An Analysis of Angel’s Egg (1985)

[@yilyau]

Timestamps (because they sometimes don't show up): 00:00 Introduction 2:10 Christianity 3:44 Structure and Setting 4:35 Hands pt. 1 5:50 The Foetal ‘Avianoid’ 6:57 The Boy and The Orb 9:25 The Girl and The Egg 10:07 The Girl’s Design 11:56 Water pt. 1 14:03 Crossing Paths 16:45 Shadows and Contrast 17:26 Fisherman and Fish 20:21 Leviathan and The Tree 21:23 Dreams 21:57 Who Are You? 24:03 The Giant Bird 26:23 Egg 28:07 Masculine and Feminine 30:46 Flood and Noah’s Ark 32:57 Broken Trust 36:27 Falling in Water 38:53 Girl-as-Angel 39:26 Hands pt. 2 39:45 Water pt. 2 42:20 Cycles 43:16 Sainthood

[@MimisRoom333]

I feel that every movie and topic she’s talks about are movie/ topics I’ve been deeply interested in. It’s so nice to see the a deeper interpretation for this film and her unique connection to it.

[@yilyau]

Thank you, MC. I’m glad you like the topics. ❤️☺️

[@chyennewhisman7166]

I agree

[@ohw5306]

Same here

[@Kimberpls]

How the girl carries the egg under her dress, she looks almost pregnant in some scenes. She literally carries the hope with her, and within her.

[@notam7460]

What always strikes me as interesting, is that there was nothing in the egg once the warrior had smashed it. No fluid, no fetal creature, its empty

[@DogMechanic]

For me, Angel's Egg is less about the validity of faith, and more about people and their relationship to faith, the choices we make because of it. Some people have faith and it moves them forward, and for some people faith is not enough, they can't move forward without knowing for sure. Was he right because there was nothing in the egg, or was she right because she was made a saint? I don't think it matters. What matters is that they were both so focused on the egg, what it represented, what it truly was, that they didn't give enough attention to being able to live with [boy] or without [girl] it. The boy gained a purpose by caring for the girl, and by smashing the egg, taking away what her purpose was, he also lost his purpose. Just sayin'... he probably could have remained skeptical of the egg without ruining it for the girl. Maybe they both could have been happy, if only for a while, if they'd learned to let the issue of the egg go.

[@hannafijakowska29]

Thank you so much for the analysis! After I had finished the film, I started to look for the answers to many questions that had occurred while watching - and you presented the answers so nicely ^^

[@brainglow_lightbright]

Well done. Nice to come across a creator who actually creates something worthwhile

[@dixie7909]

I love these movie related videos , they really draw me in . especially how detailed you talk about them !

[@beatrizlima6761]

Loved this video! This is one of my favorites movies ever, It's one of those things that are hard to explain but mean so much to you. And it's pretty difficult to me to fully get what it means to me. But you hit the nail on the head so many times, made me love it even more. Also really like how there are so many different interpretations for it

[@yilyau]

Thanks Beatriz. Glad you enjoyed the video. 👌🏻I think that’s the way Oshii intended it to be. ✨

[@Rastrelly]

The key moments I see are the parallels of pointless existence: fishermen trying to catch fish that does not exist, girl collecting water she seems to have no need of, and finally, the girl fruitlessly nesting the egg into perpetuity. I have a sneaking suspicion that the core here is the breaking of the egg was the moment of breaking of some kind of self-imposed state of delusion. Considering the adult form of the girl in the end, it might be the destruction of infantile way of thinking and accepting of what one really is.

[@willowsnsakura]

I think I'd have a better handle on this if I'd seen the movie, so take this with a grain (a pillar??) of salt--but with the framing of the deep, mourning blue of the very grounded boy and the bright, blood red of the angelic girl, what if *he's* the Virgin Mary and she's Christ? He protects and delivers her because God says he has to, but he doesn't really know anything beyond that. He'll let her hide in the folds of his clothes for shelter, he'll look out for her as much as she can, and he'll carry her to safety when her body fails her. He wants what's best for her, he wants her to have a normal and safe childhood, but she's obsessed with the promise of this enigmatic something that she says she can hear even though he can't. When she shows him the scale of what she thinks it is, he's awestruck and terrified, not knowing what to make of it but sure that it's going to bring her ruin. And in the end, she DOES die because of it, and because of a cross. Her grief catapults her to a kind of baptismal death, where she falls to the deepest depths and rises again, leaving hope for everyone else in exchange for her suffering. Up until then she lived her life with complete conviction in what she was doing, happy to tell anyone about her purpose if they'd listen. Her clothes make it look like she's constantly bleeding, and I don't think it would be so far off base to say she has a bleeding heart. And if water is the holy spirit, and she's both fully accepting of but killed by it... Again, I haven't seen the movie, but I think that would be a really interesting take. It's a framing that would bring out a lot of aspects of Mary and Jesus that might not get a lot of attention otherwise.

