Psycho-Pass: Providence, directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani, is coming to UK and Irish Cinemas on 2nd & 3rd August. Tickets are on sale now, so what are you waiting for? Visit www.psychopass-providence.com for more information.
Synopsis
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 organisation 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.
Review
2019’s Psycho-Pass 3 really mixed things up. Not only are most of the main cast absent, having joined Frederica at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the show’s main protagonist, Akane Tsunemori, is stuck in a prison cell without further explanation. Instead of focusing on explaining the hows and whys, the series hones in on a more self-contained narrative concerning the Bifrost System. The series itself does very little to answer any questions regarding Akane’s imprisonment and the team’s disbandment,,, Which is where Psycho-Pass: Providence steps in. Set three years before Psycho-Pass 3, Providence is the final piece of the puzzle that links the two different arcs together. Hanging threads are tied up nicely, questions are answered, and the deaths of Arata’s father and Kei’s brother are explored fully.
Much of the film focuses on Akane’s gradual sprial, not to madness but to clarity, which ultimiately ends with her spending a number of years behind bars despite not being deemed as a threat by the Sibyl System. Throughout her entire career as an Enforcer and Investigator, Akane has wrestled with the darkness that circles around the Sibyl System. It has been corrupted, exploited and manipulated, yet Akane has been one of the only voices to push for reform. After all, dissolving the Sibyl System would be an utter disaster, so acting within the system is her best and only choice.
At every opportunity, Akane identifies and exposes the faults and dangers with the AI monitoring and safeguarding the citizens of Japan. The truth behind the Stronskaya Papers appears to be the final straw for Akane… Her breaking point as she wrestles with a justice system that is beyond repair and an adaptive AI that is slowly consuming every element of society from dating to predetermined occupations. The Sibly System is far from perfect, but it’s what Akane is forced to work with, and this movie very much focuses on Akane’s ruthless and sacrificial method of exposing the corruption that plagues the ignorant and blind citizens of Japan. It’s all about this realisation that advocating for reform is useless against a system that refuses to change… So you have to force it to.
In regards to the animation and style, Psycho-Pass: Providence absolutely shines. Since the beginning, Pyscho-Pass has always offered fans a visually interesting and exciting adventure through a dystopian Japan. With a boosted budget and a more flamboyant story at its core, Providence exceeds expectations by taking everything that’s great about the franchise and enhances it to truly capture and embody that cinematic experience. The hand-to-hand combat is fluid and brilliantly choreographed, the 3D elements are expertly used in a way that doesn’t clash with the more standard animation, and the entire world is beautifully rendered. As a lover of the cyberpunk and post-modern aesthetic, Psycho-Pass ticks all of the boxes. It’s a visual treat that really takes its time to explore previously mentioned but unexplored areas of the Psycho-Pass world.
Psycho-Pass: Providence‘s main goal is to be a bridge between two dangling threads. While it does do a brilliant job of exploring those narrative elements, which force you to change how you view Psycho-Pass 3, it doesn’t sacrifice any of its integrity just to provide those answers. Providence tells a compelling story, while it’s not as structurally deep or mysterious as previous arcs, this film is still full of awesome set pieces, great animation, and characters that draw you into the world flawlessly. It’s not a free pass, but it’s more than enough to forgive an minimal lapses.
Verdict
Psycho-Pass: Providence is a great addition to the Psycho-Pass franchise. Not only does it fill in some major gaps, specifically concerning Akane’s arc, but it also explores additional interesting faults with the so-called perfect Sibyl System and the society that relies so heavily on its rules. With awesome animation and an explosive finale that incorporates everything that makes Psycho-Pass special, Psycho-Pass: Providence is an absolute must for the big screen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Check out the new English dub trailer below:
Are you excited for this new exciting chapter in the PSYCHO-PASS franchise? Let us know in the comments. Don’t forget, you can check out more anime goodness right here.
Need to catch up with everything before Providence arrives? We’ve got you covered. Catch up on the past PSYCHO-PASS television series and films on Crunchyroll.
