For this Anime Discussion post, another futuristic yet newer anime known as Ergo Proxy.

The Anime Discussion series purpose is to both indicate more serious animes that contains interesting plots to think about, and also to prove once and for all that animes are not “for kids only”.

Ergo Proxy follows two main characters: Vincent and Re-l Mayer (to be read as “Real” or “Rielle”).
It’s set in a post apocalyptic world, and starts in a domed city called Rondeau, an utopic place where humans and androids live in peace isolated from the rest of the world.

The story starts when a series of murders starts to happen, and Re-l is assigned to investigate them.
Seems to be related to a virus that’s infecting Androids, a misterious human lifeform called Proxy, a moster that is loose in the city and Vincent.

Even though the anime is futuristic and post-apocalyptic, the plot has to do with philosophy.
Among the themes, a question is raised on androids awareness of the world and of themselves.

The question here is if androids (called AutoReivs), programmed from birth to serve humans, are turned into murderers because of the virus, or are simply freed from their program acquiring self awareness.
And this leads to a question about ourselves: Is personallity defined by the environment we live in, or by something else we have since birth?

Worth watching, if only for Pino-chan’s cuteness… xD
But seriously, it’s an interesting story that kinda feels like some dystopic future elements (Brave New World) mixed with elements from I Robot, Ghost in the Shell and some post apocalyptic scenarios.

Trailer:

As for anime, it was produced by the same studio from Samurai Champloo (Manglobe), and it has this Witch Hunter Robin feeling probably because it’s from the same director (Shuko Murase).

Opening:

And that’s all folks! I’ll leave you with the closing credits to the anime episodes, with music from my permanent playlist and in tune with the anime theme: Radiohead’s Paranoid Android (yeah, it’s from the original ending credits, no edits!)

Ending: