Shoujo Kakumei Utena

DistantMemory · Post by **DistantMemory** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 6:41 pm

I've already read the first 4 volumes of this series (bough the 1st today) and I'm very happy with this series! ^_^ But I'm also starting to become interested in the anime. Should I get that in addition to this series? Is it better or worse in some areas? Anything else you'd like to add aside from those is always welcome.

Thanks!

Post by **Tiff** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 8:00 pm

Yes. The anime is excellent, and in fact, I like it better than the manga. IT's deep, symbolic, and hard to undersatnd, but beautiful.

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 8:07 pm

Utena is one of the best animes I've ever seen. The characters are rich with major and even very minor details. The storybook-esque plot is original and amazing.

J Anderson · Post by **J Anderson** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 8:27 pm

I recently picked up on the series myself, after finding an MPEG of the Utena movie on a CD-ROM set I purchased. Seemed good enough, so I purchased Black Rose Blooms at Best Buy. Watched the first 2 episodes, loved it.

I found the movie on DVD, in a pink case at Media Play. Got that for $10 off after it repeatedly refused to ring up. And I picked up another volume today, which I'll get out of my car as soon as the roughly 5000 feet of snow goes away.

Episode 16 was something special, though. Crow and Servo would be proud! "Needs more cowbell".

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 11:44 pm

I'd definitely reccomend the anime. Unlike Sailormoon, Utena was not based off a manga. It was a concept developed by Kunihiko Ikuhara which he turned into an anime but also worked with Chiho Saito to produce the manga at the same time. Like Tiff said, the anime is much more psychologically complex. With the manga, you miss out on much of the weird-ness that Utena is known for, and there's surely something to be said for the great music and acting.

Post by **Tiff** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 12:29 am

Jeff wrote: Like Tiff said, the anime is much more psychologically complex. With the manga, you miss out on much of the weird-ness that Utena is known for, and there's surely something to be said for the great music and acting.

And let's not forget the difference in characters...Juri's completely different, as is Utena.

DreamEmpress · Post by **DreamEmpress** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 12:56 am

Wow! I never knew all that about the Utena anime. I've only read the manga and I've quite enjoyed that so far. You mean the plot is even deeper than the manga? That slightly scares me, but is also intriguing. The artwork for it is just amazing in the manga. I'll have to look up the anime now.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 12:59 am

Manga Juri: Gee golly, Touga. *flips hair*

Anime Juri: *pops in TATU CD, hops into bed, takes out locket, sets eyes to stare*

Manga Utena: Oww! That hurt Juri! ... you're mean... *sniffles*

Anime Utena: Meet me in the dueling arena that defies the laws of physics! I'll become a prince while random roses appear and Himemiya does various things!

Post by **Tiff** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 1:17 am

Jeff wrote:Manga Juri: Gee golly, Touga. *flips hair*

Anime Juri: *pops in TATU CD, hops into bed, takes out locket, sets eyes to stare*

Manga Utena: Oww! That hurt Juri! ... you're mean... *sniffles*

Anime Utena: Meet me in the dueling arena that defies the laws of physics! I'll become a prince while random roses appear and Himemiya does various things!

LMAO YES!!! EXACTLY!
You have also won a Kickass Award for that very comparison. I cannot make it right now as I am not home, but I will make it and edit this post with the award.

Obsessive Touga Fan · Post by **Obsessive Touga Fan** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 9:05 am

While I'm sure the manga's very good (I haven't read much of it), I've heard it's fairly straightforward... at least compared to the anime, which is a beautiful, complex, abstract, symbolic masterpiece. I can't recommend the anime highly enough - I don't think you'll regret getting it.

Plus you get to see more of the hot guys

*points to username*

DistantMemory · Post by **DistantMemory** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 11:54 am

I'll take everybody's word for it. I'll give the anime a shot (that is, if I find the first 2 DVDs before the Black Rose Saga, which I haven't been able to find for a while), but I won't disown the manga. You can still tell me more about the anime if you want!

Rindesayu · Post by **Rindesayu** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 2:18 pm

I haven't read any of the Utena manga,but I have Episodes 14-20 on DVD,and I recently ordered Episodes 1-13 offline.From what I've seen so far,it's very good,but it seems like nothing compared to the other three sagas,and I can't wait to get those episodes.

The only problem I have with what I've seen is the stock footage,which is one of my pet peeves in anime...

...but I still highly anticipate getting the rest.

KoiNoVash · Post by **KoiNoVash** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 11:58 pm

I love Utena, Kunihiko Ikuhara is my hero. I have episodes 5-20 on VHS and DVD, the first two manga, the movie in fansubs, and a friend is getting me the rest of the anime soon. I think I like everything pretty much equaly because everthing is its own different telling of the story. Has anyone seen the musical?

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 8:58 am

Is it true that the main character is a lesbian/the show deals with a lesbian romance?

Obsessive Touga Fan · Post by **Obsessive Touga Fan** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 12:24 pm

Rainbow wrote:Is it true that the main character is a lesbian/the show deals with a lesbian romance?

In the series, no. However, there is lesbian subtext between the main character (Utena) and another major female character (Anthy), and one of the supporting characters is a lesbian.

The movie, on the other hand...

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 12:41 pm

Obsessive Touga Fan wrote:
Rainbow wrote:Is it true that the main character is a lesbian/the show deals with a lesbian romance?
In the series, no. However, there is lesbian subtext between the main character (Utena) and another major female character (Anthy), and one of the supporting characters is a lesbian.

The movie, on the other hand...

So does this mean that Utena ends up with a woman instead of a man?

I might want to see it, it sounds like an unconventional anime. Though, since I more like comedic stuff, it sounds like it might be too serious for me.

Obsessive Touga Fan · Post by **Obsessive Touga Fan** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 5:07 pm

Rainbow wrote:So does this mean that Utena ends up with a woman instead of a man?

In the movie, Utena and Anthy are depicated as lesbian lovers much more clearly than in the TV series (where, as I said, it was pretty much just subtext). I'm not going to spoil how it all ends up though... in the movie or the series ^^

I might want to see it, it sounds like an unconventional anime. Though, since I more like comedic stuff, it sounds like it might be too serious for me.

It's definitely unconventional. And while it is serious a lot of the time, there's also tons of comedy. Elephants, anyone? XD

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 5:56 pm

I'd at least like to know if it ends with the stereotypical ending of the girl and boy lovers or not. I'm not asking anything else about the ending (I don't mind being "spoiled" but I know other people do).

Obsessive Touga Fan · Post by **Obsessive Touga Fan** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 6:38 pm

Rainbow wrote:I'd at least like to know if it ends with the stereotypical ending of the girl and boy lovers or not. I'm not asking anything else about the ending (I don't mind being "spoiled" but I know other people do).

People other than Rainbow... If you haven't watched both the movie AND the series right to the end, I urge you not to read the following hidden spoilers. Being surprised about everything is a good thing, especially with something that has as many plot twists as Utena.

Anyway...

[spoiler]No, Utena most definitely does not end with the stereotypical boy/girl lovers ending. This applies to both the series and the movie.[/spoiler]

Post by **Tiff** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 8:13 pm

Obsessive Touga Fan wrote: Anyway...

[spoiler]No, Utena most definitely does not end with the stereotypical boy/girl lovers ending. This applies to both the series and the movie.[/spoiler]

x_x ain't it the truth.