TV-Series
Description
"Ergo Proxy" is a cyberpunk psychological thriller set in a dystopian future where humanity survives in domed cities to escape a polluted and uninhabitable Earth. The story unfolds in Romdo, a technologically advanced city governed by an authoritarian regime that maintains order through strict control over its citizens. The city's inhabitants coexist with AutoReivs, humanoid robots designed to assist in daily tasks. However, a series of murders committed by AutoReivs infected with the Cogito virus, which grants them self-awareness, disrupts the fragile peace.
Re-l Mayer, a skilled investigator from the Citizen Intelligence Bureau, is assigned to uncover the truth behind these incidents. Her investigation leads her to Vincent Law, an immigrant AutoReiv mechanic with a mysterious past and a connection to the Proxies, godlike beings who wield immense power and are central to the city's survival. As Re-l delves deeper, she discovers that Vincent is linked to the Proxy known as Ergo Proxy, a being shrouded in secrecy and tied to the city's origins.
The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Re-l, Vincent, and an AutoReiv named Pino, who has gained sentience through the Cogito virus, are forced to flee Romdo. Their journey takes them beyond the domed city into the desolate wasteland, where they encounter other domed cities, each with its own Proxy and unique societal structure. The trio's quest for answers reveals the truth about the Proxies, the nature of humanity, and the purpose of their existence.
Throughout the series, themes of identity, free will, and the consequences of technological advancement are explored. The characters grapple with their own perceptions of reality and the roles they play in a world where the line between human and machine is increasingly blurred. Re-l's determination to uncover the truth, Vincent's struggle with his dual identity, and Pino's journey toward self-awareness drive the narrative forward, culminating in a revelation that challenges the very foundation of their world.
"Ergo Proxy" is a complex and thought-provoking series that combines elements of mystery, philosophy, and science fiction. Its intricate plot and richly developed characters offer a compelling exploration of existential questions within a meticulously crafted dystopian setting.
Re-l Mayer, a skilled investigator from the Citizen Intelligence Bureau, is assigned to uncover the truth behind these incidents. Her investigation leads her to Vincent Law, an immigrant AutoReiv mechanic with a mysterious past and a connection to the Proxies, godlike beings who wield immense power and are central to the city's survival. As Re-l delves deeper, she discovers that Vincent is linked to the Proxy known as Ergo Proxy, a being shrouded in secrecy and tied to the city's origins.
The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Re-l, Vincent, and an AutoReiv named Pino, who has gained sentience through the Cogito virus, are forced to flee Romdo. Their journey takes them beyond the domed city into the desolate wasteland, where they encounter other domed cities, each with its own Proxy and unique societal structure. The trio's quest for answers reveals the truth about the Proxies, the nature of humanity, and the purpose of their existence.
Throughout the series, themes of identity, free will, and the consequences of technological advancement are explored. The characters grapple with their own perceptions of reality and the roles they play in a world where the line between human and machine is increasingly blurred. Re-l's determination to uncover the truth, Vincent's struggle with his dual identity, and Pino's journey toward self-awareness drive the narrative forward, culminating in a revelation that challenges the very foundation of their world.
"Ergo Proxy" is a complex and thought-provoking series that combines elements of mystery, philosophy, and science fiction. Its intricate plot and richly developed characters offer a compelling exploration of existential questions within a meticulously crafted dystopian setting.
Episodes
Staffel 1
1Pulse of Awakening
In the domed city of Romdeau,a citizen dies from a radiation leak caused by an AutoReiv’s malfunction. Inspector Re-l Mayer of the Citizen Intelligence Bureau arrives at the scene and examines the corpse. The AutoReiv responsible stands idle, its eyes glowing red with the Cogito virus. Re-l orders the AutoReiv to halt, but it speaks of awakening and self-awareness before self-destructing. Later, Re-l meets Vincent Law, a recent immigrant from Mosk who works as a clerk in the city’s documentation office. He hands her a lost ID card, and she notices his anxious demeanor. That night, Re-l follows a mysterious creature through a restricted dome sector. The creature kills two AutoReivs and a human guard with a touch that causes rapid decay. Vincent appears in the same corridor, drawn by an unknown impulse. The creature attacks him, and his left hand glows with a blue light as he instinctively blocks it. Vincent’s arm transforms into a weapon that wounds the creature. The creature retreats, and Vincent stares at his altered hand, whispering the words "Ergo Proxy." Re-l watches him, her earlier suspicion confirmed that Vincent hides a dangerous secret tied to the Proxy, a being the city’s authorities have erased from all records. The episode ends with Re-l and Vincent trapped inside the dome as security systems lock down, leaving them isolated from the city.
