Tenshi no Tamago

Angel's Egg is an arthouse short film that is almost entirely all visuals with next to no story. However, unlike other "all style, no substance" short films, there is a lot of stuff to interpret from this one that I can recommend it at least one watch.

The animation is also leagues above average compared to the other hyper-stylistic short films I've come across. Hand drawn, packed with detail, and an ominous score immediately grabs the viewer and doesn't let go until the end.

When the film ends, you immediately want to do research on the symbolism, themes, and the meanings that can be deciphered by ... the film. Thankfully, there is a lot of information out there on Youtube and forums that, without spoiling, have reached a general conclusion about the main themes of the film at least. So, if you are entirely lost on what the film was trying to convey, there are resources out there to help with that.

Not a masterpiece, and only a short film, this film will likely remain unseen by the majority. However, if you are looking for an obtuse, challenging, and different anime, this is one to check out, especially if you are into directors like David Lynch or Darren Arronofsky who make similar films like this.

As far as art-house goes, I'm usually not that interested. Whether it be the dangerously pretentious presentation of your average Art College moviemaker or the bizarre nihilism of "Begotten", this type of movies doesn't interest me. Why? Because in 90% of the cases all they do is justify bizarre and pointless (as well as overly sexual) content with fabricated allegorical claims. With this in mind, do note that anime has a tendency to eliminate the borders of pretentiousness and reach those heights of creativity I admire. It was with humble expectations that I decided to give Angel's Egg a chance and it turned out to ... be quite interesting.

Any anime fan that hasn't spent the majority of his life under a rock or his mother's basement is at least aware of the existence of Ghost in the Shell. It's a Cyberpunkish anime directed by Mamoru Oshii that is relatively notorious for having inspired the creators of The Matrix profoundly. What many people tend to overlook is one of his previous creations, the 1985 movie Angel's Egg produced by Studio Deen who rarely choose to lend their penmanship to titles of such obscurity. Is the movie a puddled mess of self-suffocating symbolism or a deep journey of personal interpretations? Let's find out!

In a gloomy and desolate city, a little girl wanders throughout the abandoned streets with a mysterious egg neatly placed underneath her clothes. She runs into a swordsman traveling in solitude and they end up visiting a bizarre and gothic place where the girl seems to live. Many questions are raised, most prominently regarding the contents of the egg, but also what has happened to their flawed memories and conceptions of identity.

Mamoru Oshii has created a story that progresses at an almost alarmingly slow rate. Several frames are present on the screen for more than a minute each without any form of dialogue or change to speak of in a fashion that's far from as annoying as it should be. Where the infinitely abstract story momentarily fails to impress you, these moments are where the true strength lies. Said strength can be defined with the use of one single word: mood setting. The pacing is extremely slow, and the lack of a concrete story may strike some as unappealing, but few will deny that Angel's Egg exhibits a gloomy and ominous tone that few other titles can match.

Whereas the story comes off as interesting based on its ability to set an excellent mood, the animation is notable for its symbolism and sheer creativity alone. Basically, this is the experimental kind of anime that I'd expect from MADHOUSE, but never would I have imagined that Deen would be up for the challenge. But they were, in the year of 1985, and they made the wise decision to craft this little gem with a gothic color palette and a top notch budget. This benevolent creativity as well as the beautiful character designs results in a memorable ride that outshines most modern titles, not objectively but artistically.

For characterization, there is only one word and its synonyms that can be used to sum it up decently: irrelevant. Besides the metaphorical parallels one might draw from the non-existent characterization, the story follows a girl and a swordsman. That's all there is to it, and as such, it might be wise to implement your approach of this title with caution if this type of thing does not appeal to you.

Just like the characters themselves, the voice acting for each role is of complete irrelevance. Angel's Egg relies heavily on facial expressions to express the relatively muted amount of feelings and thoughts the characters may have, and dialogue is rarely put to use.
As dull as it may sound, this reluctance to rely on verbal communication is actually one of the movies' greatest virtues that acts in accordance with the otherwise melancholic touch of the narrative and visuals. With music of such extravagance, and a plethora of suggestive sounds though, you don't need to worry at all; the soundtrack is haunting and creepily effective.

After this overly long synopsis and semi-review all that is left is to finally feature my own subjective interpretation of the plot. Two things should be noted; first of all, there are more theories out there than could possibly be counted, and most individuals who choose to see this will interoperate the symbols differently. Secondly, I’m still not too sure about the allegorical function of the ending, but I might get back to it if I ever see this again.

My theory:

The swordsman recites the story of Noah's ark for the girl and radiates a curiosity to know what's inside the egg. In the gothic depths of the mysterious building that the girl seems to inhabit, a tree is carved into the wall and strikes him as familiar. He then proceeds to say that he remembers the tree from somewhere but acknowledges that it's been so long that he cannot remember where and how it was. He even states that it might have been in a dream but mentions that the tree grows by consuming the life within the earth. At the top of the tree there is a mysterious bird that is directly linked to it, and in the same building there is a huge skeleton of a bird that the girl presents to him.

Later on, the girl mentions that she found the egg and believes that it contains a bird (that might be the direct reincarnation of the bird from the legend of the tree) and this causes the swordsman to steal and destroy the egg from her, despite having promised not to harm it. Why does he do this? I have two theories:

1: His intentions are merely to find out the contents of the egg. He mentions earlier on that one cannot know what lies inside it if one does not break it.

