He's not Sherlock Homes but when the police can't or won't help, criminal consultant William James Moriarty and his faithful cohorts, Albert and Louis, are there to ferret out the clues, solve the mystery, and to see that justice (of a sort), prevails.
In his first case Moriarty concerns himself with the murder of several boys. He soon discovers that nearly all are sons of shopkeepers or service providers to the rich and powerful men of the city, with the exception of one boy, a homeless orphan whose presence would only have been noticed from the vantage point of the window of a nearby gentleman's club. From there tracking the murderer is a cake walk for Moriarty, who quickly dispenses his own brand of justice/vengeance for a grieving father.
Production I.G. produces another top-notch anti-hero with their latest anime, Moriarty the Patriot. We were drawn in to this anime thanks in part to the similarities to another anti-hero created by the Production I.G. crew, Shogo Makishima from Psycho Pass.
Both characters share a similar hair style, similar demeanor and even a similar occupation. Highly educated, with deductive skills that rival Sherlock Holmes, Moriarty gets involved when the police are unable or unwilling to provide justice for the victims of crime.
Shogo, who was also well read and highly educated (especially philosophy), sought to free the citizens of Japan from the omnipotent computerized aggregate of brains, Sibyl who, with the assistance of the Ministry of Welfare, Public Safety Bureau, Criminal Investigation Department (MWPSB for short), investigators and enforcers, controls every aspect of the citizens lives. Shogo had no qualms dispatching innocent people who become collateral damage in his quest to destroy Sibyl and free the people of Japan.
Fans of Psycho Pass will find this an enjoyable anime to follow. Where they differ would be technology, location, and time. Psycho Pass is set in a dystopian future where Moriarty is in Europe during the 1870's and 1880's. And we have yet to see Moriarty take the life of innocent bystanders.
Maybe, like Arthur Conan Doyle, Production I.G. will feel the pressure and hear the outcry from fans to bring back his beloved character? We can wish, right?
Here's a quick clip of Moriarty fulfilling his duty as criminal consultant, in true Shogo, I mean Moriarty fashion.
We will be watching Moriarty, not only as fans of Shogo, but fans of Sherlock Holmes for the entire season. This has already cemented a spot in the Top 5 of the year and maybe the best of the season, in our opinions.
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