Ergo Proxy - Vol. 1: Awakening (DVD, 2006)

If you're looking for adult animé (that is no super-heros or transforming giant robots), Ergo Proxy fits the bill amply. It's slick, intriguing and visually stunning. This first DVD of the series is more of a teaser than introduction as the all background isn't given away right off the bat. So you should be prepared to watch the whole series to understand the story. But believe me, after viewing the first couple of episodes, it's easy to become hooked and only want more.

Set in a far distant future, the earth is a radically changed place where most humans live in domed cities protecting them from the bleak, harsh environment outside. The city's residents are attended to by android type robots called 'entourages.' These robots attend their masters' every need, acting not just as servants, but advisors and instructors. In many ways, the entourages have developed beyond humans and that's one premise of the story: the evolution of artificial intelligence. But unbeknownst to most, humans are evolving too. A mysterious creature that's neither human nor machine stalks the city and has its own agenda, one that seems to include bringing down the totalitarian government and altering mankind itself.

Ergo Proxy's flawless blend of animation and CGI is a visual feast for the eyes. The story is both a rollercoaster ride filled with action and a mystery to be unraveled. In a genre where everything is beginning to feel a bit 'samey,' Ergo Proxy is intelligent, exciting and presents something totally new for animé lovers.