Forum - View topicREVIEW: Ergo Proxy DVD 4
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Raven Shinobi
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This volume is what made the series climb into my top 20 of my favorite anime of all time. The episodes were entertaining, even the quiz show that I thought it was funny with all those comments regarding R-el that pissed her off and Pino is still so damn adorable
I especially loved the character development that Re-l went through and how she turned from an all around bitch that was just too mean to the other two -loved the way Pino was mockingly mimicking her btw- into a some-what likeable charcater by the end of the DVD. |
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Randall Miyashiro
 Posts: 2451 Location: A block away from Golden Gate Park |
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I agree that this volume focused on the series' strengths. I find the strong focus on the three characters is what sets it apart from the also highly acclaimed Texhnolyze and Ghost in the Shell which it reminds me of. I personally just couldn't identify or sympathize with the protagonists of Texhnolyze, which is not a problem with Ergo Proxy. I also like the changing relation between Vincent and Re-L. I love these subtle relations (as someone pointed out exists with Makoto and Batou on a different thread) instead of these goofy head over heals shy first time romance which seems overly abundant in anime. The characters are so different in personality, but judging from Eureka 7 I will say that this is Dai Sato's specialty.
The game show episode is indeed weak, and I'm glad that it isn't the last episode on the DVD. I also love the gorgeous pencil boards that are included with the release The video and especially the audio authoring seem to be Geneon at it's finest which is a relief since they have had a few problems with other titles recently. This is one of those few shows that I'm watching in both languages with each new release, since an immediate second viewing is well worth it and my roommates seem interested. I'm a bit surprised at how different Iggy sounds in the English track of this series. |
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Afax
Posts: 74 |
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Quiz show was fun, albiet a bit too experimental, even consiering some of the more far out things this series has/will show. You could tell the writers were having their share of fun with that episode in any case.
I've wondered why the producers only allocated 23 episodes for this series. Had it been 26, or even 24, the expostion from the quiz show could have been handled in a better way that would integrate better with the rest of the series. |
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HellKorn
Posts: 1669 Location: Columbus, OH |
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I guess I'll have to disagree somewhat with another Ergo Proxy review here on ANN, though this time in favor of a, "What, only a "B+"?"
Seriously, I think volume four showcases the real highlights of EP excellently. When the series breaks away from the plot is when some honest to goodness writing that doesn't come off as pure masturbation for obscure references of philosophers, sci-fi and pop culture to replace any sort of substance that could've been done otherwise. Episode thirteen is the climatic development of Iggy's character, and it's handled rather well -- it's straightforward but genuinely emotionals, elements that EP on a whole lacks, and this plays to its strengths. Episode fourteen is another trip into the realm of "weird for the sake of being weird," but doesn't ham it up with twenty-five minutes of Dai Sato's musings and stretching out a paper-thin plot, and instead plays with the viewer's mind much like any good surreal thriller should: with its visuals and characters' actions. Episode fifteen is in essence a recap that also blatantly gives out critical information, and in such an slapstick way that you realize that even Sato can laugh at himself (lawd knows I wanted to magically reach through the screen and shake him for using such a haplessly generic set up in the beginning of the series). Then there's episode sixteen, which is easily the best episode in Ergo Proxy. Two of the three main characters, Re-l and Pino, were established as stereotypes in the beginning, and while they are a far cry from the subtle and complex characters that we see in Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex and Texhnolyze, the development given to them here elevates them beyond the point of labels as "secluded, pampered and bitchy princess realizing the truth has been kept from here and the token comic relief girl who the audience smiles at." Re-l benefits a lot from the introspective narrative, as we see her slowly but surely change through the episode, where at the end spoiler[we see her replicating Vincent's own actions, which, in a cheesy yet still acceptable way, results in them at last being able to continue on their journey.] Not to mention that the episode is amazingly funny and captures the tedious atmosphere perfectly. Ergo Proxy doesn't come together as cleanly nor is it anywhere as tightly-written as RahXephon, and neither does it ultimately compare in every single department of its technical and literary merits as the two aforementioned cybperunk series. Still, it is a very solid show that stands above the murk of hopelessly unchallenging drivel that is so common in anime that for those looking for something out of the norm, they probably won't be disappointed. Volume four serves to further that assertion with breaking the mold of its characters, and for once a nice break away from (most of) the pretentious techno-babble. |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18452 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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I was completely flabbergasted by episode 15, as it feels so incongruous with the rest of the series, but thought that episode 14 was one of the better of the mind-trippy episodes so far. It was episode 16 that truly sold this volume for me, however. It's so rare to see an anime series stop and examine how all of a person's little idiosyncrasies can become extremely annoying when forced to live closely together. (It reminded me a lot of the Genshiken episode dealing with the nose hair.) More importantly, it was a great - and necessary - examination of Re-l and her relationship to the others. For all she's been prominent in this series, she has never been developed that much, and she comes out of that episode as a stronger and more interesting character for it.
