I will start by saying that I waited to watch this show. I watched the first episode shortly after it aired, and though I was interested, I found my attention span waning over time, and did not watch the rest of the series until I began to marathon it a few hours ago. I think it was the best decision I could have made, because watching this show on a weekly basis would have been incredibly difficult for me. I feel like the impact it made all at once was far greater than what it would have been had I watched weekly, and if possible, I would recommend others to watch the show in a single sitting as well.
Now, on to the actual review, which will be spoiler free.
Story (10):
This is not a story to be taken lightly, and is certainly not for the faint of heart. There are many parallels to be drawn to past events, such as September 11th, the bombing of Hiroshima, and many others that can hit very close to home for some. I leave this warning because if you are able to handle the grim nature of this show, you will come out on the other side a changed person from having seen this show. Combining a beautiful dose of both drama and mystery, "Zankyou no Terror", or "Terror in Resonance" tells the story of two teenaged boys that, by all accounts, don't exist. They go by the names of “Nine” and “Twelve”, but more on them later. As we quickly learn, these seemingly innocuous boys are actually a duo of terrorists by the name of “Sphyx”. Their first mission, bombing a government building, is successful and they quickly gain notoriety from the media. One of their main goals is to prevent any deaths by their own actions, and their first mission results in no fatalities. Lisa Mishima is drawn in by the two after accidentally seeing their plans in action, and becomes an “accomplice” rather than face certain death. As the story progresses, we watch as Sphynx and the Japanese Police Department, among other groups, fight to carry out what they believe is right, or in some cases, to stop other parties from doing as they wish. The dynamic of the back-and-forth between all parties is a unique concept not often seen well (or done well) in anime. The ability to always stay two steps ahead of other parties while also completing their missions is a fascinating thing, as well as Sphynx’s repeated riddles, giving the viewer the chance to feel as though they are an investigator as well. It is an interesting take on the very realistic issue of terrorism in our world today.
Characters (9):
There are four characters that I will note here (there are other important characters, but as this review is spoiler free, I will not mention them here): Nine, Twelve, Lisa, and Shibazaki. Nine and Twelve, our infamous duo, offer a dynamic not unlike that of ice and fire. Nine sees the world with dark shadows looming around every corner. He is cold and harsh, but is also very caring towards Twelve. In contrast, Twelve often wears a smile and has a demeanor much like that of a child. The two, together, are incredibly smart, with planning, building, hacking, and many other abilities not often seen. Lisa Mishima is a high school girl who meets both Nine and Twelve when they transfer into the same high school. She is an outcast, often bullied and struggling with problems at home. Given a sudden choice of life or death, she decides to become an “accomplice” of Sphynx, and becomes the only person who knows of their plans. Shibazaki is a former detective with the Japanese Police Department. He follows the case closely as it happens, and becomes the one to solve Sphynx’s riddles. He chases the terrorist duo with no regard for his own well-being, and is relentless in his search for answers.
Though all of these characters are strong and well thought out, I almost feel as though there was something missing from many of them. I still have questions about some of the characters that, while not essential to the progression of the story, still remain to nag me. I feel that their personalities could have been further delved into, explored in a deeper capacity. But alas, it did not happen. What I received, however, is far more than I could have asked for in the first place.
Animation and Sound (9/9):
At first, I was rather put off by the animation style of this show. It was different from anything I had seen in the past, and therefore, quite uncomfortable. However, as I watched, the style quickly grew on me and I began to realize the real beauty within it. It is a hard feeling to describe, but for me, it evoked a sense of danger within me. Something telling me that this show was not going to be easy to stomach. And it was right. This unique style of animation fits the feel of this show perfectly. The sound is quite similar. The opening is quite unsettling, yet mesmerizing at the same time. It never failed to draw me in. There are also many other tracks within the show that are beautiful on their own, and the voice actors certainly deserve praise, but my expertise in sound and animation are both rather limited, so I will spare you of any more of my confusing analogies.
Enjoyment (10):
This show forced me to ask myself this question: What really is enjoyment? At its simplest, it is a feeling of joy evoked by an outside source. But this show did not make me feel joyful. If anything, it made me feel almost depressed. However, the fact that it could create such a feeling within me on its own is quite impressive, and the fact that my eyes were glued to the screen every moment cannot be ignored. This is a strong show, one that will make you feel things you may not have believed an anime could make you feel. Though I did not feel much in the way of joy while watching this show, the many other emotions that swelled within me as I progressed can justify my reasoning for giving this show a 10 for enjoyment.
Overall (9.5/10):
As I’ve said before, this show can absolutely not be taken lightly. It is an experience that can change a person, one that makes you question the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. If you are prepared for such a changing journey, albeit short, you will not regret your decision. This show has the ability to move mountains, metaphorically speaking, and is something that those who have seen it will remember it for years to come for its beautifully disturbing and realistic tale.
