The first episode of Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure (2022) is a miniature: the official running time is 10 minutes, but that includes credits for the many translated versions of the show. As it stands, this is a very short, light and amusing piece. We are introduced to the two main characters: Gudetama, the lethargic egg with a defeatist attitude, and Shakipiyo, the newly-hatched chick who is as sweet as he looks. The two are presumed siblings on a mission to find their mother.
Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure does not shy away from puns - as evidenced by the title itself - and it is only a matter of time until the chicken and egg question is mentioned. Or we, finally, find out why the chicken crossed the road. The tone of the series is gently-mocking, with the characters exchanging some very relatable lines about the nature of life. Visually, this is an artful combination of live-action footage, stop-motion animation, and computer-generated imagery. Everything is pretty and credible, yet not entirely of this world.
The character of Gudetama had been designed for children, but his sad and slothful nature has endeared him to many adults: Guadetama asks if there is even a point of trying, and we eagerly agree that there is no point. Let's see if Shakipiyo can prove otherwise.