Back to PhonicCanine's Profile PhonicCanine's Profile

This is a weird show to talk about - it is a "chinese cartoon", yet I find it does a better job at making a good harem, with reasons for said harem existing than most Japanese harem anime do. I feel that this show isn't for you if you want pointless ecchi, but the jokes are sometimes pretty funny and it is interesting seeing references to other anime, as well as the chinese take on the medium. If you liked the premise of the world god only knows, then this show is probably for you. The comedy is good, the romance is good and the ... plot behind it is good as well. Also, I want to point out, this show wizzes past - where in a typical TV series may take 3 or 4 20 minute episodes to cover each girl's arc, this show manages it in 3 10 minute episodes, and manages not to feel rushed. This show, is surprisingly, at least for me, on my watchlist for this season.

TL;DR
This show is surprisingly good. If you've ever liked a romance comedy before just watch it. If it doesn't work out, then oh well.

First, I feel it is important I make it clear what I have liked in the past, as this makes it easier for you to decide whether or not to believe my opinion. I loved Guilty Crown, and Angel Beats most, and if you are in a position where you hate both of them, likelihood is this review won't hold truth for you.
Ok, Psycho-Pass, if you just want to know if it is worth watching the answer is yes, but if you want to know why, here I go.
Psycho-Pass starts off with an interesting premise; a future where guns tell their operators who they can ... and can't shoot, based on a number which represents the likelihood of someone committing a crime, this number is known as someone's crime co-efficient. If it is under 100, no action should be taken, over 100 but under 300, the gun operates as a stun-gun, and over 300, it kills. But here lies what the series tries to question - in the spur of the moment, one's crime co-efficient may raise, especially after trauma, and so the first arc really tries to ask if it is ethically Ok to shoot, a question our main character Akane seems to ask a lot more than others. The second arc explores the question of if a system can be perfect, and what happens to the few who slip past the system, for the most interesting part of the series. So now into the nitty gritty:

====Sound and Music====(9)
Both the dub and original Japanese audio are of high quality, as well as the general insert sounds. The Egoist (remember, the band that did the Guilty Crown music) endings fit the show perfectly, but I cannot really say that for the openings, which just didn't click for me.

====Visuals====(8)
Production IG does a good job creating the cyberpunk world and visual style of Psycho Pass, really nothing to complain about here. The overall animation quality, and character quality isn't Guilty Crown good, but it is still damn good. My only gripe is with the visual design of the innards of the Sibyl System.

====Character====(8)
Overall, the cast of Psycho Pass is diverse and well developed, again, there really isn't anything to complain about here, but at the same there isn't an outstanding amount of character development, as most of the show focuses on the story rather than the characters. I would have enjoyed a bit more character development.

====Story====(10)
This is definitely where Psycho Pass excels. The story makes sense and flows, the overarching themes of conspiracy are well executed, and there were points where my jaw literally dropped, due to plot twists. It is very successful at making you question Sibyl.

====Enjoyment====(9)
I really enjoyed Psycho Pass, but at the same time, it wasn't a perfect show, and in some areas left a bit to be desired. But overall, Psycho Pass is definitely worth a watch, no doubt about it.

====Overall====
Overall, Psycho Pass is a great show, the story is deep, the visuals are pretty, the ending themes and other sounds are great, and the characters are interesting. Overall, I would give Psycho Pass 9 out of 10, so, close to perfect.

Brief preface: I will be talking primarily about the English dub.
Guilty Crown is in many ways a hit or miss anime. If it hits, likelihood is that you will love it, to a point of near worship, and if it misses, likelihood is you will detest it. In this, it is similar to Clannad, Angel Beats and many other anime which are considered to be among the best currently in existence. Guilty Crown is, in essence, a story about the growth of Shu Ouma (voiced by Austin Tindle), who begins as a socially challenged, routine-following, weak, school student. This changes when he meets pop idol ... Inori Yuzuriha, voiced by Alexis Tipton. Long story short he becomes a member of the terror organization Funeral Parlor, and in the first 11 episodes, reluctantly helps them out in order to stay close to Inori. The second arc illustrates a strengthening and change of character for Shu, which I wont further explain due to fear of spoiling the plot.

==Art==
The art of Guilty Crown is nothing short of outstanding, and if anyone says otherwise, likelihood is they are lying. This show is objectively beautiful, the characters move realistically, and the backdrops look fantastic. There isn't much else to say about this, Visuals get 10/10

==Sound==
Along with the art, the sound is also outstanding, Supercell and Egoist do a fantastic job with the opening, closing and insert songs, and perfect lip syncing helps make Inori's singing even more enjoyable. Even after finishing this show months ago, I still listen to the soundtrack. 10/10

==Story==
Ok so this is where Guilty Crown normally cops a lot of flack, some people will love the story, and some hate it. On first watching, I held the belief that the first arc was infinitely better than the second, due to making sense on first try. But upon a rewatch of the series I found the first arc fairly bland and the second blew me away. Something a lot of reviewers have missed out on that I feel is important when judging an anime like this, is that there will always be people who do like the story, and don't, just like Angel Beats, Guilty Crown can literally be picked to pieces by minor plot holes, but I personally didn't see any glaring weaknesses in the plot. Overall, to be honest, I loved the plot, not of the whole, but for the individual parts - Particularly around episodes 9-11, and episodes 15-19, and finally episodes 21-22. These particular episodes were my favorites, as they showed both relationship development between Shu and Inori, and character development in Shu, and even side-antagonist Kill 'Em all Daryl. When it comes to the ending, yes, on first go, it kind of sucked, but, I have to say, upon second watching, it was actually beautiful, and very well executed. I really have no complaints as for plot, but it does take some devotion to understand it back to front. 9/10.

==Characters==
This show has a lot of variety in its' characters. From the American stereotype, try-hard general, Dan Eagleman, to the gentle side character Hare, to the wheelchair ridden Ayase, to the calculated Yahiro and Gai, of course not forgetting protagonist Shu Ouma, the cast is extremely diverse and complete. Of these characters, a small fraction receive deep attention, but when a character does, they generally have good development. Shu, as expected from the main character has the deepest development, his emotions getting in his way, and ultimately affecting the way in which he goes about the task at hand. The best example of this is around episode 16, when the death of a close one causes him to completely lose it for the next few episodes. He doubts himself, harms others, but when he does such things, he feels genuinely bad - although this is a quote from Inori in the anime, this feels like a true statement, Shu does doubt his decisions, and he does harm others only to feel genuine remorse. Unlike many other action anime characters, it is shown that Shu isn't in fact born a killer, and so when he does kill someone, it has a profound emotional impact on him, which is shown later through the show. 9/10

==Enjoyment==
This show is a blast to watch. At times it has moments that'll make you laugh, moments that'll make you cry, moments which will make you think, and those that'll make you happy, and if it is a rare moment where one of those isn't affecting you, likelihood is you will be sitting there in awe, looking at either the art or listening to the music of the show. 10/10

==Overall==
I really loved this show. A lot. But that doesn't mean you will. But I encourage anyone to try it, even if just for the art and sound. If by chance, you've watched, and disliked Angel Beats, you will probably dislike this too. But for me, the show gets an overall show of 10/10. It is, in my opinion, a masterpiece, and as long as you don't actively pick it apart, likelihood is you will like it too.

But as always with reviews, your mileage may vary.