2Confession of a Confused Citizen
Vincent Law escapes Romdeau through a maintenance tunnel and emerges into a radioactive wasteland outside the dome. A small,childlike AutoReiv named Pino approaches Vincent and declares herself a tour guide. Pino exhibits involuntary laughter and erratic movements, symptoms of the Cogito virus infection. Vincent tries to return to Romdeau but finds the entrance sealed. He follows Pino through the ruins of a collapsed city. They enter an abandoned factory where a hostile maintenance AutoReiv attacks them. Pino disables the attacker by speaking a maintenance override code. Vincent experiences a severe headache and sees fragmented visions of a hooded figure and burning buildings. Inside Romdeau, Re-l Mayer compares biometric data from the previous AutoReiv rampage. She confirms that Vincent’s biological signature matches the Proxy entity she is hunting. Re-l orders her AutoReiv partner Iggy to prepare for an expedition outside the city. Vincent and Pino descend into a dark tunnel system as Vincent asks Pino her true purpose, and Pino repeats only that she is a tour guide.
3Leap into the Void ~ "mazecity"
4Oracle of Future, Underworld of Future ~ "futu-risk"
5Traveler of the Dusk
Re-l,Vincent, and Pino cross a desert in a dilapidated vehicle until the fuel runs out. They abandon the vehicle and walk toward a distant dome visible on the horizon. Inside the dome, they find a small settlement of humans living in makeshift shelters. An elderly woman, the settlement's leader, invites them to share a meal. The woman explains that her community awaits the arrival of the Traveler of the Dusk, a figure who will lead them to a new habitable zone. Vincent picks up a broken tablet from the ground and immediately suffers a seizure. He falls to his knees, seeing rapid images of a burning city, a white laboratory, and a dark humanoid shape. Re-l grabs his shoulders and demands an explanation. Vincent stammers that he saw something familiar but cannot identify the place or time. Pino approaches a group of children and copies their hand-clapping game, unsettling the adults. The elder gives the travelers a map marked with the location of a functioning well. As Vincent lifts his hand to take the map, a black ripple passes under his skin on his forearm. Re-l notices the ripple and pulls Vincent away from the elder. She whispers a threat: if Vincent cannot control his Proxy side, she will kill him herself. Vincent nods, his face pale, and the three depart into the twilight.
6Return to the Womb
Vincent,Re-l, and Pino traverse a barren wasteland outside Romdeau. Re-l walks with a limp from a previous injury. Pino examines the ruins of a collapsed dome city. Vincent leads them toward a still-standing dome named Mosko. The group enters through a cracked airlock. Inside, automated systems flicker to life. Pino detects no living AutoReiv signals. Vincent touches a data terminal in a central laboratory. The terminal projects a holographic recording of a woman floating in a suspension tank. The woman addresses Vincent as a failed copy. Re-l finds medical logs describing Proxy creation experiments. A large, deformed creature drops from the ceiling. The creature swings a metallic arm at Re-l. Vincent pushes Re-l aside and takes the blow. Blood sprays from Vincent’s chest. The creature prepares another strike. Vincent’s body convulses and expands into a tall, masked humanoid with dark skin. The transformed Vincent seizes the creature’s head and crushes it. The creature collapses into a pile of scrap and organic matter. Vincent reverts to his normal form and falls unconscious. Re-l stares at Vincent’s wound, which has already closed. She realizes he is a Proxy. The episode ends with Re-l holding a gun to Vincent’s head, deciding whether to kill him or keep him alive.
7Re-L124C41+
Re-l Mayer obtains an exit permit from Daedalus and drives an auto-buggy out of Romdeau into the wasteland. She follows a signal from a crashed aircraft that she had previously encountered. The auto-buggy breaks down near a large dome structure buried in the sand. Re-l enters the dome and finds a sterile corridor leading to a central chamber. Inside the chamber,a massive life-support tank contains a humanoid creature identified as a Proxy. The Proxy awakens and speaks to Re-l, claiming that it has been waiting for her. It explains that Proxies carry the Cogito virus and that Re-l herself is a manufactured being. Re-l rejects the Proxy's statements and shoots the tank with her pistol. The Proxy rapidly ages and disintegrates into dust. Before dying, it warns Re-l that her search will lead only to despair. Re-l exits the dome and resumes driving into the wasteland. She now questions her own origin and continues her pursuit of Vincent Law.
