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Amidst growing concerns over AI, Psycho-Pass, the 2012 original anime series has become relevant once again. Set in 2112, the series portrays a world that is run by an automated law enforcement organization called the Sibyl System. The anime holds a central question about whether it is possible for an algorithm to understand the complexities of the human mind.

Psycho-Pass‘ dystopian setting is nothing new in terms of concept. But the world of Psycho-Pass provides an ultimate power to the Sibyl System, that is the system decides whether a human gets to live freely, under observation, or deserves to be killed.

Psycho-Pass is more relevant than ever in today’s world Psycho-Pass’s dystopian setting mirrors the upcoming dangers in real-world | Credits: Production I.G

In Psycho-Pass, the Sibyl System can calculate the propensity of a person to conduct crimes. Its primary purpose is to be a vigilante over the entirety of...

There are very few anime series in the industry that can explore the darkness as uniquely as Naoyoshi Shiotani’s Psycho-Pass. While the anime ended long ago, it still continues to inspire the works produced specifically in the crime and psychological thriller genre, considering the hype it created in Japan and in the West when it was initially released.

Psycho-Pass Anime | Credit: Production I.G.

Psycho-Pass follows the adventures of Akane Tsunemori, a young woman who joins the organization called the Sibyl System. The Sibyl System is unique as it can calculate the amount of criminality inside the mind of an individual, analyze it, and keep it stored as data. This data helps in keeping the world peaceful, but some do not agree with these methods.

Shiotani earned a lot of fame and recognition from Psycho-Pass, and it might be one of the, if not the, greatest works by the creator.

Features the voices of: Kana Hanazawa, Tomokazu Seki, Kenji Nojima | Written by Makoto Fukami, Tow Ubukata | Directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani

In 2118, the Japanese government has enforced a mandatory system known as Sibyl, which uses software to analyze the criminal tendencies and capability of the general public. When the chief inspector of the Criminal Investigation Department Akane (Kana Hanazawa) investigates the mysterious death of a professor, she finds research papers that could shake the existing system to the core. Along with some unexpected allies, Akane sets out in search of the truth — even if it means confronting life-threatening obstacles along the way.

Back in 2013, Psycho-pass was merely the latest anime series to gain public traction. Ten years later, a franchise comprised of episodes, films, and sub-series has created a long-standing fanbase that only wants more from its favourite characters. It makes sense then that the anime would mark its tenth anniversary...

This post contains spoilers for the "Psycho-Pass" franchise.

In a society equipped to prevent crime, can morality be measured or anticipated? Is every individual capable of adhering to an established threshold, and should people be indiscriminately punished for such transgressions? Naoyoshi Shiotani and Katsuyuki Motohiro's "Psycho-Pass" grapples with these pertinent questions by filtering events through a futuristic, cyberpunk setting where humanity is governed by the Sibyl System. Is Sybil, like the name suggests, an all-knowing psychic entity or perhaps a group of capable individuals making informed decisions on a case-by-case basis? Unfortunately, the answer is no: Sybil is a biomechatronic computer network that constantly scans the citizens of this dystopian nation, assessing the potential of a person indulging in criminality.

This psychological report — dubbed Psycho-Pass — includes a numeric indicator called a Crime Coefficient (Cc), with the accepted threshold being 100. If someone's Crime Coefficient exceeds 100, they're either apprehended or...

Anime is not just about sunshine and rainbows, it is dark, it is gory and it can question existence as a whole. Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, Paprika, and much other older anime are only proof that this darkness is not new. So mangas and other works that are now part of the dark shonen trio and more only had their paths paved because of the existence of these more foundational animes.

Ghost in the Shell | Credit: Production I.G.

It is only because of these anime and mangas that others also came into being. Some even take direct inspiration from them. One such gem happens to be Psycho-Pass. The anime is as stimulating to the mind as any other. However, it has its own dark side, one that left no stone unturned in exploring the horrors of mankind.

