| Apr 12, 2006 |
Lil encounters the Proxy |
One of the most anticipated anime of the year, Ergo Proxy, blends the futuristic sci-fi setting and upscale production of Ghost in the Shell with the feel of George Orwellâ??s 1984. It is dark and at times intentionally ambiguous, leading the viewer to look deeper than what is told for clues. It may require some repeated viewing to completely absorb the amount of information that is thrown the viewerâ??s way, but not thoroughly explained. Thankfully, the pieces all fall into place as the story progresses. This form of fragmented story-telling may be a turn off to the occasional viewer, while others may enjoy piecing the puzzle together along with Lil Mayer as she tries to get to the bottom of the case. Ergo Proxy is being broadcast in Japan in stunning HDTV format and 5.1 surround sound, which speaks worlds for the amount of anticipation surrounding the series. Very few shows get this kind of treatment; Kurosawa Akiraâ??s â??Samurai 7â?àspringing to mind as the only other.
Iggy Stardust |
Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of Ergo Proxy is the world director Shukou Murase creates in Romudo. The androids, known as autoraves, stand out the most as being well-crafted characters. They serve their standard purpose of being servants and assistants to citizens, such as Lilâ??s assistant Iggy who acts as her partner; however there appears to be an autorave sub-culture developing as well. We see people using them as replacements for children and even as lovers. The design of the autorave is quite diverse as well, with the servant androids being given a distinct not-human look despite their humanoid appearance. The more personal and customized autoraves acquire more human features, a distinction that brings up the lack of interpersonal relationships in the future. This is perhaps another throwback to Orwell, and it characterizes life inside the dome as being impersonal and controlled.
The future of online dating |
Ergo Proxy is not without its share of action. Despite its psychological feel, the driving force behind the plot is a string of mysterious murders and the appearance of a strange being known only as â??Proxy.â?àLil Mayer is sent to investigate. However, her encounter with Proxy leads her to deeper and darker discoveries. The unraveling of Romudoâ??s dark past begins as the viewer learns more about what Proxy is and why the cityâ??s leaders were developing it. Ergo Proxy does not rely much on its soundtrack, opting to use music only to add the occasional suspenseful scene, like a horror flick almost. This fits the overall dark mood of the series fairly well. That is not to say the soundtrack is bad, however, because Ergo Proxy carries two of the best opening and closing songs to make its way onto the anime scene in recent memory. The opening track, â??Kiriâ?àby Monoral is quite good by itself (it does not run during the first two episodes). However, the far more publicized song is Radioheadâ??s â??Paranoid Android.â?àThis flirtation with Western singles is not completely unheard of; â??Paradise Kissâ?àused Franz Ferdinandâ??s hit single â??Do You Want Toâ?àas its closer last year. However, Radiohead is one of the most critically acclaimed bands in the world, so it is surprising to see them crop up in this manner.
Outside the bubble |
Whether Ergo Proxy is able to live up the lofty expectations that it has been given is yet to be seen. Given the treatment it has received, it certainly will have its moments. The character designs are unique and beautiful and the concept has modern-classic potential. If youâ??re in the mood for a dark, psychological thriller then Ergo Proxy has all the right goods. It is not something you can just sit back and mindlessly enjoy, however, which narrows its audience down a bit.
| Overall |  | 4.00 | | Animation | | 4.00 | | Sound | | 4.00 | | Story | | 4.50 | | Character | | 3.50 | | Value | | 3.50 | | Enjoyment | | 3.50 | | Overall | | 4.00 |
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Description