I agree that Sato's pretentiousness sometimes gets annoying, and that he does seem to be stretching a thin plot, but honestly, I'd keep watching the series just for Pino. |
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HellKorn
Posts: 1669 Location: Columbus, OH |
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Yeah, I find it surprising how much I took to Pino and still feel attached to her character upon revisiting it. Obligatory comic relief characters/moments generally annoy me when the atmosphere doesn't ask for it, but Pino's character is so endearing that it's hard not to like her. Plus, she also has her own importance to a theme in the series, which may or may not be clear to many viewers at this point. |
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daedelus
 Posts: 743 Location: Texas City, TX (ajd: 6/11/05) |
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I didn't think this volume was getting a review seeing as how Vol 5 is coming out tomorrow
 Better late than never.
I was definitely taken aback by "Nightmare Quiz Show". I will say that I liked how it provided a history of the planet. I prefer it to someone just droning on with a history lesson or something. I do agree that the style of the episode heavily contradicts the rest of the series. I appreciated much more upon a second viewing. I have a new favorite episode. "Dead Calm" was a character study masterpiece. Even writing about it now makes me want to stop, load the DVD, and watch it again right now. Facial hair and socks have never been so funny!  Best of all: TONS of screentime for Pino 
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Key
Moderator
Posts: 18452 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Um, I've checked three different sources, and they all say it's due out next Tuesday, not this one. |
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murph76
 Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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Well, I bought a copy of Vol. 5 at Best Buy today. I often find new release anime on their shelves a week or so before it's "supposed" to be out. I wonder if the street date rules for anime aren't as strict? Anyway, loved Vol. 4, even though the quiz show was a bit strange. But, I think it was better than some boring exposition episode or a clip filled recap show. And I was surprised by the amount of information it provided. The idea that spoiler[some of the population left for another planet] was something I hadn't considered before in Ergo Proxy. -Murph |
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daedelus
Posts: 743 Location: Texas City, TX (ajd: 6/11/05) |
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Yeah, I was given incorrect information and I found out the hard way. However, I could've got it from RACS 2 weeks ago. I just don't like paying shipping if I don't have to. murph76: I believe it is up to the individual retailers as to whether they sell anime DVDs early. Like you, I sometimes find things a week or so early at Best Buy, and RACS frequently receives volumes weeks in advance and then ships them out with no consequence. Suncoast, however, always adheres to the street dates because it is a company policy. |
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JKNGP
Company Representative
Posts: 11 |
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Who said spoiler[ anything about leaving for another planet. Remember what the name of the project is. ] And as far as exposition episodes go, I think the game-show format was one of the most unique ways to give us some answers. Better than some scientist or a bad guy they meet simply explaining things. Plus look at those fabulous prizes! Regards, JK |
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murph76
Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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OK ... Guess I need to rewatch that episode. 
-Murph |
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Randall Miyashiro
Posts: 2451 Location: A block away from Golden Gate Park |
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I also got mine in the mail a little while ago. I love the cover and pencil board art for this one. I didn't know that this series was so short, and am a bit sad that it will soon be completed. |
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WesW
 Posts: 144 |
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Excuse me for bring OT, but since it was mentioned that NGP also did the dub for Kamichu!, and since their rep is reading, I just want to say that I absolutely loved Megan Harvey's performance for that show. I don't know how old she is, but she is the only American VA I've ever heard who convincingly pulled off a portrayal of a little girl the way it has to be done for a comedy to work. I really hope you guys keep hiring her.
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Sakura Shinguji
Posts: 197 |
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Excellent review. I'm ashamed to say it took me this long after buying the disc to actually watch it, but it's good to find a discussion thread that's still a bit recent. The review and the responses here cover pretty much everything I have to say, though I should weigh in to say that I enjoyed the quiz show episode, both in terms of amusement value and choice of format for delivery of information. Episode 16 was also a brilliant episode, the best in the series thus far, that could've turned out lackluster in so many ways but ended up being absolutely perfect.
One quibble about the review: while Shuko Murase's directorial skills do deserve praise, it's not his first time at the helm. That would be Witch Hunter Robin, a series that isn't nearly as lofty in its ambitions as Ergo Proxy, but still a solid and slick series in its own right, and when put up next to Ergo Proxy shows clearly how much control and intent that Murase can infuse into projects as director in order to meet a particular stylistic and narrative vision. |
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