Wonder Egg Priority is a strikingly original anime that blends surreal horror, psychological trauma, and delicate character study.
Beneath its dreamlike visuals lies a story of adolescent grief, identity struggles, and the harsh realities young girls face in a hostile world.
With its mysterious power system, emotionally resonant arcs, and constant subversion of anime norms, it captured attention, and left many wanting more.
Here are 15 underrated anime that channel the same energy, tackling themes of mental health, trauma, and inner strength, often through unconventional narrative structures and bold artistic choices.
1. Magical Girl Site (2018)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
MAL Rating: 6.44
Episodes: 12
Studio: Production doA
A bullied high school girl receives access to a magical website that grants her deadly powers. What seems like an escape soon plunges her deeper into chaos.
Similarities: Brutal subversion of the magical girl trope, trauma as a central theme, and haunting visuals that mirror Wonder Egg Priority’s dark atmosphere.
2. Boogiepop and Others (2019)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
MAL Rating: 7.11
Episodes: 18
Studio: Madhouse
When students start disappearing, an urban legend known as Boogiepop might be more real than it seems. This fractured, multi-perspective narrative unfolds slowly and cryptically.
Similarities: Disjointed timelines, psychological horror, themes of suicide and adolescence, and ambiguous supernatural logic.
3. Kagewani (2015)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 6.44
Episodes: 13
Studio: Tomovies
Mysterious creatures called “UMA” start attacking people, and a researcher with a dark past investigates.
Similarities: Atmospheric dread, monster metaphors for trauma, minimalist animation to heighten psychological tension.
4. Kino’s Journey – the Beautiful World (2003 / 2017 reboot)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
MAL Rating: 8.37 (2003) / 7.60 (2017)
Episodes: 13 (each version)
Studio: A.C.G.T. (2003) / Lerche (2017)
Kino travels from country to country on a talking motorcycle, exploring strange societies that reflect philosophical dilemmas.
Similarities: Episodic morality tales, surreal tone, and emotionally distant yet introspective protagonist.
5. Flip Flappers (2016)
Streaming: HIDIVE, VRV
MAL Rating: 7.72
Episodes: 13
Studio: Studio 3Hz
Papika and Cocona travel through dreamlike dimensions that distort reality and reveal repressed emotions.
Similarities: Surreal visual metaphors, coming-of-age through fantastical lenses, strong emphasis on female bonds.
6. Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 8.00
Episodes: 13
Studio: Triangle Staff
After a classmate’s suicide, Lain becomes entangled in a digital network that blurs the lines between identity, reality, and the internet.
Similarities: Cryptic storytelling, psychological disintegration, themes of depression and isolation.
7. Nabari no Ou (2008)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.35
Episodes: 26
Studio: J.C.Staff
A reluctant boy gets involved in a hidden ninja war because of the powerful secret within him.
Similarities: Emotionally repressed protagonist, trauma buried beneath stoicism, found-family dynamics.
8. The Tatami Galaxy (2010)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 8.59
Episodes: 11
Studio: Madhouse
A college student relives his life across alternate realities, each with surreal, introspective outcomes.
Similarities: Nonlinear storytelling, emotional introspection, fluid identity, and high-concept narrative risks.
9. Gunslinger Girl (2003)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 7.43
Episodes: 13
Studio: Madhouse
Young girls are brainwashed and turned into cyborg assassins under the guise of government protection.
Similarities: Girls navigating trauma and loss of autonomy, psychological control, and moral ambiguity.
10. Selector Infected WIXOSS (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 7.23
Episodes: 12
Studio: J.C.Staff
Girls compete in a mysterious card game where the prize is their deepest wish—though at horrific cost.
Similarities: Magical girl reimagining, twisted wish fulfillment, underlying trauma themes.
11. Kyousougiga (2013)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 7.75
Episodes: 10
Studio: Toei Animation
In a bizarre world modeled after Kyoto, a girl searches for her family amidst gods, monks, and sentient drawings.
Similarities: Surreal world-building, whimsical yet tragic storytelling, central theme of family and identity.
12. Dennou Coil (2007)
Streaming: Netflix (select regions), Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 8.09
Episodes: 26
Studio: Madhouse
Children navigate an augmented-reality world full of digital ghosts and conspiracies.
Similarities: Sci-fi meets coming-of-age, psychological undertones masked by childlike setting, hidden grief themes.
13. Yurikuma Arashi (2015)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 6.90
Episodes: 12
Studio: Silver Link
In a world where bears and humans are at odds, two girls form a strange and taboo bond.
Similarities: LGBTQ+ themes, visual metaphors, dream logic, and societal commentary through fantastical framing.
14. Shoujo Kakumei Utena (1997)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 8.19
Episodes: 39
Studio: J.C.Staff
Utena, a girl who wants to be a prince, enters a dueling academy where power and desire intertwine through surreal battles.
Similarities: Gender identity, cyclical trauma, cryptic worldbuilding, and symbolic storytelling.
15. Akanesasu Shoujo (2018)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 6.46
Episodes: 12
Studio: Dandelion Animation
A group of girls unlock alternate dimensions, discovering warped versions of themselves and their fates.
Similarities: Parallel universes, emotional confrontation with one’s darker self, and heavily stylized visuals.
Why These Anime Work for Wonder Egg Priority Fans
All of these shows wrestle with inner demons, whether metaphorical or literal. They feature female leads grappling with trauma, identity, or existential dread in stylized, often surreal settings.
Just like Wonder Egg Priority, they blur the line between fantasy and reality, demanding viewers piece together the deeper meanings.
These under-the-radar titles may not have reached mainstream heights, but for fans craving rich symbolism, emotionally heavy narratives, and visual experimentation, they hit the same nerve.
