Ergo Proxy: Complete Collection

Introduction

I'm a sucker for dark dystopian, gritty future stories, which is why I followed Matthew Smart's reviews of the individual Ergo Proxy volumes on this site so closely. There was a hint of green in my complexion as well; I wanted to review that series! But, as soon as I read his review for the first volume, it went straight on my want list. Of course, Ergo Proxy being such a cool looking series, it really is one of MVM's star titles. It's also as likely to receive a discount as a Beez title. I wound up waiting for the inevitable boxset, except when the Region 2 boxset was released, Funimation in the US announced a re-release of the original Geneon collection in a handy m-lock case. What's more, it was under the customs limit to import, which was significantly cheaper than the UK boxset. As so often happens, my wallet overrode my brand loyalty, except now that I have started watching the US release, MVM have announced a re-release of their own, knocking £10 off the RRP of the UK set come January 2010. I'm always a perpetrator of bad timing.


The future shown in Ergo Proxy is bleak indeed. Romdo is the only place to live. It's a domed city, a veritable utopia sealed off from the outside world, and with good reason. The outside world has been rendered completely uninhabitable through pollution and overexploitation. Still, the citizens of Romdo ought to have an ideal life; they are exhorted by their government to take life easy, because all their problems are taken care of by AutoReivs, androids who live and work side by side with humans, serving their every need. The problem is the Cogito virus, which is infecting AutoReivs, giving them intelligence and free will. It's also not a crime-free utopia, with Detective Re-L Mayer of the Intelligence Bureau tasked with solving a brutal murder. That murder leads her to AutoReiv technician Vincent Law, and a mysterious figure known as a Proxy that is stalking the Romdo streets. With the Security Bureau working against her investigation, and with the government trying to stifle the truth, Re-L's determination to find out about the Proxy, and what it has to do with Vincent Law, will lead them both to the unknown outside world.


This 23 episode series is presented as follows.

Disc 1. Awakening
1. Awakening (Pulse of Awakening)
2. Confession (Confession of a Fellow Citizen)
3. Mazecity (Leap Into the Void)
4. Futu-Risk (Signs of Future, Hades of Future)

Disc 2. RE-L124C41+
5. Tasogare (Recall)
6. Domecoming (Return Home)
7. RE-L124C41+ (RE-L124C41+)
8. Shining Sign (Light Beam)

Disc 3. Cytopropism
9. Angel's Share (Shards of Brilliance)
10. Cytopropism (Existence)
11. Anamnesis (In the White Darkness)
12. Hideout (When You're Smiling)


Disc 4: Wrong Way Home
13. Wrong Way Home (Conceptual Blindspot)
14. Ophelia (Someone Like You)
15. Who Wants To Be In Jeopardy (Nightmare Quiz Show)
16. Busy Doing Nothing (Dead Calm)

Disc 5: Terra Incognita
17. Terra Incognita (Never Ending Battle)
18. Life After God (Sign of the End)
19. Eternal Smile (The Girl With A Smile)
20. Goodbye Vincent (Sacred Eye of the Void)

Disc 6: Deus Ex Machina
21. Shampoo Planet (Place at the End of Time)
22. Bilbul (Bind)
23. Deus Ex Machina (Proxy)

Picture

Ergo Proxy Region 1's 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer is NTSC of course, which means that while you don't get the ghosting and softness of a standards conversion, you do have to put up with a lower resolution, a barely perceptible flicker (depending on the person), and if you are still watching a television set over 20 years old, possible incompatibility. It's swings and roundabouts as usual.


That said, Ergo Proxy is perhaps the most striking, atmospheric anime I have yet seen. One of the hardest problems to overcome in the old days of cel acetate was animating nighttime and dark scenes; it was what made Akira such a groundbreaking movie. In the digital age that's not so much of a problem, but truly dark anime are rare on the ground even still. Ergo Proxy is a seriously dark anime, not just in look, but in tone as well. The future dystopian vision is brilliantly realised, all shadowy and indistinct, overcast and chillingly effective. The world design is astounding, and it's as unique a prognostication of the future as any sci-fi. What astounds me even more is the character design. These are characters that are unique, memorable, and brilliantly realised. Re-L Mayer with her striking blue eye shadow and gothic costume instantly tops my favourite animated female list, but the true tour-de-force has to be Vincent Law. Vincent is a complex character, when we meet him he's just a meek bureaucrat, and then when the authorities of Romdo turn against him, he becomes a harried fugitive. As the series progresses, more and more layers are revealed, a man obsessed in love, a hidden steel inner strength, a rebel, a fighter and much more. That's a lot of emotion and nuance to expect from a single character design, but the animators really excel here.


On top of that all, the animation from Manglobe is top notch, approaching theatrical quality in terms of energy, dynamism and depth of detail. It makes this world seem tremendously vital, when every gust of wind will cause clothing to flutter, hair to be ruffled. Ergo Proxy is a visually vibrant piece that exemplifies what anime is truly capable of.

