[Anime Review] Revolutionary Girl Utena
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Shōjo Kakumei Utena • 少女革命ウテナ
Series Review
"If a chick cannot break through its egg's shell it will die without being born. We are the chick; the world is our egg. Break the world's shell! For the sake of revolutionizing the world!"
Original Run: April 1997 - December 1997
Genre: Psychological, Surreal, Drama, Magical Girl
Status: 4 arcs, 39 episodes
Studio: J.C. Staff
Director: Kunihiko Ikuhara
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, there was a lonely little princess who was very sad, for both of her parents had just died. Along came a travelling prince on a white horse who scooped the princess into a rose-scented embrace, gently wiping the tears away. "Little one", he said, "don't lose your strength or nobility, even as you grow old. I give you this ring in hopes we meet again". Perhaps the ring he gave her was an engagement ring. However, how impressed was she with the kind prince she decided to become a brave prince herself. But was that really a good idea?
Spending years trying to find her noble prince and become a dashing one herself, Utena Tenjou is led to Ohtori academy. One day she encounters a mysterious girl named Anthy, and in an attempt to play prince, Utena gets swept up in a dangerous game of duels and wins Anthy as her Rose Bride. Yet what connection does all of these surreal events have with Utena's childhood prince and the power to bring Revolution to the world?
A surrealist and truly unique experience, Revolutionary Girl Utena (or SKU for short) is filled with symbolism, metaphysical themes, and allegory. Something about this series is just innately attractive to me. But writing this review now, I realize how hard it is to talk about this series at all without turning it into some philosophical discussion on [insert any philosophy here]. |
| "People find it hard to doubt those they've fall in love with. They can't even imagine they're being deceived and used." |
Story:
What makes SKU stand out is the fantastical deconstruction of tropes, cliches, and society. The premise is initially straightforward about a girl who wishes to become a prince - but what comes of that and the desires of others deepens the complexity while each story arc becomes darker and more serious than the last. This epicene story is introduced like a fairy tale, but then jolts into a more plausible school setting, and then proceeds to utilize both and neither, playing with the characters' (and audience's) ability to distinguish between reality and illusion - even metaphor.
Combined with the visual atmosphere the story feels very hypnagogic, in a strange limbo between dreams and the waking world. This is not an anime that's weird just to be weird (though it is still pretty fucked up). There is a complex underlying current underneath all the chaos. This subtlety prevents the main story from being like a mere drug-induced hallucination. Symbolism and allegory are found in every scene, though the most overt surrealist moments are given in bursts, allowing the audience a breather and a greater degree of accessibility than the film. SKU as a whole follows a predictable formula despite it's unpredictable content. That formula allows for a greater willing suspension of disbelief, making the audience more invested in the semiotic imagery rather than scared off. The interpretation of all these elements is specifically designed to be different for each person and for some even for each different viewing.
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| "I wonder I wonder - Do you know what I wonder?" |
There are also many strange elements that help make the story without actually having anything to do with it at all. It's really difficult to explain to those who haven't seen the series, but this is exemplified by the shadow puppet girls. They have literally nothing to do with anything outside themselves and their performances. Sure, sometimes you can dissect the meanings of their plays to fit the episode's theme if you just happen to have that interpretation of it. But they may not even properly "exist" in Ohtori Academy for all we know (the director himself claims they're aliens). Still, the story simply wouldn't be the same without them. They add to the fairy tale lens, but also break it down with their absurdity.
Initially the biggest complaint with the story and pacing is the "filler" episodes that appear to have no connection to the greater plot. Many of these episodes are somehow more insane than the shadow-puppet alien girls and floating upside-down castles hidden in a school forest (the cowbell episode comes to mind). It's easy to pass these episodes as old-school anime kookiness but these clusterfucks are not without value. Ignoring them may even prove to be a huge disservice to the characters, especially in the first two arcs - The Student Council Saga and Black Rose Arc. The histories and personalities of the characters are developed in very quiet (as quiet as elephants trying to kill you can be) ways that hint at the deeper cores of their characters. Without a willingness to dig through these messes of an episode you can easily lose scenes that display a character's minute changrs, especially characters like Nanami, who would have otherwise been relegated to alpha bitch status the entire series and any changes in major episodes would look like a complete 180. Also I had to suffer through all that cowbell crap, so I'm going to take you all down with me.
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| "There is no such thing as eternity" |
Characters:
The biggest part of what allows the story to work is the cast of characters. Strangely believable and realistic in this unrealistic world each character has a very well developed psyche. Psychological elements are handled very compellingly and even secondary characters have complicated layered minds, beliefs, and motivations. Especially with how the series loves to deconstruct and reconstruct expectations, every character can be understood and sympathized with, though final judgements on likeability and whether their decisions were justified is ultimately up to the viewer.
Each character subverts classic archetypes found in fairy tales and the magical girl genre. Character types like the dashing prince, damsel-in-distress princess, and the wicked witch are all convoluted, broken down, and mixed together before creating something wholly new. Some roles are even pushed to extremes, mostly the ideas of masculinity and femininity. The result also messes with societal roles mainly regarding gender, relationships, and personality, which are themes that ooze from every pore in every episode. Abstract concepts like the definitions of love, freedom, desire, and innocence are tackled by the characters in different manners with no simple answer to anything.
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| "Girls that are not Princesses are doomed to become Witches." |
As I mentioned in the above section, even little moments not necessarily vital to the plot do shed light on what a character is really like, though it may not be the fastest or most direct way. Still, it builds and builds over time. The audience can even pick up on habits and details not explicitly expressed, such as Utena's habit of stretching when nervous, or the effect Anthy has when glare strikes her glasses. Even Anthy's smile can give off different subtle effects for perceptive viewers who start to understand her mask. This can all help one understand the unspoken thoughts, plans, and emotions in a scene that would be missed otherwise.
