Ergo Proxy - A Retrospective of an Overlooked Masterpiece

[@atoko9004]

A previous comment made me realize that in the "Thematic Foretelling" section I kept calling Proxy One the full identity. This is because I am actually referring to the reunification at the end of the show of both One and Ergo as "Proxy One'. As you can consider that at the end of the show, the crumbling and death of One and the rebirth of Ergo to be seen as "Proxy One". This is all my own personal view on the matter so feel free to correct me like the comment below did.

[@EcnalKcin]

It has been years since I watched this anime, but pretty sure you got the end all wrong. Proxy One, isn't the united proxies at all, Proxy One is the original Proxy, and Ergo is copy/clone of himself that serves as his tool of death. If I recall correctly, all the proxies are essentially genetically programmed to destroy their creations and themselves when their task is complete. Which is why they keep killing themselves as the show progresses. The Proxies were essentially acting as custodians until the planet was habitable again. As I recall Proxy One was supposed to make sure all the other proxies were dead before destroying himself. He created Ergo to do just that, but attempted to remove the suicide programming that he didn't think he would be able to overcome. In another comment you say Ergo is the life aspect, but in fact Ergo is the death aspect. He even says something along those lines as Vincent Law. Proxy One certainly did not think he had failed to sustain the survival of the human race. He was angry that he had been created by the true humans in space as a disposable tool. He couldn't avoid the programming that would cause his own destruction, so in creating Ergo as the tool for his own destruction he fulfilled his programming, but in attempting to eliminate the suicide programming from Ergo he exploited a loophole that the true humans did not foresee. Which is to say, they had failed to account for him creating a clone that didn't share his weakness to sunlight, or his suicidal programming. In that way he would live on, and get some form of vengeance even if all it amounted to was a different version of himself surviving when they intended him to die. Honestly, I think I like Proxy One the most of all the characters despite his limited screen time. He knew himself to the extent that he knew he could not survive his designed purpose, and so he found a loophole so some part of himself could live on. In other words, he recognized his situation was hopeless, but he still found a way to overcome and persevere, even if it wasn't in the way he wished for.

[@atoko9004]

@@EcnalKcin Yes, thank you for clarifying this to me in terms of the separation between the two. There was so much for me to cover and I wanted to discuss so much of it within this video that, at the time of me creating it, I got quite confused between the difference in forms of the Proxy (ei. One and Ergo representing difference aspects). I basically ended up creating a new form to interpret the reuinfication of both sides as being "Proxy One". Yet obviously the animes version of Proxy One is to be considered the life aspect due to his existence originally to bring back humanity out of space. However, I considered One (separate from Proxy One) to be the death aspect because he, after realizing his flaws and suicidal fate, wished to rid the world of humanity, hence I considered him the death aspect. Ergo on the other hand was the original proprietor in creating the new humans, hence being the life aspect and letting the new humans return to the planet at the end of the series. I may still be misterpreting it as I haven't watched the show in a year and am basing this off my comments and rough memory of it.

[@grimnir7749]

@@EcnalKcin And thank you for the explanation! I've been searching for the answers to this anime and you gave me closure for a bit :)

[@kreep182]

I watched the whole thing, got the mini stories, and like half of the over arching story and still thought it was absolutely incredible. In fact I actively avoided any video on youtube that explains it. Not understanding it is part of its charm. The art style, and the music is good enougb to enjoy this magnificent piece of art.

[@Snakecggg]

Ergo Proxy is an amazing work of anime.

[@atoko9004]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[@luckyowl10]

Ergo Proxy made me rethink the way I judge anime. It has so much value in thinking of the deeper themes that you can say seeing it blind the first time it's the weakest and with every rewatch and with everything you read about, it gets better. When I say weakest, it is still a top tier show, a step above 99% of anime, but it gets a masterpiece when you understand it better. As for the ending, I love every single part of it. I like the tragic end of Proxy One, failing his plan of destroying all Domes and being killed by his fake. But at the same time, it's what he wanted deep down, he wanted to make something that will last after himself and will change the world. Like his imperfect body can't and avenge the cruel fate humanity gave to proxies, literal gods that build civilizations after themselves, only to die when humanity wants to live on Earth again.

[@Andriej69]

Prob one of the best retrospective/analysis of EP on YT - no filler, no parroting of the same points every other cookie-cutter analysis keep regurgitating, plus some well-deserved attention for Iggy. Hats-off to you, sir. Now I'm gonna have to check out your GiTS videos (haven't seen Cowboy Bebop yet, another shameful oversight on my part)

[@venepskeuten9206]

Just finished watching it, this show has left a strong impression on me. I don't even feel empty, but kind of content. Like I found something I genuinely enjoyed and will remember for the rest of my life.

