--------------------------------------------------- Story ---------------------------------------------
The main premise of Wonder Egg Priority (WEP) is working through trauma. It is a character driven story with a somewhat simple plot. The 4 main girls are given a chance to save a friend from suicide. All they have to do is fight through trauma in their dreams, literally and figuratively.
For the most part episodes are very structured, following a consistent formula. We start with one of the girls struggling in the real world with their own trauma. This is then either followed by a transition into the dream world or is interspliced among it. Although structured I hesitate to use the term 'Episode of the week' as a lot of effort goes towards keeping the episodes fresh. Episodes are centred around each girl and their trauma, with each girls situation differing greatly from the others.
Within each dream one of the main girls encounters a new girl struggling with a similar yet different issue to their own and must defeat the manifestation of this issue, a deformed version of the individual caused the trauma. The issues explored through these dreams are heavy and always uncomfortable. At times it is difficult to watch but the enjoyment comes from watching the girls struggle with these issues and eventually overcome them.
For a really good show there is one thing stopping it from being great and that is the ending. There is a lot of loose ends left open and I feel it could have benefitted from another 2 episodes. What makes it hurt more is the setup and reveals leading up to the ending were perfect. Regardless it does not mean that this show is not amazing.
--------------------------------------------- Characters ---------------------------------------------
This is where WEP really shines and I honestly doubt I can do it justice in text.
There are four main characters, four 14 year old girls each with their own issue and trauma associated with it.
Ai is the victim of bullying and after the suicide of her only 'friend' struggles to go outside. Neiru is a child genius, who struggles to connect to others due to her intellect and her trauma is the suicide of her sister. Rika is an ex-idol who struggles with self worth, this is further exacerbated when her words cause the death of one of her fans. Momoe (my personal favourite), struggles with her self identity. She is often mistaken for a boy despite being female and her trauma is the suicide of the only friends who reaffirmed her personal identity.
A really excellent job is done to flesh them out. Episodes are centered around one girl at a time and this gives us the chance to really get to know them. We see how they cope with their issues, often poorly, and how their environment contributes to it. They all feel real. The girls have really good chemistry between each other and it's really rewarding to watch them bond with each other and help each through their traumas.
I chose to highlight each of the girls and their issues because I feel that they were key in understanding the appeal of WEP. We meet the girls in a transitional state in their life, one i feel everyone goes through. The struggles the girls face at their core are something that everyone can relate to, especially for a female audience which it targets.
--------------------------------------------- Art + Sound -------------------------------------------
There's not much to say here other than WEP looks all round amazing. There's a strong art direction and the directing in this is some of the best I've seen. Even the fights, the least important part, are fluid and energetic. Honestly, they wouldn't look out of place in a modern shonen battle series.
A minor aspect that I would like to highlight is the attention to detail in the location of the girls dreams and the weapons they fight with. Rather than being just another environment or weapon they serve to inform you about the characters.
The same can be said for the soundtrack all very high quality with great attention to detail. It's often understated, setting the mood silently rather than being centre stage. That doesn't mean it isn't felt.
Finally, the voice acting is incredible. It feels so real, it sounds like how you would expect a 14 year old to talk and not how a 14 year old anime girl would sound. The voice actors just like the character have great chemistry and really outdid themselves.
--------------------------------------------- Final Thoughts ----------------------------------------
I truly believe this is an underrated gem. I stated it earlier but the enjoyment of this show isn't the most readily apparent. It's not always a fun watch but watching these group of girl grow past their trauma whether that be through their fights in their dreams or from their bonds with each other is really rewarding. It also helps that it is VERY well made.
