Story - 10/10.
What else could I give this than a 10? It's probably the most intelligent anime out there (or certainly one of them). Psycho-Pass is set in a dystopian future where society is governed by what is assumed to be an artificial intelligence - the Sybil System. Our protagonist, Akane Tsunemori, is a new Inspector and the story revolves around her life and struggles as an Inspector, but at the same time it's so much more - it doesn't follow just one story. Instead of focusing too intently on one character or small group of characters, it was told from a variety of perspectives. Within this anime issues such as right and wrong are dealt with, and also issues such as the fact that people are governed by an AI, and the AI's judgement is absolute law - if their hue on their psycho-pass becomes clouded and their crime coefficient is raised above a certain level, the Inspectors and Enforcers then pursue them and apprehend them. There are very dark themes within this anime, murder and torture are pretty prevalent throughout, but it is not dealt with in a tasteless manner. The story telling was so good that I was moved to tears on several occasions, and I got incredibly involved in the story and characters. Information about the world the characters live in was revealed consistently - no episode was an info-dump, the amount of dialogue and action was nicely balanced.
Art - 10/10.
The art for this anime was also splendid - although it is not your usual 'anime' style, that adds to the realism of the story and increases its impact. The relatively neutral colour palette added to the dark and gloomy atmosphere created in this anime, and the gore etc wasn't too much - just the right amount to be shocking without being tasteless. I enjoyed the character designs - as previously stated it steers right away from a classic "anime" style, instead opting for more realism. The lack of "moe" was really refreshing. I know there's a little controversy surrounding Akane's design as some really disliked it, but I think she was cute! And it helped us to be interested in her as a deeper character rather than being interested in how she looks.
Sound - 10/10.
The OPs and EDs for Psycho-Pass were fitting. The OPs set us up for really intense and dramatic episodes, and the EDs were a nice wind-down after each episode finished. I thought the character voices were superb also - each one fit with their character and none of them seemed out of place. Each seiyuu gave a believable and emotional performance which, again, really added to the realism. Also worth a mention is the background noise - orchestral music set scenes very well and added to the atmosphere of the show.
Character - 10/10.
The cast of characters in Psycho-Pass is just phenomenal. Each character grows in their own way throughout the series, and each is a fleshed-out unique individual. What particularly impressed me was Akane's character development - she starts her work as an innocent, enthusiastic, naive and idealistic character, and throughout the series she learns more and more and by the end of the series it is clear how much she has changed. Another facet I particularly enjoyed was the back-story we got about each character - it was always gripping to watch their previous struggles and learn about their pasts, and it gave each character realistic depth and explained their actions and interactions.
Enjoyment - 10/10.
I was entirely gripped whilst watching this series. I HAD to know what happened next episode when one finished. Each part of this anime was masterful, and it raised some serious questions. Such as who is right or who is wrong? Especially when the main antagonist Makishima is introduced, this issue becomes all the stronger, and the lines between the two more blurred.
I would recommend this anime to anyone who wants a change from the usual 'moe', 'slice of life', harem, romance, etc anime, anyone who loves action, or anyone who wants a really intense intelligent anime to watch.
