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Plot Synopsis

This series, by the producers of Samurai Champloo, is set in a futuristic utopian (read: dystopian) city, Romudo, where humans and robots (called autolaves) coexist and where peace and harmony are ensured through a system of central management that essentially discards emotion from society. However, a homicide shatters the regulated peace of the society, and Lil Meyer, a young and ambitious investigator from the Citizen Information Board, is assigned to unravel the mystery behind the murder, and as she uncovers more and more information, she stumbles upon a secret that threatens to change Romudo forever.

Credits: shinsengumi

Screenshots

Re-L Mayer Vincent and Re-L

Story & Characters

Ahh, the Dsytopian future. It is not an original concept in anime as well as in film. Almost all of us have seen a series of this type in one form or another. There is just something real and tangible about the vision of a utopia that hides an intricate, dark and terrifying secret beneath. The argument that the present society is on the brink of this scenario further ingrains the supposition. I have already seen various anime that explore the quirks and labyrinths of this particular setting, but, in my opinion, few came to involving and drawing me in its depths as Ergo Proxy. Set in a world blighted by a massive ecological disaster that forced humans to inhabit controlled environments in domed-cities, it immediately got my attention.( I'm actually an advocate for this type of story...hmmm^^) Now that we have the background, let us explore if the main protagonists, antagonists and the atmosphere are all in place.

As to be expected from this type of story, the characters are intricate, dark and sport a noirish sense of humor. The wonder in Ergo Proxy is how they also portrayed a pained innocence in particular characters, thus rounding out the rough edges of their personalities, making it seem as if you could actually find them, here, in our society. Problems in their time are, for the most part, still ours today. Like the protagonist of another excellent series from Geneon Entertainment, Samurai Champloo, Ergo Proxy features another unlikely " hero " in the guise of Vincent Law. Unstable, paranoid and clumsy, he seems to lack an affinity to people and society as a whole, although some of the reasons are beyond his control, and for the initial run of the series, his knowledge. Supposedly an immigrant to the domed city of Romdeau( it is where the series' events begin...^^), he first aspired to be a " fellow citizen "( this is most likely a nod to Robert Heinlein's " society of the useful ", a world order in which people are required to be productive in order to justify their existence, in short, no bums, beggars, retards and slackers are allowed. Oh man...^^), but due to a homicide, his orderly( he thought ) existence is thrown into turmoil. Vincent for the most part, is a striking portrayal of a lost soul, someone with strong feelings but has never found his place in the world. Due to my affinity for dark and confused main characters, I find him to be interesting and absolutely three-dimensional.

Next we have Re-L( Real or Lil, you choose^^) Mayer, an ambitious but strangely naive investigator, another addition to the list of strong female leads in anime. Actually appearing as a sheltered woman, having been born in Romdeau and never having encountered the world outside, she is captivating even in her first scene. She belongs neither to the Motoko-like cathegory nor to the usual demure woman, and is, ingeniously, somewhere in between. Throughout the series (I have seen it partially, so I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for the ending..^^), she evolves from being naive and burdened into a strong and complex person.

Another favourite of mine is Pino, the infected Autorave( Autoreiv, according to the series ) that became Vincent's companion through thick and thin. She represents seeing humanity from a different and innocent perspective( she has the emotional level of a child, but her intellect is somewhat mature ). Since, Autoraves( sentient machines ) have no emotion and only acquires them after being infected by the Cognito virus, Pino's discovery of the proverbial "heart" is a poignant experience. The difference is that she is neither a coldly intellectual machine nor a wooden girl that wants to be human( ala Tima in Metropolis, or David in Steven Spielberg's Artificial Intelligence ), but is just as curious about human feeling as a newborn member of humanity itself.

This series explores gray areas, and this aspect is what makes it stand out for me. No one is really vilified in the process, there is no character that doesn't inspire affinity. They are all burdened by " something " which may be different for individuals and as a result drives them to different paths. Another brilliant touch to the story is the well-thought out symbolism to classic literature as well as ancient beliefs and religions, with the Greek, Aztec, Oriental and pre-Christian western ideology being cases in point. It is no ordinary " cyberpunk ", as some would call it, but an intimate, character-driven tale of personal discovery, mystery, theology and humanist philosophy. A convergence of genres, populated with realistic characters, dramatic settings and interesting twists. This is the contemporary equivalent of an excellent Greek tragedy.