2: He believes that the bird in the egg is a direct reincarnation of the bird that shared a connection with the life consuming tree. He believes that if it is allowed to hatch, the tree will once again begin to consume the life of earth.

When the girl learns of his betrayal she runs out and ends up falling from a cliff in either a suicide or an accident. It's possible that the egg represented child-bearing, as the girl used to carry it around underneath her clothes which made her look pregnant. As she falls from the cliff she spots another version of herself that resembles a woman more than a girl. This might indicate that the egg represented her childlike innocence which was crushed by the then antagonized swordsman. This allowed her to perform a process of maturity that ends up producing a huge number of new eggs that gives further credit to the thought that the original egg might symbolize the virtue of child-bearing.

Is it worth watching?

I was skeptical at first since these animated eccentricities usually attract the love of art-house lovers but fail to provide a more broad appeal. I ended up loving it though, thanks to the excellent production values as well as the surprisingly captivating story that opens up possibilities for an endless number of personal interpretations. This is absolutely a movie that gives birth to discussion, and I'd love to see what other theories might exist out there. If you're in the mood for something thought provoking and perplexing, I suggest you go watch it right now!

Now, this is an interesting movie, I think.

I don't recommend it to anyone who is terribly impatient, since it has a very slow pace and there is very little action.

The art, which is beautifully drawn, does much to emphasis a sense of surrealism and isolation, as does the sound, which, while appropriate, can become maddening with long periods of silence, lacking in anything more than a quiet wind.

It's difficult to say much about the plot without spoiling it, but it can be said that the two characters that the movie centers around are mired in mystery and depth, not even their names being ... revealed over the course of the story, making them more symbolic than anything else.


Over all, I would say that this was a good film, albeit a bit slow. I would recommend the movie to anyone who wants to watch something for the sake of art and thought-provoking depth, but I can't see anyone else sitting through it.

Angel's Egg is truly a piece of art. There is no correct or incorrect interpretation of what is presented. The experience is highly emotional and therefore very subjective to the viewer without any clear indication of what the viewer is to conclude from these emotions. There is a distinct contrast between reality and unreality as well as stark religious symbolism. It is, in essence, a commentary on the emotional journey of each individual through hardship and inquisition.

Story N/A
I can't rate this metric because the story is particularly irrelevant to the message of the film, but rather exists out of convenience.

Art (9/10)
For ... a movie made in 1985, some of the art is simply superb. The depiction of water, trees, and various other elements of the setting are extremely detailed and greatly contribute to the overall ambience. There are instances where the art is not spectacular, especially in the presentation of the characters. However, it only detracts from the presentation minimally.

Sound (10/10)
The foley effects as well as the soundtrack are superb and are most likely more necessary to the movie than the dialogue. Not only have I re-watched the movie multiple times now, but I have listened to the soundtrack even more times. It's absolutely gorgeous, ephemeral even.

Character (9/10)
The characters are barely developed. They exist not so much as characters, but rather as a representation. It is incumbent upon the viewer to determine what exactly each character represents to him/her. Having said this, they do present their position in the film quite assertively, accurately portraying their mentalities with respect to their world and holding steadfast in their personal views of reality.

Enjoyment (10/10)
This section is, of course, completely subjective due to the fact that enjoyment of this film is directly correlated to the extent to which the viewer allows him/herself to become immersed in the universe presented and determine its particular significance/meaning. I believe most viewers have a difficult time gathering any meaning from the film, and I know that I had some difficulty my first couple views as well; but the more I watch it, the more clear the depiction becomes. This meaning, I feel, is directly correlated to our own experiences in reality as it is an entirely emotional journey.

Overall (10/10)
This movie is a fantastic depiction of the psychological and more artistic and symbolical genre that exists in anime. I feel that, due to its brevity and stark depiction of this, it is a fantastic preview of the genre as a whole and is therefore very accessible to the common viewer. It is also accessible in the sense that there are no barriers to entry since any viewer can draw most any conclusion with confidence. It is not very often I encounter an anime whose entire message is constituted by the experience. This is both beautiful and unique.

It's hard to describe something like Angel's Egg. It's like trying to tell you something but you have to go through several steps to achieve and in the end it's just leaving you hanging. I consider this film to be an art piece rather than something to be consumed by mainstream audience and its not trying to hide it at all. You don't watch this with friends with chips and drinks at the side. It is more of like a personal experience more than anything. It is less of an entertainment medium than a expression of raw emotion encapsulated in about an hour long film. ...

The basic premise of the movie is simple but confusing at the same time. It involves a girl taking care of an egg and just she traveling to this sort of like a ghost town, then meets this boy with a weird symbol for a cross that he carries with him. Nothing is really explained throughout the entire film, proof by the little dialogue it has. All was given are vague context about the world involving themes in religion like angels and the story of Noah's Ark but there was no blatant explanation on all this leaving the viewer to decipher it.

There are only two characters in the movie, unamed characters as a matter a fact, namely the boy and the girl, though I wouldn't really call them characters as they are more like plot devices, though the movie itself deprives itself of any sort of plot but it is more like a long skit. They serve more or less like symbolism to something and it its up to the viewer what that is. They have have no characterization whatsoever other than the girl's attachment to the egg.