[@yilyau]

Thank you Willow! 💖 That’s a very interesting take; I haven’t seen anyone mention something similar.

[@camcam794]

I’ve seen the movie, and because the movie is kinda loose and relies heavily on allegories you can pull just about any meaning out of it. Your take is honestly REALLY good

[@camcam794]

Based on the boy’s dialogue he wants to know the truth, and purpose behind his existence, and she holds that key

[@AlexandraPrater-e1q]

It looks really pretty ❤

[@deftonesfan183]

thank you so much for making this. i finished watching this film not long ago and i adored its visuals, music and the symbolism. there was some kind of mystery to it that i desperately wanted to solve. i could not stop thinking about the interpretation of the religious symbolism featured and this video really helped me understand better

[@yilyau]

Thanks for watching, deftonesfan. ☺️✨ I’m happy you appreciated the experience of the film; some people’s critiques are that it’s too slow and pretentious. 🥲

[@Faye-Jane]

I feel the need to watch every movie/show that are mentioned in your videos. Your explanation makes me feel interested to watch it.

[@yilyau]

Thanks Faye! 💖

[@blub_655]

I mean its angel's egg as in shes the angel and its her egg, rather than angels in the egg etc. inspirational that you explore this from all angles even tho you specified the christianity reading you did a good job of exploring other interpretations

[@TheBeird]

I loved this film. I can’t quite articulate how it made me feel. Which if I’m honest, is how I prefer it when it comes to abstract art. I’ll enjoy the feeling and not explain it. Though I’m all ears for others’ interpretation.

[@ohw5306]

Thank you for the video Its still one of my favourite films to rewatch and been a big fan of the concept designer

[@yilyau]

Np! Thank you for watching, ohw5306. 💖☺️

[@ShinMunt]

I've always thought of the shadow fish as a portrayal of belief upheld by false pretenses, a reference to the allegory of Plato's cave. The fishermen are the predators and fulfill their role with fanaticism, but in truth they're being led on a fool's errand by an unseen presence that curates an illusion of power without ever granting them anything beyond the chase.

[@evancredeur7498]

I remember on Belladonna Of Sadness you said bats are supposed to symbolize hope. See, I feel differently. In the Disney movie The Rescuers, the bats are used as means of the dragonfly named Evinrude having some interception conflict when trying to get help for Bernard and Bianca.

[@yilyau]

Different films, perhaps different contexts. You comment so much I thought you were still commenting on Belladonna. I see you have moved onto Angel’s Egg. 🥚🍳

[@evancredeur7498]

@@yilyau I didn't wanna hog all the room. It was starting to feel pointless.

[@ainehickey7445]

Why do i have the feeling oda got that idea to create king as the second main antagonist

[@BenjaminSpencer-m1k]

He has a tremdous intellect, kind of no wonder why he frew disillusioned with established relguon but still honoring his Christian roots. You cant just read the bible and not have it change you.i think this great as a scifi anime but it has a deeply spiritual aspects to it specially recognized as beingi g inspired by the bible and i think thats great.

[@BenjaminSpencer-m1k]

Will you marry me, the longer i watch this video i fall in love!

[@yamisarkar91]

🤔 Wonder...the girl was the angel, the boy was humanity....the boy or humanity fears and Dark Side with Religions and Wars. The girl is Innocent like Angel and full of Faith. The Egg...Life and Earth, past creatures living and dying....but the dead creature still being more alive the humans how seem dead but live. The eye 👁️ a shrine to those faithful in life to be reminded. 😅 Uhhhh I think means have your faith but be free and enjoy life

[@peen2804]

did you have a stroke

[@ninawasalwayshere]

Urgh!

[@Edward2737-el6lx]

idon’t really understand what the fuss about this film is aboutts.. it’s so ugly

[@Eepop_stuffs]

It has a striking aesthetic and a unique lack of story. Plus, wether it's ugly is subjective, so to a lot of people it looks beautiful despite the fact that some people think it's ugly.

[@peen2804]

Damn that’s so crazy I can’t believe other people appreciate and like a thing you don’t like. bro I cannot even wow that is so wild why would they I mean don’t these people know that a random anonymous KZbin commenter doesn’t like it? Wow brother that is so disrespectful to you that others like a thing you don’t like I’m sorry you have to deal with such sheer adversity in your life. On a serious note, do you genuinely need the concepts of preference and differing tastes explained? If so, why? Kindergartners seem to be able to grasp such wildly complex ideas im sure in time you’ll be able to as well. Good luck!