[@straylynx]

I love this show and it will always be one of my favorites. Also, I have to recommend anyone that plans on watching it to try and find the Shinsen-subs version, as it adds a lot of information on the symbolism in the show. It adds a bit of pausing and reading, but I thought it was worth it!

[@Pooh0Bear8]

🍻 It is show I have watched twice and need to watch again Great video 💯

[@elysavan4270]

ergo proxy was one of the most beautifully written animes i’ve ever seen. i’ll have to agree with you iggy was definitely my favorite character and i was so sad to see him die. the part where he sacrificed himself to save re-l broke my heart. all he knew was to protect her, even though he started to hate her at the end of his life. god it makes me tear up

[@willowloe6917]

Same!!!

[@yowgert_9424]

Came here cause i just finished watching Ergo Proxy and was left confused, still love it and you show a great explanation of this

[@shiddy.]

love this series, I've watched it many times since 2006 - very worth watching again and again pino's whole story was one of the saddest for me ... this really was a masterpiece

[@opme3279]

Not many peoples have watch this anime end even less took the time to comprehend it… i scrolled around to see what’s where peoples thought about it and if it connected as deeply whit them then it did me. Im glad to see it did.

[@astro-ko3cu]

Ergo proxy is really underrated and overlooked,it had one of the most unique storytellings I've ever seen. I'd even compere it to NGE and serial experiment lain.

[@HEROFrogman69]

I really respect this channel

[@iblobliboo8501]

Awesome video but I think you misunderstood a few things about Proxy One and Ergo. Ergo isn't the other half of One he is a clone of him that can survive in the sun, he is the only proxy that can do that. One created Ergo for the sole purpose of revenge against his creators( the real humans that created the Proxy Project that are in space) when they eventually return to earth. Also the creator who the statues mentioned wasn't One, it was Ergo, he created the Romedo dome and he was the one that abandoned his own creations and fled to Mosk, Monad's dome.

[@atoko9004]

I thought Proxy One had seperated a portion of himself to create Ergo? As I believe when One called Ergo his "shadow", you can consider One the evil destruction aspect of this specific Proxy while Ergo was the life aspect. Even though, Ergo is called the "Agent of Death" it should be seen as an oxymoron of sorts where he never meant for humanity to ever doom itself in the first place. Sure I guess if they are actual clones then it is what it is but that clone concept is basically completely nullified by the clear dual-sided nature of both One and Ergo. And I am aware that the statues were talking about Ergo and not one, I guess it was a problem on my part for calling Ergo "Proxy One" in the video as I consider the true Proxy One to be when both sides met at the end of the show. Also at the end of the show, One was basically neutralized because Ergo decided to not get his revenge on the real humans who returned at the end of the show because as I stated previously, he is the life aspect. You are correct on Ergo bailing on humanity, once again I misphrased Ergo for "Proxy One" in the video. If you would like an additional explanation on this matter then this discussion thread is very similar to my view of the subject: anime.stackexchange.com/questions/20219/explain-about-ergo-proxy-and-proxy-one-and-their-relation-with-monard-proxy#:~:text=1%20Answer&text=Romdo%20was%20created%20by%20Proxy,them%20having%202%20separate%20bodies

[@kittykat896]

Proxy One separated and recreated himself from himself. So he basically did clone himself but did so through thinking himself into being. The basic premise being Cogito Ergo Sum which translates 'I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am'. He created a separate self into existence to seek revenge on his creators which were the people, the humans who left him there to act as their proxy until they could return when they earth started to heal from their destruction of it and Proxies outlived their usefulness would die from from the sunlight finally being penetrated through the noxious atmosphere and clouds.

[@marlonagostini8633]

I believe Ergo is a clone of One and Monad

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

Ergo Proxy is actually very straightforward, and it simply told in a cryptic manner, to preserve the revelations. A lot of philosophy in the show is there mostly because the writer liked certain books, because you can take a lot of it out, and the story will remain the same.

[@thatsroughcommabuddy]

Thank you so much for this video. I love that you mentioned the style of Ergo Proxy. The anime does have flaws but its atmosphere is one of a kind.

[@infernolost1442]

Liam O'brien is the voice of Vincent!!! *immediately opens dub*

[@damienlarson4145]

every time I hear Liam voicing a different character, I just hear Vincent Law talking

[@h.k.324]

You sound good in this video. Nice piece of work!

[@novarangerx6441]

Great work on this video, very well informed and interesting points to look at in this anime. I love psychological anime (Steins;Gate being my number one anime of all time) and finally got to watch this masterpiece and it lived up to the hype! I would also like to note some things mentioned in the video. You stated about the cogito virus making the auto-reivs pray to god. While this statement is true, there is another depiction to this, which is they only appear to pray once either proxies are nearby or in a serious event involving proxies, i.e. final episode when the dome is collapsing. Also you suggested that we give our own depictions of the opening song, kiri. In the chorus, a line states "Believe in me and drink the wine and take my hand and fill me up" which would be referring to the final supper of Jesus. Jesus gave his disciples "wine" and bread, with wine being referred to as his blood, and bread as his body for them to consume to have himself within their bodies to be part of him. This could be for ergo proxy as those who believe that religion will save them, quoting the verses of their biblical teaching, as some religious followers do the same either in prayer or in imminent death to be saved in the after-life. Hope that gave some insight. Keep up the great work and have a wonderful day!

