NYFF Review: Angel’s Egg (4K Restoration)

Director Mamoru Oshii, the mind behind anime like Ghost in the Shell and the Kerberos Saga, has a lengthy legacy in the artform stretching all the way back to the late ‘70s. Now, his 1985 original film Angel’s Egg commemorates its 40th Anniversary with a 4K restoration that gives the dark sci-fi fantasy epic a fresh coat of paint. However, those looking to dive into a classic from Oshii might not expect the film’s extremely abstract nature. 

Angel’s Egg takes viewers into a desolate landscape where a nameless girl (Mako Hyodo) protects a large, mysterious egg she believes contains an angel. Now, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the most approachable film, largely because it’s very experimental. In terms of storytelling, Oshii doesn’t hold your hand or provide a lot of context for scenes, which makes the journey feel aimless. Character motivations and narrative direction are generally unclear. Plus, there’s almost no dialogue spoken so there’s a lot of reliance on detailed visuals and reactions to clue viewers in. Honestly, Angel’s Egg is about as arthouse as it gets for anime.

However, there are plenty of worthy reasons to see Angel’s Egg, especially this restored version. 

Nowadays, we see a lot of renowned anime films get restorations because of their wide audience or continued adoration. But Angel’s Egg is far more obscure and it’s exciting to see a film that’s more visually-driven get a boost in quality as it heightens the experience. The character designs and settings are much more crisp in detail and the color contrasts will leave viewers transfixed. The opening scene is an absolute eye-melter with these dystopian-fantasy, almost mechanical aesthetics playing out against a sun-colored sky. Not to mention, the more gothic cityscapes and dark characteristics of Oshii’s fantasy vision get a beautifully haunting upgrade. There’s a scene of these shadows moving throughout the city that’s deeply fascinating and gives the film a truly cinematic feel. It almost makes me shed a tear that this film was originally released in limited fashion and mostly got thrown direct-to-video. Now though, this remaster allows viewers, especially fans of Oshii, to see his visuals in the best format possible for a true feast for the eyes. 

Also, it’s hard not to enjoy the sheer nostalgia that Angel’s Egg presents with its classic ’80s anime aesthetic. While there are films that try to recapture that classic anime look, Angel’s Egg harnesses that visual style the whole way through and this restoration enhances that experience without losing its vintage feel. The characters embody that old-school anime look you rarely see anymore with voice acting fitting for the time, but still holds up fairly well. The improved sound design has this incredible echo that makes the environment much more eerie and immersive. There’s a scream in this film that breaks through the silence that’ll rock you without warning and probably lands the biggest emotional impact. On a technical level, Angel’s Egg gets the restoration it deserves and it might be worthwhile just for visuals itself. 

However, strong visuals just barely keep you around as the story doesn’t have the same pull despite some intriguing themes Oshii weaves in. There is something suspenseful about watching this young girl carry this egg through this dark city with total uncertainty; also the introduction of this boy character (Jinpachi Nezu) adds some mystery and visual storytelling. There are intriguing biblical themes dripping all throughout the story that grab you in the moment, especially during an ominous recount of Noah’s Ark. Yet, it never all comes together in a way to leave a larger impact and most will probably be bored by the narrative, or just straight-up confused. Despite a breezy sub-90 minute runtime, Angel’s Egg feels like a slog that asks viewers to put more in than they get back. It’s a fantasy that plays like a fever dream you never get a grasp on, which doesn’t make for the most satisfying impact. 

Oshii’s Angel’s Egg is without a doubt a tough recommendation, and likely won’t land for most audiences, possibly even Oshii’s modern fanbase, because of its incredibly abstract narrative. However, seeing Oshii’s dark fantasy visuals revived in a higher format is tough to pass up and makes a worthy mark for those wanting to see a cult-classic anime on the big screen from the mind of a true visionary of the genre.