Psycho-Pass Movie 2: Providence

The first season of Psycho-Pass is one of my favorite anime of all time, one that I have rewatched half a dozen times since its release. Like most fans, I felt disappointed by S2 and kind of "meh" about S3 and other spin-offs. I think this movie is the best Psycho-Pass entry since S1, which is pretty high praise from me. Although some plot elements were a bit contrived to give all the characters things to do and inject some more depth into the story (some could argue forcibly), overall it works to expand the series in a fresh direction that was better than both S2 and S3 in my opinion. Instead of retreading the same Sibyl system ideas (like S2) or make something so different that it didn't feel like Psycho-Pass anymore (S3), this new film instead explores and tries to answer the question of, "what happens if a similar system/society tries to develop to compete with Sibyl?" This movie finally gives us interactions and banter between fan favorites from S1 (Ginoza, Kogami, Tsunemori) and some extremely well animated fight choreography/martial arts scenes. A new song by Egoist also helped give this movie a boost in terms of being close to S1 in feel and quality. There's also more much-awaited interactions between S1 cast and S2 cast, in case you liked the S2 characters as well. Lastly, the ending was a bit of a twist in a good way that ends up tying everything together, and did not feel overly safe like the first movie did. The movie's ending also develops Akane's character the most since S1. Overall, this film was Psycho Pass at its best since S1 under Urobuchi. Does it beat S1? No, not even close. But it doesn't need to since it still added to the world and character building, and unlike S2, felt like a fresh take that deserved a spot within the franchise. If you're a fan of the series, check it out. It might not reach the highs of the original, but it might surprise you in a pleasant way.

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.. cool ? I guess ? I don't know, i didn't really feel anything at all watching this. I got some nostalgia after the first 10 minutes with the soundtrack blasting and the TK opening but this didn't really do anything for me in particular. Once again it's one of those situations where they bundle 4-5 regular TV episodes together and sell them as a 'movie' even though the animation/storyboarding/direction are nowhere near movie standards. I guess adding some context to S3 is appreciated but this came a little too late and at this point, it just feels like it's Production I.G's way to make some money off the back of a franchise that frankly, has run its course a long time ago. 6/10

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Where Psycho-Pass in its first season was an intelligent examination of the balances between societal control, justice, and idealism, it has with this film truly devolved into a mess of incomprehensible plotting featuring empty husks of characters with incoherent motivations. Other reviewers that disliked this film seem to also harbor harsh feelings toward season three, but I believe that to be mostly unfair. In fact, I would argue that consideration of the third season would be a good and quick way to identify what exactly is missing in Providence that made seasons one and three so much more memorable than this drivel: good dialogue. Psycho-Pass is probably the talkiest cop show that actually warrants being taken seriously, a trait that is somewhat diminished in season three but almost entirely absent in Providence. The real key here is what is being spoken. With season one, the subject of discussions usually pertained to questions surrounding the push and pull between those three aforementioned topics; the cases being handled were mostly simple and were made even clearer to the audience by removing the whodunit factor by following the criminals around. One could even argue that these cases’ procedural details were largely irrelevant on a thematic level; how is a psychopathic high schooler murdering her classmates and posing them in grotesque homages to her father’s art even remotely pertinent to those debates of security and freedom? Short answer: it isn’t. The point of these murder cases is to demonstrate how criminality and, in tandem, judicial practices have changed in the world presented. This is actually what drew me to the series way back when: if the world is ostensibly a utopia, why are there still such horrific crimes being committed? That line of thinking is needed to dive deeper into the franchise’s central debate of security versus freedom, especially in the latter half. Season three was more of an episodic mystery show, meaning the perpetrators’ identities and methods were what were frequently explored in the dialogue. The reason this did not bother me but, in fact, kept me engaged week-to-week is that those topics were all in some way indicative of flaws in Sibyl; the point of these cases was that only a human would or even could have identified something as being problematic or the result of foul play, thus affirming the franchise’s thesis of the need for humanity’s individualistic agency, the value in having people control their own fates. That each case indicated different cracks in the system and society at large kept the season feeling routinely fresh, the other primary reason being that different characters were given the spotlight in each arc (with mixed and limited results, though I still respect the effort). But here we have Psycho-Pass: Providence, the entry where very little (especially of actual substance) is spoken. To pull back a bit and see how it contrasts with films as a whole, this is not inherently a bad thing, even if it is new to Psycho-Pass; I see this effort to inject longer bouts of silence as an attempt to be more contemplative and emphasize characters’ emotions more than developments in the world presented. Providence is really trying to be Blade Runner, a film where, even though the plot is paper thin and the dialogue is sparse and mostly uninteresting, the story is remarkably well-conveyed; there are few other films that utilize atmosphere and mood so effectively (see also Three Colors: Blue). All this is to say, however, that Providence is not the kind of film that employs atmosphere, visual fidelity, and shots of people watching life pass them by to great effect. This film fails as a psychological and emotional examination of quiet characters and their (in)humanity because both the franchise (most of it, anyway) and this film have always been more about the world and far less about the people in it. Providence tries to have it both ways and fails both ways; the few attempts at connecting the interpersonal, intrapersonal, and investigation-relevant problems the characters face to the franchise’s thesis of individualism, this time through religious metaphor, feel extremely forced in addition to being, in some ways, a retread (see the Sybil worshippers in season three). I should note that I don’t think it’s fair to call the film’s plot scattershot or even overly-convoluted. It is, however, damn near incomprehensible during an initial watch because the head of Psycho-Pass’ dialogue and characterization has never before been quite so firmly and deeply up its own ass. Those that have read critiques of season one will know this to be an actually rather remarkable feat. Providence has this idea in its head that the characters’ mere act of speaking like the Renaissance-era people they cosplay should automatically make them smart, and yet all the dialogue succeeded in doing was upset me by making once-interesting intellectual characters totally insufferable. This issue of extremely clunky dialogue is dwarfed, however, by the fact that, with all those contemplative silences, not enough is actually said about what is happening or why it matters. There is a wealth of missing information here that only serves to make the experience annoyingly confusing. Why characters do the terrible things they do was never quite clear to me, yet all these actions warrant further explanation beyond the fact that Psycho-Pass has a history of being grim-dark. The tragedy is that it’s now grim-dark with whatever points intended by the creators frustratingly muddled by the film’s shoddy presentation. If that was not bad enough, Providence also falls victim to the practice of not leaving well enough alone e.g. Kougami. To be fair, the problems with his characterization really started with his decision at the end of the third Sinners of the System film to effectively be an Enforcer all over again except for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meaning he would be fighting foreigners and would use guns rather than Dominators (as such, the coolest sci-fi element of the franchise is largely absent from the film, dumb black hole gun notwithstanding; not exactly a great marketing ploy). The question I have is this: why is Kougami doing a bunch of 007 nonsense on behalf of a government for which he has no love? Here’s his arc across the franchise: in season one, he’d already fallen from grace, having resigned himself to being a state-sanctioned stone killer but who then proves himself to be an egotistical murdering bastard by the end. Psycho-Pass: The Movie and the third Sinners of the System film have him feeling tortured over his decision to execute Makishima; he wanders freely around Asia without any direction beyond wanting to do right by people, perhaps even in atonement for his sins, before making the boneheaded decision to return to Japan and be a state-sanctioned killer again because… freedom wasn’t what he thought it was? I bring all this up because Providence actually touches on this negation of his entire arc; he says that his current job helps people, which doesn’t make any sense considering he is still just an executioner for Sibyl. The film, in contrast to its attempt to be more emotionally introspective, makes no effort to have Kougami actually reflect and change or even effect healing within the people he had hurt with his betrayal. He calls up Akane, ostensibly to apologize (and only at the prompting of Professor Saiga), but instead tells her he regrets nothing. This is never brought up again. When this happened, I immediately laughed, cupped my hands around my mouth, and called out to my TV, “Nice apology, dicknuts!” Sure enough, Akane herself pretty much says the same thing after he hangs up. Though I had already suspected it, that moment was when I really knew this film was too dumb for me to enjoy. On the topic of 007 nonsense, I have a bit of a bone to pick with the action sequences in t…

Normal anime that gets a movie = beautiful movie visuals and post-production. But Psychopass since the first season is going both in quality and entertainment significantly down. Rather than wasting my time watching this movie, I should have rewatched the first season. Don't expect anything great from this movie, if other Psychopass movies were enjoyable to you then you will enjoy this one too just slightly less. I would say it's mostly for hardcore fans. The story is mostly predictable if you watched previous Psychopass movies. That is a big negative at least for me. If you never watched Psyhopass before watch the first season and then stop it's not going to be as great as the first season was. I would highly recommend ditching movies altogether. This movie in particular.

