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The Cal Arts Easter Egg You Totally Missed In WandaVision Episode 5

Minor spoilers for WandaVision up to episode 5 ahead!

It's clear from the get-go that WandaVision is a show that loves its Easter eggs. Some of these are pretty explicit, such as the watch commercial in episode 2 that references HYDRA and Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann), who gave Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) her magical powers in the first place via the Mind Stone. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe should be able to pick up on these kinds of details. 

However, there are other Easter eggs you can really only catch if you slow down an episode to 0.1x speed so that you can carefully examine every frame of the show. For example, in episode 2's opening sequence, you can see a structure on Vision (Paul Bettany) and Wanda's side table that bears a striking resemblance to Thor. While it's still unclear who's really behind the evilness lurking within Westview (Mephisto, possibly?), it's obvious they're digging deep within Wanda's psyche and incorporating elements of her past into each episode. 

Then there are the Easter eggs that are just sly nods to those working on the series (the actual WandaVision we all watch, not the sitcom S.W.O.R.D. examines). For example, the names of the real people playing the sitcom characters are actually the names of individuals who have worked on Marvel properties in the past. But episode 5 may have delivered the most subtle background detail to date with a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to a school every animator is familiar with — the California Institute of the Arts, or Cal Arts.

A113, a classroom at Cal Arts, is displayed in a scene showing Wanda's background

A113 is a classroom at Cal Arts where first-year students take graphic design classes (via Insider). Many people who go on to work in the animation industry have taken at least one class in this room, so it's popped up in plenty of films and TV shows over the years. The clearest example of this is in the Pixar movies where "A113" appears as a license plate in Toy Story and as a street sign in Soul. It's even been referenced in the MCU before, most notably in Guardians of the Galaxy where "A113" comes up during Groot's analysis (via Reddit). 

It appears as though some former Cal Arts students ended up working for WandaVision as the classroom also plays a role on episode 5 of the series. The moment comes when Director Hayward (Josh Stamberg) and Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) provide S.W.O.R.D. agents with a background on the Avenger. As they discuss her telekinetic powers, a screen comes up providing her key stats, and if you look to the left side of the screen, you'll find the phrase "A113 Data."

Some Easter eggs on the series (such as a quick reference to the Grim Reaper) could impact the show or larger MCU down the road. However, it doesn't seem like there's anything too major to look into with this nod. It's just a fun reference for those who like keeping track of that kind of thing. 

Hopefully, this has been illuminating. After all, it's understandable if you missed the reference the first time you watched WandaVision episode 5 as the ending is — to put it lightly — a bit of a game-changer.