Mamoru Oshii's Angel's Egg (1985) is one of those anime movies that attaches with you lengthy after you've observed it and not in a "Wow, that was impressive!" sort of practice, but more like, "What did I just watch, and why am I even feeling about it?" It's eerie, tormenting, and filled with symbolism that causes you to doubt everything.

If you're skimming for a specific plot, turn around directly. Angel's Egg is slightly of a narrative and more of an adventure, a soporific vision covered in surreal imagery. It tracks a young girl who has around a delicate egg, walking through a left, fog-drenched world. She encounters a peculiar boy, and their cryptic discussions circle around religion, reality, and mystery. There's barely any discussion, but the film's environment is so rampant that it doesn't even require terms.

The entire thing looks like you're swimming through someone's subconscious, which makes understanding and thinking plunge baritone into psychoanalytic pieces. Consider Freud, but create it anime.

Let's discuss the egg because, yeah, it has major value. The girl protects it like it has the mysteries of the cosmos, but we never really see what's inside. That's the issue. The egg symbolizes longing, goals, uniqueness, essentially, whatever you want it to represent. It's weak, just like the girl's perception of herself and her world.

Then there's the boy. He's like that one mate who still questions existential queries at 2 AM. He questions the girl's thoughts, causing her to second-guess everything she has loved. Their dynamic taps into Lacan's theory of the "Other," where identity is shaped by outside forces. In other words, the boy forces the girl to confront who she really is versus who she thinks she is. Deep stuff.

If Angel's Egg had no story at all (which, let's be honest, it barely does), it would still be worth watching just for the visuals. Oshii and legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano create a world that feels like a lost dream. The landscapes are eerie yet stunning—huge gothic structures, desolate streets, and shadows that seem to stretch endlessly. Water plays a big role, too, reflecting the instability of identity and emotions. It's all very symbolic, but even if you don't care about the deeper meaning, it just looks cool.

From a psychoanalytic perspective, this movie is a goldmine. Freud would say it's all about repressed desires and hidden fears. The girl clings to the egg like it's her subconscious, trying to protect something fragile within her. Meanwhile, Lacan would argue that the egg is an unattainable ideal—the thing we chase but never truly grasp. And the boy? He's the "Other," representing society's expectations that push us to question ourselves.

In simple terms, the girl wants to hold onto her identity, but the world (aka the boy) forces her to face the harsh reality that she might not be who she thinks she is. Oof.

Angel's Egg isn't for everyone. It's slow, cryptic, and refuses to give easy answers. But that's what makes it so fascinating. It's an anime that doesn't just tell a story—it makes you feel something, even if you don't fully understand what that "something" is.

If you love deep, artsy anime that leaves you questioning life (Serial Experiments Lain, Ghost in the Shell, Perfect Blue), then this film is right up your alley. But if you need a clear-cut plot and character arcs, you might find yourself frustrated. Either way, Angel's Egg is an experience, and whether you love it or not, you won't forget it.