Psycho-Pass Explores the Inner Horrors of the Beautiful Mind

Naoyoshi Shiotani,...

In one story, a school of gifted children hides a terrible secret. In the other, teens Maru and Kiruko wander the post-apocalypse looking for “Heaven.” One is heaven, one is hell. Or is it the other way around? That’s Heavenly Delusion (also known as Tengoku Daimakyo ), a manga series by Masakazu Ishiguro that was adapted into animation last year. It shares his affinity for comedy, horror, and carefully constructed mysteries. The Heavenly Delusion adaptation featured many of the anime industry’s most prestigious artists: director of photography Kentarou Waki, art director Yuuji Kaneko and composer Kensuke Ushio. The director, Hirotaka Mori, was a fresh face. But Mori did a fantastic job, delivering one of the best series of the year. He’s a director to watch closely in the future. Crunchyroll News had the opportunity to speak to Mori virtually during his visit to Anime Central about his process.

There are not many characters who have left an impression on the world as big as Heath Ledger did when he played the character of Joker in Dark Knight. The infamous villain has also made his way into the anime world, as he served as an inspiration for an underrated villain called Shogo Makishima from the popular crime thriller series Psycho-Pass.

Psycho-Pass | Production I.G.

Psycho-Pass revolves around an organization called the Sibyl System that can quantify the criminality within any individual and store that data to analyze and keep the peace of the world intact. However, there are people who do not agree with their methods and try to end their “tyranny,” and one of them is Shogo Makishima, the main antagonist of season 1.

In an interview, the director of the series, Naoyoshi Shiotani, once revealed that the character of Makishima is inspired by Ledger’s Joker, and he...

Although horror anime is often defined by how successfully a show scares its viewers, how it chooses to do so is flexible, allowing authors and directors to approach the genre from numerous different angles to create vastly different experiences. While many fans are used to the blood, gore, and jumpscares often associated with horror, there is another sub-genre that can be just as frightening in a far more subtle way: psychological horror. Instead of relying on overt scare tactics, psychological horror aims to spook the audience by using their own mind and sanity against them. By testing the character's emotional boundaries alongside their physical ones, in moments of great distress, viewers are treated to mind-bending yet terrifying experiences that may make or break a character's entire psyche. Sometimes, the monster is merely just a monster, but occasionally, it's something far harder to comprehend, and it's that unpredictable threat that makes this genre so thrilling.

The 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards are nearly here, which gives us an opportunity to celebrate the best anime of the past year. We’ve spent the year experiencing a colorful palette of emotions while watching not just anime series, but several films. Six of those incredible movies have been nominated for Best Film. Let’s take a look at the nominees! Related: Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024: Your Ultimate Guide Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King Image via Netflix Directed by: Ayataka Tanemura Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King was released in Japanese cinema in June 2023 and simultaneously premiered on Netflix. The story takes place after the events of the Elf Saga, but before the Heart Kingdom arc, giving fans of Black Clover more content to become invested in. Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King gives viewers stunning, well-defined animation with its uniquely choreographed action sequences. The battle feels like it never stops,...

Japanese cinema has been on a somewhat successful stalemate for years now, with the titles produced (at least the ones we manage to sea in the West out of the 600 the country produces every year) retaining the same, relatively high quality, even though no particular steps forward have been made for years now Regarding the state of the industry in 2023, you can read the very informative article by Mark Schilling, but the thing I have to mention is that, despite the issues, local movies definitely have four things working quite well for them, particularly this year. First of all, the big names deliver almost always, with Miyazaki, Hamaguchi and Koreeda proving the fact this year also. Second of all, the quality of anime remains high as always and thirdly, some efforts at different cinematic approaches continue to take place, even though they can almost exclusively be found in low budget and short films.

