Anime Review: Psycho Pass (2012-2013)

Genre: science fiction, crime thriller, action, psychological
Release date: 2012-2013
Episodes: 22

Plot
Psycho Pass is set in a future where it is possible to instantaneously measure a person's mental state, personality and the probability that a person will commit crimes, all through a "cymatic scan" of the brain. The resulting assessment is called a Psycho-Pass. When this probability, measured by the "Crime Coefficient" index, is too high in an individual, they are pursued and apprehended - with lethal force, if necessary.

The plot focuses on a young adult named Akane Tsunemori who is a new police officer known as Inspector within Unit 1 of the Public Safety Bureau's Criminal Investigation Division. As an Inspector, she hunts criminal alongside a special team of so called latent criminals (people whose Crime Coefficients are deemed too high and without chance of recovery) called Enforcers. The main Enforcer in the story is Shinya Kogami. Both Enforcers and Inspectors use magnum-esque "Dominators" special weapons designed to fire only on those with a higher-than-acceptable Crime Coefficient. During some of Akane's first investigations, the group learns of a mastermind behind multiple crimes, Shogo Makishima. (excerpt from Wikipedia)

Review
You need to really focus once you start this series as it has a very intense and complicated plot, filled with many twists. It explores many psychological and societal themes such as:
- is being placed and judged by an all-knowing system really the best thing for society?
- can something really measure who does or does not have criminal motives and choose to confine them for life?
- should someone be punished because they have the potential to do something considered wrong by society (eg. thought of hurting someone before acting on it)
- emotional repression: not feeling any emotions that society judges as negative (eg. sadness, anger)

I was first drawn to Psycho Pass because the original character design was done by Akira Amano, who is the mangaka for Katekyo Hitman Reborn (one of my favourite anime). And Amano-sensei did not fail as the character designs were very well done. The characters themselves were also well developed and have depth.

Overall, a great action, sci-fi crime thriller that explores many psychological and societal themes, that keeps you at the edge of your seat. (8/10)