ID: Invaded was a 2021 anime that took the same basic ideas from Psycho-Pass and remixed them into a smart, fun, multi-layered detective anime classic.
Psycho Pass is still a fairly well-received anime, with many comparing it to the American film Minority report. Featuring apparent criminals tasked with using technology to stop others from committing crimes, the series has been praised for its quite dark and psychological cyberpunk tone. Some feel that the series has seen better dayshowever, especially with other anime tackling the same concepts in a bit fresher way.
ID: Invaded was a similar sci-fi crime thriller, featuring a more “outdoor” version of the premise with sleek, sleek animation. Bringing its sci-fi ideas and technology to life in a dynamic world, the series is still a fondly remembered but relatively short-lived spectacle. Here’s why it’s as good – if not better – than the mainstream Psycho Pass.
ID: Hannibal Lecter combined invaded with minority report
ID: Invaded It was produced by studio Naz, which recently handled the anime adaptation of Lucifer and the Cookie Hammer. The protagonist of the series is Akihito Narihisago, a famous detective whose life was turned upside down when his family was murdered by a serial killer. Tracking him down and exacting revenge, Narihisago ends up in prison, though his talent cannot be held behind bars. He is soon tasked with solving cases via the “id well” – a mental blueprint built from the various thoughts of a killer or his victim. By doing so, he and those he works with can solve the murders committed by the serial killers that Narihisago has sworn to fight.
All the while, his first brush with murder has given him a growing bloodlust that he struggles to fight. The fact that people turn to him, now a criminal, to find other killers, makes him somewhat comparable to iconic fictional killer Hannibal Lecter, although the similarities end there. One of the weapons the characters use is the “wakumusubi” radar gun. It tracks the very mental state of a criminal or suspect, determining from there whether they intend to kill at the moment. Doing this can give deeper insight into the minds of even the most heartless killers. All of this has fleshed out the world of ID: Invadedwhich was built over 13 episodes – barely enough for the fairly well-received show, which handled its premise with a balanced tone and style.
ID: Invaded was a sci-fi detective anime that was more than the sum of its parts
Although he excelled in the same genres of crime and detective stories as Psycho Pass Told, ID: Invaded was far more unique than many similar anime. For one thing, its animation and art style were far from what many would expect from a gritty mystery series, being much brighter and more “bubbly”. This is reflected in the tone of the series, which hasn’t been afraid to add levity amid often heartbreaking situations. At the same time, the mysteries, the twists and turns are all expertly written, with no telltale out-of-left-field or contrived feeling.
The conceptual nature of its sci-fi is also a plus, especially since such things are quite rare in anime. It’s also fleshed out and explained beyond just surface details, while keeping the concepts fun and not too boring. The visuals of the more esoteric aspects of “id well” help differentiate the series from more grounded mystery thrillers, and it might make those who watched the Personas 5 anime or even some isekai anime feel like home.
Likewise, the characters themselves all have depth and layers, especially Narihisago, who in many ways has become what he hates the most. None of the actors fall cleanly into tropes or archetypes, which makes them feel like real characters and not just walking plots. This makes it the perfect series to watch for anime fans and those who are simply looking for both great sci-fi and great crime thriller storytelling. The small amount of episodes also makes it ideal for a quick binge, so those with subscriptions on the Hulu, Funimation or Crunchyroll streaming services should add ID: Invaded to their list of must-see mystery anime.
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