Deep anime rivalries that make both characters more interesting are everywhere. They aren't limited by type of show -- slice-of-life, action, horror, and cyberpunk are just a few of the genres in which the best anime feuds happen. In many instances, these rivals are exact opposites in appearance, mannerisms, and morality. In others, rivals have subtle differences that show how the protagonist, too, could end up just like their enemy if they aren't careful. Anime fans with a literary mindset will recognize these as narrative foils, and they make for some of the juiciest storytelling within the medium.

Anime lends itself well to contrasting characters. In worlds where overblown physical reactions and a wide range of appearances such as hair colors are the norm, animators can quickly convey to audiences the opposite nature of two characters. Many of the most iconic anime rivalries involve a gruff, dark-haired protagonist who is pitted against an ethereal,...

Features the voices of: Kana Hanazawa, Tomokazu Seki, Kenji Nojima | Written by Makoto Fukami, Tow Ubukata | Directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani

In 2118, the Japanese government has enforced a mandatory system known as Sibyl, which uses software to analyze the criminal tendencies and capability of the general public. When the chief inspector of the Criminal Investigation Department Akane (Kana Hanazawa) investigates the mysterious death of a professor, she finds research papers that could shake the existing system to the core. Along with some unexpected allies, Akane sets out in search of the truth — even if it means confronting life-threatening obstacles along the way.

Back in 2013, Psycho-pass was merely the latest anime series to gain public traction. Ten years later, a franchise comprised of episodes, films, and sub-series has created a long-standing fanbase that only wants more from its favourite characters. It makes sense then that the anime would mark its tenth anniversary...

Expressing solidarity with Hollywood actors on Day 1 of the SAG-AFTRA strike, specialty distributors polled were anxiously juggling opening weekend Q&As and movie premieres without talent. They were trying to clarify which actors on what international productions are SAG-AFTRA, bound by the guild, or neither. And, for those involved in production, trying to pin down the status of interim agreements for independent fare.

“I think we are all quite confused,” said one executive in the distribution space. “I’m trying to get SAG-AFTRA on the phone for a film we are opening in August. I have friends with films opening next Friday.” Individuals preferred not to be quoted given the sensitivity of the situation.

There’s much buzz around waivers, or interim agreements that SAG-AFTRA has said it will grant indie productions with zero studio/AMPTP ties. But there is still a lack of clarity around the application process and...

Crunchyroll teased North American fans with a glimpse of the upcoming Psycho-Pass: Providence.

The popular anime streaming website Crunchyroll partnered with ComicBook.com to give Western audiences a preliminary look into the upcoming fourth film of the beloved sci-fi crime thriller franchise. Titled "New Threat," the short minute-long clip prominently showcases the notorious Peacebreakers, the foreign paramilitary organization that will serve as the film's antagonist. The video also features Milicia Stronskaya, a researcher whose work will drive the Peacebreakers and series protagonist Akane Tsunemori into conflict.

Related: The Best Anime to Watch After Finishing Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

What is Psycho-Pass: Providence?

Produced by animation studio Production I.G and directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani, Psycho-Pass: Providence serves as a prequel to 2019's Psycho-Pass 3 and centers on Akane and her team's search for the Stronskaya Papers, a mysterious document that reportedly has the potential to destabilize Japan and the Sibyl System. Writers Makoto Fukami and Tow Ubukata,...

Psycho-pass: Providence has unveiled the trailer for the English dub of the film, hyping fans up for its July release.

A 10-year anniversary project of Psycho-pass, the popular anime franchise announced a new film called Psycho-pass: Providence in August 2022. The film premiered in Japan on May 12, 2023, and fans will now have the chance to watch the film in English dub when it releases in theaters on July 14. The trailer begins with one of the most memorable OSTs from the original series before going on to introduce Akane Tsunemori's new mission to retrieve an important document called the Stronskaya Papers.

Related: Akira vs. Psycho-Pass: Which World Is the Most Brutal?