Rating

9 (very good)

Art

The art of Ergo Proxy resembles Samurai Champloo in various ways, including unorthodox and highly individual designs, a wide range of facial expressions, and minimal details. The difference in this series is the dark and atmospheric feel that surrounds everything, from interior locations to the vast, frozen remnant of the planet outside the domed cities. The wonderful thing about this almost expressionist art scheme is that it accoplished what it did in an effortless fashion. In short, it never " tries hard " to be dark, in fact a huge number of scenes are set in daylight and well-lit rooms. This is similar to the movie Minority Report, in which the dark atmosphere is maintained even in sunlit rooms or meadows. The 3D backgrounds are surprisingly, well-meshed with the 2D components, as opposed to most anime. The backgrounds, in particular, are memorable and awe-inspiring, especially the rendition of frozen wastelands and ruined cities scattered across the planet.

The realistic design and animation also further enrich the experience. The cinematography in the series as a whole and in the fight scenes are done in notable fashion as well, and matches the story's mood and setting. The only thing that is missing( and quite understandably so, maybe due to financial considerations ), are believable particle effects or highly detailed mechanics, but these are minor qualms compared to the technical accomplishments in the series. The color of blood is also toned down( somewhat pale ), reminiscent of Fullmetal Alchemist. These minor concerns aside, the overall artistic quality of Ergo Proxy is one of the best around. Kudos to the art team for their attention and vision in making this story a beauty to watch.^O^

Rating

9 (very good)

Sound

Another unique and strong aspect of this series is the sound. So, if your brain and eyes are satisfied, your ears will be clapping as well( although this will depend on what genre of music you appreciate most...^^). The music of Ergo Proxy is very unorthodox in the sense that incorporates both classical and contemporary acoustic elements as well as atmospheric choir vocals( some may recall a little of Noir, Cowboy Bebop and Resident Evil musical elements fused into one...^^), to present a memorable sonic experience. The opening theme is very acoustic oriented but also draws heavily on classical elements, thus creating music that is both myterious and sad. The musical compositions during the pre-ending expositions( references to religions, ideologies or scriptural names ) are also brilliant, with strings mixing with haunting choir vocalizations, sometimes with a single soprano voice. The sound effects are done professionally as you would expect from Geneon, with subtle noises and layers interlapping, as well as ambient sounds during silent scenes. There are also parts in which the sounds of heavy breathing are interspaced to generate tension. The voiceovers are excellent, especially Re-L's and Pino's. Again, the attention to proper details as well as the bigger picture elevate this series yet again.

Rating

8 (good)

Presentation

The presentation, in its nature the sum of more or less all of the other elements combined is concise, interesting and never overly focused on one department in itself. This is a perfect case( so far ) of a series living up to its potential. The stories and concepts in each episode are clearly and dramatically( in a good way ) executed, leaving no impression of schizophrenia or lack of focus. It is like watching an intricate play, in the beginning, you are somewhat lost( but in an Alice in Wonderland sort of way, not due to poor planning and inconsistencies in the part of the makers...^^), but you feel as if your'e supposed to be lost at first, and find your way in the journey leading up to the tale's conclusion. This presentation, for the most part, feels as if you're inside " Through the Looking Glass ", or " The Dark Tower ", in the sense that meaning is found through the initial fog of confusion, It feels as is Vincent's quest is the viewer's own( at least for me...^^).

Being a story that transcends genres, humor is also a prime component, as Pino is in essence, a cheerful sort of individual( as opposed to Vincent's angst and brooding ), as she very adept in creating humorous circumstances due to her expressiveness, innocence, and weird intellect. She is also very cute(^^), and that is a fact. As an essentially humanistic story, its concept of seeing humanity through the eyes of a foreigner( Pino ), and the quest to regain the lost part of what is distinctly human( Vincent ), as well as the truth of why the world became the way it is( Re-L ), is well executed without being self-righteous or dogmatic, which is, for me, the reason why Ergo Proxy one of the best shows in my list. I recommend it to those who not only appreciate a worthwhile story, but also the exemplary manner of its presentation.
Good day to you! Ganbarimasu!^^

Rating

8 (good)

Final Verdict

8.50 (very good)

Reviewed by meanderEvangel, 1y 49wk ago