Akane Tsunemori

Lore & Background

Akane Tsunemori was conceptualized by Production I.G staff to be the most relatable character in the series, acting as an audience surrogate who would critique the setting and the ideological conflict between the protagonist Shinya Kogami and the antagonist Shogo Makishima. One of the staff's objectives for the series was also to chart Akane's transformation into a heroine. Writer Gen Urobuchi said that when he created Kogami and Tsunemori, he tried to balance their traits.

Writer Tow Ubukata, who supervised the second anime series, called Kogami a 'wild' character, the Japanese characters for his last name referring to his traits of loneliness and strength. The duo was further stated to resemble the lead characters from the Japanese police comedy-drama Bayside Shakedown, Sumire Onda and Shunsaku Aoshima. Akane is introduced in Psycho-Pass as an innocent rookie who matures through her experiences. During episode 11 of the series, one of Akane's best friends, Yuki Funahara, is murdered in front of her by Makishima.

Urobuchi originally wanted the anime staff to show Akane's emotional reaction to the murder by having her throw up, but this did not make it to the final cut. Gen Urobuchi said that while creating Kogami and Akane, he tried to balance their traits but felt that Akane ended up becoming one of his strongest characters because of her development in the first television series when she clashed with Makishima and her ideals.

Reader's Guide

Akane Tsunemori is the 20-year-old main female protagonist of Psycho-Pass. She joins Division One of the Public Safety Bureau's Criminal Investigation Division as a rookie Inspector. She is initially uncomfortable with apprehending or executing people based on their potential criminal behavior. On her first assignment, Akane stuns Enforcer Shinya Kogami and prevents the execution of a kidnap and assault victim whose Crime Coefficient had spiked.

Wanting the series to be 'anti-moe', the production team avoided showing Akane removing her clothes, and instead featured scenes where Kogami would remove his. Akane's physical appearance was designed by manga artist Akira Amano. Due to her and Kogami being the lead characters, Kyoji Asano felt like he could care about them. Director Naoyoshi Shiotani shared similar feelings, stating he wanted Akane's traits to balance with Kogami's as they are the main duo of Psycho-Pass.

He further stated that one of her original characteristics was her 'masculine' traits despite her gender. Since the character's creation, Shiotani had thoughts about what would her role be in the future, most notably regarding her imprisonment in Psycho-Pass 3. While Akira Amano conceived her looks, Kyoji Asano handled the anime design. Asano emphasized the major contrasts between them when illustrating Kogami and Akane; Kogami wields a weapon freely with one hand, and Akane wields it with both hands indicating that she is less highly trained.

In adapting Amano's design under Shiotani's direction for the 2015 anime, animator Naoyuki Onda drew multiple outfits that Tsunemori wears such in order to make her fashionable in her civilian life. However, Onda expressed difficulties in designing others looks for the character something which made him ask for help for other designers working in the movie.

Team Dynamics and Early Conflicts

Akane is introduced in Psycho-Pass as an innocent rookie who matures through her experiences. During episode 11 of the series, one of Akane's best friends is murdered in front of her by Makishima. Urobuchi originally wanted the anime staff to show Akane's emotional reaction to the murder by having her throw up, but this did not make it to the final cut. Gen Urobuchi said that while creating Kogami and Akane, he tried to balance their traits but felt that Akane ended up becoming one of his strongest characters because of her development in the first television series when she clashed with Makishima and her ideals.

Because the first Psycho-Pass series focused primarily on the clash between Kogami and Makishima, the second television series introduced an antagonist who acted as Akane's nemesis now that the plot centered around her. Psycho-Pass: The Movie characterized her as even more assertive and self-sufficient. Much attention is focused on Akane as Kogami is not present in contrast to the first series where the duo balanced each other's personalities.

Series Longevity and Cultural Impact

Critical reception to Akane in early episodes was mixed as the media felt she was too weak due to her inexperience in the force. However, her character arc in the first anime and her stronger portrayal starting from there to her role in the sequels and the film earned major praise. Her dynamic with Kogami was also well received by the audience.