TL;DR: It's watchable and entertaining even if it doesn't make sense. Plot-wise it's uninteresting and a carbon copy of SAC's Individual Eleven The 2nd gig. I've always believed that Psycho Pass should have followed the line of the sublime first season: criminal investigation and a more thoughtful and methodical approach. But they went down a more action-centric path trying to mimic GitS SAC, but where in that one it was believable and logical, here it never quite clicks. Mainly due to the fact that the Public Safety Bureau is a civilian organization, not a military one, and its competencies would not be the ones represented. Or that seeing individuals in suits and skirts facing special forces with state of the art equipment while they use their standard batons is not very credible. In the movie you will find everything that is in Psycho Pass after the first season. An action story with zero logic and a background that seems interesting or deep but that when you stop to analyze it shows its superficiality and little sense. The action scenes again aren't very credible (special ops losing as if they were random npcs, characters running and jumping even though they have been shot in the leg, jumps from great heights without consequences, some politics to fill and look like something serious, poor character development, etc.). The plot is bad and poorly written. It's also clearly the same as the Individual Eleven arc in The 2nd Gig (Some rogue squad wants to create an independent nation of Japan. They even use like in GitS the hacking of bodies and so on). The characters' motivations are not explained, the mix of agencies and how they "fight" is laughable, the protagonist's final act lacks conviction or logic on her part (and she might as well have done it at the beginning and saved us two hours). Sybil forgiving Akane is less and less believable in every iteration. And several scenes are blatantly poorly written to create "tension" or to force the script to go somewhere specific. There are also numerous absolutely laughable moments that make no sense whatsoever (like the bad guys not shooting and waiting to be shoot, or a character about to be killed shouts "don't shoot, he has to be judged according to the law" to the person who is going to save her. Even the bad guy and the good guy seem to think "eeeh what?"). An example of the whole plot would be: the bad guy wants to press a button that will make the world end. The good guys discover that he is wrong and that they really want him to press it, because the result would be good. Even so, they decide to mess it up, to make a whole war to finally press it themselves in front of the bad guy. As I say, one would expect a Psycho Pass movie to be somewhat more realistic and better made (like the material it tries to imitate/homage) something to reference in the future. But this is just a plain, entertaining, fun and forgettable action film. Is that a bad thing? No, not at all. It is what it is and that's it. To put it bluntly, it could have been the original GITS, and it is its live-action adaptation

Providence is easily better than the First Psycho-Pass movie, which kind of says a lot on how the series can stand on its own without Urobuchi. The SS cases preceding this and Psycho Pass 3 onwards are also very close to season 1's quality, which makes you wonder - with the first film coming out AFTER Psycho Pass 2, why did Ubukata rush to make Season 2 with recycled ideas from season 1, destroying the series' reputation? If Season 2 didn't happen, Psycho Pass could've been up there this year and years prior next to Bungo Stray Dogs. However, Providence also slightly suffers from its bizarre position in the franchise, being that it was probably written before season 3 but developed after that entry, requiring viewers to backtrack a bit or just wait to watch Season 3 to understand fully. There's also a heavy CGI scene that focuses on Teppei, who is still basically the forever background character of the series, and thus you wonder why we needed that scene at all. Anyways, it does a great job exploring a fresh concepts and a fresh philosophical angle, that being religion. The return of a certain season 1 character also helps this as he provides insight and philosophical commentary. Another thing the film does right is dethrone Kogami as the invincible martial arts god he's been since killing Makishima. In the first time since forever, he gets humbled by someone else, someone far stronger that he can't compare with. And it's not Ginoza, which makes it more surprising. The other interesting thing the film does, without spoiling, is that it gives us a look at what Kogami could be if he slipped and lost control. Makishima is still dead, but he also lives on in Kogami as they had essentially synced thought processes at the conclusion of season 1. Kogami obviously isn't the villain here but the way it plays out is what one would imagine if Makishima took the driver's seat in his mind. Providence also does a great job of setting up/addressing season 3, though it does not answer the question of why season 3 tried to set up Kei Ignatov as a rival to Kogami in fighting skills, with several mentions of Kei having a terrifying "dark side". The given explanation in season 3 is either due to Kei having gone to war, or taking after his brother, but Kogami has also participated in wars.