Visual and animation-wise is very good for its time, though I digress that criticising the visuals is kind of irrelevant just for the fact that this movie is not for mainstream audience, though for its time the visuals are pretty good. It sets itself well in this eerie atmosphere of post apocalyptic environment, and it makes you curious about the world and such, most notably the camera angles it uses like long camera shots showing bits and pieces about this world, that seem abandoned. It uses alot of prolonged shots which gives more tension but at the same time you think to yourself that they are just doing that save time and budget. Sound-wise is nothing to complain about either it compliments well with the atmosphere of the film, but by nature the film is mostly silent to give this eerie feeling of loneliness and isolation so its not much to talk about.

Angel's Egg is not for everyone. Some would say that you have to think and analyze it to better understand it. Some would dismiss this as bait. Others just avoid it just for the fact that it is different. I do recommend to watch it at least once just so that you will have an opinion about it. It is something to watch with an open mind. Though at an entertainment stand point it is not satisfactory but as an art piece it can reach at a deeper level and meaning. People wouldn't have made this without reason, and to be made in 1985 and still eluding to this day speaks volumes.

Like the moment of quiet, peaceful confusion when you first wake-up in the morning, Angel's Egg carries all the mystery of a brand new day.

It was as though a painting by Dali was suddenly awakened and laid out like an open world. With only myself to act as the observer, I followed its main character through the streets haunted with mere ghosts of memories. She wanders this strange, interesting place with silent curiosity, imbibing the essence of it through its water and the stories it shares.

And although each scene flows with a transition of water flowing, it seems as though only the machines were ... breathing in this abandoned world of shadows and artifacts.

I was moved by the sense of true solitude and care of our main character. How must it feel to wonder what other human interactions would be like? When another's life, even that of an egg, is so precious and so frightening, because its loss would be far too much to carry. And the hope it carries inside is far more precious still. It felt like this was a story that wanted to say that having something precious to care for was possibly more important than knowing what's 'inside' it.

It seemed as though some of the moments that the girl becomes closer to the strange man, she is also presented with moments of external danger - although she is only an observer of it and not in any danger herself - and we, the viewers, are exposed to a feeling something yet to come.

While other moments are full of beauty. Like the moment when the full weight of quiet and space constricts your chest, but at the same time it is full of wonder and amazement. You feel as though you can't breathe, but exhale to let the pressure inside release. And it is here you begin to truly see yourself.

There was so much connotation in this very short film that exploring it fully may give too much away. That being said it is my suspicion that the film is about how scary getting to know another person can be when you feel so safe inside. That shelter you carry with you is sometimes more important to a person than exploring what is dangerous and would bring you closer to others.

The artist really explored the world of shadow and light for this film. There are moments when shapes take on whole personalities, completely separate from the story itself. The backgrounds were what really told a story to me and most of my favourite scenes were not about the story at all, but everything that was happening around it.

Contrariwise, the music seems to fit its scenes perfectly and without interference. They fill us with all the wonder and curiosity of our child-like heroine, and sometimes with a certain amount of finality. You feel as though you were on some profound journey, even if you find yourself wondering what exactly the journey itself conveys. Perhaps some parts of it are more grandiose than necessary, but in this case I felt the end justified the means.

Something about this journey felt very familiar and timeless to me. As though I had seen it time and time before, but could not put my finger on where. Perhaps for some this short film represents the journey we all have traveled from time to time; for others perhaps it is something more.

Short version:
This is a slow-paced art film with a focus on images and ideas (mainly religious ones) rather than narrative. The images are beautiful and the themes are intriguing. If you want a definite message or plot conclusion, this movie will frustrate you; if you like thematically or artistically dense work, you should check it out.

Long version:
Angel's Egg does not feel like an anime. It lacks much of the standard structure of typical storytelling, let alone Japanese storytelling. The best way to describe it is as an “art film”. The resolution of the plot is a subject of debate and there is no definite message ... (the director has stated as much); one can interpret it however one wishes. If this sounds like it will frustrate you, it likely will. This film is definitely not for everyone. Unless you enjoy philosophically or artistically dense works, the only reason to watch this is if you are a fan of director Mamoru Oshii, who would go on to direct Ghost in the Shell.

The sound and visuals must be discussed together because they create a brilliant atmosphere. The older animation helps the world look and feel decrepit and lonely. The dark colours and pervading shadows all help the viewer feel the isolation of the few characters in this world. In the dreary setting, every colour and action becomes more pronounced. The sound adds to everything. I'm not usually one to pay attention to sound design, but when the film ended, I realized that I had been totally immersed in its world. You notice every breath of wind and every solitary footstep. Even without fully understanding what was happening for much of the film, I was absorbed in the atmosphere.

While narrative is not the focus, there is a brilliant story here. The viewer comes to learn about the world of the film, how it became desolate, and why the lead character does the things she does. Of course, for every question answered, there is a bigger one left unanswered. There is even disagreement over whether the film defends or criticizes its primary focus of religious faith; nothing is straightforward. All this said, there is enough of a plot that you will come to your own conclusion. You may not know exactly what happened (I doubt anyone actually does with this film), but you will form your personal idea of its story and its message. This subjective element may be the film's greatest achievement.

