Psycho-Pass: Season 1
Directed by: Naoyoshi Shiotani and Katsuyuki Motohiro
Produced by: George Wada, Kenji Tobori, Wakana Okamura
I was first exposed to this anime closer to its original release around 2013, and I could tell it was a quality series back then. It's taken me till now to go back for a serious look, but I'm really glad I did.
Psycho-Pass is an original anime not based on anything else (according to what I'm reading) that takes place in a dystopian future Japan governed by an advanced AI system (named Sybil) that roots out any potential criminals before they commit a crime, based on individual psychological examinations. An individual's psychological score, or their "Psycho-Pass," is what determines their place in society and the careers they qualify for. The anime functions as a study of what a society under this kind of rigid government would look like and the pitfalls it would encounter.
This "study" follows Akane Tsunemori, a young graduate whose Psycho-Pass is exceptionally "clear," meaning it qualifies her as an exemplary citizen who is eligible for basically any career she wants. She chooses to be a detective with the Public Safety Bureau as she believes it will lead to the most exciting life and enable her to make a real difference.
One fascinating element of this series is the class of characters called "Enforcers." These are citizens whose Psycho-Pass has been determined to be criminal--Sybil has determined them dangerous and likely to commit crimes--but instead of going to jail, they're assigned to work along with the detective agency to help them think like criminals. Enforcers are considered second-class citizens without rights, so detectives are allowed to order them into life-threatening situations without consequence. Although Tsunemori is obligated to abide by these rules, it conflicts with her own sense of morality and inclination to see them as human--as more than their Psycho-Pass. The element of the series that fascinates me is how flawed Sybil and its Psycho-Pass system is: one plot point revolves around a criminal whose Psycho-Pass is clear, designating him as a top citizen, while in reality he's a brutal serial killer. In one episode, the detectives watch him murder someone right before their eyes but they're unable to fight him as his clear Psycho-Pass means their weapons don't work against him.
The anime follows Tsunemori over the course of several cases, many of which force her to examine her own moral compass in contrast to Sybil's. The cases lead her to increasingly question the Psycho-Pass system, the humanity of Enforcers, and the legitimacy and even origins of Sybil itself. It's a great study on psychology, what constitutes a criminal, when the ends justify the means, and what true justice means.
By the end of the season, Tsunemori learns that the Sybil system has achieved far more control than it was intended to have, and sustains itself through questionable means. The detective is left with major questions about how to proceed forward with this information and knowing that her own life may be in danger now that she holds this knowledge.
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