Ergo Proxy | Anime Review | Pinnedupink.com

Ergo Proxy

The Dark Anime that Deserves a Shot

If you are into dark anime, Ergo Proxy is going to satisfy your cravings. It’s not just dark in looks, but the tone as well.

Ergo Proxy is a bit complex and is heavily influenced by Gnosticism and philosophy. It can be agonizing at times because you are just so clueless about what’s going to happen next. However, by the end of each episode, all your questions and doubts are answered.

Ergo Proxy Anime Review - Pinnedupink.com

Romdo (Romdeau) is one of the few places on earth where humans could survive. The world outside is barren. Anyone who lives outside Romdo has to live in slums.

The series is set in a utopian future. An ecological disaster renders the world inhospitable towards life. Romdeau city is a safe place where humans and android (AutoReivs) live peacefully.

The city’s government has adopted a bureaucratic system, dividing the government into five bureaus lead by one administrator called the Regent. The future of the citizens is bleak. The government encourages the citizens to take life easy because AutoReivs have got everything in control.

But there’s a problem; the Cogito virus is infecting these androids and giving them intelligence and freedom. These AutoReivs have committed a series of murders, and they are now threatening the balance of the city’s social order.

Inspector Re-L (pronounced Re-el) Mayer is assigned to investigate the case. Behind the scenes, the government is experimenting on humanoid life called Proxy. These are god-like creatures and immortal. It’s believed that they can help humanity survive.

Re-L is assigned a partner Iggy, an AutoReiv. She accidentally encounters two of these humanoids and learns that they are Proxies. Vincent Law, an immigrant and an AutoReiv technician, is connected with these creatures. Re-L is determined to find the truth about the proxies and their connection with Vincent Law.

There are about 6 to 7 prime characters in the show, and all of them are wonderful. The main cast has to be Vincent Law, Re-L, and Pino, the infected Autoreiv. The show’s writers wanted Vincent to be the leading protagonist and Re-L the supporting character – that would have been weird, right?

As the writers wrote her character, she became much more substantial and even managed to steal Vincent's spotlight. So, they finally decided to split the narrative between them; hence, there is no single protagonist lead.

The show uses different aspects of psychology. At the end of each episode, there are 2 minutes of reflection on the events that had happened throughout the episode. This wasn’t carried forward to all episodes, but it was a nice touch to understand the series better. Anime creators usually let fans do all the work, but not the creators of Ergo Proxy.

Some people say that to understand the show’s metaphors and symbolism, you have to be a real psychology nerd. I would disagree with that. You don’t need a genius or a person with a very high IQ to understand or appreciate its genius.

You must be into dark anime, though. If not, then it’s the only thing that might turn you off because the plot is impressive.

Regarding the main characters, let’s have a look at them in detail:

Re-L: She is a 19-year-old woman, granddaughter of the Regent Donov Mayer.

She is strong, independent, and curious. This curiosity has taken her to dangerous situations, but she doesn’t fear anything and is willing to take risks. She is willing to do whatever it takes to find the truth. It’s easy to fall in love with her.

Vincent Law: Moving on to our second main character, Vincent Law. He used to work at the Autoreiv disposal unit. He gets chased by a notable character (Which you shall know as you watch the series), which makes him escape the dome.

Vincent is shy and doesn’t talk much. He has no memory of the past. This is another reason why he leaves Romdeau to learn about his history. After the first half of the show, Vincent will become one of the most notable characters.

Pino: Pino looks like a jolly little kid. Since she is an AutoReiv, she manages to develop a solution to underlying problems at the most unexpected times. She is fun to watch, and to be honest; she distracts from the show’s creepiness.

The rest of the characters are predictable, and I’ll let you discover them on your own.

Although Egro Proxy was released in 2006, it’s available in full HD display. I would recommend getting a Blu-ray for a sharp and clear display.

When it comes to the animation, they are highly striking and atmospheric. This anime is dark not just in the looks but the tone as well. The future utopian vision is brilliant. It’s chilling.

Apart from the animation, the characters are well designed as well. Re-l and her striking blue eye shadow are fantastic. Her gothic costume tops everything.

Vincent Law’s character progresses over time. A lot of layers are revealed, and his character goes through a lot of emotional changes. The animators did an excellent job in designing this character.

The incidental music fits the show so well. The music chosen for the show captures the tone of the story. The opening track has become my favorite. A Japanese prog-rock band, Monoral, produces it.

It shouldn’t go without mentioning that the dubbing is stellar. The voices of the characters match their personality well. It wouldn’t be a turn-off, I swear!

The ending is impeccable. I have only scratched the surface; there is a lot more worth exploring through this show.

Ergo Proxy is packed with action and drama. The ending is infuriating, I must say. It ends with a “to be continued” message. You will have to seek out the manga to learn what happens next, which is a bummer.