The best word to describe Angel's Egg is “intriguing”. It is only 75 minutes long, and if you are even slightly interested, I highly recommend you to look into it. The visuals are beautiful and, in my own opinion, so are the themes. This movie is a masterpiece, more so of film than of anime. If your main priority is entertainment value, look elsewhere. You may not like it, but, if you are interested, you will find something to appreciate. Angel's Egg is a film that stays on your mind long after you watch it.

Mamoru Oshii's hour and 11 min movie Angel's Egg takes place in a surreal, dark, and quiet post apocalypse world and moves along like a dream. Visual metaphors and archetypes quietly mesmerize as the enigma unfolds.

A soldier. A girl protecting an egg. Shadow fish. Men who chase shadow fish. Sacred spaces inside giant fossilized remains. A world tree. Glass bottles that count the days. Lost memories. The great flood. The familiarity of isolation and the comfort of human contact. Hope. Is the bed an alter or the alter a bed? Long, long silences mark passing hours. The egg is broken. Water rises. Who is ... the soldier? Hope shatters. Reason D'Etre shatters. Suicide. Rebirth.

Released in 1985, this surreal masterpiece it is still beautiful to look at, making me think of Salvador Dali and HR Giger at the same time. Its dark and somber palate, seems to be the forerunner of Gilgamesh, but otherwise they are disimilar.

People have strong feelings about Angle's Egg. The better they understand art, psychology, philosophy, and theology, the better they seem to like it. Those with a narrower view of the world aren't interested in it at all. It is about art, message, and enlightenment. It does make you think but doesn't offer suggestions as to what you should think. What you take away from it is up to you. If you were turned off by the philosophical ambiguity of Evengalion, Angel's Egg is not for you. If you liked Mushishi, you might enjoy Angle's Egg.

It is perhaps a touch pretentious but still excellent.

Other works by Oshii, Mamoru I like: Blood: The Last Vampire, Ghost In the Shell, Halo Legends, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Patlabor, The Sky Crawlers.

Written and directed by Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Urusei Yatsura), Angel’s Egg is the kind of progressive anime that is all too rare today, a near-blank slate that draws upon your own spiritual beliefs and doubts while offering a glimpse into its creator’s struggle with God and existence. This is a cryptic and thought-provoking work of art, filled with enigmatic symbols that invite interpretive debate and inspire self-reflection.

Yet even as it aspires to great philosophical heights, the film is limited by inescapably Judeo-Christian references. It is said that Oshii abandoned his Christian faith shortly before production, and in many ways it shows. From ... the young, virgin-like girl in white to the cross-bearing man and Biblical quotes, Angel’s Egg is more a religious allegory to be solved than a surrealistic experience or abstract collection of events. It is for this reason that the best reflections on the film come from those who are well-versed in Judeo-Christian metaphor. In one of the most impressive accounts, the Christian author offers a compelling argument for two dichotomous interpretations based upon Oshii’s faith (or lack thereof), and ends with the apt observation that “the deeper nature of the film has eluded the usual anime fan-base” as a result of the “exceedingly esoteric nature of the spiritual allegories presented.”

If Angel’s Egg is a brilliant expression of Oshii’s religious beliefs, it is also far less accessible as a result. If you aren’t Jewish or Christian, the heavy Judeo-Christian symbolism can leave it feeling always out of reach. And if you aren’t familiar with Judeo-Christian doctrine, the narrative will be difficult to follow. What’s left is a very slow, silent, and prolonged story with limited appeal for those who do not share Oshii’s position, or cease attempting to understand his meaning.

Beyond its artistic and enigmatic story, Angel’s Egg is a literal work of art, with classic character designs by Yoshitaka Amano (Final Fantasy) and stunning, detailed hand-drawn animation throughout. The girl, who bears a resemblance to Celes from Final Fantasy VI, is hauntingly beautiful, a pale remnant of life in the void, and at times is given hundreds of individual hairs. The characters’ facial expressions are assorted and lifelike, making up for the general absence of dialogue. And the scenery is well- if not sparsely-animated and makes effective use of shadows, introducing you to a dreamlike world of darkness only intermittently splashed with light.

The audio is fitting, a mix of gaudy religious and post-apocalyptic themes, the occasional chime or streaming water, and most of all an empty silence. Although the soundtrack creates the right atmosphere and has several memorable tracks, it is primarily made up of repetitious choral pieces that lack value outside the film. The voice acting is, as noted, essentially non-existent, but where present the actors are fine.

Despite some notable flaws, Angel’s Egg is still a criminally under-appreciated work that is well worth the mere hour or so it spans. The film is especially relevant for fans of Oshii, whose creativity and personal expression are on full display; Christian and Jewish viewers; and art film enthusiasts. Even if you have difficulty approaching Angel’s Egg, as I did, you may find yourself developing an appreciation for it over time, if nothing else as an intricately-designed display of personal faith and a groundbreaking work of originality.

Angel's Egg is uniquely brilliant in that what it set out to do, it accomplished masterfully.

Subtle imagery is often held with high regard as it adds nuance and a level of detail to storytelling that is invaluable. Angel's Egg uses a similar technique that is the literal opposite. Instead of using subtle imagery to enhance the telling of a story, Angel's Egg uses a towering amount of imagery as its form of storytelling altogether.