Sound

The same is true for the audio. Ergo Proxy was an early show that got the HD and 5.1 treatment in Japan, and while HD isn't forthcoming (and isn't likely with Geneon in a holding pattern), we do get the full audio effect here, with DD 5.1 English and Japanese, as well as a DTS English track. Translated subtitles and signs are also provided. You can feel the full effect of the native surround sound from the off, with a fully utilised and vibrant soundstage, bringing the desolate future dystopian vision of Romdo and its environs to vivid life. The action envelops the viewer, and the incidental music is well suited to the show. You can't have a more apt ending theme for this show than Paranoid Android by Radiohead, and their music captures the tone of the story very well. But I have to mention how stunning I found the opening track to be, Kiri by Monaral, a Japanese prog rock band that provide a stunning opening theme to go with some sublime visual imagery.


Yes, I did watch the original language version. I always do, but Ergo Proxy's dub is stellar as well. There are some outstanding cast choices here, and the quality of the voice actor performances easily matches the original language track. There's no reason not to watch the English dub other than personal preference. And you really ought to avail yourself of the DTS track for at least one watch through.

Extras

Ergo Proxy released via Funimation comes in an m-lock case, with space for seven discs, one at the front, and four on a central panel with two overlapping on each side, and two discs overlapping at the back. The sleeve only has artwork on one side, blank on the other, with Re-L Mayer posing menacingly with a gun on the front, while the back panel is taken up with blurb and disc specs (no mention of the bonus disc though). Each of the discs get animated menus, and as well as the six episode discs, you get a seventh bonus disc with extra features on. Note that the MVM release may only be on 6 discs, but it still has all the extra features of the Region 1.


The six episode discs only get trailers for other Geneon product, and you'll find trailers for Le Portraite de Petite Cossette, Hellsing Ultimate, Last Quarter, Gun Sword, Barefoot Gen, Paradise Kiss, Elemental Gelade, Kyo Kara Maoh Part 2, Zipang, Rozen Maiden, Karin, Black Lagoon, Princess Raccoon, and Ayakashi - Goddess Of The Dark Tower.

All the Ergo Proxy extras are on the bonus disc, beginning with three featurettes, two Japanese, one US. The Japanese bits are really just teasers for the show, extended trailers with talky bits. Key Words of Ergo Proxy lasts 3½ minutes and offers an intro to the story, and a quick explanation of what Proxy, Cogito and Romdo refer to in the series. Behind the Scenes lasts 4½ minutes and offers a chat with key members of the crew, as well as a look at the studio where the show was animated.


Far more rewarding is the English Staff Interview, with ADR director Jonathan Klein, and Taliesin Jaffe, who adapted the show into English. This lasts 32 minutes, and the two go into greater depth about the show, its intent, and the influences that have inspired it. You can bet that Blade Runner is in there somewhere. This is easily the peach of the extras, and well worth a watch.

There are three promotional trailers, and three commercials for the show.

The textless openings for the first two episodes are here, but noticeable by their absence are the textless credits for the series proper. I would love to see the opening sequence sans text.

There are four Production Art Galleries, looking at the characters, AutoReivs, Props, and the city of Romdo. These are presented as slideshows, so you can just sit back and enjoy.

Finally there is a page of information about the CD Soundtrack.

Conclusion

There are three stages of Ergo Proxy, the 'best thing since sliced bread', the 'what the hell just happened here?' and the 'great but infuriating ending'. This makes it a tough nut to crack in terms of a review, and presents something of a quandary when it comes to recommending it. As so often happens, and not just with anime but with all entertainment, lofty intentions and grand promises are left wanting by the execution. And Ergo Proxy promises much.


First the positives, and there are plenty of these to appreciate. I've already mentioned the visuals and the audio; Ergo Proxy is a show that looks amazing and sounds just as impressive. It's also one of those dystopian futures of the old school, looking to films like Blade Runner, Logan's Run and THX-1138 for inspiration. The remnants of humanity cluster together in the 'ideal society' of Romdo, where their lives are regulated and organised to the finest detail, where emotional expression is frowned upon, and where their every need is ministered to by their entourages, their AutoReiv helpers. It's the perfect setup for a classic sci-fi tale, and it begins in the perfect Asimovian way, with a detective investigating murder in a society where such crimes aren't possible. It's as if all my favourite movies and novels are referenced and alluded to by Ergo Proxy, but it has such a rich and unique universe of its own, that spotting such references is a joy rather than tedious.


Ergo Proxy presents a rich and vivid future world, a world that is not all that far removed from our own in terms of the technology and general accoutrements of society. It's a mix of old and new, in terms of the props and machines that appear, simultaneously retro and futuristic. Where the alien aspects appear is in the society itself, this is a human society that isn't recognisable, it's far enough removed that you really need to immerse yourself in the story to gradually come to grips with it. Early on in the story, one of the characters sees his family killed in front of him, with little reaction on his part. It took me by surprise when I first saw his lack of reaction, and it's only as the society was developed that little pieces, such as how citizens are born, how they are expected to behave, and the penalties for nonconforming, came together to provide an explanation.


