Terror in Resonance

Terror in Resonance (残響のテロル), also known as Terror in Tokyo, is a Japanese anime television series produced by MAPPA. The anime was created and directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, with character designs by Kazuto Nakazawa and music by Yoko Kanno. It was broadcast for eleven episodes on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block from July to September 2014.

Plot
In an alternative iteration of the present, two teenage boys who go by the names Nine and Twelve steal a prototype atomic bomb in an apparent terrorist attack. Calling themselves, they upload a video onto the Internet and threaten to destroy Tokyo unless a cryptic riddle can be solved. They are two of the survivors of a secret experiment by the Rising Peace Academy to develop orphaned children with savant syndrome into human weapons. They befriend Lisa, a lonely high school girl, who becomes caught up in their plans to expose the nefarious activities of the organization.

Main characters

 * A secretive young man with a bright mind and calm demeanor, who moves to Tokyo and attends high school alongside Twelve under the name Arata Kokonoe. He is one of the masterminds behind Sphinx. He and Twelve are survivors of a secret experiment by the Rising Peace Academy to develop 26 highly intelligent orphaned children into human weapons.
 * A secretive young man with a bright mind and calm demeanor, who moves to Tokyo and attends high school alongside Twelve under the name Arata Kokonoe. He is one of the masterminds behind Sphinx. He and Twelve are survivors of a secret experiment by the Rising Peace Academy to develop 26 highly intelligent orphaned children into human weapons.
 * A secretive young man with a bright mind and calm demeanor, who moves to Tokyo and attends high school alongside Twelve under the name Arata Kokonoe. He is one of the masterminds behind Sphinx. He and Twelve are survivors of a secret experiment by the Rising Peace Academy to develop 26 highly intelligent orphaned children into human weapons.


 * An apparently childish young man who is the second member of Sphinx. He is kind and caring, and befriends the lonely schoolgirl, Lisa. He uses the civilian identity of Tōji Hisami and is skilled at operating vehicles like motorbikes and snowmobiles. Twelve has synesthesia; that allows him to see sound as color.
 * An apparently childish young man who is the second member of Sphinx. He is kind and caring, and befriends the lonely schoolgirl, Lisa. He uses the civilian identity of Tōji Hisami and is skilled at operating vehicles like motorbikes and snowmobiles. Twelve has synesthesia; that allows him to see sound as color.
 * An apparently childish young man who is the second member of Sphinx. He is kind and caring, and befriends the lonely schoolgirl, Lisa. He uses the civilian identity of Tōji Hisami and is skilled at operating vehicles like motorbikes and snowmobiles. Twelve has synesthesia; that allows him to see sound as color.


 * A high school girl with a problematic life both at home and school. She is befriended by Nine and Twelve who save her from bullies at her school and she becomes caught up in their plans.
 * A high school girl with a problematic life both at home and school. She is befriended by Nine and Twelve who save her from bullies at her school and she becomes caught up in their plans.
 * A high school girl with a problematic life both at home and school. She is befriended by Nine and Twelve who save her from bullies at her school and she becomes caught up in their plans.


 * A detective of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department who used to be an ace of the police force's investigations division, but was demoted to its records division after continuing an unauthorized investigation. He is highly intelligent and is called back into the force to investigate the terrorist group Sphinx.
 * A detective of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department who used to be an ace of the police force's investigations division, but was demoted to its records division after continuing an unauthorized investigation. He is highly intelligent and is called back into the force to investigate the terrorist group Sphinx.
 * A detective of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department who used to be an ace of the police force's investigations division, but was demoted to its records division after continuing an unauthorized investigation. He is highly intelligent and is called back into the force to investigate the terrorist group Sphinx.


 * She is the third survivor of the Rising Peace Academy experiment, highly competitive and has a love-hate relationship with Nine because of his talent. She becomes an American FBI operative who travels to Japan as part of her duties with NEST to lend support to the terrorist attack investigations. Her obsession with Nine exposes her willingness to endanger, or even kill, innocent people to get close to Nine and Twelve.
 * She is the third survivor of the Rising Peace Academy experiment, highly competitive and has a love-hate relationship with Nine because of his talent. She becomes an American FBI operative who travels to Japan as part of her duties with NEST to lend support to the terrorist attack investigations. Her obsession with Nine exposes her willingness to endanger, or even kill, innocent people to get close to Nine and Twelve.
 * She is the third survivor of the Rising Peace Academy experiment, highly competitive and has a love-hate relationship with Nine because of his talent. She becomes an American FBI operative who travels to Japan as part of her duties with NEST to lend support to the terrorist attack investigations. Her obsession with Nine exposes her willingness to endanger, or even kill, innocent people to get close to Nine and Twelve.