In this review, I want to contrast different viewpoints on Angel's Egg's method. I was not the intended audience of Angel's Egg, but former internet personality Sudostef was. I will ... describe his ideas, with solemn remembrance and respect giving full credit to him, solely as a contrast to my ideas. I don't have anything to cite as he has removed all of his work from the internet.

[The Masterpiece...]

Sudostef describes this blatant imagery as a means of establishing an atmosphere. He then describes this effective use of the atmosphere as inciting strong emotion and nostalgia. And primarily because Angel's Egg is triumphant in this matter, it is a masterpiece, albeit an abstract one.

If you have a deep appreciation for artistic films and masterful imagery, you too are the intended audience of Angel's Egg and you probably won't find anything better anywhere. I am not this person.

I value imagery as a means of storytelling and not as being the story itself. Sudostef says that when it comes to abstract art like Angel's Egg, you either hate it or you love it. I'm here to be that happy medium. I don't hate it, but I don't value it highly either. That doesn't mean I can't see its genius.

Angel's Egg, being abstract art, will have a different meaning depending on who is viewing it. To me, it set out to do one thing: make me feel hopelessness. I have never felt more overwhelming hopelessness as I did watching Angel's Egg. 10/10 in that regard; I will express it in my art score.

The other thing the art did for me is ingrain itself in my brain. I watched Angel's Egg about an hour before writing this and I can recite every scene in order. I can tell you already that I will never forget certain scenes like the weird flying eye spaceship thing or the military-looking dudes hunting the shadow fish. Images like that stay with you forever. Angel's Egg is a master at creating such images.

[...That Wasn't for Me]

Appreciating the brilliance of something isn't equivalent to valuing it. I want a compelling narrative. I want compelling characters. Angel's Egg gives me neither. And though being as abstract as it is, one may go searching for meaning indefinitely in Angel's Egg, on a surface level, it's not there.

Sudostef goes on to analyze the religious and identity-related themes in Angel's Egg. And though the imagery to support a religious narrative is there - the title, the bandages on the hands, the cross, the bible monologue, etc - this narrative is not particularly deep or valuable to me. Even if everything is there as he describes, it's still not notably good. It's creative and innovative, but not good.

[Conclusion]

Angel's Egg, at what it does, is a masterpiece. There is no doubt in my mind about that. If you watch it, you will never forget it. But to me, as a form of literature/film/anime, it's not quite there.

I will be honest when I say that the story was what let me down in this case, and this is due to my issue with the symbolism used. Again, this is a bias from my side, and I accept it.

The symbolism in itself, is too obvious. The radiant use of minimalist colouring (which really is subtle and well handled, and hats off to the animators who made this), the fluency with which the motion was carried (which also, was impressive for animation of its time), and the story carried by only three characters in total - the man bearing the cross, the young girl, ... and the egg - all, sadly, lead to the symbolism which is the core of the story.

In that respect, I give it a higher rating in terms of art, sound, character, and enjoyment - Minimalism is not an easy approach, and so I do appreciate this early Mimoro Oshii work. The characters, even with the minimalism, are mysteriously attractive, and you do find some way to relate with them. Even the non-interacting characters (such as fishes and the men - you'll know once you see this movie in full) are intriguing. The ambience with its - remarkably - good use of choir and - in my opinion - 19th Century Russian orchestral music, add to the overall experience.

It is a definitive watch, and even with my biased rating of the story, it does not deprive anything towards this work. The artwork is gorgeous, the animation is fluid, the characters are mysteriously charming, the symbolism is rich, the environment is surreal and ignites inspiration, and overall it is worth the 1hr 11min.

I've never spent so much time thinking how to make an evaluation , and so far I'm not sure about it. This work is quite different from usual, perhaps unique, which makes it difficult to make an assessment by not having someone to make a direct comparison.

The first speech that has in the anime happens only with 24 minutes, is a work essentially contemplative, symbolic and interpretative. A work that there are no clear answers, and in normal terms would be a bad anime, but it is not the case because it is not normal. Can one say that a drama fails, not being ... a comedy? Tenshi no Tamago simply does not seek to be an anime so any evaluation is likely to fail.

Art 10/10

Some features may seem outdated, if they were made in the present day they would be more detailed, but just as an old painting has its charm in front of a photograph, so too is its art that much resembles a sample of paintings of excellent quality.

 The contrast of lights and colors is very correct with the proposal, narrating without needing words the anime. Highlight for some takes of slow scenes, framings, and other scenes if lit that serve as references, as well as dazzle for its beauties.

It also has the artistic conceptual issues that are shown in the images giving more weight to the work, both with regard to the sacred elements and the dark elements that contrast. Finally the concept is also in the designer of characters that is beautiful, especially the girl.

Sound 10/10

The soundtrack is harmonically perfect, of a sui-generis beauty, is an integral part of the scenes, making the people who are watching have the feeling of what it is like in that world. Even in moments of silence, or only with ambient sounds like the sound of the wind, or a drop of water, is done with great care, and detailing. It is still necessary to emphasize the echoes of voices that appear to be a type of vocal and the good touches of classical instruments.

