Reviews

Zankyou no Terror, or Terror's Echo as I like to call it in English, is an action thriller anime about two young men and the terrorist acts they commit in Tokyo. Their names are Nine and Twelve, both names being numbers since they are never given proper names at any point in the show's run. Terror's Echo primarily focuses on them and what they wish to achieve through their acts of terrorism, although their intentions aren't entirely known until a bit later on. Other characters featured throughout the series are Mishima Lisa, a high school girl who is constantly bullied by her peers and coddled by her overbearing mother. Kenjiro Shibazaki, a detective who is quickly caught up in the riddling schemes of Nine and Twelve. And lastly Five, an American FBI agent who appears later in the series and is somehow connected to Nine and Twelve.

The main cast gets the most character development here, which is good given the series rather short length of 11 episodes. Some may be disappointed that it doesn't continue longer, but I believe it has just the right number of episodes so as to not overstay its welcome. The pacing is quick and tight, and the blend of action, character development, and story are perfect all the way up to the final episode.

The visuals and audio are no slouches either. The animation is fantastic throughout, with good animation during the action sequences and fantastic art when things are a bit calmer. Even minor characters with little screen time are drawn incredibly well, and you'll never feel taken aback by side characters who look overly generic. The music is composed by Yoko Kanno, perhaps best known for creating the soundtrack to Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex. Her work is truly excellent here as well, giving the series a very modern feeling soundtrack that manages to be exciting, somber, and haunting all within the span of a single episode. The opening and ending theme also deserve praise, boasting beautiful animation and featuring excellent music to accompany them. I never once felt like skipping the opening or ending because of how good they are, and it really helps set the tone for each episode both going in and finishing it.

If you're looking for a good thriller series with interesting themes and excellent writing, Terror's Echo may just be what you're looking for. It may be a bit heavy for some, but it is incredibly rewarding and highly entertaining, and as such gets my highest recommendation. Watch it, you won't regret it.