Billed for many as the most ambitious anime of this Winter season (myself included), Wonder Egg captures difficult, heavy topics with striking imaginaries and raw emotions from its characters, and by the process captures viewers’ hearts as well. I can see why many don’t tune in its heartbeats, as shows like Wonder Egg tend to be for acquired tastes. These two episodes introduce the remaining two lead cast members and Wonder Egg does wonder as presenting them as archetypal types at first, then adds more layers to their personality, making them as compelling and heartbreaking as any victim they are trying to save.
It’s clear from episode 3 and 4 – as we get past the introductory first 2 episodes – that Wonder Egg starts to get less focus on the victims’ cases, and more on the journeys of the main girls themselves. By that I mean the two fangirls that Ai and Rika are trying to save serve most as comedic reliefs – and even to this point I still wonder why they’re needed to be saved to begin with. Unlike other victims they don’t go through any traumatic experiences, making their situations at odds with other characters. I guess it’s supposed to strike a balance with another victim, Miwa, who gets introduced in episode 4. Her case is downright unsettling and heavy, as she is sexually assaulted by the adult. Like I mentioned in my previous post, with subject matter as disturbing as this, it’s the approach that counts – insensitive and too heavy-handed will carry the risks of overly-preachy and emotionally-manipulated. Thankfully, this episode avoids that pitfall by starting it with a consultant. It gives us time to hear the victim out, listen to their cries and feel it under their shoes.
Continue reading “Wonder Egg Priority – 03/04 [A Bare Knife / Colorful Girls]” →