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Written by Gen Urobuchi, who conceived the 2012 anime franchise Psycho-pass, Psycho-pass: The Providence will see Naoyoshi Shiotani returning to direct the film. Tow Ubukata will oversee the series composition and script, which he will write with Makoto Fukami. Akira Amano...

Crunchyroll continues to expand its cinematic collection with hot new titles arriving this September for the first time on the anime streaming service, including the blockbuster hit Jujutsu Kaisen 0, the prequel movie to the critically acclaimed anime series Jujutsu Kaisen, as well as one new movie each Thursday.

The film from Toho Animation, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, is based on Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (Jump Comics / Shueisha), the prequel manga to the popular series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. The film was distributed by Crunchyroll in the US and select international markets, receiving over 34M at the North American box office, with a total 166M worldwide.

Classic titles such as Mamoru Hosoda’s critically acclaimed The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Fuminori Kizaki’s Afro Samurai: Resurrection starring Samuel L. Jackson, Masahiro Andō’s Sword of the Stranger, and Naoyoshi Shiotani’s Psycho-Pass Sinners of the System film trilogy...

Leap into the world of Psycho-Pass, a thrilling, futuristic and gripping new crime drama brought to you by Production I.G. (Ghost In The Shell, Blood-c, The End Of Evangelion) that echoes hard-hitting film and TV series such as Minority Report, Judge Dredd and The Tomorrow People.

Brace yourself for a hardboiled, sci-fi thriller from the creator of Madoka Magica and the studio that brought you Ghost in the Shell. Welcome to a world where just thinking about a crime is enough to enough to make you guilty. Bad intentions can no longer be hidden, and the police know exactly which tainted minds are about to cross over to the wrong side of the law. The great equalizer in the war on thugs is the Dominator, a futuristic weapon that can read minds and assess the risk that a citizen will turn criminal. Cops work in teams made up of Enforcers and Inspectors.

Following on from the award winning series, Blood C returns with its movie, The Last Dark, in a film that has monsters, lots of violence, a lust for revenge, great visuals and action to boot.

Blood C: The Last Dark is out to own on DVD and Blu-ray now and courtesy of Manga Entertainment UK, we have a copy on DVD to give away!

To win a copy of Blood C: The Last Dark on DVD just answer the following question:

Who directed Blood C: The Last Dark? Was it:

a) Naoyoshi Shiotani

b) Nanase Ohkawa

c) Tsutomu Mizushima

Email your answer to [email protected], making sure to include your name and address. You can also leave your answer on our Facebook page, just make sure to like us first or your entry will be invalid.

Competition closes April 10th 2014.

Competition T&C’s

• Open to UK participants over 15 only.

The Fantasia International Film Festival is over for now, but don't be too sad; the 2013 dates have already been announced! Fantasia will be back from the 18th of July to the 6th of August 2013. In the meantime read on for the last news from the 2012 edition.

From the Press Release:

The festive atmosphere of Fantasia’s 16th edition will live on for several directors whose acquisition deals were announced during the festival: Boris Rodriguez, the Montreal director of Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal, is celebrating his new contract for a theatrical release in the United States with Music Box Films. As well, Kern Saxton’s Sushi Girl was recently picked up by Phase 4 and Magnolia, while Quentin Dupieux’s Wrong will be distributed by Drafthouse Films.

The last juries have finished deliberating on this year’s competitions and are pleased to announce the following winners:

Aqcc Jury – Asian Section

President: Daniel Racine,...

Blood-c The Last Dark First 8 Minutes Video. Naoyoshi Shiotani‘s Blood-c: The Last Dark (2012) first 8 minutes, extended preview video stars Nana Mizuki, Atsushi Abe, Masumi Asano, Keiji Fujiwara, and Misato Fukuen. Blood-c: The Last Dark‘s plot synopsis: “Tokyo, Winter. Despite the use of the Youth Ordinance Bill to enforce curfews for minors and regulate [...]

The post Blood-c: The Last Dark (2012): First 8 Minutes, Extended Video appeared first on Film-Book.com.

