Angel’s Egg: The 1985 Anime That Doesn’t Care If You “Get It”

Ever sat through an anime where you finish the last frame and go, “Wait… what just happened?” But instead of being annoyed, you’re already reaching for the rewatch button? That’s Angel’s Egg—a 1985 OVA (original video animation) from Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii and Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano that’s equal parts confusing, breathtaking, and unapologetically weird. And if you’re the kind of person who loves anime that feels like a dream (or a nightmare, depending on your mood), this one’s for you.

Let’s start with the basics: Angel’s Egg is a 75-minute experimental piece set in a desolate, post-apocalyptic world where everything feels like it’s underwater (or maybe it’s just really, really rainy). There’s no opening credits, no exposition dumps—just a nameless girl in a tattered dress carrying a glowing egg everywhere she goes, and a mysterious boy with a cross-shaped weapon who stumbles into her life. The two don’t talk much; most of the story unfolds through silent, haunting visuals: giant fish shadows swimming across empty city walls, stone statues of animals that look like they’ve been frozen in time, and that egg—always glowing, always a mystery.

If you’re here for fast-paced action or a clear “good vs. evil” plot, you’ll be disappointed. But if you’re into vibes? This anime has them in spades. Fans on MyAnimeList can’t stop gushing about the art: one comment says it “looks better than 95% of the anime today” (and honestly, for 1985, the hand-drawn details are insane—Amano’s signature ethereal style shines through every frame). The soundtrack is equally eerie: atonal, avant-garde, and perfect for setting that somber, almost religious mood (think: if Studio Ghibli made a horror movie, but without the cute creatures).

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the symbolism. If you’ve read any fan discussions, you know this is where things get messy. Some viewers think the egg represents faith— the girl clinging to it like a believer to their religion, while the boy (with his cross) is an atheist trying to break her delusions (a theory from a book about Oshii, though others note Oshii himself has never confirmed this). Others say it’s about hope: the egg is something the girl has to protect to keep going in a world that’s lost everything. And then there are the people who just say, “Who cares? It looks cool.”

And that’s the magic of Angel’s Egg: you don’t have to “get” it to love it. One fan wrote, “I watched it. I don’t understand it. I still enjoyed it.” Another said, “It’s like a Rorschach test—what you see depends on what you bring to it.” For a generation that’s used to anime with clear answers (looking at you, Demon Slayer), this ambiguity can be refreshing. It’s the kind of show you text your friends about afterward, arguing over whether the boy was a god or just a confused kid, or what would have happened if the egg had hatched.

Of course, not everyone is a fan. Some viewers call it “pretentious” or “a waste of time” (one comment rants about it being a “nonsense ambiguous religious anime”). Others complain about the slow pacing—like the 3-minute shot of the boy sitting silently while the girl sleeps. But even the haters can’t deny the art is stunning.

So who should watch Angel’s Egg? If you’re into experimental films, or if you loved Serial Experiments Lain or Ergo Proxy (other anime that prioritize atmosphere over plot), this is a must-see. If you’re new to anime and want something easy to follow, maybe skip it for now. But if you’re curious about the history of anime—about the works that pushed boundaries before streaming services existed—this OVA is a classic.

At the end of the day, Angel’s Egg isn’t just an anime. It’s a feeling. A reminder that sometimes, the best stories are the ones that leave you with more questions than answers. And in a world where everything feels like it has to be explained, that’s a rare and beautiful thing.

Go watch it. Even if you don’t get it, you’ll never forget it.

— A fellow anime fan who’s still thinking about that egg.

(Note: All fan insights are from MyAnimeList discussions about Angel’s Egg.)