Shinji Nojima and Shin Wakabayashi created the Japanese anime television series Wonder Egg Priority. It centers on teenage Hikomori girl Ai Ohto, who, along with three other girls, fights the “Wonder Killers,” hideous incarnations of those responsible for their suffering, in a dream world. Nojima wanted to make a coming-of-age drama that combined fantasy elements with realistic live-action in order to appeal to a younger audience.
A Nippon TV producer suggested Shin Wakabayashi, who was directing his first television animation. Critics received the series well, but its small animation team and rigid timeline led to serious production issues after its airing. Some critics attributed these divisive reactions to the problematic production.
The series explores themes of grief, trauma, and mental health through the fantastical lens. Despite production challenges, the series maintains high-quality animation and addresses sensitive issues, making it a standout in the anime world.
Table of Contents
Overview
Ai Ohto, a junior in high school, is the main character of the series Wonder Egg Priority. She is unable to go to school because her buddy Koito Nagase committed suicide. She discovers a “Wonder Egg”-dispensing gachapon machine and becomes engrossed in a dream world where she must protect females from “Seeno Evils.”
They inform Ai that Koito might return if they save enough girls. She encounters Neiru Aonuma, Rika Kawai, and Momoe Sawaki along the way, and they all talk about how they struggled with their friend’s suicide. Bullying, self-harm, and emotional scarring are among the topics covered in the series. Despite its early success and criticism for its unresolved plotlines, the series’ emotional resonance left a lasting impact on the anime community.
Episodes
Wonder Egg Priority consists of 12 main episodes and one special episode. Here’s a brief overview of the episodes:
Main Episodes
- Episode 1: What’s your wish?
- Episode 2: Wonder Egg
- Episode 3: This is a dream, right?
- Episode 4: You’re a loser.
- Episode 5: The choice is yours.
- Episode 6: The key to the cage.
- Episode 7: I can’t go home.
- Episode 8: What do you want to be?
- Episode 9: Tears of gratitude.
- Episode 10: What’s your wish? (Part 2)
- Episode 11: A world without you.
- Episode 12: I will never forget you.
Special Episode
- Episode 13: Wonder Egg Priority: Special Episode (Released on June 30, 2021) This episode recaps the series and includes some new content.
The series explores deep themes of trauma, mental health, and the complexities of adolescence, with each episode delving into the backstories of the characters Ai and her friends as they navigate their emotional struggles.
Main Characters
The main characters of Wonder Egg Priority are four teenage girls, each dealing with personal trauma and loss. Here are the key characters that each of these girls represents:
- Ai Ohto
Ai, a 14-year-old girl with heterochromia, isolates herself after her close friend Koito Nagase commits suicide. Ai employs a variety of tools, such as a ribbon whip, a mace-transforming pen, penlights, and prayer beads, to defend other suicide victims and discover the reason behind Koito’s demise. Her goal is to gather Wonder Eggs in order to bring Koito back to life and discover the cause of her demise. Transforming pens, ribbon whips, and prayer beads to disclose invisible adversaries are some of AI’s special fighting strategies. - Neiru Aonuma
The untimely death of her sister has troubled Neiru, the quiet 14-year-old president of a big business. She is now purchasing Wonder Eggs in an attempt to revive her sister, who suffered a stabbing. Her preferred weapon, a compass that can change into several weapons, represents her accuracy and strategic thinking. Niru’s dream world symbolizes her struggle for justice and her family’s well-being. - Rika Kawai
Rika, a former junior idol, struggles with guilt over the suicide of her fan, Chiemi. She pushed away Chiemi, who was shoplifting gifts. Rika tried to stop Chiemi’s shoplifting but failed. Chiemi died after starving herself thin. Rika buys Wonder Eggs to bring Chiemi back to life, using dual box cutters as her primary weapons. - Momoe Sawaki
Due to her androgynous appearance, Mama, a 14-year-old girl, finds herself grappling with her identity. After her friend’s suicide, she enters the dream world to bring Haruka back. She uses an umbrella with a spearhead as her weapon, believing she may have been responsible. Momoe’s niece Ai is also involved in the story.
These characters form the emotional core of Wonder Egg Priority, each driven by their own past traumas and the hope of bringing their lost loved ones back to life.
Anticipation
Due to its unique premise and the involvement of famous characters, fans eagerly anticipated Wonder Egg Priority, an anime series. The series combines coming-of-age themes with surreal psychological elements, attracting fans who were eager to explore sensitive topics like trauma, suicide, and self-discovery. The high-quality animation from CloverWorks and visually striking trailers added to the show’s excitement. Viewers anticipated stunning visuals and thought-provoking themes.
Broadcast and release
Wonder Egg Priority was a popular anime series on Nippon TV from January 13 to March 31, 2021. The series, starring Kanata Aikawa, Tomori Kusunoki, Shuka Saitō, and Hinaki Yano, was aired on various channels. The series featured an English dub, with the first two episodes premiering the following day. Following Sony’s acquisition, the series relocated to Crunchroll. GaragePlay licensed the series in Southeast Asia and streamed it on Bilibili. The series received a North American Blu-ray release on April 26, 2022. Actress Nao made a special appearance in episode 7.
Where to Watch
Wonder Egg Priority is available to watch on several streaming platforms. Here are some options:
- Crunchyroll: Following its acquisition by Sony, Wonder Egg Priority is now available for streaming on Crunchyroll, which offers both subbed and dubbed versions.
- Funimation: Originally, Funimation licensed and streamed the series. You can check their library for availability, especially if you are in a region where Funimation is accessible.
- Bilibili: GaragePlay has licensed the series for viewers in Southeast Asia, and they can stream it on Bilibili.
Final Thoughts
The anime Wonder Egg Priority explores issues of trauma, sorrow, and mental health. Following the directions of an enigmatic creature, Alice buys a Wonder Egg after her best friend Ai Ooto commits suicide. After breaking the egg, Alice reveals the connection between her own demons and those of others.
The series is both amusing and thought-provoking since it combines fantasy elements with contemporary issues. Wonder Egg Priority addresses delicate subjects and promotes discussions on mental health and the intricacies of human emotion in spite of its detractors. It is a noteworthy contribution to the anime landscape because its messages and images will stick with you long after the credits have rolled.
