In a future where it is possible to fuse the power of machines with our sentience, new possibilities arise to propagate the development of humans. However, the birth of a new concept also gave birth to new ways to committing crimes. To combat the situation, the government establishes Section 9. Their aim is curb the trend of rising crimes. However, a new threat emerges from the dark, known only as ‘The Laughing Man’. The team are now caught in a sticky situation where there will only be one victor.

Here at Honey’s, we will retain GITS as this will probably be the closest that any anime will ever get to Psycho-Pass. Both are police procedural based with the intent of apprehending a mastermind of crimes. Throughout the series of crimes that occur in both series, there will always be an underlying theme that eventually points back to the mastermind. Both series leave you to question on what is the better course for mankind as we progress towards the advanced technological age. Simply speaking, both anime raise a few questions on morality between the never ending debate of good and evil.

Decim – the arbitrator for the afterlife. Whenever two humans die at the same time, they are plunged into his bar where the game for life and death awaits to be played. Ranging from any and all games, the true disposition of each individual will be revealed. At the end of the games lies the judgment, whereby they will either be banished or sent to be reincarnated. Then enters a mysterious black haired woman who might possibly change the way Decim judges these lost souls…

While Death Parade is not a police procedural drama like Psycho-Pass, it upholds the psychological thriller component of it. Similarly, it enables the watcher to question the distinction of good and evil and what it means to be truly good. Both series also feature a central authority figure that relays directions and instructions and how such a perfect system can also raise issues with being imperfect as well. Both series truly tackle the fine line between good and evil. Throughout the whole series, you will be brought on a moral rollercoaster ride leaving you boggled!

Kibougamine Gakuen is an academy reserved only for the brightest of individuals. Dubbed Super Elite Students, the students represent the top of each field. However all of them are trapped in this school with no way out. The mysterious headmaster of the school, Monokuma dictates that the only way to leave is to commit murder and get away with it. Whether the murderer succeeds or not depends on the School Trials. Succeed and all will perish, fail and only the murderer will be executed. Get ready, the next school trial is about to begin.

DanganRonpa shares the same mystery of Psycho-Pass in the way that both have an omnipotent figure whose intentions are questionable. The battle between good and evil is portrayed as the battle between hope and despair in DanganRonpa. With their lives at stake, mistrust and doubt breeds among the protagonists and soon, and similarly they start to even question each other. Essentially, both series harness the weakness in humans known as doubt to progress the story further. Even at the conclusion, the truth is hard to bear and the protagonist is grounded with the reality of their situation.

As a renowned brain surgeon, Kenzou Tenma has it all – love, reputation and respect. Everything changed once he had to make a moral decision – to save a young boy or a prominent political figure. Kenzou’s conscience made him decide on the young child despite being pressured by his superiors. Believing that all life is equal and that he had made the right choice, Kenzou’s views were shattered when the young boy grew up to be a murderer. Now, as he pursued this regret from the past, he is shocked to learn that the fate of the whole world lies with the choice he made years back.

As the puppeteer of the crimes, no one knew of the existence of the mastermind until towards the end. Both series shows the intellect and shrewdness of both architects of destruction. Being extremely calculative and sly, they’ve evaded capture over an extended period of time with their crimes being synonymous with the ideals they hold. Every single detail leads up to an outstanding climax so well played, that it leaves a lingering effect on the watcher at the end. That way, both series are outstanding psychological thrillers and definitely should not be missed!

Set in future Japan, Zankyou no Terror portrays the acts of terrorism. Known only as “VON”, this formidable organisation left the government dumbfounded by their mass attacks leaving them unable to act. The fate of the civilisation lies with two young boys who referred to themselves as ‘Sphinx’ when they identified themselves as the culprits. As the police desperately try to secure leads, the two Sphinxes have continued on with their destruction. The truth of these two boys is unknown. The only thing made known was that they should not have existed at all but here they are in future Tokyo.

Both tackle the issue of crimes that are so wide-scaled that they cause mass paranoia. As paranoia ensued within society, the police and the masterminds are embroiled in a game of cat and mouse. Outwitting the other is simply a daily event between the protagonists and antagonists. Ultimately, as pandemonium spreads within society, the battle between the two will reach its climax revealing the antiheroic traits of the antagonists. In the end, you are left to wonder whose perspective reign supreme and righteous.

The power a Shinigami has to take away the lives of human being can all be yours if you happen to chance upon their tool – the Death Note. In this manner, Light Yagami wields the power to send someone to the afterlife simply by writing the names of individuals he deems to be criminals. The manner of the unnatural deaths caught the attention of the authorities. As such, they sought the aid of the best detective in the industry known simply as L. As the battle of two geniuses takes place, you will be caught in the middle as they play their pieces with their lives at stake.

In a way, Death Note is remarkably similar to Psycho-Pass in the aspect that there is one final mastermind that is controlling the flow of the events taking place. In a way, the authorities are also in hot pursuit of a mysterious enigma orchestrating a series of murder. Likewise, this mysterious entity is also trying any and all means to avoid capture or identification. Both series shows the psychological battle between the Good and the Distorted Good. Ultimately, both series makes you question the fundamental issues with morality.