Psycho-Pass

Justice, and the enforcement of it, has changed. In the 22nd century, Japan enforces the Sibyl System, an objective means of determining the threat level of each citizen by examining their mental state for signs of criminal intent, known as their Psycho-Pass. Inspectors uphold the law by subjugating, often with lethal force, anyone harboring the slightest ill-will; alongside them are Enforcers, jaded Inspectors that have become latent criminals, granted relative freedom in exchange for carrying out the Inspectors' dirty work.

Into this world steps Akane Tsunemori, a young woman with an honest desire to uphold justice. However, as she works alongside veteran Enforcer Shinya Kougami, she soon learns that the Sibyl System's judgments are not as perfect as her fellow Inspectors assume. With everything she has known turned on its head, Akane wrestles with the question of what justice truly is, and whether it can be upheld through the use of a system that may already be corrupt.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kougami, Shinya Main

Seki, Tomokazu Japanese

Makishima, Shougo Main

Sakurai, Takahiro Japanese

Tsunemori, Akane Main

Hanazawa, Kana Japanese

Ginoza, Nobuchika Supporting

Nojima, Kenji Japanese

Kagari, Shuusei Supporting

Ishida, Akira Japanese

Masaoka, Tomomi Supporting

Arimoto, Kinryuu Japanese

Karanomori, Shion Supporting

Sawashiro, Miyuki Japanese

Kunizuka, Yayoi Supporting

Itou, Shizuka Japanese

Dominator Supporting

Hidaka, Noriko Japanese

Saiga, Jouji Supporting

Yamaji, Kazuhiro Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Wada, Jouji Producer

Okamura, Wakana Producer

Kawaguchi, Tooru Producer

Reviews

Mar 20, 2025

MrAux

Recommended

My favorite psychological anime and one of my favorite media in the cyberpunk genre.
The shows deeper themes of justice, morality, and authoritarianism are very reflective of the classic novels that are referenced: 1984, do androids dream of electric sheep, beyond good and evil, hamlet, crime and punishment, and the bible. The references can be a bit on the nose from the book worm makishima, but since it's very reflective of classic literature themes and the founding fathers of cyberpunk it ends up being deeply introspective and interesting as well.
Psycho-Pass is a philosophical critique of authoritarian control, justice, and human agency. It asks whether a ... world free of crime, but devoid of personal freedom, is truly a utopia—or just another form of oppression.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Mar 24, 2025

starcarver

Mixed Feelings

Disclaimer: This following review is based on my personal experience and analysis of the series for the whole ride. I know this series holds deep meaning for many. I understand that it has a large and passionate fanbase, and if you one of them, know that I respect you genuinely. Everyone experiences stories differently, and my goal here is not to diminish its impact or to undermine anyone’s enjoyment, but to share an honest reflection on its strengths and weaknesses and how my perception of it.

Psycho-Pass is a journey full of depth and complexity. It is a cyberpunk crime thriller that initially delivers a gripping ... narrative exploring justice, free will, and the ethics of preemptive law enforcement. Set in a dystopian future governed by the Sibyl System, an AI-driven mechanism that determines a person’s likelihood of committing crimes, the series delves into deep philosophical and psychological dilemmas. Across its multiple seasons and films, Psycho-Pass expands its world and characters but also faces significant storytelling inconsistencies. While it begins as a tightly woven, thought-provoking thriller, the later entries struggle with coherence, leading to an overall experience that is intriguing but uneven. Honestly, I have a hard time deciding where I stand with Psycho-Pass. It has moments of brilliance but also leaves me feeling conflicted due to its inconsistent execution.

Visually, Psycho-Pass establishes a strong cyberpunk aesthetic, especially in its first season. The cityscapes are dark, oppressive, and filled with neon-lit atmospheres that enhance the show’s tone. Character designs remain sharp and expressive, particularly in moments of tension and introspection. The animation quality in the first season is fluid, with well-executed action sequences, but subsequent seasons and films show noticeable dips in quality. While Psycho-Pass 3 attempts to modernize its visuals with CGI, the integration often feels awkward, making some scenes look unnatural. The action choreography remains solid, particularly in close-combat fights and Dominator executions, though later seasons lack the same intensity that made the first season’s confrontations so gripping.

Story-wise, Psycho-Pass starts strong with its first season, which presents a tightly structured and thematically rich narrative. The philosophical battle between Akane Tsunemori, an idealistic but determined inspector, and Shogo Makishima, a charismatic yet ruthless anarchist, is one of the series’ highlights. Their conflict raises compelling questions about justice, autonomy, and whether a perfectly ordered society is worth the sacrifice of personal freedom. However, as the franchise progresses, the plot becomes increasingly convoluted. Psycho-Pass 2 introduces a new antagonist, Kirito Kamui, whose motivations and abilities feel underdeveloped compared to Makishima. The story’s execution feels rushed, with inconsistent pacing and weaker character interactions. Psycho-Pass 3 expands the scope further, introducing new protagonists, Arata Shindo and Kei Ignatov, along with a broader political conspiracy. While ambitious, this installment struggles with narrative focus, introducing too many new elements without adequately resolving them. The films, particularly Sinners of the System and First Inspector, attempt to tie loose ends but often feel like fragmented side stories rather than meaningful continuations of the core narrative.

