Ergo Proxy Review
Overview
Ghost in the Shell meets Neon Genesis Evangelion. That's the most apt description for Ergo Proxy in my view. This cyberpunk anime is a cocktail of romance, philosophy, noir and thriller.
The story is set in post-apocalyptic Earth and begins in a large, thriving dome called Romdeau where humans and Autoreivs (androids) coexist. Recently, the utopian nature of Romdeau was shaken by a series of killings by Autoreivs infected by a virus that makes them self aware. Inspector Re-l Mayer and her Autoreiv sidekick Iggy are called upon to investigate these crimes. The case, however, is far more complex than it appears to be. Lonely and quiet immigrant Vincent Law may have a dark side to him. And what exactly is this creature "Proxy", which the government is guarding so fiercely?
Things take a dramatic turn when Vincent flees Romdeau and ventures into the outside world. His search for the truth for his own life, accompanied by an infected Autoreiv girl called Pino and Re-l, takes them to strange places and will change their lives forever.
Art
Ergo Proxy has often been cheekily dubbed "Emo Proxy", because of its dark, grungy backdrops. But the lack of bright candy colours does not make it a boring anime. The shades of grey and brown actually bring out the often serious and mysterious tones in Ergo Proxy rather well. Ergo Proxy's graphics are rendered wonderfully, especially the bleak landscapes of the outside world and the sprawling Brave New World that is Romdeau.
Highly unique character designs make the three protagonists an excellent watch. Re-l, who dons black and wears blue eye shadow, is clearly a Goth girl (in fact, she strongly resembles Amy Lee of the Goth band Evanescence). Pino wears a harmonica around her neck and a sweet, megawatt smile on her face. Vincent is one of those few whose good looks manage to outshine the ugly uniform he wears.
Music
Emo Proxy uses... emo music. The opening song to the anime is "Kiri" by Japanese band Monoral, which sounds like something out of an Evanescence album. It aptly reflects Vincent's troubled and confused mind, culminating into an angst-ridden and unforgettable "come and saaave meeeee!" The background music consists of mainly choir vocalizations or soprano voices which are deliciously noir-ish and creepy. Each episode ends with the haunting "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead.
Conclusion
Of course, Ergo Proxy is not all gloom and doom. There are some comic moments, eye-candy to drool over and heart-warming scenes. One should not be so quick to give it a miss just because of its many philosophical references and Da Vinci Code-like complexity. Ergo Proxy makes you think deeply about various relevant issues mankind faces today. To quote a fellow fan, it examines 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 )... without being self-righteous or dogmatic. You have more to lose by missing this brilliant anime.
Images from:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=5115
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b264/CowboyCadenza/Ergo%20Proxy/