Enjoyment 7/10

There are many accounts of those who can understand meanings as they watch, and describe that work as something highly touching at the moment. I confess I did not get so excited while watching, but I did not understand the message at the time. However I appreciate that a great job has been done to touch people and give pleasure in a different way. I can say that it is very good when one understands the interpretations given to symbolism.

Character 7/10

A good character is a character that has layers, which has personality and utility to the plot.

Do the characters have self-consciousness? Yes.
Do they evolve? Yes.
Are interactions shown between them? Yes.
Do they generate emotional attachment in the public? More or less.
Are stock motivations reported? No. (Can be interpreted)
Do the protagonists have their stories and family ties revealed? Do not.

The dialogues are very important for what defines whether a character is good or bad.
How are the dialogues? True that the anime almost has no verbal dialogues, but all the dialogues are great.

Story 5/10

This is the biggest problem of the anime, it is difficult to know if it really has a story, when the author himself, paraphrasing, says that the answers are within each viewer. Collaborating for this the practically nonexistent narrative part, at least in the wanted one within the classic standards.

One thing that must be highly valued in a story is its content, and the more it has the better. In fact there are moral reflections, philosophical and theological approaches within those symbolisms, this done without contradictions. It is also possible to see richness in the dialogues, where there is even an excerpt from the Bible that is narrated.

Another point to value is how this knowledge is transmitted. If on the one hand the anime succeeds in being more diverse and innovative, it is here that the work is more imperfect because of its lack of clarity, which to some degree appears pedantic.

The theme of the anime is hidden within the symbolism, and it takes more than attention and good theological knowledge, it takes intelligence to associate ideas. What is expected of a good work is that the theme be indicated from the beginning clearly, bringing to itself the central aspects. However the theme was worked and then when it joins the pieces makes sense, giving much satisfaction.

Overall 8/10

Overall, by averaging the analyzed items, it has a good grade, has the recommendation stamp, but this is for normal cases and this is definitely not normal. I do not recommend to everyone, there are certainly people who will find a precious pearl, but if you are looking for cheap entertainment and that do not need to think, this is not your anime.

The story to Angel's Egg doesn't matter. I like to think of it as a sort of visual poetry, because the actual narrative substance of this film comes from its casual arrangement of ostensibly profound symbols in a way that doesn't suggest any kind of traditional story. If that sounds pretentious let me dispel that notion: This film is actually pretty simple and isn't "deep" in the way that a one would expect a layered/meta-textual narrative to be.

(Montage in film is the idea that you arrange various images together to create a collage of shots, so that the images all come together to create a ... composite work of art. A controversial take on this practise (and one I agree with in most cases but not quite all) is that it is a failure to create a spiritually rich art, because it reduces """"poetry"""" to a formalistic exercise in concise storytelling. Poetry is similar to montage because words, like images, have some kind of inherent meaning to them from the outset, and then when you combine them a composite art appears. With this in mind...)

This film uses traditional montage but it's a much less coherent affair than anything that Sergei Eisenstein would consider effective. The thing that really interests me is that way that it emulates poetry, non formalistic use of montage. In any given twenty minute segment of this film is looked at we might see:

Man ............ Fear ................ Fish .........
Food ........... Water ..............War ..........
Sleep .......... Shelter..............Religion......

Which are all essentially perennial ideas that permeate through all of human culture, but the art of suggestion in this film is that you can combine them how you like. It's like a fuzzy-felt fable. Anyone can watch it and get whatever they like out of it - religious stuff, gender stuff, motherhood stuff, pulpy post apocalypse story stuff, inconsequential visual spectacle because it's by Yoshitaka Amano and Mamoru Oshii so of course it looks gorgeous.

It might seem like it takes itself too seriously for this interpretation, but in light of all I have just said I choose to ignore that and just think of it how I want to. The film of affirmation!

I'm not going to leave a very long review as this movie is entirely up to the viewer how much they'll get out of it, I could sit here writing a whole thesis on this movie but it wouldn't really be any more agreeable than anyone else's viewpoint on the film.

What I will say is this movie has stuck with me and inspired me on countless occasions even years after I've seen it. The movie has less than a single page of dialogue with most of it crammed into a single scene, and the rest of the dialogue mostly being constructed of the only two ... definable characters outside of the setting itself asking each other who the other is several times. Most of the film is an atmospheric trot into an apparently dead city that seems to be consistently flooding. We follow a girl who begins to protect and watch over a giant egg as a weird guy holding something that sorta' resembles a mechanical giant cross begins to follow her and just watch her.

That's really it. There's not much more to the movie that isn't up for countless interpretations and debates. But I've found this movie to be endlessly haunting and beautiful. It has a strong atmosphere, a unique hand drawn style, and without spoiling too much (but really, how could I even?) one of the most chilling screams I've ever heard in any form of media.

There's no way this will ever be up to everyone's taste, some may easily be bored by it or just think it's self-indulgent or meaningless. That's all fair, and I think it's why the film rests at the score it is on MAL. However, it will definitely strike with other audiences in a way few things do like it has with this viewer, and for that I whole-heartily recommend at least giving it a try. I also highly suggest watching it alone in the dark, and letting yourself be immersed into the strange yet quiet world the film takes place in.