[@sadathasan9955]

Seriously I am amazed watching this anime ❤️ I really wish for a 2nd season of Ergo Proxy.. This was absolute masterpiece.. 🤯

[@stryker5055]

Good video bro, I'm currently working on a full synopsis and analysis of the show and it's cool to see we observed the same things when looking deeper into it.

[@taefeb]

hey this is sick as hell. this is a great review/analysis of ergo proxy ! i especially loved the bit on pino.

[@actual_nonsense]

I'm late to this channel, but have you learned since writing this that the "riev" part of autorievs is french for "dream" (rêve pronounced like "rave") so they are "self-dream" units, in other words A.I. units, whose "infection" is their awakening: "cogito ergo sum" versus "cogito ergo proxy" - I think therefore I am someone else.

[@noahvining1227]

Ergo Proxy is my favorite Anime

[@siddheshabnave2101]

A detailed analysis ✨

[@johnfrogman3710]

thanks for spread the ergo proxy word

[@dailymatherly9033]

If ANYONE makes an 11 hour Ergo Proxy video, I will watch it twice.

[@LonghornShootingSports]

awesome job

[@omgstoptakingnames]

i saw ergo proxy back when the dub came out and it has been in my top 3 anime of all time. if you want another anime like this (and also from the same creators as cowboy beebop and samurai champloo) check out Terror in Resonance, just as philosophical and though provoking. also the music and dub are also top notch.

[@RetireandGo]

You do a great job with your reviews You could really grow this I will sub and follow your reviews, and I appreciate showing this anime to me

[@taufiq6474]

u deserve more views

[@rasenshuriken7325]

If you want an anime that will make you think. Texhnolyze

[@gabyocampo94]

You know what will make this video much better? Subtitles. It's always helpful for people who are not English native speakers 💎

[@TheGvidis]

Awesome video, though you could've done a more in-depth analysis of the countless layers of gnostic and other religious symbolism the show was inspired by, inspiration of C.G.Jung in the show and so on!

[@atoko9004]

Thank you so much for watching the video and giving feedback! I am aware of the immense amount of religious iconography throughout the show. Personally, I was just more fond of the foreshadowing of the entire climax through the opening as well as the beautifully written characters that were based on countless fictional/historical people. As I wanted to bring attention to the anime's cleverness and demonstrate what I managed to interpret it through my own personal viewing. I actually didn't even know about the C.G Jung inspiration so thank you for informing me about such a thing!

[@TheGvidis]

@@atoko9004 keep it up! If I remember right, C.G.Jung is even directly mentioned in the anime during the game show episode, not to even mention the countless motives of his works in the anime.

[@cameronharrington6813]

GITS live action is great and I will die on this hill

[@spikechang556]

What is the song in the background at 14:48? It is haunting and awesome

[@atoko9004]

Thanks for watching and asking. It's called "Terra Incognita", it's part of the original soundtrack of Ergo Proxy.

[@spikechang556]

@@atoko9004 Thanks

[@syringe-ttv4988]

bro the piano scene where Raul creed was playing what is the name of that piece

[@atoko9004]

It's actually a pretty complicated audio to find the origin of. But based on my online findings it appears to be Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart but played on the piano. However, some also say it might be a completely original piece made for the anime so there might not even be a full track of it. Hope this helped!

[@Rocket_Man]

🤙🏿

[@victors306]

Have you watch Texhnolyze?

[@snowballeffect7812]

watched the whole thing before and hated it. only thing it had going for it was the animation and design. maybe i'll give it another shot, but i doubt it suddenly has something interesting to say that I missed the first time.

[@CarlosGarcia-x9f]

soul eater gurrou loggan undeadunluck kiaju 8 dead leaves um just check them out and im on number 4 on this i hear it gets better ill let you know

[@Th3Larry]

Why does my comment keep disappearing?

[@atoko9004]

I genuinely don't know. Might be a bug of some sort. I've had the same error occur on a few other videos of mine.

[@benjaminweston2065]

I am offended by opinions that differ from my own but I'm not worried about it, the Democrats are working on more legislation to cover that sort of thing, what's it called, free speech?

[@atoko9004]

Thank you Benjamin for your wise words of wisdom.

[@randomtevin6849]

Everytime u say beautiful it makes me wish i was deaf please use a different word next time or make it less redundant😭