Ergo Proxy

Did You Know?

• The series was originally announced at the MIP TV Trade Show in France.
• Murase noted that because the show aired on a pay satellite channel, it had fewer restrictions from sponsors and merchandising requirements.

Synopsis

The series takes place in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian future where an ecological disaster thousands of years earlier made the outside world uninhabitable. Domed cities, such as Romdeau, serve as safe havens where humans and AutoReiv androids coexist. Romdeau's government is a bureaucracy divided into bureaus including Intelligence, Information, Health & Welfare, and Security, all overseen by the Administration Bureau led by a Regent. AutoReivs come in types such as Companion (human-like) and Entourage (robotic), and are built with varying bio-cybernetic complexity. Humans are grown in artificial wombs and believe they cannot reproduce naturally; each person is created to fulfill a specific purpose, a "raison d'être." A series of murders by AutoReivs infected with the Cogito virus—which grants them self-awareness—threatens social order. Secret government experiments involve a humanoid species called Proxy, described as god-like and immortal, who hold the key to humanity's survival.

Characters

Re-l Mayer is a 19-year-old inspector with the Citizen Intelligence Bureau and granddaughter of Romdeau's Regent, Donov Mayer. Her privileged status gives her an authoritative demeanor, and she leads the investigation into murders by Cogito-infected AutoReivs. Her pursuit of the truth leads her to leave Romdeau with Vincent Law. Vincent Law is an immigrant from Mosk working in Romdeau's AutoReiv Control Division, assigned to dispose of infected AutoReivs. Initially unassuming, he becomes more serious and confident as a traumatic past resurfaces, compelling him to flee the city and develop a close relationship with Re-l. Pino is a Companion-type AutoReiv infected with the Cogito virus, possessing a childlike mind and body. Originally owned by Raul and Samantha Creed as a surrogate child, she becomes infected after a tragedy, attaches to Vincent Law, and joins his journey. She has long purple hair, green eyes, and often wears a pink rabbit costume or dark green jumpsuit, playing a melodica and referring to herself in the third person in the Japanese dub. Iggy is an Entourage AutoReiv who served Re-l since childhood. After contracting a weaponized strain of the Cogito virus, his devotion becomes a destructive obsession, leading him to blame Vincent Law and attempt to imprison Re-l. He sacrifices himself to save her from an explosion, leaving only his damaged head, which Re-l ends to stop his suffering.

Media

Ergo Proxy aired on WOWOW from February 25 to August 12, 2006. Geneon Entertainment released nine DVD volumes in Japan from May 25, 2006, to January 25, 2007. The series was licensed for Region 1 release by Geneon, with six volumes beginning November 21, 2006. The English dub premiered on Fuse in the United States from June 9 to November 24, 2007, and a complete DVD collection followed in December 2008. In July 2008, Geneon and Funimation Entertainment agreed to distribute select titles, with Funimation handling manufacturing, marketing, sales, and distribution of Ergo Proxy. Funimation fully licensed the series and re-released it under their Anime Classics label on July 3, 2012. Geneon also released a four-disc Blu-ray box set on September 25, 2012, and two DVD box sets on September 25, 2012, and August 22, 2012. In Australia and New Zealand, Madman Entertainment distributed the DVDs starting March 2007. MVM Films released the first volume in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2007. The English dub aired on ABC2 in Australia from July 3 to December 4, 2007, and on G4techTV's Anime Current in Canada from July 26 to December 27, 2007. A manga spin-off, Centzon Hitchers and Undertaker by Yumiko Harao, was serialized in Monthly Sunday Gene-X from February 18 to November 18, 2006, and collected in two volumes. Two soundtracks, Ergo Proxy OST opus01 and opus02, were released by Geneon on May 25, 2006, and August 25, 2006, featuring compositions by Yoshihiro Ike. Opus01 includes the opening theme "Kiri" by Monoral and the ending theme "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead.

Reception

Ergo Proxy received mostly positive reviews, with critics praising its intricate visuals, cyberpunk aesthetic, and intellectual themes, while criticizing its uneven narrative and over-reliance on philosophical references. Newtype USA expressed excitement about the premise, praising the complex drama, supporting cast, and carefully woven plot, and featured the first DVD as "DVD of the Month," calling it a deep, believable, thoughtful sci-fi story. Katherine Luther of About.com praised its cyberpunk themes, mix of 2D and 3D animation, and deep psychological storyline, describing it as creepy, intense, and "edge-of-your-seat-delightful." THEM Anime Reviews praised the visuals and pacing but noted inconsistent designs. Zac Bertschy of Anime News Network gave an overall B+, criticizing the characters as an unfortunate stain on an otherwise excellent series, while praising the breathtakingly detailed backgrounds. Carlo Santos, also from Anime News Network, criticized the middle episodes for experimental gimmicks that fail to advance the story and the finale as a towering mess, but acknowledged that the series accomplishes more than most anime hope to, flaws and all.