The characterisations of Ergo Proxy also impress, with a roundedness and dimension to a degree that your usual anime offering will never attempt. This is a mature and considered piece, certainly not aimed at younger audiences. I've already mentioned the character of Vincent Law with regards to how versatile his character design is, but it's worth reiterating the journey that the character goes on, from meek and humble bureaucrat to rebel and exile, to amnesiac seeking his own past, to creator of his own destiny. But I was seriously impressed by Re-L Mayer; in a medium where strong female role models are usually clichéd and even caricatures, Re-L is up there with Ghost in the Shell's Major and Revy from Black Lagoon in terms of realism and depth, more so in this case, as Re-L is written from a far more human standpoint. She's not just an action hero, or a cybernetically enhanced soldier, rather her journey, just like Vincent's is a much more human and emotional journey of self-discovery. She has her kick-ass investigator moments, but the joy is in seeing her free herself from the constraints of Romdo, and find an emotional core of strength within.


The irony is that in a society where the humans are constrained emotionally, and repressed by their superiors, it's the machines that exhibit the broadest of feelings, that provide the spark of existence in most humans' dreary lives. Re-L's entourage Iggy is her solid rock. She relies on the terminator-esque robot for everything it seems, and he compensates by taking on a rather camp big brother role, at odds with his ominous stature. He's always cajoling Re-L to go shopping, or doing her hair. What makes things interesting is the Cogito virus that is infecting AutoReivs and giving them sentience. What that means for Iggy is worrying, with hints of Saturn 3, but it's another Cogito infected AutoReiv that provides the impetus for the story. Pino is a robot in the shape of a child, originally a companion for the Security Bureau Chief's child, but when infected with Cogito, Pino essentially becomes a little girl, albeit a little girl with absolutely no experience of the world. And it's her desire to explore and learn that drives the flow of the story. She's a complete innocent, a blank slate at the start of the tale, and it's interesting to watch her growth.


I've just scratched the surface of Ergo Proxy. There is a lot more of interest besides, and it's well worth exploring this world through the show, and learning about its various nuances and intricacies. Except that exploration gets a little out of hand around about episode 14. All of a sudden, we're in the 1960s in terms of narrative. Those old 1960s action serials, shows like The Champions, Randall and Hopkirk, and especially The Prisoner all used to veer off in wild directions, with writers thinking of ever more absurd ways of messing with the protagonists', and the viewers' heads. There would be hallucinogens, dream sequences, flashbacks, flashforwards, flash sideways, concept episodes and just plain off-the-wall nuttiness. And this is the direction that Ergo Proxy goes following episode 15, with continuity and even common sense taking a flying leap. There are flashback episodes, and there are dream sequences, altered realities and twisted perceptions, the most out of place being episode 15 itself, where the story takes place on a television game show.


This would be the perfect definition of filler, those episodes that writers create when they have a schedule to fill, and not enough story to fill it, except that these out-there episodes do serve a purpose, that of character development and exposition. There is a whole lot of exposition in episode 15. If you want to know about the world of Ergo Proxy then it is essential, but it is a chore to watch. Busy Doing Nothing, the next episode does what it says on the tin. Nothing of narrative significance happens, it's a whole episode of the travellers stuck in the middle of nowhere, except that it is essential if you want to see what happens to Re-L and Vincent's relationship. In a way this is worse than filler. Filler you can just ignore, filler is easy to skip over, but for Ergo Proxy, you have to put up with writers indulging themselves, exercising their wilder fantasies, and making large their pretensions, simply because each of these episodes adds to the bigger picture of Ergo Proxy. It's just that they aren't making the bigger picture as pretty as the first half of the show did.


But Ergo Proxy does pick itself up, and dust itself down for the finale, with three episodes that more than live up to the start of the show, delivering on the answers and the essential plot points of the tale. It's an action packed, dramatic and gripping conclusion, and I was glued to the television for the duration. Except that with the final scene of the show, Ergo Proxy reveals itself to be a prelude, a prologue for a much larger and compelling tale. Of course that tale isn't animated, you probably have to seek out a manga to find out what happens next, but there's nothing more infuriating than a 'to be continued' that never is.


Is Ergo Proxy worth it? It is an amazing anime, vivid and visceral an experience, and it's like no other anime you have seen before, except that one that you can't quite put your finger on. With a show this rich in references, there is a degree of familiarity despite its uniqueness. But there are those two flaws. In a lesser show, they would be fatal flaws, but as they say, it's better to aim high and fall short, than to aim low and achieve just enough. Ergo Proxy aims for the stars. You should buy Ergo Proxy because it is a singular experience, unlikely to be repeated in anime form. You should also buy Ergo Proxy because the forthcoming re-release from MVM is already pre-tailing around the price that I paid for this import version. At that price you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain by indulging in this visual masterpiece.