8Shining Sign
Re-l,Vincent, and Pino arrive at a settlement of human survivors living in the ruins of a collapsed dome. The settlement's leader, an elderly woman named Odey, welcomes them but warns against technology. Vincent experiences physical deterioration and his Proxy mark becomes visible on his hand. Odey identifies Vincent as a Proxy and orders the villagers to chain him. Re-l attempts to argue that Vincent is not a threat, but the villagers ignore her. A beam of light descends from the sky, which the villagers call the 'shining sign.' The light incinerates Odey and several villagers. Vincent transforms into a large, monstrous Proxy and attacks the remaining villagers. Re-l shields Pino from the destruction. Vincent reverts to human form after the beam ceases. The three leave the settlement as the villagers' beliefs are proven false. The episode ends with Re-l questioning Vincent's nature and the purpose of the shining sign.
9Angel's Share
Re-l,Vincent, and Pino enter a dome whose AutoReivs broadcast a signal identifying it as 'Paradise.' Inside, they find a human settlement that has regressed to a medieval agrarian lifestyle. The inhabitants distill a liquor called Angel's Share from a special yeast that only grows in the dome's soil. The community's elder, Oma, tells them that a creature known as the Mover periodically emerges from the distillery and takes one resident away. Re-l notices inconsistencies in Oma's story and sneaks into the distillery's lower levels. She discovers a large bio-mechanical apparatus connected to the building's core. The Mover appears outside and begins destroying houses. Vincent pushes Pino to safety and then faces the Mover alone. As the Mover strikes him, Vincent's body convulses and transforms into the Ergo Proxy. Ergo Proxy incinerates the Mover with a concentrated energy blast from its palm. Re-l reaches the scene just as Vincent's Proxy form dissipates, leaving the unconscious Vincent on the ground. Re-l sees Vincent's face and realizes he is the Proxy she has been hunting. Vincent wakes up, sees Re-l's expression of shock and fear, and runs away into the dome's outer corridors. Re-l does not follow him immediately; instead, she stays with Pino and examines the distillery's machinery to understand the Mover's origin. The episode ends with Re-l deciding to search for Vincent, now knowing his true identity and the danger he represents.
10Existence ~ "cytotropism"
11Inside the Fog ~ "anamnesis"
12If You Smile ~ "hideout"
13Conceptual Blind Spot ~ "wrong way home"
14Someone Else That Looked Like You ~ "ophelia"
15Who Wants to be in Jeopardy!
A Proxy calling itself MCQ captures Re-L,Vincent, and Pino. MCQ forces Vincent to participate in a live quiz show broadcast via satellite to domes worldwide, including Romdo. Vincent must answer trivia questions to accumulate one million points within thirty minutes. Failure results in his death, while success forces MCQ to die. The quiz reveals that an ecological disaster caused by methane hydrate energy production killed 85% of Earth's life. Humanity responded with two projects: the Proxy Project created approximately three hundred Proxies and the dome cities, while the Boomerang Project sent a ship carrying "old humanity" into orbit with plans to return. Vincent struggles through multiple question rounds, including identity and mosaic quizzes, before finally reaching the winning score. As his final act before death, MCQ displays an image of a figure identified as Proxy One for the global audience. Raul and Daedalus observe the broadcast from Romdo, seeing Vincent and Re-L for the first time since their departure. Vincent does not recognize Proxy One but understands the reveal carries重大 significance. The broadcast ends, and the image of Proxy One leaves Vincent confronting an unresolved mystery about his own origins.
16Dead Angle
Vincent,Re-l, and Pino travel across a barren wasteland and spot a large dome rising from the ground. Inside the dome, they find a thriving city with an artificial sky and residents going about daily routines. The city’s administrator greets them and reveals that the dome’s environment is a carefully maintained simulation. Residents have no knowledge of the outside world and believe the projected sky is natural. Vincent recognizes the administrator as a Proxy due to his connection to the Cogito virus and the dome’s anomalous systems. The Proxy admits he created the simulation to shield the inhabitants from the hopeless reality beyond the dome. His physical form deteriorates visibly as his power wanes. Vincent questions whether preserving a false happiness serves the residents’ well-being. The Proxy insists that ignorance protects them from suffering. Suddenly, the simulation glitches and the artificial sky shatters, exposing the real wasteland. Residents stare in shock at the desolate horizon. Vincent, Re-l, and Pino depart as the dome’s systems collapse, leaving the inhabitants to confront the truth. The group proceeds toward the next Proxy’s territory, carrying the unresolved question of how much illusion is necessary for survival.
