Spirit of Wonder: Miss China's Ring

Spirit of Wonder: Miss China's Ring was produced by Studio Ajiado in 1992 as the first installment in the Spirit of Wonder OVA series. Based on the manga by Kenji Tsuruta, the project reflects the artist's signature blend of turn-of-the-century aesthetics, whimsical steampunk sensibilities, and precise, atmospheric character design. Tsuruta is widely noted for his meticulous attention to mechanical detail and historical fashion, which the animation team adapted to capture the series' dreamlike, early 20th-century atmosphere.

The production sought to translate Tsuruta’s delicate, pen-heavy illustration style into a motion format, resulting in a contemplative narrative focused on the life of an eccentric inventor and his assistant. Upon release, the work was received as a stylistic standout, praised for its nostalgic tone and visual artistry. It established a reputation for the franchise as a niche but influential example of the romanticized science fiction subgenre in Japanese animation during the early nineties.