
|}