The Psycho Pass anime posits an isolationist Japanese society that is governed by a computer network called Sybil. This system operates on the notion that random brain scans can determine whether or not a person is about to commit a crime. Said person can then be taken into custody and labeled a “latent criminal.” If the latent criminal cannot be rehabilitated through drugs or therapy, they have a choice to be locked up or to assist the police in hunting criminals as Enforcers. Their task? To hunt their own and keep the peace.
It is a future that plays to the notion of mental beauty being a commodity that is in high demand. The police don’t do much in this future, ( ironically enough) they serve as supervisors for the Enforcers. The mere act of doing real police work has a steep cost of raising their co-efficient. They too could be labeled latent criminals.
The show sets a cerebral tone quite early with the ramifications of a rapist being brought to justice, and no less with his victim standing close by. the poor woman after being brutally raped had her co-efficient raised to the point where she too was in danger of being terminated. The fact that the woman didn’t die shows a side of animation fans rarely get to see. One nuanced in sociological factors that dare to ask questions about morality, or the fact that trauma may well indeed have it’s consequences for the people who go through it. In that singular moment, you know you’re going to be in for one helluva ride.
The series is brought together by a variety of mind bending murders that are seemingly unrelated. In this form Psycho Pass pays homage to such classics as Batman, ( minus the cowl and tights) and Sherlock Holmes. The mystery of linking the murders to an unsolved case pushes the series into quite a few flashbacks to ascertain the backgrounds of the police and their enforcers.
The main villain of Psycho Pass is worth mentioning here. A white haired guy by the name of Makishima really puts the hurting on the police on more than one occasion. To make matters worse he doesn’t even really dirty his hands until mid season, where a huge reveal disrupts the very foundation of what the Sybil system represents.
It should be noted that some of the characters could have used a little more screen time. I felt like Yayoi, the former rockstar could have benefited from some up front display action. She, along with Kagari, Ginoza and Shion were of particular interest but didn’t get much spot light.
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All in all, Psycho Pass is an anime that understands the cyber punk noir genre quite well. It is a pretty decent story that makes one think, and for that alone it is well worth the watch.
Saturday-AM gives Psycho Pass Season 1:
8.0 out of 10
+Storyline is meticulous
+Animation is beautiful to watch
+The world of Psycho Pass is fully realized
+Melts your mind with possible solutions
-Supporting characters need more shine
-The story never gets into why Makishima has the abilities that he he has.
-Overuse of wolf references when talking about the protagonist.
Wille, ( the e is silent) S. Colon is a Ninja with a Black Belt in wordplay, he specializes in creative fiction and making the world a safer place from whack emcees.
