Shogo Makishima

Makishima is the antagonist of the first Psycho-Pass series where he wishes to take down the Sybil System which forces mankind to take their own destined lives rather than an option of free will. He is portrayed throughout the series as the mastermind behind the many criminal cases investigated by the Public Safety Bureau, including one which led to the demotion of the protagonist Shinya Kogami from inspector when one of Kogami's allies was murdered and his body dismembered. This deteriorates Kogami's mental state and the Sybil Society treats him like a criminal who remains working for them with the intention of having revenge.^[10] Despite Makishima's murderous intent, his Crime Coefficient (data collected on every member of society) never reaches a dangerous level. He claims that this is because his mind (and body) does not consider his murders and other crimes "wrong", but "sound"; this in turn makes him immune to the Dominator weapon worn by Inspector Akane Tsunemori. During the series, Tsunemori unsuccessfully tries to prevent Makishima from killing one of her friends.^[11] Makishima tries to destroy the Sybil System by distracting the Bureau forces with chaos in the streets, but is arrested by Tsunemori after a fight with Kogami. The Sybil System offers to spare his life if he will join them; he escapes, however, loathing the way the system acts like "gods".^[12] Makishima tries to convince Kogami to join his planned bioterrorism to weaken Japan's economy. However, the Bureau forces manages to stop him with Kogami leaving him a major wound using a knife in combat. Makishima tries to escape from his enemies but eventually gives up when the blood loss continues and stays in an oat field. Before his death, Makishima ask Kogami if he will replace his role but Kogami rejects him and shoots him in the head.^[13]

Makishima appears in the series' novelization, which expands on his relationship with Choe Gu-sung.^[14] In the prequel novel, he is the mastermind of the case in which Mitsuru Sasayama died and Kogami became an Enforcer.^[15] Makishima also appears in the manga adaptation Inspector Akane Tsunemori.^[16] In the films Psycho-Pass: The Movie (2015) and Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System (2019), he appears in Kogami's hallucinations because of their similar ideas about justice.^[17][18] Makishima is a supporting character in the visual novel Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness.^[19]

Critical reaction to Makishima has been mixed. Although his orchestration of several crimes was praised, Kotaku's Richard Einsbeis criticized his deus ex machina-like tactic to prevent himself to be shot by the system's weaponry in his debut when Tsunemori as the advanced gun only attacks criminals and Makishima is the exception.^[20] Thomas Zoth of Fandom Post among other reviewers praised the impact Makishima makes on Tsunemori after killing one of her best friends in a merciless scene.^[21][22][23] Jacob Chapman of Anime News Network (ANN) said Makishima's values are important to the audience as they find them acceptable despite his cruel methods.^[24] During the series' second half, Kyle Mills from DVD Talk called the character "a fantastic series villain."^[25] His fights against Shinya Kogami were also the subject of praise;^[26] Bamboo Dong of ANN appreciated the series' use of weaponry, but criticized Urobuchi's attempt to make the two rivals similar psychologically. Dong had mixed feelings about his later development as the narrative attempts to humanize a villain whose entire screentime was early portrayed with the idea of portraying social aberration.^[3][27] Although Zoth first lampooned the use of oats in Makishima's plan, he later found the oat field a good setting for the series finale when Makishima gives up and Kogami kills him.^[27][28]

Jacob Chapman from ANN also commented on Makishima's appearances Kogami has in the following works as a hallucination. He found Makishima's cameo appearance in Psycho-Pass: the Movie as "a little silly" as he is trying to force the Kogami's darker zone.^[29] However, according to an ANN review by Richard Eisenbeis of Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System, the hallucination shown there was better executed.^[30] ANN writer Gabriella Ekens analyzed Makishima's tendency to cite literary works, most notably 1984 by George Orwell set in a dystopia similar to Psycho-Pass. Ekens compared Makishima and Kogami to Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad; Makishima Conrad's Kurtz forces Kogami's Marlow to abandon his ideals. The character relates to Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche, aligning with Nietzsche about morality and ideals.^[31]

In a Noitamina poll, Makishima was voted the best character voiced by Takahiro Sakurai and ranked second in the Mister Noitamina category.^[32] Sakurai was also praised by Rebecca Silverman of ANN for giving the character a "creepily soothing tone".^[33] Other polls from Anime Anime have included Makishima as one of Sakurai's best anime performances.^[34][35] Ekens cited him as her favorite anime villain, and one of Gen Urobuchi's best-written characters.^[36]