Customer Reviews

Ergo Proxy: Box Set

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're the kind of person that needs a story to tell literal, straight-forward journey from A to B, (like the person who wrote the Amazon.com review) then this isn't for you. But if you appreciate abstract ideas and subjective story-lines open for interpretation, especially thought-provoking stories that pose existential questions, then you'll appreciate Ergo Proxy.

According to Amazon's reviewer, "Ergo Proxy will appeal to viewers who favor violent action over coherent storytelling and credible characters." I don't recall a terrible amount of violent action. The series is arguably slow, actually. Whoever wrote the amazon.com review missed the point, many times over. The 3 episodes that the Amazon.com review sited as "pointless fantasies" are actually the battles with different proxies in their respective cities: beating the game show was defeating a proxy, discerning fantasy from reality in "Ophelia" was defeating a proxy, etc.

As far as copying from Evagelion, I see no similarities. And the only thing that can be accused of copying from Ghost in The Shell is the robots becoming self-aware due to the Cogito Virus. But that idea is in no way original to Ghost in the Shell. How many sci-fi stories deal with the idea of robots becoming self-aware? Besides, "Cogito" is part of the Latin phrase "Cogito ergo sum" or "I think, therefore I am." I think, think, that Descartes was an antecedent to Ghost in the shell, but don't quote me.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and some people enjoy the literal, while others appreciate the subjective. And that's fine, of course; this series isn't going to please everyone. But the points made against Ergo Proxy in the Amazon.com review are unfair and incorrect.

By the way, the art is rather nice, too. Cyberpunktastic.

I cannot say enough about the style of the animation itself, as it is the most attractive looking series I have ever watched, seamlessly blending computer generated effects with more traditional techniques.

The story is moderately complicated and many of details of what is going on are saved for the final few episodes. The series is carried through these long periods by revealing to the viewer just enough information over the course of the series that, with each episode, it does feel as though the answers to the mysteries of the seemingly unassuming protagonist are coming into focus. I would not say that the plot is confusing, as it is largely straight forward account of Vincent Law's journey across a post-apocalyptic Earth. The clues to resolving the mysteries of: (i) who Vincent really is (ii) how the world came to be in its current state and (iii) the changes that are coming and Vincent's role in those changes, these simply are revealed at a slow and deliberate pace.

What propels the series through, however, is a combination of the clever writing and the characters of the three leads, Vincent Law, Re-L Mayer and the android child Pino. Of the three, debates continue as to which is the best of the three. For me personally, it's the surprising choice of the happy android Pino. Re-L is a close second though if only because she cuts such a strong and dark figure on the screen, in a way typically reserved for male characters.

As for the writing, there were several moments where the plot devices caused me to want to roll my eyes (like an episode that entirely comprised exposition, told in the form of a strange game show which the characters find themselves involved with, or an episode that consists entirely of them waiting for the wind to propel their small ship). In the end, though (and perhaps in part because I was so ready to dismiss these devices) I could not help but admire the way the writers twisted what seemed potentially tedious into something delightful. The writers also are very good at connecting seemingly random moments into the grander story in a meaningful and affecting way.

If you dislike movies like Memento (which require you to rethink events previously viewed in light of subsequently revealed information) or if you cannot engage with character driven stories, this is not the series for you. It is not action heavy, and what action there is generally is not crucial to the overall story.

If I would have had all the DVDs I would have watched it in one sitting. I found both the narrative and the characters to be fascinating. It presents a very complex and conflicted view of humanity, fate (reason for existence), and spirituality. It intentionally leaves some aspects of the world ambiguous because that's the point. It's meant to make you think, not only about what the writers presented, but about your own existence and your beliefs.

I enjoyed the episodes that seemed out of character with the rest of the series. These are a distinguishing characteristic of chief writer Dai Sato (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Wolf's Rain, Eureka 7). They add something of their own and they also add to the overall development of the characters and the world. They take the characters out of the world they're in an put them into a different one so you can see how they act. I find it to be an interesting and creative character development device.

If you like series that explore the nature of society and humanity, then I guarantee you'll like Ergo Proxy. I enjoyed it a great deal the first time and I liked it even more the second time. They lay subtle hints all over the place which you're a bit confused by the first time, but again, that's the point. You're not supposed to feel comfortable in this world. You're supposed to feel as compelled to unravel it as the characters and in the end, it ends up looking a lot like our own.

Ergo Proxy is a sophistocated anime. Not one that is full of action or that has a clear story. You really have to think about the characters, their relationships, and the world they live in when you watch this movie. Ergo Proxy reminded me a lot of "Speedgrapher"(another amazing adult Anime). It's about a high society that falls at the hands of the same person that helped nurtured it. When the curtain falls your left questioning about what is the key factor to life. Just like in Speedgrapher the key was living by your own destiny, and not riding on the rails that had been laid out before you.

Ergo Proxy tells the tale of one man who tries to find himself, a girl who thinks she knows herself but doesn't, and highly positive character that motivates them all. The combination of personalities is interesting. The Main character Re-L is a woman whom you could call "cold" and not be off by a single letter. Vincent the co-main character is a passive-aggressive person who bends to fit the situation(mostly he is collective and passive, but mainly because he doesn't know who he is). Pino the sub-character is the odd ball of the bunch. Both Re-L and Vincent alone are dark characters. Pino is full of light and really brings out the best in both of them because of her innocence.