17Terra Incognita
Raul Creed enters the underground breeding chamber in Romdo and discovers the city's inability to produce healthy humans naturally. Daedalus confronts Raul and states the WombSys has fallen silent since the Proxy's disappearance. The Regent and Council strip Raul of his security position after he accuses them of maintaining a stagnant society. Raul uses his dismissal as a trigger to launch the Rapture missile system from a hidden control room. Outside Romdo,Vincent Law, Re-l Mayer, and Pino travel across a barren wasteland toward Mosko. Pino wanders into a cave, leading Vincent and Re-l to a community of blind, albino humanoids living in toxic air. Re-l discovers cave paintings depicting a pregnant woman, then encounters a pregnant female from the community. The humanoids cannot survive outside their cave's atmosphere, as shown when a young boy collapses at the entrance. Raul returns to the shopping mall where his wife and unborn child died, retrieves a heart-shaped balloon, and sits at a piano. While playing Pino's favorite melody, Raul reflects that Vincent stole everything from him as missile launch sequences complete. The Rapture missile launches toward Mosko, directly threatening Vincent's destination and the answers he seeks.
18Sign of the End
Vincent,Re-l, and Pino travel across a barren wasteland and encounter a human settlement. The settlement's leader, Kazkis, announces that the world will end soon and that he, as a Proxy, will lead the survivors to safety. Kazkis orders the residents to build a large ark. Kazkis confronts Vincent and demands that Vincent reveal his Proxy form to prove his worth. Vincent refuses to transform or fight. Re-l draws her gun and shoots Kazkis. The bullet shatters Kazkis's mask, revealing a dormant Proxy entity fused to his body. The Proxy emerges and begins destroying the settlement. Vincent transforms into Ergo Proxy and engages the creature. Ergo Proxy tears the attacking Proxy apart, killing it. The surviving townspeople realize their leader was a fraud and scatter in panic. Pino finds a damaged AutoReiv among the rubble and tries to help it, but the AutoReiv shuts down permanently. Re-l asks Vincent whether he will also bring destruction. Vincent does not answer and walks away. The three board their vehicle and leave the ruined settlement. They set course for the next dome, where the authorities have detected an abnormal energy signature.
19The Girl with a Smile ~ "eternal smile"
20The Sacred Eye of Void ~ "Goodbye Vincent"
21The Place at the End of Time ~ "shampoo planet"
22Shackles ~ "bilbul"
23Proxy ~ "deus ex machina"
Cast
- Daedalus Yumeno
- Berkeley
- Re-L Mayer
- Husserl
- Deadalus Yumeno
- Iggy
- Proxy One
- Real MayarRie Saitō
- Derrida
- Real Mayer
- Daedelus YumenoGabriele Patriarca
- Pino
Comment(s)
Staff
- DirectorShūkō Murase
- StoryboardKazuyoshi KatayamaShūkō MuraseShinichirō WatanabeIwao TeraokaKou MatsuoSayo YamamotoKotomi Deai
- MusicYoshihiro Ike
- Art DirectorToshiyuki YamashitaKazumasa Satou
- Chief Animation DirectorHideto Komori
- ÜbersetzungRyan Morris
- Director of PhotographyKazuhiro Yamada
- ScreenplayDai SatōSeiko TakagiJunichi MatsumotoYuusuke AsayamaYuuko KawabeNaruki Nagakawa
- Episode DirectorShūkō MuraseAkira YoshimuraMasaki KitamuraTaiki NishimuraSatoshi TobaSayo YamamotoMitsuhiro YonedaTatsuya IgarashiKei TsunematsuNaoki KusunokiKotomi Deai
- Character DesignNaoyuki Onda
- ArtTakashi Aoi
- Animation DirectorShūkō MuraseMorifumi NakaMasaki YamadaNaoyuki OndaTakehiro HamatsuKaichiro TeradaHideki ItōEiji KomatsuYoshiya YamamotoGōsei OdaDaisuke MatagaChiyoko SakamotoHideto KomoriYuka TakemoriKenji FukazawaYuugo Kurume
- Sound DirectorKeiichi Momose
- ProducerAkio MatsudaMichiko SuzukiTakashi Kochiyama
Production
- ProductionWOWOWManglobeGeneon Entertainment, Inc.Rondo RobeGeneon Entertainment Inc.
- Animation ProductionManglobe
Relations
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