There’s more to “Texhnolyze” than Ichise’s disorienting, heartbreaking arc. For starters, lawless conflicts take place between the city’s various factions, which include the mafia-esque Organo, the cult-like Salvation Union, and the rebellious youth gang, Racan. Amid these ideological clashes, some stand out as anomalous figures, such as the prophetic child Ran, who dons a kitsune mask to shield her big, evocative eyes (which seem to pierce through the fabric of the foreboding landscape).
Ran’s elusive presence is as confusing as the fast-paced imagery that facilitates a slow-burn worldbuilding, as it takes considerable time to piece together the fact that Lux is an underground city, and that those who live above ground are unknown variables in this puzzling equation. There’s also Yoshii, the mysterious visitor from the world above, who imbues the series’ grim outlook with a charismatic spirit that hits us like a breath of fresh, crisp air.
The series’ visual identity is hard to put into words, as it feels like a cold, impersonal portrayal of a city that must’ve been a bustling metropolis at one point in history, but is now as ruined as its collapsed social structure. Here, people barely give in to passion or sincere expressions of human connection, which is why the few instances that do embrace these sentiments feel almost transgressive.
For instance, the quiet affection between Organo boss Onishi and his loyal assistant Michiko emerges as a tender declaration of humanity, even though both characters are drenched in the most cruel acts of extreme violence. It is also worth noting is none of this violence is gratuitous or indulgent — even when blood gushes out like a fountain or bodies are pierced by a hail of bullets, the framing is matter-of-fact, just like the harsh reality of Lux being utterly devoid of hope.
For some, “Texhnolyze” might be hard to stomach, much like the traumatizing saga of “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” which embeds slivers of hope within an overarchingly bleak story about self-acceptance. However, just like “Evangelion,” it holds a unique mastery over visual/narrative storytelling, as it challenges our expectations of what a thematically dark, character-driven anime should be like. If you give “Texhnolyze” a chance, you might stumble upon a sense of haunting beauty in the crumbling depths of Lux, which tells its layered secrets only to those willing to stop and listen.