Supporting characters

 * The chief of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department station, who heads the investigation into Nine and Twelve's bomb threats.
 * The chief of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department station, who heads the investigation into Nine and Twelve's bomb threats.
 * The chief of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department station, who heads the investigation into Nine and Twelve's bomb threats.


 * A passionate, young police officer who collaborates with Shibazaki even after he is suspended.
 * A passionate, young police officer who collaborates with Shibazaki even after he is suspended.
 * A passionate, young police officer who collaborates with Shibazaki even after he is suspended.






 * Shibazaki's co-worker from the records division who helps him solve Sphinx's riddles.
 * Shibazaki's co-worker from the records division who helps him solve Sphinx's riddles.
 * Shibazaki's co-worker from the records division who helps him solve Sphinx's riddles.


 * The head of Shibazaki's team and later the chief.
 * The head of Shibazaki's team and later the chief.
 * The head of Shibazaki's team and later the chief.


 * A scientist working to identify the bombing techniques used by Sphinx.
 * A scientist working to identify the bombing techniques used by Sphinx.
 * A scientist working to identify the bombing techniques used by Sphinx.






 * Clarence
 * Five's partner and an FBI agent.
 * Five's partner and an FBI agent.


 * Lisa's mother, who is highly paranoid and extremely possessive of Lisa due to her husband leaving the family home.
 * Lisa's mother, who is highly paranoid and extremely possessive of Lisa due to her husband leaving the family home.
 * Lisa's mother, who is highly paranoid and extremely possessive of Lisa due to her husband leaving the family home.


 * Shibazaki's daughter who is studying particles.
 * Shibazaki's daughter who is studying particles.
 * Shibazaki's daughter who is studying particles.


 * Mamiya
 * The creator of the Athena Project.
 * The creator of the Athena Project.

Release
The anime was created and directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, with character designs by Kazuto Nakazawa and music by Yoko Kanno. The anime began airing on Fuji TV's Noitamina block on July 10, 2014, and its final episode aired on September 25, 2014. In total, it was made up of 11 episodes. Funimation acquired North American streaming rights and released an English dub on DVD on January 19, 2016. Anime Limited and Madman Entertainment acquired streaming rights for the UK and Australia, respectively. Funimation premiered the series at Anime Expo on July 5, 2014.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack for the series was composed by Yoko Kanno and released before the anime aired on July 9, 2014, by Aniplex. The opening theme song is "Trigger", composed by Kanno and performed by Yuuki Ozaki from Galileo Galilei. The ending theme song is "Dareka, Umi o." (誰か、海を.), composed by Kanno and performed by Aimer. A later soundtrack titled "Terror in Resonance Original Soundtrack 2 -crystalized-" was released after the series ended on October 22, 2014. In addition to the new tracks, it contained the opening and ending songs. The artwork for the soundtrack was designed by Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir from Seabear.

In an interview with Otaku USA magazine, director Shinichirō Watanabe stated that the music of Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós was the inspiration for the show and its soundtrack. "When I was listening to Sigur Rós, I got the visual image of two boys standing in the ruins of a destroyed city and that led to the idea of Terror In Resonance. ... we actually went to Iceland to record our music ..."

Critical response
Nick Creamer of Anime News Network gave the anime series an "A", and described it as "the direction is basically flawless, and the semi-realistic art design keeps the show grounded while also offering consistent moments of larger-than-life beauty. Overall, Terror in Resonance is just short of a masterpiece. When it comes to ideas and execution, the show is absolutely bulletproof, a gorgeous and cutting meditation on the contradictory complexities of modern society. Its characters rage at a system that no one truly wants, caught up in cycles the show frames as tragically inevitable. In the context of its well-earned cynicism, its few moments of honest human connection feel all the more precious, brought home by expert framing and brilliant use of music. A rich and passionate meditation on modern society that is elevated by some of the finest music and visuals in anime".

Accolades
Terror in Resonance was awarded "Anime of the Year", "Best Original Anime of the Year" and "Mystery or Psychological Anime of the Year" at the 1st Anime Trending Awards in 2014. The series has won the French award "Daruma d'or anime" at the Japan Expo Awards 2016. It was part of the Jury Selections at the 18th Japan Media Arts Festival in the Animation category in 2014.