Continue reading: Blood-c: The Last Dark (2012): First 8 Minutes, Extended Video...

Okay, kids! Strap in! With the Fantasia Film Festival speeding at us like a freight train of genre lunacy, we've got a ton of images and artwork to lay on you cats so pull up a seat and dig on new stuff for Blood C, Chained, Crave, Despite the Gods, The Human Race, and Dead Sushi!

The Fantasia International Film Festival takes place July 19th through August 7th.

Blood-c: The Last Dark

Naoyoshi Shiotani (Tokyo Marble Chocolate, key animator on Blood+ and Blood-c), is directing the film based upon the television series. The crew includes writers Jun'ichi Fujisaku and Nanase Ohkawa (Clamp) with animation character designer/chief animation director Kazuchika Kise. Television voice cast members Nana Mizuki (Saya Kisaragi) and Kenji Nojima (Fumito Nanahara) star.

Chained

Directed by Jennifer Lynch and starring incent D’Onofrio, Julia Ormond, Jake Weber, Eamon Farren, Conor Leslie and Evan Bird.

Eight-year-old Tim and his...

It’s that time again. The Fantasia Film Festival is once again imminent, ready to take over Montreal for three weeks with a barrage of genre films and oddball features from all over the world. Running from July 19th to August 7th, this year’s iteration promises to be another insane smorgasbord of the world’s wildest movies. Besides the initial list of films that have been confirmed below, expect another 10,000 or so when the full lineup is revealed.

We can also expect appearances from Tony Todd and Mark Hamill, promoting their new movie Sushi Girl, directed by Ken Saxton, as well as a spotlight on Jennifer Lynch (!), which will include her new feature Chained and the Hissss making-of documentary Despite the Gods. The Documentaries from the Edge section is getting a boost this year as well, though only two titles ( My Amityville Horror and We are Legion: The Story...

The 16th annual Fantasia International Film Festival is gearing up to take Montreal by storm with three weeks of inspiration and thrills starting July 19 and running all the way through August 7. Read on for the latest!

The full 2012 lineup of programming and special events will be revealed next month, and we've got all the preliminary details for you below!

Fantasia Proudly Presents The World Premiere Launch Of A Unique, All-star Travelling Art Show

If They Came From Within: An Alternative History of Canadian Horror Movies

Cinematheque Quebecoise, July 20– July 29

Opening gala July 20, 5Pm

Imagine an alternative universe of Canadian horror movies that didn’t get made, couldn’t get made and maybe even shouldn’t get made… but we’d still love to see.

Rue Morgue magazine Editor-in-Chief Dave Alexander brings together some of Canada and Quebec’s most celebrated genre filmmakers with some of the country’s best...

Yahoo! Japan’s Movies website began streaming the first eight minutes from the Blood-c: The Last Dark film on Tuesday. Manga creator team Clamp developed the story and original character designs for the earlier Blood-c television series and this upcoming film. Production I.G has been animating both projects, but Naoyoshi Shiotani (Tokyo Marble Chocolate, key animator [...]

Continue reading Blood – C: The Last Dark Film’s First 8 Minutes Streamed on FilmoFilia.

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Shochiku has uploaded a new web-exclusive trailer for Naoyoshi Shiotani’s Blood-c: The Last Dark to their YouTube channel.

The movie follows up last year’s Blood-c manga and anime series. Blood-c was created by the all-female manga artists group Clamp and features an original story inspired Production I.G’s Blood franchise.

The story is set in Tokyo as a Youth Protection Ordinance is enforced which prevents underage people from going out at night and limits their use of the internet. However, a team of young people have organized an underground resistance movement called “Surat” to fight against the tyranny created by a man named Fumito Nanahara. Surat has uncovered information on a secret organization called “Tower” which backs Nanahara and is engaging in mysterious human experiments.

When a member of Surat begins snooping around the subway to discover more about Tower’s activities, vicious creatures suddenly appear. Just then,...