All of Ergo Proxys strange characters live in post-apocalyptic world. They belong to a highly governed society that has learned to survive by living under strict societal rules. Only the highest level of society knows the truth about it, while the lower society live their lives blindly not knowing the truth. Re-L, Vincent, and Pino all journey out to find this truth. The trek that they go on exposes many lies for them, and opens their eyes to a world that they never thought was possible. There are plenty of plot twist, and mind bogglers in this anime, but you have to put the story together yourself. The anime doesn't just fall into place. Each episode reveals clues and hints. Once you get towards the last disk you start to put things together.

Ergo Proxy is a great anime to watch, I recommend it if your into "thinker" sort of animes. I only give this anime 4 stars because I thought it should have been longer so we could see the characters develop more. 2 episode I felt could have been done better as they were not necessary at all. I thought the story was unique, but sometimes overly confusing. There were many times when I didn't know what was going on, untill I pieced the episodes together. If you like Speedgrapher you will enjoy this. If you haven't seen Speedgrapher...well check that out too it's amazing.

I'm going to try and keep this review from revealing too much. Chances are, you'll look at a few more, or you've probably already read the Amazon critique, and for that I must apologize. One of Ergo Proxy's main themes is the search for truth, and though I don't think spoilers will really ruin the viewing experience, I still see revealing major plot/setting points as a disservice to the series.

If you're looking for stylized anime where the characters shout out the names of their combat tactics and seemingly float in mid-air while rock music blares on in the background, look somewhere else. Ergo Proxy tries its hand at taking genres and twisting them around, but its mostly to infuse a sense of mythology that's in all of Earth's history. It's philosophical, self-searching, and subjective, in much the same way that David Lynch's films are, though Ergo Proxy does so with something much closer to a linear plot. It starts out as a science fiction thriller with a little bit of a noir feel to it, then tacks on the kind of inner monologues, supernatural monsters, fight scenes, and emotionally charged conflicts you expect to find in an anime. The difference is, I never felt that the show was being too cheesy. There are times that the characters can feel a bit melodramatic, nearly campy, but that's something that I've gotten used to seeing in anime (and it's handled a lot better here than in most places!).

The show's dark, often labyrinthine progression feels a lot like Paranoia Agent, where each episode seems repetitious, only Ergo Proxy is much more contained and comprehensible. It's full of satirical themes, philosophical wanderings, and it doesn't spend too much time babying you through the story. I read a review somewhere that called Ergo Proxy a puzzle, and I can see why someone would say that, though I'd argue that it's really a complicated, in-depth story that grows more and more surreal as it pedals toward a mythological conclusion. If you're a fan of Satoshi Kon's work, you'll be impressed with this layered piece of science fiction.

This is some of the best anime, and Sci-Fi in general, that I've had the pleasure of watching. The story and characters are very engrossing, and it gave me chills like only a few of the best Sci-Fi movies and books were able to do. If you like science fiction but haven't found any interest in anime, please check this out, it will change your mind! The animation is wonderful, and the futuristic cyberpunk setting is believable and unique. The dubbing is excellent, and I enjoyed watching it in English.

Ergo Proxy isn't for everyone. Some people seem to criticize it for being confusing, taking a long time to answer certain questions and not being very action-packed. I loved this series BECAUSE of these reasons!! I diddn't mind the wait to find out exactly what Proxies were. This mystery is analyzed and pondered by nearly all of the characters and the resulting suspence added to the enjoyment. After all, it is one of the biggest mysteries Ergo Proxy has to offer, so it only makes sense to not reveal the answer until after a long wait. The confusing aspects provoke thought and coax the viewer into paying attention. It actually makes you think, rather than using some generic plot and loading the show with violence. A pretty cool thing to do in this day and age where your typical anime/movie commercial just blasts a hundred clips of random action in your face and a couple bad-boy quotes, then you are expected to want to watch it based on THAT! This alone sets Ergo Proxy apart from the legions crap out there.

The artwork in this show is incredible! It is very rich and very lush, especially when it comes to the geography and plant foliage. Every single character has something very interesting about them that keeps your interest throughout the events of the series. And one more plus is that Ergo Proxy isn't over-serious. we get a few fun little stand-alone episodes such as Who Wants to be in Jeopardy (Nightmare Quiz Show), a trivia game show where the host and contestants' lives are at stake and its all played with hilairously, care-free livelhood.

This is a great psychological sci-fi anime thats highly recommended for anyone who likes to think and dosen't really need a whole ton of action to be entertained.

Cheepest price.. and i looked!! Great collection, watched it numerous times.. Picture quality is great and the pacaking is top notch. Better price than Deepdiscount.com and Rightstuff.com, that is if they arent having a sale... Shop on Anime lovers!!

Truly different, truly great. If you like in depth complex sci-fi this is a must see. This is why anime is like nothing else.

I was introduced to this series by a friend and I absolutely love it. It really makes you think. It's not just the same thing every episode.