The pacing of the franchise is another area of inconsistency. The first season balances its investigative and action-driven sequences well, maintaining a steady rhythm that keeps the audience engaged. In contrast, Psycho-Pass 2 rushes through its plot, making some twists feel forced rather than earned. Psycho-Pass 3, with its longer episode format, suffers from sluggish pacing, often stretching scenes unnecessarily while leaving crucial story beats underexplored. The films vary in quality, some provide insightful expansions, while others feel like mere add-ons rather than essential pieces of the puzzle.

Character development is strongest in the first season. Akane Tsunemori undergoes significant growth, evolving from a naive newcomer into a resolute and morally complex protagonist. Her development is gradual and believable, making her one of the most compelling characters in the series. Shogo Makishima, as an antagonist, is equally captivating, his rejection of the Sibyl System and his philosophical musings create a fascinating ideological clash with Akane. However, subsequent entries struggle to replicate this dynamic. Kirito Kamui, the villain in Psycho-Pass 2, lacks Makishima’s depth and presence, making his conflict with Akane feel underwhelming. Psycho-Pass 3 shifts focus to Arata Shindo and Kei Ignatov, but their character arcs feel less engaging. Arata’s unique ability to relive crimes through his “mental trace” is an interesting concept but is often used as a convenient plot device rather than a fully explored character trait. Meanwhile, returning characters like Kogami, Ginoza, and Yayoi appear sporadically but are given little meaningful development, making their presence feel more like callbacks than essential contributions to the story.

The worldbuilding of Psycho-Pass is one of its strongest aspects, especially in the first season. The Sibyl System is an intriguing concept, raising ethical questions about surveillance, human judgment, and the trade-offs between security and freedom. However, as the series expands its scope, the consistency of its worldbuilding begins to waver. The later seasons introduce new factions, foreign influences, and deeper political layers, but instead of enriching the narrative, these elements often complicate it unnecessarily. While the intention to show a broader world beyond Japan is commendable, the execution sometimes feels disjointed, making the story lose the personal, psychological focus that made the first season so compelling.

Musically, Psycho-Pass remains strong throughout its installments. The first season features a haunting and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances both its action scenes and introspective moments. The opening and ending themes, particularly Abnormalize and Out of Control, perfectly capture the cyberpunk essence of the series. Later seasons maintain solid musical quality, but the impact of their soundtracks diminishes as the storytelling becomes more scattered. The voice acting is consistently strong, with Kana Hanazawa delivering a standout performance as Akane, conveying her character’s evolution convincingly. The supporting cast also does an excellent job, but some new characters in Psycho-Pass 3 lack the same emotional weight in their performances.

In terms of genre execution, Psycho-Pass adheres well to its cyberpunk and psychological thriller roots in the first season. However, later entries struggle with maintaining a clear identity. Psycho-Pass 2 leans more into action-thriller territory but lacks the depth of its predecessor. Psycho-Pass 3 attempts to be a political crime drama but overcomplicates its narrative, making it feel less like an extension of the original’s themes and more like a separate, less refined story. While the franchise never completely abandons its core ideas, its execution becomes inconsistent, making the later seasons feel less impactful.

The conclusion of Psycho-Pass remains open-ended across its various installments. While the first season leaves room for interpretation in a way that feels thought-provoking, later entries create more questions than they answer. Psycho-Pass 2 attempts to wrap up certain arcs but does so in a way that feels rushed and unsatisfying. Psycho-Pass 3 and its accompanying films introduce new mysteries without fully resolving them, leaving the overarching narrative feeling incomplete rather than expansive. While some aspects of the story reach a form of resolution, others remain frustratingly vague or are resolved in ways that feel unsatisfying.

The moral message of Psycho-Pass is compelling, at least in its early stages. The first season effectively explores the ethical dilemmas of a surveillance state, encouraging viewers to question the cost of a "perfect" society. However, later seasons lose some of this nuance, often prioritizing complex conspiracies over meaningful philosophical debate. While the series never outright contradicts its original themes, its message becomes less focused, making it harder to discern a clear moral takeaway as the story progresses.

In summary, Psycho-Pass is a series with a brilliant foundation but uneven execution across its sequels and films. The first season remains a standout cyberpunk thriller, offering a gripping and thought-provoking experience. However, as the franchise expands, it struggles with narrative coherence, character consistency, and worldbuilding depth. While it remains an interesting watch for fans of dystopian fiction, its later entries require patience and tempered expectations. And yet, despite all these flaws, I still find myself unable to completely move on from Psycho-Pass. It has so many moments of brilliance that I keep coming back to it, even if I can’t fully decide where I stand on it. I respect what Psycho-Pass tries to be. It has moments of excellence, and there are parts of it that will stay long after you've watched it. But there’s also a lingering sense of frustration, that it could have been something more.

P.S. The Sibyl System may predict crimes, but it definitely didn’t predict how complicated its own story would become.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Jan 15, 2025

sacolle

Not Recommended

I have never seen a series miss the mark so much as Psycho-Pass. The premisse initially cool and the characters are great, but the only problem is that the author fumbles the concept so hard its really sad. The anime is essencially I robot + Minority report which is inherently cool, but it does not uses its screen time to present the moral dilemas it wants us to think its trying to discuss. It's very hard without going in specifics, but the anime want the viewer to question the state its society when the problems it shows are (almost) never systemic. Because so much of ... the anime hinges on its high concept, when it fails, at least for me, it takes the whole anime down.
Bonus point for the secret "immigration will destroy japan" at the end.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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	Poll: Psycho-Pass Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) Yumekichi11 - Oct 11, 2012	675 replies	by tiaamyom »» Mar 22, 4:12 AM
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