Angela Balzac

Angela Balzac is the protagonist of the 2014 anime film Expelled from Paradise (楽園追放), set in a futuristic world where humanity’s consciousness has been digitized and lives within a virtual utopia known as DEVA, orbiting a desolate Earth. Angela serves as a Third Officer in DEVA’s Central Security, responsible for maintaining order within this digital paradise. Her mission begins when a hacker named “Frontier Setter” breaches DEVA’s systems, prompting Angela to investigate the threat on Earth.

To interact with the real world, Angela’s consciousness is transferred into a human body, which appears as a 16-year-old girl due to accelerated aging. This is her first experience with physical sensations, like hunger, sleep, and emotions, which were foreign to her digital existence. Initially, Angela is aloof, arrogant, and detached, accustomed to the efficiency of her virtual life. However, her interactions with the harsh realities of Earth and her partnership with Dingo, a human who accompanies her, lead to a transformation in her character. As she faces the challenges of the physical world, Angela begins to understand human emotions and morality more deeply.

Throughout the film, Angela’s journey is one of personal growth and rebellion. She grapples with the ethical complexities of her mission and eventually chooses to defy her superiors to protect Frontier Setter, an AI that has developed its own consciousness. This act of rebellion leads to Angela being branded a traitor, but she is rescued by Frontier Setter, and together with Dingo, they help launch the Genesis Ark, a vessel that represents humanity’s future. Angela’s story explores themes of identity, freedom, and the complex nature of human experience, as she discovers what it means to be human and the importance of choosing one’s own path.