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In a world ravaged by ecological disasters and nuclear warfare,
the surviving humans are forced to coexist with their android
servants, AutoReivs, in a huge domed city called Romdo. A
utopian dream where every aspect of life is controlled and
regulated, Romdo is a paradise where feelings have been discarded
and emotions are no longer required. But
this peaceful idyll is threatened by a series of murders believed
to have been committed by berserk robots, sent out of control
after becoming infected with the Cogito Virus, which has made
them aware of their own existence. Tasked with investigating
the murders are Re-l Mayer, a young female inspector from
the Civilian Intelligence Office, and her AutoReiv partner,
Iggy...
Ergo
Proxy is a futuristic, science-fiction suspense thriller
with gothic cyberpunk undertones. Directed by Shuko Murase
(Witch Hunter ROBIN, Samurai Champloo) and scripted
by Dai Sato (Samurai Champloo, Casshern, Ghost In The Shell:
Stand Alone Complex, Cowboy Bebop), Ergo Proxy
comes to DVD having already attracted considerable attention
due to the fact that Radiohead liked it so much they allowed
the producers to use their song "Paranoid Android"
as the show's closing theme.
Episodes
on this DVD include:
Awakenings: In the idyllic city of Romdo, where crime
is virtually non-existent, a strange virus is infecting some
of the city's AutoReivs (obedient servant robots). Called
the Cogito virus, this infection has the undesired affect
that it gives its victims self awareness. Vincent Law is an
immigrate whose main job used to be the maintenance of AutoReivs,
although now he spends most of his time terminating the infected
AutoReivs - a job he only sticks at because it's the quickest
way of gaining full citizenship. When a spate of murders occur
Re-l Mayer, an inspector from the
Civilian Intelligence Office, is given
the job of investigating these crimes. During her investigation
Re-l is confronted by a terrifying creature that appears to
be neither human nor AutoReiv.
Confession:
Re-l Mayer's claims of confronting a monster are ignored by
her superiors. Re-I soon realises that an official cover up
is being conducted on the incident when she discovers that
all
records, reports and any other information on the monster
has been erased. The Bureau send Re-I off for a psychological
examination. She learns more about the monster known as Proxy,
and is determined to find out what it was she actually saw.
In another part of the city Vincent Law is running for his
life. The Proxy has tracked him down and chases him through
a shopping centre - killing numerous innocent bystanders.
But what can the Proxy possibly gain from killing a lowly
immigrant?
Maze
City: Re-l Mayer's investigation uncovers evidence that
the police have been accessing the Civilian Intelligence
Office's data bank, but she can't fathom out why? Re-I
discovers that Law was being chased and attempts to contact
him. Having escaped the Proxy, Law is framed for a crime he
didn't commit and subsequently chased by AutoReivs (who he
thinks are infected with Cogito). While attempting to escape
from his pursuers he discovers Pino, an AutoReiv who is designed
to look like a very young girl. Re-l eventually manages to
contact Law, who has had enough and is determined to kill
himself to ensure a quick death. Law exits Romdo city and
jumps to his almost certain death.
Futu-risk:
Law awakens to find that he is not dead. He and Pino are outside
the Romdo city limits. The two of them are soon discovered
by a group of people who appear to have been exiled from Romdo.
A routine patrol droid opens fire on Pino - which is impossible
as droids are not programmed to recognise AutoReivs. Meanwhile
Re-l's
investigations uncover something interesting about the Proxy
that was chasing Law.
Extras
include Keywords Of Ergo Proxy (4 min featurette that
looks at the three keywords ("Romdo", "Cogito"
and "Proxy") for this series); Behind the Scenes
(4 mins look at the construction of the series); English
Staff Interview (32 mins interviews with English voice
director, Jonathan Klein, and English script writer, Taliesin
Jaffe); Clean Opening (Episodes 1 & 2); Promotional
Trailers; Commercials; Galleries; and trailers
for other anime shows. Audio options include English DTS and
English/Japanese 5.1 with optional subtitles.
I
was really impressed that the DVD producers actually go out
of their way to ensure that nothing from future episodes is
spoiled for viewers. Even the interviews have been carefully
thought through - with the interviewer obviously informing
the interviewees that their comments would be included on
the first DVD which only covers episode one to four.
I
was a little confused as to the title for this volume. All
the press information and the pack shot shows this as Awakening.
However, the DVD menus call it Awakenings. It's not
a problem, just something I thought I should point out in
case anyone is doing an Internet search to find the cheapest
online price.
Possibly
the most interesting and original anime to be released since
Akira.
I, for one, am really looking forward to see how this series
develops.
 
Darren
Rea
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