As I have mentioned in the past, the “Psycho-Pass” franchise is probably the closest thing we have in the combination of contextual depth and intricate action that the masterful “Ghost in the Shell” first brought in the world of anime, at least until Netflix got its hands on it. The fact is quite eloquently presented in the “Psycho-Pass 3” line, of which “PSYCHO-PASS: Providence” is the latest entry, set in January 2118, two months after the ending of “Sinners of the System” and near three years before “Psycho-Pass 3”, thus providing the missing link between the two.
“PSYCHO-PASS: Providence” arrives in theaters on Friday, July 14 in North America, courtesy of Crunchyroll
For those not familiar with the main premise of the series, the story takes place in a future Japan that has secluded itself from other countries due to its food autarky. The Sibyl System has taken over the judicial sector, by actively measuring the populace's mental states, personality and their chances of committing a crime in the future. The resulting assessment is called a Psycho-Pass and is measured according to the Crime Coefficient index. When the measurement exceeds a certain level in an individual, he is pursued and apprehended, and after surpassing a higher level, killed.
These actions are implemented by the Public Safety Bureau's Criminal Investigation Division, by Inspectors and Enforcers, with the latter being individuals that their measurement has deemed them criminals, but they are granted a kind of pardon due to their skills in crime-fighting. The Inspectors are in charge of the Enforcers. All of them use handguns called “Dominators,” which are designed to measure the Crime Coefficient and fire only on those that surpass the limit.
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While attending a meeting as a Chief Inspector of the Public Security Bureau, Akane Tsunemori receives a report that an incident had occurred on a foreign vessel. Akane and Atsushi Shindo, head of the Statistics Division of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, who was also attending the conference, rush to the scene, but for some reason, the authority to investigate is delegated to the Action Division of the Overseas Coordination Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the ship, Dr. Milicia Stronskaya, whom Atsushi had invited as a guest for the meeting, is found dead. Behind the incident is a group known as the Peacebreakers, a foreign paramilitary organization that the Action Division had been pursuing for a long time.
The Criminal Investigation Department's Division 1 learns that the Peacebreakers are targeting Dr. Stronskaya's established research, known as the “Stronskaya Document”, and forms a team to conduct a joint investigation with the Behavioral Investigation Department. There, they find Shinya Kogami, a former fugitive from the Public Security Bureau. With the cooperation of Joji Saiga, with whom Dr. Stronskaya had last communicated, the team eventually head for Dejima to obtain the 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.
The main sociophilosophical comment of the series, regarding the complete management of society by a superior authority, an A.I. and how such a concept could be implemented without issues, particularly regarding the exercise of justice which is stripped from the hands of people, finds its apogee this time. The Peacebreakers provide the challenge here in that regard (it is better for the economy of the movie not to reveal anything more) but also a worthy opponent to the aforementioned bureaus in terms of battle force. Furthermore, the analysis of the various characters is as thorough as always in the series, with the focus this time being mostly on Akane, who finds her whole world challenged by a particular villain. In the meantime, Shinya and Nobuchika are also examined through their antagonism and the fact that they have to cooperate against the will of the latter mostly. The combination of all the aforementioned is the one that induces the narrative with an intense sense of drama, that is accentuated by the excellence implementation of Yugo Kanno's mostly epic music, which adds even more to the entertainment the movie offers.
The action is at least on the same level with the context, with the variety adding to its quality. In that fashion, the ‘dogfights' in the air, the one-on-ones where a number of martial arts are exhibited, and most of all, the gun action, are astonishing to watch. The animation of Production I.G. is top notch throughout, but the moments where the system gives permission for the guns to transform in order to either kill or incapacitate is where it really finds its zenith. The implementation of 3DCGI is also of the highest level, in an overall job in the animation that would be very difficult for anyone to find a fault.
Naoyuki Onda's character design is also on a very high level, with the presentation of the new foes and the old allies being excellent, and the focus on Akane also being presented by the difference in her sketching.
Not much more to say, “PSYCHO-PASS: Providence” is a great movie both in terms of context and action, and one that is definitely worth a watch on the big screen.
