Many anime fans consider Naoko Takeuchi’s iconicSailor Moonfranchise to be one of the best in history, often suggested asa great beginners animeand one that sparked the passion of many fans of the media. Its approach to the Shojo genre was revolutionary, focusing on topics other series of its time did not dare approach. Serena’s quest to save the universe from the forces of darkness changed the industry forever, inspiring many other amazing shows in the process.
One such franchise is the lesser-knownRevolutionary Girl Utena, an incredibly complex series that many fans hail as one of the most ahead of its time. The story of the titular swordswoman is one that everySailor Moonfan who has not given it a chance should consider watching, as its themes and story will strongly resonate with them.
Sailor Moon Director Kunihiko Ikuhara’s Follow-up, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Is A Must-Watch
The Series Can Be Considered a Spiritual Successor to Usagi’s Adventure
Revolutionary Girl Utenafollows the story of the titular student, a girl who grew up admiring the princes after a fortuitous encounter with one when she was little. Once she was old enough to enter the prestigious Ohtori Academy, she decided to become just like her idols, a noble warrior who would fight for justice and peace. On her first day in her new school, Utena is entered into a swordsmanship competition, in which the winner will win a prize like no other. Without a second thought, the protagonist accepts, obtaining victory in her first match.
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Her triumph gave her a chance to become the fiancée of Anthy Himemiya, also known as the Rose Bride, a woman said to hold the power to initiate a revolution across the world. Utena, who has no desire to use this power and wants to keep her new friend safe, decides to become Anthy’s protector, fighting the members ofone of the worst student councils in anime. The story of this incredible anime is one of bravery, friendship, and responsibility, with many outstanding action scenes that will keep fans at the edge of their seats.
The anime series was based on the manga written and illustrated by Chiho Saito. The director for this series was none other than Kunihiko Ikuhara, who previously worked asthe lead during the first four seasons of theSailor Moonanime. Both wanted to create a story that would break the mold of a typical shojo anime, a goal that they accomplished perfectly withRevolutionary Girl Utena.
Revolutionary Girl Uten Takes Many of Sailor Moon’s Themes Even Further
Utena Has Everything From Women’s Liberation to LGBTQ+ Representation
One of the main traits that has helped theSailor Moonanime remain relevant for more than two decades is its approach to uncommon topics for the time. Usagi goes through a journey that focuses mostly on her fight against evil and awakening her power rather than love.Sailor Moonis also a show that includes an amazing representation of many marginalized communities.Revolutionary Girl Utena, having been inspired by Takeuchi’s work, did something similar, only slightly more radical.
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The protagonist is a young woman confident in who she is,deciding to present herself as a prince despite not having any desire to become a man. She is brave, bold, and not afraid to fight for what she believes in. Her relationship with Anthy, while never explicitly confirmed as romantic, does feel unique and special, as both girls share a deep connection and have enormous affection for the other. Moreover, the Rose Bride is a person of color whose ethnicity is never outright stated, although she is heavily implied to be of Indian descent.
Havingnon-white main characters was extremely rare for the time, making this another amazing step forward taken by the series. Due to its main audience being more mature thanSailor Moon’s, which was mostly aimed at young girls, Utena did not hold back when touching upon heavier subjects. Throughout her journey, the heroine comes across many survivors of abuse, discrimination, and manipulation. The villains are also not depicted as completely evil, as most of them have genuine reasons to follow their morally gray paths.
Utena Deconstructs Many of Shojo’s Biggest Elements
The Series Subverts All Expectations
Throughout the years, Utena has been praised for its unique and shocking approach to the shojo anime genre. While the series might appear to be a regular magical girl show, it quickly reveals the true complexities of its story. The protagonist, who should play the role of the girly heroine, prefers to present herself in a more masculine manner. Utena does not battle for love and justice like in many ofthe best magical girl anime, but rather to keep Anthy safe from the people who wish to control her power.
The love interest herself goes against everything shojo tends to depict, as she is far from a pure and helpless maiden. Anthy is manipulative, like many of the characters Utena fights, something that the Rose Bride herself admits during the show. Overall,Revolutionary Girl Utenais a critic of the unfair systems that affect underprivileged communities, in this case, people without money or influence, such as the heroine. The series depicts the power imbalances that exist within Ohtori Academy realistically and crudely, not holding anything back.
Utena’s journey is one filled with obstacles and dangers placed there by people who do not care who they need to hurt to accomplish their goals. The series heavily criticizes the patriarchal system that forces women to become objects of desire for men, as exemplified by Anthy’s role as the Rose Bride. Nonetheless, it does not depict women as helpless or pure, as a plethora of female characters are depicted as being just as flawed as their male castmates. It is a truly complex anime that will challenge the perceptions fans of the Shojo genre have about similar shows.
Fans who are looking for a series that will make them ponder about life and the systems that govern society should watchRevolutionary Girl Utena. Its entertaining but surreal plot and amazingly intricate characters will leave a mark on those who give it a chance.
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Cast
Revolutionary Girl Utena is a Japanese animated series created by Kunihiko Ikuhara. The story follows Utena Tenjou, a teenage girl who aspires to become a prince. Utena enrolls at Ohtori Academy, where she becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious duels to protect her classmate Anthy Himemiya. The series explores themes of identity, gender roles, and the pursuit of nobility.
