Fri, 29 Mar, 2024

Anime Review : Psycho-Pass

By Aasha Poudel

Photo Courtesy: www.zerochan.net

A world where everything is decided for you, your future, your work and where you belong. Can you imagine yourself living in that world? Psycho pass is an anime series which portrays a world where everybody is judged, where everyone is separated into good and bad based upon a system called Sybil system.

Psycho-pass is an action-adventure, fantasy and sci-fi Japanese anime television series directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani and written by Gen Urobuchi. This anime is divided into season 1 and season 2, consisting of 22 episodes and 11 episodes respectfully.

In season one of this series, the story takes place in a dystopian 22nd century Japan where it is possible to quantify and measure a person’s susceptibility towards criminality using stationary and hand-held technology called Dominators. The information is recorded and processed by a hive mind that controls law enforcement in Japan known as Sybil System whereas the term “Psycho-Pass” refers to a standard used to measure an individual’s personality and mind. When the probability of a person engaging in the crimes is measured by the Crime Coefficient index when exceeds a certain level in an individual, he or she is pursued, apprehended and killed if necessary. Sibyl’s ambiguous “judgment” determines a person’s numerical Crime Coefficient as well as their color-hued Psycho-Pass.

The story centers around young and idealistic Akane Tsunemori, a newly minted inspector assigned to the Division one of the Public Safety Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division. The newly assigned inspector along with the other main character Shinya Kogami and the other members of the division one investigate crimes using Dominators to maintain the public order. The season one follows the journey of inspector Akane Tsunemori’s first year on the job where it quickly becomes visible that Inspector Tsunemori is unlike most other detectives. It also follows the journey of Shinya Kogami and the other members of the division one and the main antagonist of the season “Shogo Makishima.”

psycho-pass-2

Photo Courtesy: www.zerochan.net

The second season of this series also centers around Akane Tsunemori, rookie inspector Mika Shimotsuki and a new threat in the form of Kirito Kamui. Kirito is yet another criminal mastermind just like Shogo, who intends to bring down the Sybil System by exploiting its flaws instead of wreaking havoc. This season also shows the truth behind the Sybil System.

Psycho-Pass as a whole is the story of team of policemen dedicated to maintaining public order. Some of them work for the Enforcement Division, which is responsible for capturing and seizing the criminals. While others belong to the Supervisory Division which oversees their colleagues in Enforcement.

Both seasons are very thrilling and exciting to watch. Once started, it gets us hooked. The plot is set in such a way that it captivates us, pulls us into the series and lets our imagination run wild. It introduces us to a world which we almost never imagine. Through the story and the art, we get the opportunity to experience things which are only limited to our minds.