Premise: In the near future, mind reading is made possible by a technology called "Dominator." With this tool, a user is able to scan an individual's mental state, personality, and likelihood of committing a crime, making it quite useful for law enforcers. Cops come in two varieties: Enforcers, whose job it is to dole out their own form of justice, and Inspectors, who must keep their assigned Enforcers on a tight leash. The story follows Shinya Kogami, an Enforcer who must make his own way in a world where simply thinking of a crime can make you guilty of it.
Initial Thoughts: One word: Noitamina. Fuji TV's latenight programming block has consistently failed to disappoint since I stumbled onto its glory two years ago, and this year looks to be no different. They've already trotted out the dark Black Rock Shooter, the jazzy Kids on the Slope, and what may be the most tear-jerking anime of 2012, Natsuyuki Rendezvous. If you've missed out on any of these, check them out immediately, and if you've already caught them then you probably know why I'm excited. Add the presence of Production I.G., and we have a recipe for a winner here.
Post-Credits Verdict: I thought I was certain of this show's success going in, and then the credits happened. Whose name would I happen to see in the screenwriting credit? None other than Gen Motherfucking Urobuchi, aka the guy behind last year's gloriously dark magical girl anime, Puella Magi Madoka Magika. The dark tone native to all of Urobuchi's work is present here as well, from the opening shot to the final fade to black.
Aside from a short opening scene that sets up the conflict between Shinya and the show's main antagonist, Shogo Makishima, we get our first glimpse of the main character through the eyes of his Inspector/handler, the newly appointed Akane Tsunemori. Tsunemori is the archetypal by-the-book rookie, whose record-making scores at the academy make her more of hindrance than a help. She is assigned to a case on her first day, and is quickly thrust into the dark, seedy world that Urobuchi has crafted for us.
Each person has a "criminal coefficient," basically a personality report card; the higher your score, the more likely you are to commit a crime. But the plot thickens when you find out that Enforcers have the same criminal coefficients as the people they're supposed to hunt, a fight-fire-with-fire sort of scenario. This sets up an interesting dynamic between the Enforcers, who are, in theory, just as bad as the people they're supposed to track, and the Inspectors, who must ensure that they don't cross the line between law and vigilante justice.
The other Inspectors and Enforcers have their own unique charms, but I was most smitten with the wizened Masaoka Tomomi, an older Enforcer whose gallows humor exchanges with Shinya hold much promise. But I'm most excited about how dark the show will get. There are already signs that the criminal coefficient system is less than perfect, and it is clear by the episode's end that this show won't shy away from gore either (hold onto your ass when "Lethal Eliminator" mode is engaged on their weapons). I'm counting the seconds until I can get another taste next week.
