An anime film

Being a big fan of the cyberpunk genre, and especially a fan of the classic manga/anime franchise Ghost in the Shell, I was ready for a successor to pop up, and boy did one over a decade ago. Psycho-Pass was released by Production I.G. and Toho to critical acclaim, ultimately becoming a long-running series that has spawned content every few years ever since. Psycho-Pass is set in a dystopian future where society is governed by an advanced technology called The Sibyl System. Fans of films such as The Minority Report have seen a similar concept as both deal with the citizenry giving up their free-will to a computer system under the guise of being safer. The show delves into several thought-provoking themes, exploring the human psyche, the impact of technology on society, and the nature of justice. It’s basically an anime version of Black Mirror at times, and continues to be relevant even a decade on.

For those that have not heard of this, the franchise touches on some very important ideas such as questioning the extent to which society should be allowed to monitor and control people’s thoughts and emotions for the sake of maintaining order and preventing crime. There is also a great discussion in many episodes about moral dilemmas centered around the justification of enforcing strict laws and the ethical consequences of implementing a system that denies individual freedom for the collective good. More than most anime, Psycho-Pass is an intellectually stimulating series that delves into complex themes, using its dystopian setting and compelling characters to explore the human condition, the impact of technology on society, and the eternal struggle between order and individual freedom.

“January 2118. Chief Inspector of the Criminal Investigation Department, Akane Tsunemori, receives a report of an incident on a foreign vessel — the body of Professor Milicia Stronskaya has been discovered. Behind the incident is a group known as the Peacebreakers, a foreign paramilitary organization and a new outside threat who are targeting the professor’s research papers known as the “Stronskaya Document”. Reunited with Shinya Kogami, a former fugitive from the Criminal Investigation Department, Akane grapples with a case that quickly escalates beyond their expectations. The Stronskaya Papers could reveal a truth that would shake Japan’s government, and even the Sibyl System, to the core. It is in this untold story that the missing link is revealed.”

After the first season in 2012, the second season aired in 2014. Psycho-Pass: The Movie followed in 2015 as well as a videogame called Psycho-Pass Mandatory Happiness. The franchise went on a short break after that, only to be resurrected with a trilogy titled Sinners of the System. These films led directly into a third season that I have yet to watch, but apparently there was some kind of time-skip and a lot of people were confused. Despite being the newest movie in the Psycho-Pass franchise, Psycho-Pass: Providence (our topic for today) takes place before the events of Season 3 and the film that was released after that season, Psycho-Pass 3: First Inspector. Apparently, it answers all manner of questions about what had happened to get the story to where it was in season 3. I’m actually sort of happy I am behind, because seeing this film first sounds like a better idea than watching it in release order.

Here’s is the best way to experience the world of Psycho Pass:

• Psycho-Pass (2012)
• The videogame Mandatory Happiness is somewhere in the first half of the first season
• Psycho-Pass 2 (2014)
• Psycho-Pass: The Movie (2015)
• Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System (2019)
• Psycho Pass Providence (2023)
• Psycho-Pass 3 (2019)
• Psycho-Pass 3: First Inspector (2020)

I will admit that I was lost a few times while watching Psycho-Pass: Providence. Whether it be the fact that I have not seen season 3, or the fact that it has been something like seven years since I’ve watched any of the material, I can say unequivocally that this film is not meant for newcomers to the series at all. It fully assumes you know about the concepts that the narrative is built around and doesn’t hold your hand in any way. That said, the concepts are intriguing enough, and the film is very well done, so that anyone that stumbles onto this on Crunchyroll in a few months could likely enjoy it in some manner. In the past I’d watch absolutely bewildering OVA VHS tapes that assume I had read a ton of manga beforehand and enjoyed them, so something like this is easy.

For better or worse, this film largely has the same sort of art style and animation as the original show did in 2012. Sure, continuity is great, and this is definitely a continuation of the TV series, but it would have been nice to see a bit more money dropped into this project. I’ve been spoiled by seeing a number of Makoto Shinkai and Mamoru Hosada films lately, and this just seems like an extended TV episode. Psycho-Pass always melded CGI and hand-drawn animation, something Production I.G. always does, even going back to Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and I’ve always felt that Psycho-Pass always got the mix down pretty well as to not make it jarring.

Being a tenth anniversary film for the series, it was cool to see beloved characters return from older episodes, and getting to see this in a limited theater run was awesome. This film seems very necessary as a way to fill in plot holes, perhaps so this franchise can fully move forward. Psycho-Pass Providence has such shocking moments, such as what happens at the end, that I can’t imagine jumping into season three without the explanation as to why the main character Akane was in prison, as an example. The fight scenes and music in this are absolutely incredible, and everything comes together to create all of the mystery and thrills of any modern crime drama.

Overall, I was happy to see Psycho-Pass Providence in theaters, even though it was far from being a perfect film. Being an anniversary film to fill in gaps in the overall narrative, there are some bits that don’t fully sync together, and it’s definitely not friendly to newbies or lapsed fans. That said, the film has a thought-provoking plot, great music and amazing action scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat. If you are a fan of the franchise, Psycho-Pass Providence is a can’t miss.