May contain minor spoilers (talking about appearing characters), but nothing major. I got to watch it in the cinema and really enjoyed it. Kogami, my favorite character, was as interesting and skilled as always and continues to fascinate me. A thing about Psycho Pass I like in general is the continous critical thinking about their own actions and morals, and this movie is no exception. It seems to play between SS Case 3 and Season 3, and fixed a lot of open questions I had when watching Season 3. Style: That movie looked incredibly good. Music Beautiful as always, and even though they used a lot of cgi again it looked fantastic. I really enjoyed watching it. Overall: great story, great characters ( not only kogami, all of them with their different personalities delivered a great cast), great voice acting, great visuals. Makes you think about some things in your life too. I can‘t state it enough, I can definetly recommend watching it, but if you did not like the previous Psycho Pass, you won‘t like that one either. 9/10

The movie is overall "good", I give it 8 for 2 reasons, each reason being 1 point minus. 1. The movie should've aired before S3. This is basically the story that lacks in S3 that explains the status quo of the season. 2. The movie didn't really bring anything new in advancing the major plotline. It's just ol' Sybil doing Sybil shit again, and ppl around it wondering if it's a good or bad thing. This is the formula used too often after season 1, and it's getting kinda predictable. Other than these 2 things, the movie is alright, loved how it had so many characters in it from other seasons too, and some specific character interactions that we didn't get in a long time. The backgrounds are gorgeous.

Pyscho Pass Providence is easily up there with the first Pyscho Pass movie in terms of how well written it is, and how it just ties everything together in a neat little bow. All of the questions I had in season 3 and the Season 3 movie were answered here, and there was a lot of cool world building for the japan side of the Pyscho Pass universe. If it's been a while since you've seen Season 3 or any of Pyscho Pass, you are gonna have to do a rewatch to understand what's going on, because this movie kind of just hops right back into the past with the assumption that the audience at least remembers what happened. I also like this movie because it once again features a lot of really interesting dialogue and critique on society and the government as a whole, and it brings up Akane's iconic line of thinking: The Laws should bend to the will of the people. Which is to say, they should exist in accordance to the people who will be following these laws, and not exist solely as the thoughts of a machine. People deserve to have a right to speak on what they think is right or wrong in regards to the law, and even in regards to who is guilty and who is innocent. Some people don't like Akane, and I don't understand that because she's easily the best protagonist in the series (i personally find Kogami to not be as interesting to watch), so if you don't like Akane you're probably gonna not enjoy it since this is a VERY Akane centric film. The soundtrack is super nostalgic and I like the new Opening and ED they had, though I am gonna miss the iconic "Monster without a name". My only real critique for it is that we don't really spend a lot of time with the other characters like Ginoza or Karanomori, even though they're in the film a fair bit.

Psycho Pass Providence acts as the bridge between the Sinners of the systems movies and season three. Just like the First Inspector movie, this was very much needed to answer a lot of the unanswered questions that stem from season three. Starting with the plot, a rogue black ops unit, the Peacekeepers are trying to dismantle the Sybil System by uncovering some hidden secrets. I think the story is pretty interesting, but honestly, that’s not really what held me in this movie. If you loved the philosophical tone of season one, that doesn’t stay with this movie. Like many other entries of this series, this movie is much more action focused, and in my opinion, the action is not the thing that made me excited about Psycho Pass. It doesn’t make the movie bad, I just can’t say it gripped me either. In terms of the characters, they were very good. If you liked the old cast, then you’ll love them here. The Akane and Kogami duo is back, and they’re great, every scene with them is entertaining. Ginozawa being a supportive enforcer was also good here and felt like a necessary part of the team. Everything involving the old cast was done well. Bridging them with some new characters like Arata’s father was needed as well because it adds more context to season three and their characters. However, I have to say, I didn’t enjoy Mika in this movie, probably because she hadn’t reached her season three peak yet. I also think the villains were pretty generic, they felt like your standard tough guys to beat, just nothing about them really stood out. The main antagonists motives was also pretty wooden. The sound design was good here, as well as the animation. However, for a series turning more action focused as it goes on, I just don’t enjoy the action in these installments, they just feel very sluggish a lot of the time, there are gems in there occasionally though. One last positive I must give this movie was how it showed what happened to Akane, I really liked the way she was arrested, on a note to show she still wasn’t a “criminal” because her crime coefficient didn’t go up after the crime she did. All in all, she’s definitely one of the best characters to come out of Psycho Pass. The characters were the best parts of the movie, with some lackluster villains and a plot. But it served its purpose very well, better than First Inspector in resolving many plot points. Overall Score: 72% on the moist meter 🤖🔫