Depth: 2/2
Importance: 2/2
Relevance: 2/2
Artistry: 2/2
Imagination: 2/2

Total: 10/10

Mamoru Oshii’s masterpiece, “Angel’s Egg” is one of the most profound interpretations of the Biblical story of “Noah’s Ark”. If we begin from the ending of the movie, we find the whole thing is taking place on the underside of an upturned Ark. Comparing the moss with our characters is far-fetched, but maybe the parasitic persistence of such beings can easily be compared to humans. What is actually difficult to understand is the eye-like spacecraft that first descends from the sky, and then, later on ascends from the water. But let us be more meticulous. What can be made ... of those vessels that the girl keeps collecting? Multiple consciousness? As water takes the shape of the vessel, there is no consistency in the consciousness. The girl even looks through the vessel out into the world (which at that point is a forest, and later, a fountain) and thus, points towards a definite form of consciousness: perspective. She collects these consciousness and lines them inside the Ark as if she were The Mother who cared for every last perspective, every last organism, underlined by the fact that there were fossilized remains of ancient creatures inside the Ark. We must remember here, that there were tanks outside. That means, man had developed on the very Ark where he had been abandoned. The flood happened. Everyone died. But those on the Ark survived only to a dark and rain-covered future. There were architectural works lining the streets. There were statues holding fishing rods, which later on came to life. Or do we interpret it as the lifelessness of the living? Trying to get hold of the shadow of a fish that keeps escaping them. The same fish lining the Church windows. So, a symbol for religion? While trying to capture them, they were destroying their very shelter. Thoughtless control-freaks. Man.

Now, coming back to the very beginning, we find “hands”. Innocent hands that don’t know the act of folding for prayer. Compare that to the girl’s statue in the end, when her hands held the egg, whereas all the other statues had their hands folded in prayer. These innocent hands turn into a man’s destructive hands. Here, we are introduced to the protagonist. Standing on a chess board. Right hand bandaged. Obviously Christ. Whose hands were perforated on the Cross. So, can this turning of hands be interpreted as two facets of the same being: The Mother and The Destroyer? Both the man and the girl lost their memories. Another similarity. The man asked her if she was there as many days as the number of bottles. She almost said no. But then, she didn’t know. The man also didn’t know his purpose. He had followed the girl silently before almost protecting her. Almost knowing that she needed protection. But after looking at the fossilized angel, he froze. Guess he remembered, his cause was destruction. After that he consistently tried to refute the girl’s claims on hearing the bird inside the egg. As if he knew, it was all hollow inside. She was protecting a hollow aim. A hollow hope. He broke the egg, so she could mature and give birth to real eggs. But in that manner, her innocence remained as a statue in the spacecraft. The difficult point again is the spacecraft. Appearing from the sky once, then disappearing. Again appearing from the water. If we look at what the man said about Noah’s Ark we do find that they are already under water. And the eggs did resemble fish eggs. But then, why the longing for a bird. Because the dove never returned? Because there was no hope? Because the tree of life was false? But then, “maybe you and I and the fish exist only in the memory of a person who is gone.” Perhaps, The Mother, Christ and religion are just illusions. Nobody exists. Maybe it’s only raining outside. Maybe the bird never existed. But then, comes the real shock. The bird did exist. In fact, even though it was just a fossil, later on we do see birds inside the eggs. So, all those martyrs weren’t useless. All their contributions would one day finally lead to a discovery of peace, harmony and meaning. And Christ would be there to see to it.

Very religious and very optimistic. Not my type. Lol. But still, a masterpiece nonetheless.

The haunting Kubrickian music and the desolate atmosphere did give it a sinister touch. And it ought to have been pessimistic. But it turned out very optimistic. So, is the director saying even if we do find harmony, there is no telling how long it'll last? Especially since man made weapons of destruction but nothing that'd allow them to move freely on the water. This Ark inside an Ark concept is very difficult and has a lot of implied meanings that conflict and give birth to newer meanings which makes it difficult to analyse the film properly. But I guess, that's what makes it a masterpiece.

P.S.: I think that spacecraft meant the Shrine Of The Martyrs that showed the path to salvation. At first, it came from the heavens as a blessing. Then, it rose from hell as true repentance. Not sure though, I am an atheist after all, so I don’t really believe in such bullshit.

Note: The DIRAI technique of rating was developed by me. Five criteria to rate any work of art, across any genre. The aggregate of these five lends the final rate. All five criteria are equally necessary. You can't call one greater than the other.

-Depth is the layered meaning of a story. How symbolic or allegorical a work of art is.
-Importance is how necessary a work is. How significant it is with respect to social, historical, philosophical, political and scientific standpoints.
-Relevance is how appropriate a work of art is with respect to the current time, period or circumstances. It lends weight to the work. Even symbolic reference to the modern civilization is a great factor for relevance.
-Artistry is how a work of art is executed or portrayed.
-Imagination is the thinking up of new ideas. Be it in the form of new characters or a mind blowing story, a new tune or a new kind of literature itself.

Lots of reviewers tend to rate works by how much they were able to relate. I do not even consider that a factor. Entertainment and relatability are not proper criteria for reviews. Well, whatever, thank you. This is my second review, I shall be posting more very soon.

Tenshi no Tamago isn't about the destination, it's rather the journey that makes this OVA so enjoyable. It's an artistic anime first and foremost as it's very little dialogue doesn't really reveal any plot or story.

