My analysis will be spoiler free and will delve into those aspects which I believe to be responsible for the the series' shortcomings. A rating of its aspects is stated below:
Story: 6
Art: 8
Sound: 7
Character: 5
Enjoyment: 6
Overall: 6
Now, a fine story-line can be created by ensuring progression in either the plot or the characters or both. This is where Zankyou no Terror takes the hit; it neither develops its characters nor the plot. The beginning, in fact, had established a good foundation,with an attractive and captivating premise, and the characters too seemed interesting, if not original. However, both the plot and the characters run around in loops through the entirety of the anime instead of injecting anything novel and tend to repeat the same thing over and over again. This kills the initial enthusiasm and thrill of what was presented in the initial episodes.
Zankyou's plot is quite predictable but its underdevelopment is its worst fault. The story, instead of being developed into a deeper narrative with intricate elements, deviates midway into unnecessary character introductions and avoidable themes, which is primarily responsible for ruining the tension prevalent in the initial episodes.
Another flaw is prevalent in the characters, majority of whom are either one-dimensional or irksome. The problem is compounded by the fact that they receive little to no character development throughout the series. The 'end' was supposed to be impactful, but I hardly felt any impact, for the characters felt as indifferent to me as their motivations. If the latter could have been explored more, it would have created a brilliant setting. What we only get are fragments and pieces of it and therefore the characters only appear to be plot devices for advancing the plot.
However, the anime has its share of positivity as well. The opening and ending songs felt great and certain soundtracks were charming as well. The animation and visuals were excellent, to say the least, and they were majorly responsible for keeping me hooked. Despite the shortcomings, certain themes were explored well and added much needed depth to the anime.
Overall, the anime was not insufferable to go through and can be enjoyed to a certain extent. However, it is not a rewatch-worth material.
