Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Revolutionary Girl Utena (少女革命ウテナ; Shoujo Kakumei Utena) is a manga by Saito Chiho and anime directed by Ikuhara Kunihiko. The manga serial began in the June 1996 issue of Ciao and the anime was first broadcast in 1997. A movie, “Adolescence of Utena” (Japanese: Adolescence Mokushiroku, literally “Adolescence Apocalypse”) was released in theatres in 1999.
The main character of Utena is an androgynous teenaged female, Utena Tenjou, who was so impressed by a kind prince in her childhood that she decided to become a prince herself, and cross-dresses as a male. She attends Ohtori Academy, where she rooms with a student named Anthy, who in turn is in an abusive relationship with another member of the Academy. Utena fights to protect Anthy, and is pulled into a series of sword duels with the student council, all of whom fight for Anthy as the key to a coming revolution, and whom they refer to as “the Rose Bride,” as the winner of each duel receives her as their prize.
The series itself is highly unusual, to the point of being outright metaphysical. Though the plot is relatively straightforward, everyone’s motives are obscure (initially, at least). It may be best not to take the story on the literal level, as the latter half of the series (and movie) can be somewhat confusing due to what the director admits is a mix of metaphor, borrowed visuals from Takarazuka theater, classic shoujo, mythology, and a large amount of “stuff that just looks really cool.”
The anime and manga were created simultaneously, but, despite some similarities, they progress in different directions.
Links:
Central Park Media’s Utena tv series site
Ikuhara Kunihiko’s official site
The Utena Network
Empty Movement
Related Articles:
A number of parallels have been drawn between Utena and Ikeda Riyoko’s Rose of Versailles.
Source:
Wikipedia
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