The director himself said that he doesn't even know what's the movie about still all religious references to Christ, Gospel, Noah and many others can tell different stories and meanings.

Tenshi no Tamago doesn't claim or try to make a story for the sake of it, the whole OVA is focused on the dark Gothic settings and the creepiness that lies everywhere.
The art style, music and atmosphere are the strongest points ... of this anime. Even if its story is confusing at best this anime totally worth watching.

angel's egg was a lot of things, but the main way i would describe it is thought-provoking and beautiful, and a film that has the power to take the viewer on their own personal journey throughout the story. every person takes something different away from the story and the visuals, and there is no correct interpretation of this movie. it is an abstract film, leaving no conclusion or answer.

the film has many drawn-out, long, static scenes, with no or very little movement. this is something many people turn to as criticism, and yet at the same time something many people praise. i'm reviewing it ... from my personal opinion, that being- these scenes further immerse the viewer in the story, allowing them time to go over the detailed scenes that are presented. as someone with focus and attention issues, these long scenes were problematic for me, but i appreciate their merit in being able to absorb the viewer. they also allow for time to think about what's happened in the movie, and one particular scene around the middle of the movie comes to mind. watching the characters next to each other, i wondered about their motivations and their pasts, and consolidated what i already knew.

in my opinion, angel's egg isn't really a film to be enjoyed in a traditional sense. a person who loves the art and animation might consider it so, but personally, it was more of a piece which provoked introspection and individual discovery. i would probably say that it's difficult to 'enjoy' this film. for me, it doesn't take away its value, but for some it does (and that's ok!) if you prefer action, if you're less focused on the meaning of a story or philosophical concepts or confusing ideas, you won't 'enjoy' it, but you can still 'like it'- as i do.

overall, this is a strange film, and one that i cannot stop thinking about. a lot of viewers find themselves similarly unable to rest their mind after watching the film. i think that the power this movie holds is within the individual, and it can be interpreted in so many different ways. whether you see it as meaningful or meaningless, angel's egg holds great value as a piece. i associate it with other, wildly different pieces of media- namely- 2001: as space odyssey, studio ghibli's 'tenkuu no shiro laputa,' and h.p lovecraft's 'the shadow over innsmouth.' it draws on my own experiences with the media i consume, and asks me to take my own conclusion away based on what i've experienced, and i think that's amazing.

As a little baby (Four/Five,) My father showed me this movie. After about 5 minutes in, I ran off, and watched a less tense movie. To this day I still can no get my self to watch the shock of emotions that scrape down my neck bones, kind of story gives you. This movie is not like others, it has a deep twisted up back story, with a over the top, beautiful , outstanding, ridiculous, Goth looking art work. This movie was a overall explosion to the brain, hart, and soul, this world has to offer me.

**This is not a movie for everyone. This is a movie for highly cultured people.**
**NO SPOILERS**
Dont feel bad if you not one of those, its OK. But know that this movie is not for you. Or maybe you can watch and discover a side of you that is interested in deep themes? That would be very good!


If you're not cultured enough to understand, look for articles about the movie, even if it contains spoilers. I did it myself, and it improved my experience for sure. It is like reading the iliad, you already know everything that will happen but it is still indispensable for the ... intellectual man to read himself.


Who are you?
Do the things you value really have intrinsic value or are you giving them value?

This movie works with symbolism, meaning you can't take everything literally.

A person who understands nothing about philosophy of theology will not understand this movie.
He has many interpretations, I do not intend to leave mine here, I want you to take your own, just watch with an open mind, and worth a research on philosophy after finishing.


Basically in this world there are only two living things, they don't know who they are and you won't find out watching. In addition, there is a potential living being who is supposed to be inside the egg the girl carries. She argues that that egg will bring life, the man believes it is empty. The movie revolves around the egg. What's in it? Is it good or bad? Is there really something inside of it? And more importantly, does it really matter that there is something inside it? Can't he be a purpose in itself for the girl?

The scenarios are very disturbing. Dark, empty, flooded, rainy. A world covered in eternal darkness.
The only "inhabitants" of the city are male soldiers armed with harpoons to hunt for fish. However, these fish are in the land and they are shadows, so they cannot be harmed by harpoons. Yet men hunt them down, destroying everything in their path, getting their harpoons in the windows of houses, destroying cities, hunting shadows forever.
Are they really alive? Are our characters really different from them, or are they also hunting shadows?

Ethereal, beautiful and serene. Loved the atmosphere a lot. There’s many ways you can take the story and themes but it all felt very personal. False hopes, the crushing weight of reality, rebirth, lots of themes you can really dive into and examine. The religious themes are a bit on the nose but still adds to the plot nicely. Some parts are slow but overall I think they help add to the feeling of loneliness and hopelessness this movie expertly conveys. A bit rougher than oshii’s later works but the backgrounds and lighting and the long pauses were spot on. There’s just something about anime ... from this era that gets me. Sucks that it was so influential but was criticized a lot at the time. The vibes were immaculate. If you are looking for something fast or action packed, you will be bored. There are long stretches of silence and just taking in the visuals. I love the character designs and the shot compositions in particular, although the music could have been better despite me loving the ambiance. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unique experience.