Ergo Proxy

ANIME REVIEW

Ergo Proxy

Story:

The story begins in a futuristic domed city called Romdo, built to protect its citizens after a global ecological disaster. In this utopia, humans and androids (AutoReivs) coexist with each other peacefully under a total management system. A series of murders committed by berserk robots infected with the Cogito virus begins to jeopardize the delicate balance of the social order. Behind the scenes, the government is conducting secret experiments on a mysterious humanoid lifeform called Proxy, which is believed to hold the key to the survival of mankind.

Re-l (also spelled "Real", pronounced "Rielle") Mayer is assigned to investigate some of the murders with her AutoReiv partner Iggy. She encounters a Cogito-infected AutoReiv and a fast and flexible monster. She later learns that the monster was a Proxy. The other central character, an immigrant named Vincent Law, is revealed as being the eponymous proxy, but his memories of his time in his native dome of Mosque are suppressed, or perhaps he suppresses them. After being hunted down, Vincent and Re-l leave Romdo, only to discover the truth behind the Proxies and the domes.

In the domed city of Romdo (and possible in other domed cities) various sections of the 'government' are referred to as Bureaux - the Intelligence Bureau, the Health & Welfare Bureau and the Security Bureau among others. The AutoReivs are referred to as either 'companions' or 'entourage' depending on their role. Similar to films such as The Matrix, it appears that the humans in the city are somehow created and birthed by grossly swollen Autoreivs, and each assumes a purpose. This purpose, referred to as a "raison d'etre", consumes each character throughout the series. For example, Autoreiv's raisons d'etre are to serve the humans, and Daedalus' purpose is to serve and protect Re-l.

Main characters

• Re-l Mayer

Voiced by: Rie Saitō (Japanese), Megan Hollingshead (English)

Embodiment of the no-nonsense personality, 19-year old (as shown on her profile shown in episode 7) Inspector Re-l Mayer of the Citizen Intelligence Bureau (市民情報局, Shimin Jōhōkyoku^?) is in charge of investigating a series of brutal murders apparently committed by AutoReivs infected with the Cogito Virus. She is also the granddaughter of Donov Mayer, the Regent of Romdo. Given her privileged status, she demands respect from those around her (she addresses Vincent as "o-mae"). Re-l eventually accompanies Vincent on his journey in order to learn more about the mysterious Proxies. Re-l's signature appearance consists of black clothes, black hair and a liberal amount of blue eye-shadow. She eventually gains romantic feelings for Vincent.

• Vincent Law

Voiced by: Kōji Yusa (Japanese), Liam O'Brien (English)

An immigrant from Mosko working for Romdo's AutoReiv Control Division (オートレイブ処理課^?) within the Temporary Immigrant Sector FG (暫定移民区域FG^?), set up to hunt and dispose of infected AutoReivs. In the first few episodes, Vincent's eyes often appear closed, though once they are opened, are a bright shade of green. He is originally driven to become a Model Citizen, but ultimately fails to suppress the burden of his traumatic past and flees from Romdo. He has a romantic interest in Re-l Mayer.

• Pino

Voiced by: Akiko Yajima (Japanese), Rachel Hirschfeld (voice actress) (English)

An infected Companion Type AutoReiv with the mind of a child. Pino was originally owned by Raul Creed and his wife, Samantha, whom Pino served as a surrogate child. She was scheduled for decommissioning after the Creeds were granted a real baby daughter by the government, but the untimely deaths of Samantha and their baby daughter at the hands of Monad Proxy leaves Pino infected with the Cogito Virus. She becomes very attached to Vincent early in the series and accompanies him on his journey. Pino possesses long purple hair, green eyes, a child-like physique and often wears a pink bunny costume. She is commonly seen playing a melodica.

PICS