[Ed. note: This article contains general spoilers for Wonder Egg Priority. It also contains mentions of self-harm and suicide that may be unsuitable for some readers.]

Even amongst high-profile sequels and adaptations, few anime series have stood out from this winter season more than the amazingly titled Wonder Egg Priority. CloverWorks’ animation is lavish, with consistently incredible layouts and drawings across its conversations and its fights. But under it all is an uncommonly dark core. The directness with which series director Shin Wakabayashi and writer Shinji Nojima approach painful topics instantly sets Wonder Egg Priority apart from its Magical Girl anime predecessors.