The poster for Zankyou no Terror. |
Set in an alternate version of present-day Japan, two undocumented young men who go by "Nine" and "Twelve" begin terror strikes in Tokyo, dragging an ingenuous high school girl along with them.
Plot
Twelve and Kururin. |
Meanwhile, the police set about analyzing a cryptic video posted on the Internet featuring a pair of young boys in masks who refer to themselves as Sphinx 1 and Sphinx 2.
(L-R) Sphinx 1/Nine and Sphinx 2/Twelve present their riddle to the Japanese police. |
The grand finale comes down on you like a ton of bricks, ending the show as strongly as it began, or stronger. In the finale, all the tension that had culminated over the course of the episodes came to a head and exploded onto the screen in a grand symphony of questions finally answered, goals met, fears confronted, character arcs concluded. It is a grand spectacle that lifts you up and throws you down and tucks you in bed as it hums "My Fair Lady" softly in your ear. The finale is conclusive. It is somber. It leaves hope for tomorrow.
Plot: 10 Kururins
Characters
Lisa Mishima. |
Of these five, Lisa is the point-of-view character. She is the fly on the wall -- the really real character that gives you an anchor in the story.
Shibazaki mulling over Sphinx's riddle. |
Zankyou no Terror develops its characters with subtle power. Slowly it warms you up to a character, revealing a flaw here, a virtue there. Then, at the very end, you come to realize just how much you care about them, even if you don't particularly like them.
One of the greatest debates I've seen concerning Zankyou no Terror is about Lisa, and her importance to the show. Some argue she's just a damsel in distress, while others argue that she's there for character development, to balance out the heavy plot. I will not burden you with my opinion, because Lisa's character, as with all the characters in Zankyou no Terror, is not to be taken at face-value. You have to watch her character develop from beginning to end before passing judgement.
Characters: 9.5 Kururins
-0.5 on account of Lisa controversy.
Acting
Five. |
The voice actors in Zankyou no Terror did a terrific job of capturing the nature of their characters. They delivered their lines with splendid loyalty to the characters, and with compelling emotion that conveyed all kinds of ulterior motives and suppressed truths with impeccable effectiveness.
(L-R) Nine and Twelve. |
Acting: 9 Kururins
-1 on account of unintelligible "Engrish."
Visuals
The dim lighting gives this scene a very edgy atmosphere. |
The character designs are detailed enough that, though almost all of the characters have plain colour palettes, it's easy to tell them apart, as they all have unique facial features, clothing styles, and even body language. The style tends to draw the faces with softer edges, and the general anatomy with realistic proportions.
#judgingyou #yourcookinggamesucks |
Every animated show has bloopers, however, and Zankyou no Terror is no exception. One small hiccup was in episode 10, when one character is in an explosion, and, after the initial flash, the character's body just disappears. It didn't show him/her hurtled ten meters from the blast or anything. He/she just kind of went poof. Then there are moments where the anatomy skills wane.
Even with the mistakes in mind, the animation is superb, and conveys atmosphere and emotion far better than most animated productions convey those things through melodrama and yelling.
Visuals: 9.7 Kururins.
-0.3 on account of bloopers.
Sound
The soundtrack, masterfully composed by Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Darker Than Black), manages to capture the atmosphere of each scene flawlessly. The intro and outro songs provide an eery frame that work well in context. While the soundtrack really excels in setting the tone without distracting, there are moments when it stands out and truly makes the scene.
Sound: 10 Kururins
A homemade AMV for Zankyou no Terror can be viewed here.
The cover for the soundtrack |
Conclusion
Overall, Zankyou no Terror is truly a masterpiece. It handles moral ambiguity with grace, is respectful to both the characters and the viewers, and is an incredibly powerful contribution to anime as we know it. The plot is beautiful and excellently executed. The characters are believable. The voice acting is excellent, barring an ineffective use of "Engrish." The visuals are stunning. The music is superb.
And now, without further ado, I grant Zankyou no Terror with a final grade of...
9.64 Kururins
And, with that, I highly recommend this magnum opus of a show to anyone, regardless of their taste in anime, and whether or not they even watch anime. It very politely places you on the edge of your seat, and then perches your seat precariously atop a ferris wheel with C-4 strapped to your chest with eery Icelandic music playing in the background. This is one show that met and exceeded every one of my expectations, and by the end had me sobbing until my stomach ached. Zankyou no Terror is a work of art that should not be missed.
If you like, you can watch the trailer here.
A homemade AMV for Zankyou no Terror can be viewed here.
Post Script
Zankyou no Terror is not a show for impressionable minds. Between the stark realism of Lisa's problematic home and school life and the anarchist, anti-American undercurrents, Zankyou no Terror should be viewed with adult discretion. As with most animes, parents should be warned before allowing their children to watch this, or should at least guide them through it with wisdom and discernment.
(Updated on 10/7/14)
(Updated on 10/7/14)