****SPOILER ALERT****
This review has many SPOILERS on it, so I advise you to read it after watching the anime.
This is my first review so please bear with me.
Psycho Pass is set in a future governed by a system that controls people's behavior strictly. This is called the Sibyl Oracle. This system values security over freedom in every way. For instance, people are not really free to choose what they want to do with their lives, but they're given a set of options, careers and lifestyles that is most likely to make them happy. So, they don't get to choose, but theoretically they won't have to
...
deal with the disappointments, anxiety, insecurity and other setbacks that the decisive process incurs. They'll be walking a safe road, pretty certain that they're given what's best for them. Another aspect of the Oracle is that it can read people's minds and psyche and calculate their inclination towards criminal behavior (they are called Psycho Pass and hue or Crime Coefficient). Since potential criminals are usually dealt with beforehand, in something like a "Minority Report" fashion, society reaches very high levels of stability, peace and security. Most potential criminals are held in treatment facilities in hopes of improving their hues and getting released while few others are given a chance to work for the Police as Enforcers along with and subordinated to the Detectives.
Story 8/10
I enjoyed this show immensely at some points and I was prone to giving it a 10. But since the last few episodes let me down I had to lower it to 8. In general the story has a very good development and I'd say it reaches its climax in episode 16 with 17 being still reasonably good but the following episodes being a drag and a disappointment. The first few episodes are very cool and exciting, like we usually have in detective series, one different case per episode while more characters are introduced and developed. I found the change of perspective in episode 12 great and really refreshing as we get to learn more about a side character, her backstory and her motivations. I wish they had done this more times with other side characters it'd have really made the story more interesting and enthralling. After episode 13 the story starts to focus more and more on the main male protagonist and the main antagonist with their decisive battle being at episode 16. At episode 17 we have some really cool plot-twists and aftermaths, but after that it just drags itself off and becomes really tiresome. Episode 18 is pretty much uneventful and the what happens in episodes 19 to 22 could have been made shorter (as some other reviewers have pointed). Not to mention that the "final clash" is not even as epic as what happened in episode 16 and is in many ways repetitive and predictable. The overall story would have done much better if this anime was a little shorter or if it had taken another direction. Personally I expected the plot to follow a completely different path. After the true nature of the Oracle being revealed I expected a major rebellion to take place and after the events of episodes 14, 15 and 16 I expected something much bigger to happen, a mind-blowing, extremely elaborated assault within the city borders. What we are presented with instead is a lame, far-fetched bio-terrorism attempt in a totally unrelated part of the countryside. This part completely ruined my mood. It felt like a desperate attempt to introduce new characters and scenarios on the last few episodes and that hardly ever works well. So, long story short I enjoyed most of the story a lot (Enjoyment 9 out of 10), I loved the setting, the pacing on the first few episodes and up until episode 17 too, the mood and the general structure of the story is great. I wish this great anime had been given a better ending though. Also worth pointing out that sometimes the anime tries a little too hard to look intelectual, sophisticated and philosophical but instead just comes out as confusing, misplaced and pretentious. The numerous quotations of books of famous Western writers and philosophers didn't always feel right. They could have tried something different there too.
Art 9/10
The Art in the anime is beautiful. I don't have anything to complain about it. The characters look great, the scenario looks great, the weapons the clothes, the 3D animations, everything looks beautiful. It's great but not mind-blowing or out of this world. But I loved the cute police mascots (I love how cynical they look), the robots, the possibility to have holograms everywhere and the general design too. The character design is not really my favorite but in general it really adds to the serious and mature atmosphere of the anime. Male characters usually have sharp eyes and distinct facial features (specially the most important side characters) and female characters have larger eyes that makes them something between cute and serious. I'd hate if everyone looked too kawaii or childish in this anime it'd ruin the experience. So the character design is on point.
Sound 9/10
The openings and endings are pretty good, but the BGM for me was somehow repetitive and tiresome at times. There are many good and exciting tracks, I didn't like the parts with Classical Music much, at times they felt out of tune with the situation. I liked the thrilling and exciting tracks though. The voice acting is great and is the part I have enjoyed the most along with the characters. It felt great to listen to familiar voices of beloved characters throughout the anime. The robots and mascots sound so nice and cute.
Characters 10/10
I enjoyed the characters more than anything in this anime. They are pretty much authentic and don't follow the common stereotypes of anime in general. Pretty much all the characters are likable specially the characters in the Police force. And unfortunately they aren't given too much development and backstory so they are not too deep. But in this case the variety of characters is more important than their depth. We have all sorts of characters: the senior and charismatic Detective Masaoka (my favorite character), the beautiful and collected Yayoi (the pretiest girl in the series, imo), the stylish, uptight and sometimes arrogant Detective Ginoza, the vengeful, smart and deductive Kougami, the playful and laid-back Kagari, the seductive and kinda lazy but reliable Shion and the bold and intelligent but somehow lacking a distinct personality Akane (the main female character). In episode 13 we're given a flashback of Yayoi's past. I wish they had done that with other characters, specially Ginoza, Masaoka and maybe Akane, would've made her more likable and interesting I guess. The main antagonist Makishima Shougo is also quite an interesting fellow. I'd like to know more about his past, but I guess it's the mystery around him that makes him so interesting. He's unlike other "villains" and not really despisable. My only dislike is that he seems very much like a pretentious pseudo-intellectual, but other than that he was kinda badass, I liked his motives and pretty much agreed with his objectives.
I also loved the side character named Talisman who is voiced by Takehito Koyasu who also voiced "Neuro" on the anime Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro, one of my favorite characters ever in one of my favorite anime ever. I was also delighted at the appearance of Dr. Saiga Jouji, voiced by Kazuhiro Yamaji who also voices Detective Makoto Date in the Yakuza games, one of my favorite series of all times.
So all things considered I gave this anime an 8 out of 10. It's totally worth watching, it has many innovative elements and it stands out from the rest. I wish more mature dark-themed detective productions like this one were made. I hope the following seasons and movies can make up for this one's shortcomings. Please feel free to message me with comments suggestions or similar anime recommendations.
Thank you for reading!
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Aug 28, 2019
Psycho-Pass
(Anime)
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****SPOILER ALERT****
This review has many SPOILERS on it, so I advise you to read it after watching the anime. This is my first review so please bear with me. Psycho Pass is set in a future governed by a system that controls people's behavior strictly. This is called the Sibyl Oracle. This system values security over freedom in every way. For instance, people are not really free to choose what they want to do with their lives, but they're given a set of options, careers and lifestyles that is most likely to make them happy. So, they don't get to choose, but theoretically they won't have to ... |