Though we still don't have the slightest idea just what the hell the title means (oh, you wacky anime fans), we do have the second trailer for Blood-c: The Last Dark on tap for you sickos right now! Dig it!

Naoyoshi Shiotani (Tokyo Marble Chocolate, key animator on Blood+ and Blood-c), is directing the film based upon the television series. The crew includes writers Jun'ichi Fujisaku and Nanase Ohkawa (Clamp) with animation character designer/chief animation director Kazuchika Kise. Television voice cast members Nana Mizuki (Saya Kisaragi) and Kenji Nojima (Fumito Nanahara) star.

The film will open in theaters in Japan on June 2, 2012.

Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!

Got news? Click here to submit it!

Shed blood in the comments section below!

The official website for the Blood-c: The Last Dark anime film began streaming a second trailer on Saturday. The last episode of the "Blood-c" television anime series had revealed in September that the film will open in theaters in Japan on June 2, 2012. The manga creator team Clamp developed the story and original character designs for the vampire television series and film, and Production I.G has been animating both projects. Naoyoshi Shiotani (Tokyo Marble Chocolate, key animator on Blood+ and Blood-c) is directing the film instead of the television version's director Tsutomu Mizushima. Writers Jun'ichi Fujisaku and Nanase Ohkawa (Clamp), animation character designer/chief animation director Kazuchika Kise, and voice cast members Nana Mizuki (Saya Kisaragi) and Kenji Nojima (Fumito Nanahara) are returning from the television series. Niconico, the English version of the online video service Nico Nico Douga, streamed the television series outside of Japan as it aired. The...

Shochiku has uploaded a new 36-second trailer for Naoyoshi Shiotani’s Blood-c: The Last Dark to their YouTube channel.

The movie follows up last year’s Blood-c manga and anime series. Blood-c was created by the all-female manga artists group Clamp and features an original story inspired Production I.G’s Blood franchise.

The story is set in Tokyo as a Youth Protection Ordinance is enforced which prevents underage people from going out at night and limits their use of the internet. However, a team of young people have organized an underground resistance movement called “Surat” to fight against the tyranny created by a man named Fumito Nanahara. Surat has uncovered information on a secret organization called “Tower” which backs Nanahara and is engaging in mysterious human experiments.

When a member of Surat begins snooping around the subway to discover more about Tower’s activities, vicious creatures suddenly appear. Just then,...

Japanese Anime. Some of it we love. Some we hate. The only constant? Those wacky makes-little-to-no-sense titles. Enter the latest, Blood-c: The Last Dark. What does that mean? Hell if we know. How about you watch the trailer and figure it out for yourself?!

Naoyoshi Shiotani (Tokyo Marble Chocolate, key animator on Blood+ and Blood-c) is directing the film based upon the television series. The crew includes writers Jun'ichi Fujisaku and Nanase Ohkawa (Clamp) with animation character designer/chief animation director Kazuchika Kise, and television voice cast members Nana Mizuki (Saya Kisaragi) and Kenji Nojima (Fumito Nanahara) star.

The film will open in theaters in Japan on June 2, 2012.

Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!

Got news? Click here to submit it!

Shed blood in the comments section below!

TOKYO -- Music label BMG Japan is teaming with Production I.G. on the animated title "Tokyo Marble Chocolate".

The project will see real-life pop duo Sukimaswitch (Takuya Ohashi and Shintaro Tokita) and hip-hop artist Seamo turned into animated characters, the companies said Friday.

Directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani, "Chocolate" is scheduled to premiere at the 20th annual Tokyo International Film Festival, which begins its eight-day run Oct. 20, before being released on DVD in Japan in early December.

Shiotani won acclaim for the hybrid animation techniques he employed in "Blood+," which was in competition at the Holland Animation Film Festival.

Production I.G.'s Kyoji Asano will be in charge of animation direction and the characters are being designed by manga artist Fumiko Tanikawa.