I just started watching Ergo Proxy last week. Pino is so cute!!! KAWAII!!! 可愛い！！！ So before you watch the videos, you have to understand Pino is a companion robot, meant to represent a child. This society grew children in artificial wombs and you have to apply to have a child, and when granted, they’ll grow one for you and give it to you when it’s born. In the mean time, while you wait for your application to be approved, you can get a companion robot, which can simulate a child all the way to an adult. The reason for this is because they’re trying to sustain a Utopian society, and given human history, when Utopia is being reached, population will explode as there are no longer any natural enemies of humans besides themselves, causing a great downfall later.
Also, Pino went through a very serious impact. Her mother and baby brother were both killed in front of her. She was then chased by soldiers who were ordered to have her destroyed. I’m not sure what psychological impact that’ll have on a robot, but it’s interesting. And she’s so cute!!!
Here’s a few videos I made for now:
Here’s a few videos I found on YouTube:
- Pino – Hai hai pinoooo
- Pino is reading a book! – from ep13 of Ergo Proxy
The anime talks about a futuristic society in where humans have to live inside domes and has these robots (split between entourages and autoraves) that become human companions and workers. The story is very philosophical as it introduces authors and poets and philosophers and different types of Utopian philosophies. I haven’t watched enough of the series to know what the true storyline is, but apparently there are these proxies (as they called it) which are somewhat like messengers of God. However, even after years of researching, they are unable to determine what they really are.
A boy named Vincent Law appears (immigrant from Mosque) hoping to become a citizen of Romdeau (this Utopian city), but has been casted away as a fugitive. Real Mayar, the granddaughter of the Regent (somewhat like a King), is a bit too curious for her own good and with her sharp perceptions, she unveils the truth bit by bit, showing how ugly this Utopian society has hidden from view.
I’ve been getting my subtitles from Shinsen-Subs and at the end of each episode, they have panels of information describing the names and where they’re from. Some are places in legends and tales. Others are real philosophers and they go in depth of what they stood for and what their philosophy is.
In episode 9, they have this:
“See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” is a common phrase, usually used to describe someone who doesn’t want to be involved in a situation, or who is turning a willful blind eye to an evil act that they are involved in. The saying is typically associated with the Three Wise Monkeys (one cover his eyes, one covering his ears, and the other covering his mouth). It is therefore believed that the saying may have its origin in a 17th century temple in Japan. Many scholars believe the monkeys were carved as a visual representation of the religious principle, “If we do not hear, see, or speak evil, we ourselves shall be spared all evil.” The monkeys originated from a Japanese play on words. “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil,” translated into Japanese is “mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru.” (見ざる、聞かざる、言わざる) The Japanese word for monkey is “saru” (猿), and sounds very similar to the verb-ending “zaru”.
Here’s a number Japanese word for you 兎 (usagi) which means rabbit. Pino really likes rabbits I’m presuming as she has a rabbit suit she hops around in and even counts in rabbits (like we count using sheep).