Psychopass Providence is a strong addition to the Psychopass universe and serves as a celebration of the series’ 10th anniversary. Known for its deep exploration of politics, ethics, and the complexities of law and order, this movie stays true to the essence of the series while introducing new challenges and dilemmas. While not perfect, it remains a compelling entry in the Psychopass saga, offering plenty for fans of the franchise to enjoy. Plot: 6/10 The story revolves around a rogue group backed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who aim to create an autonomous nation free from the Sibyl System’s control. Akane Tsunemori, now Chief Inspector of the Criminal Investigation Department, leads her team in investigating the mysterious death of a professor whose groundbreaking research threatens to destabilize both Japan’s government and the Sibyl System itself. The plot delves deeply into the ongoing tension between individual autonomy and the collective governance of Sibyl, raising new ethical and philosophical questions along the way. Akane’s steadfast commitment to working within the system while subtly pushing her own agenda is as engaging as ever. However, the story does falter slightly in pacing, and some plot elements feel a bit convenient. Despite these flaws, the overarching narrative is gripping, with enough twists to keep viewers on edge. Characters: 8/10 Character dynamics have always been a hallmark of the Psychopass series, and this movie continues to deliver in that respect. Akane’s growth is particularly noteworthy, as her shift to the Foreign Affairs Department adds layers to her character. Her internal struggle to balance personal morality with the rigid laws of Sibyl makes her as captivating as ever. However, the return of Kogami feels somewhat forced, serving more as fan service than a necessity for the story. While his presence is always welcome, his involvement doesn’t contribute significantly to the plot’s progression. The supporting cast performs well, though their roles occasionally feel overly convenient to push the story forward. The antagonist group, while somewhat one-dimensional, manages to hold their own and provide a believable threat. Animation: 9/10 The animation quality remains a high point for the Psychopass franchise. The movie’s visuals capture the sleek, dystopian aesthetic of its technological world with precision, bringing life to the grim and sterile environments. The iconic Dominators are as imposing as ever, and the aerial battle sequences stand out as particularly breathtaking. That said, the fight choreography in some scenes could have been smoother. While the movie benefits from a higher budget than the TV series, certain action sequences lack the fluidity expected from a cinematic release. Despite this, the overall visual experience remains immersive and well-executed. Sound: 9/10 The Psychopass series has always excelled in its use of sound to enhance storytelling, and this movie is no exception. The OST is a mix of nostalgic tracks from earlier installments and fresh compositions that effectively set the tone for each scene. The opening theme attempts to evoke the same intensity and mood as the original series’ OPs but doesn’t quite hit the same mark. Nonetheless, the music does a stellar job of immersing viewers in the film’s tense and atmospheric world, making the auditory experience one of its strongest aspects. Enjoyment: 8/10 For fans of Psychopass, Providence delivers an engaging mix of action, philosophy, and psychological intrigue. While Kogami’s inclusion may not have been necessary, his return is still a treat for long-time viewers. The film’s exploration of ethical dilemmas and the ever-present question of whether the Sibyl System is a necessary evil remain as provocative as ever. Though the antagonist group is somewhat one-note, they serve their purpose well, creating tension and stakes that keep the story moving. Overall, this movie offers plenty of food for thought, making it a satisfying watch for fans of the franchise and newcomers who enjoy thought-provoking narratives. Overall: 7/10 Psychopass Providence is a solid installment that captures much of what makes the series beloved. While it stumbles in places with its pacing and character utilization, it more than makes up for it with its compelling themes, stunning animation, and evocative soundtrack. Whether you’re a dedicated fan or someone seeking a smart and intense psychological thriller, this movie is well worth your time.

