Cover Art

Credits

Director: Shukou Murase Starring: Meagan Hollingshead, Liam O'Brian, Rachel Hirschfeld, Travis Willingham Screenplay: Dai Sato Music: Yoshihiro Ike Tagline: Malice implanted by the creator Country: Japan

The setting is the future – though what time this is, we have no idea. The city of Romdo is a supposed 'paradise' where 'emotions have become obsolete' and milieu resembles the dystopian cityscape of Ridley Scott's Bladerunner and George Orwell's 1984; big screen televisions tower over people whilst loudspeakers encourage citizens to spend more money on themselves. Located in this uber-consumer nightmare is Re-l Mayer, a waif-like detective from the Intelligence Bureau, clad head-to-toe in tight black leather who's investigating a murder case involving the other central characters in Ergo Proxy: Auto-Reivs. Auto-Reivs closely resemble Philip K. Dick's replicants; robots imbued with a human personality. The threat of an Auto-Reiv – or indeed any cyborg - becoming 'self-aware' is a recurring notion in SF – in this case, the threat is the Cogito virus, a glitch in the robot's programming that convinces them they actually are human (Cogito, as in cogito ergo sum: I think therefore I am). Like all SF that deals with simulation, simulacrum and artificiality, the search for truth and authenticity takes on a symbolic meaning for Re-l, as her struggle to solve the case leads her down the path of Government conspiracy, hidden agendas, and all manner of futuristic danger. The danger in this case is the Proxy, a super-being that has mysteriously infiltrated Romdo. By the end of this arc, the Proxy is still an unknown quantity – what it is, what it wants and what it can do is still a mystery, but its presence hangs over the series like a spectre; intriguing yet threatening. Vincent Law is another character to become enveloped in the scandal; he is an immigrant to Romdo, but is valiantly attempting to prove his worth as a citizen by hunting and destroying infected Auto-Reivs. When he is attacked by the Proxy, he discovers he now knows too much, and he is forced to flee the city. Accompanied by a companion Auto-Reiv, Pino, Vincent is a symptom of the malaises that plague the future; the vulnerable 'human' element that easily slips through the cracks of hyper-industrial post-technological society. The final destiny of these characters is still a long way off, but these first four episodes mark the beginning of a journey for all of them.

The first thing that will strike you about Ergo Proxy is how jaw-droppingly, gob-smackingly, mind-boggingly AMAZING it looks. The visuals are the hybrid product of traditional anime 2D cell animation that is merged with 3D CGI – but the effect is so seamless, so convincing, and so flawless that it's almost impossible to tell were animation end and CGI begins! Forget words like 'incredible', 'impeccable' and 'perfection'…they ring like empty hyperbole when compared to the ethereal, almost other-worldly visuals of Ergo Proxy. It's a 'through the looking glass' effect that is one of the most technically confident and cinematically ambitious displays of animation prowess. The production team at Manglobe have set a benchmark that surpasses everything I've seen in animation and live action this year.

The narrative of Ergo Proxy is a different proposition though. In this first arc there are many questions asked and very few answers given. The pacing is deliberately slow, and in four episodes very little actually happens; little pieces of information are revealed as Re-l attempts to get closer to the truth, but there are few major plot developments. Furthermore, the plot is hard to follow, and the structure is frequently disorientating as it jumps from character to character without warning. Thematically, Ergo Proxy has a lot in common with Ghost in the Shell and Bladerunner; the principle concern is for the psychology and morality of its protagonists' and much time is dedicated to their individual thoughts and emotions - introspection, despair and paranoia. The show attempts to balance two dense thematic threads; on one hand, it offers a cautionary tale about the frail vulnerability of humanity; on the other, it portrays a dissent into technological entropy. Both threads posit a psychological/metaphysical study of the 'self' in a dystopic, alienating world. This subject matter is quite weighty, and actually watching the show becomes an isolating and cold experience – which is unusual, because these themes are so immersive, so compellingly fascinating that it's quite impossible to turn away. Ergo Proxy has lofty ambitions that translate awkwardly on screen, but are nonetheless mesmerising when coupled with the sublime imagery. It's a contradictory, paradoxical and compulsive viewing experience that can only be described as powerful. The unique imagery provides the perfect foil for Ergo Proxy's narrative; soft-focus lighting and omnipresent shadow reflects the dystopian landscape, and the psychology of the main characters. A blend of bleak noir-tinged futurism and surreal, almost dream-like flourishes, the overall effect is sophisticated and intelligent.

Narratively, it rates about 3; the actual plot doesn't quite live up to the ambitious promise of the show's premise, but one can safely assume the next batch of episodes will remedy that.