Plus each character design is very distinguishable and iconic. True to 90's style, this anime takes advantage of different colour schemes, which adds to the symbolism present in even their physical appearances. The Student Council uniforms as well as those worn by a few others give a sense of not only school, but of both nobility and military. This is unsurprising seeing as Japanese school uniforms were initially inspired by Prussian military uniforms, and in the 19th century that seemed to be the fanciest wardrobe nobles (or should I say, princes) could get their hands on at times.
Also it's very rare to find dark-skinned protagonists in anime even now, so to find major characters and love interests with clearly brown skin (not simply tan, mind you)- especially in something on the older side - is a wonderful change of pace. I'll also admit that despite everything, Prince Dios is the image that pops up in my mind when someone talks about the "noble prince" archetype. I do love brown skin and white hair combos... Which by the way, most everyone has amazing flowing locks in this anime.
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| "In the end all girls are like the Rose Bride" |
Visuals:
Perhaps the strongest head-turner in the series is the strong visual presence and art direction. The actual animation, especially looking back from 2015 at a TV series from the 1990s, is good, but not outstanding. This is more than made up for with the mesmerizing and addictive artistic elements. Many visual motifs and inspirations are derived from Takarazuka theatre, shadow puppetry, and classic douseiai shoujo manga. Some strong similarities in visual taste can be drawn between another shoujo classic, Rose of Versailles, though this was not purposeful.
Much of the visual taste also emphasizes the surreal fairy tale, which becomes more and more twisted as the story delves deeper and deeper. Dealing with the hefty themes of childhood idealism, illusion, cruelty and innocence, ambition, sexuality, abuse, adulthood, individual identity, and incest, there are a plethora of motifs and symbols that recur throughout the series. What some of these symbols mean and even which elements even are the symbols is mostly open-ended and up to personal interpretation. Still, the biggest visual motif is the rose. Roses appear and are mentioned everywhere, from the Rose Bride to the opening title card. Visual elements are constantly spinning, many scenes are given in silhouette, and colours are bright and vibrant. Things like elevators, stairs, and cars appear consistently at multiple intervals. Even certain moments, like the infamous car scenes, are even designed to be suggestive. Duels, especially in the later three arcs, are well designed and filled with various symbolic items and movements.
I won't lie though. Sometimes the symbolism is really, really, REALLY WEIRD. So depending on how seriously you can take random, unrelated "symbolic" shirtlessness while giving rousing speeches, lots of moments will be filled with plenty of narm. Also considering once again that it is a 90's TV series, it's budget wasn't exactly the most extensive, so certain footage is used repeatedly, mainly the entrance to the dueling arena pre-duel. This can be annoying for some, but is not necessarily a bad thing, as it can reinforced motifs and themes that a viewer is supposed to focus on, especially as a magical girl show (nobody complains about reused transformation sequences, y'know).
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| It's not fanservice if it's symbolic!!! |
Audio:
Though I'm normally pretty flexible in the dub vs. sub debate, this is absolutely best in Japanese, because the English version is so atrocious that even those who are adamant about watching everything dubbed would rather watch SKU subbed. Even the voicework has some subtle elements that emphasize character personalities even further, such as Akio's badass baritone and Anthy sounding older than her fellow middle/high school cast. Even Saionji's voice has a nice quality too it, regardless of my opinions of his character. (P.S. - Miki is secretly Sailor Mercury)
Perhaps the single most memorable part of the series is the musical score. The entire score is well done looking at each song individually, but the entire series shines with the music played during the duels. "Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku" (Absolute Destiny: Apocalypse) plays every time Utena makes her way to the arena (though I understand how this can be grating for some to hear the same song over and over, I thought it was the most badass thing ever and will have it play at my goddamn funeral). Each duel, however, receives it's own unique piece of music. The lyrics are complicated strings of words whose meaning is also up to interpretation, with many references to metaphysics, humanity, and other themes seen everywhere else in SKU. The choral rock compositions heighten the intensity of the duels and really are what make each and every fight scene inspirational and badass despite the lack of fancy visual effects.
Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku by Shinkichi Mitsumune
Rinbu Revolution by Masami Okui
The opening and ending themes are also very enjoyable. They were written well for the series, lyrics matching the themes covered in addition to simply being good earworms. Only one opening theme (Rinbu Revolution) is used, and alternate versions of it are used in other portions and continuities, and is definitely a classic anime opening like that of Sailor Moon's "Moonlight Densetsu".
Two ending themes are also used. Both are great songs as well, though I personally am really digging "Truth" a bit more, whereas "Virtual Star Hasseigaku" is more inline with the duel themes.
Truth by Luca Yumi
Virtual Star Hasseigaku by Luca Yumi
Final Thoughts:
This series is unique and though it bombards the viewer with strangeness, it is still generally accessible to a wider audience. As long as one is willing to handle the deeper subject matter like sexuality, abuse, and incest, I would say this surreal work is a good match for those looking for a complicated piece - especially those who enjoy desconstructive works (similar magical girl deconstructions include Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Princess Tutu) or anyone who like a series they can analyze again and again. Also because of it's layered nature it's got a high rewatch value (like Baccano! or Durarara!!). The high art value is also good for those who are seeking something calling to a higher aesthetic, even if it is a bit dated. Plus it's just plain cool. Cool enough to be constantly referenced in Steven Universe.
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| "So long as they stay in these gardens called 'schools' they will never become adults" |
Perhaps later I will revisit the series again and do episode-by-episode reviews, character analysis, or just rant about how we've all been driving wrong this entire time.
Sailor's Rating: A
"O rose of the noble castle, The power of Dios that slumbers within me, Harken unto thy master And grant me the power to revolutionize the world!"
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