Do you know what waiting for five years to see a mystery solved does to a mf? After enduring the ever so complex events of season 3, we had to wait for 6 months to see its ending, First Inspector. Then we had to wait for another 4 years, because said film, or more accurately a series of episodes, didn't grace us with the answers we sought. We still knew nada about Arata's father and the nature of Akane's imprisonment. With the release of Providence in 2023, we got answers to the big two: Why is Akane in jail, and what's the deal with Arata's father, Atsushi Shindo? Kidding, nobody gives two shits about Atsushi Shindo. Jokes aside, I firmly believe Atsushi Shindo was a mistake. As in he never should've been introduced this franchise. For one simple reason: he has no reason to be here. He brings nothing to the table. He hasn't an interesting bone in his body. I'm avoiding spoilers so I won't go much deeper, but know this: he's a somewhat shady bureaucrat who could've been in any political thriller. There's nothing about his personality, journey or demise that's thought provoking. He does not belong in Psycho Pass, and he hogs time and effort that could be spent on other, more important characters. Speaking of characters, Providence definitely feels like the Psycho Pass project with the largest cast. Pretty much every major character who's still alive is here. And given this is a 2 hour film, sadly they get very little chances to shine. 90% of them are there to help with the plot and get barely anything in terms of characterization. In what little screen time Ginoza gets, he's busy treading old ground, something that's plagued him since season 2. The only ones that somewhat breathe life into this are Kogami and Akane. Akane's unwillingness to accept certain actions clashes with Kogami's stern "I have no regrets" attitude, but the plot has too little breathing room to allow this personal conflict to develop any further. When it comes to the plot, my greatest gripe with this film comes to the surface: The Divider. That is the name of the mcguffin the bad guys use to be immune to the cymatic scan, therefore to the Dominators. Almost every iteration of Psycho Pass has introduced some way to bypass Sybil's scanning, and in the words of a very wise man, it's time to stop. The cymatic scan is the premise Psycho Pass is built on. The more you fuck with it, the cheaper your Psycho Pass media becomes. Season one was the only installment that came up with a logical explanation for the exploit. Providence, to its credit, tries very hard to explain why the Divider works, but I did not find it convincing. It may work for you depending on your suspension of disbelief. The device, as well as the whole "posession" gimmick, creates some serious questions regarding the antagonists's power level and his course of action. There isn't much more I can say about the plot without spoiling things. The great question was answered in the end, and even if it felt mostly disconnected from the events of this film, I thought it was well executed. Visually, I found this film alright. The quality of animation is somewhere between First Inspector and the SS Cases. The fighting is mostly well choreographed yet made of animation that's a bit choppy, leading to generally alright action sequences. Regardless of action, it's a nice looking film. Not "every frame a painting" or mid, but nice. Also, this isn't exactly a criticism but I can't help but be amused by how all the buildings and aircraft are overdesigned af, while the cars are still fucking Alfa Romeo 159 and Bugatti Veyron. Without a doubt, the strongest aspect of Providence is its music. Yugo Kanno always cooks, but this time he brought the big guns. Everything from the most intense action scene to the most heartbreaking of moments is accompanied by an absolute auditory treat, mixing new melodies with a dash of the ones you know all too well. It definitely serves to get your blood pumping and your investment up a notch. There's a point where Sugo flies a fighter jet to find an enemy satellite, and the music that plays when he finds it would have you believe it's a fucking Final Fantasy boss. With some generosity I can say Providence is a fine political action thriller. Yet if you approach it with any amount of scrutiny, you'll find cracks in its plot, and ways in which it could've been better. It's far from the worst Psycho Pass content out there, but it isn't a film I'd go around telling people to watch, either. To whoever reads this in late 2026, I genuinely don't know if you'd enjoy this film. It depends on your standards and your suspension of disbelief. Though if you've suffered through season 3, seeing Providence can do little harm.