• Home
  • Korean Ent
    • Korean Music Reviews
    • Korean Drama and TV Reviews
    • Korean Interviews
    • Korean Film Reviews
  • Japanese Ent
    • Anime
    • Japanese Music Reviews
    • Japanese Interviews
    • Japanese Drama and Film Reviews
  • Chinese Ent
    • Chinese Music Reviews
    • Chinese Drama and TV reviews
    • Chinese Interviews
  • Misc.
    • Light Novel
    • espressOH!
    • Editorials
    • Gaming
  • Join Us
No Result
View All Result
OH! Press
  • Home
  • Korean Ent
    • Korean Music Reviews
    • Korean Drama and TV Reviews
    • Korean Interviews
    • Korean Film Reviews
  • Japanese Ent
    • Anime
    • Japanese Music Reviews
    • Japanese Interviews
    • Japanese Drama and Film Reviews
  • Chinese Ent
    • Chinese Music Reviews
    • Chinese Drama and TV reviews
    • Chinese Interviews
  • Misc.
    • Light Novel
    • espressOH!
    • Editorials
    • Gaming
  • Join Us
No Result
View All Result
OH! Press
No Result
View All Result

Revolutionary Girl Utena – Anime Review

Darkchao45 by Darkchao45
December 26, 2014 - Updated on January 3, 2015
in Japanese Entertainment
0
Revolutionary Girl Utena – Anime Review
An anime unlike ever before.
Genre – Drama, Fantasy, Shoujo, Psychological
Length – 39 Episodes
Run – Apr 2, 1997 to Dec 24, 1997
Animation Production – J.C. Staff, TV Tokyo, The Right Stuf International, Central Park Media
Simply put, an anime like this is one of a kind. You thought Neon Genesis Evangelion was off the wall and weird? Then consider Revolutionary Girl Utena its Yuri/Yaoi looking counterpart. Let us start by giving a fair warning when watching this anime; it is a complete mind juggler. There is an abundance of homosexual insinuation and a minor case of incest; yes, I said incest (true Anime fans will not find this weird). Typical Otaku thought makes you think you have the plot down by watching the first 2-3 episodes, but trust me when I say there is much more to the story so stick with me.

Utena 1

A cast of characters you will never forget.

Let us begin with the characters. Each character has their own time to shine and I say that literally. Minor characters, main characters, supporting characters, all have some of their own screen time. One factor that annoyed me throughout the series was that some characters have their story retold throughout the show with some minor details added in every once in a while. Repetition is good but the way this show handled it was a bit much. There is also a strong sense of hardship with each characters story. Watching how and why some of these characters suffer is important for this Anime to make some sense, especially around the middle of the series. With that said let us move on to the two main characters. Utena Tenjou is very easy to read. She is obsessed with finding the prince that saved her during her childhood. Utena was so moved by him that she vowed to become a prince herself, going as far as dressing in boy’s uniform. Utena is kind, funny, and willing to help anyone in need. Her role increases greatly as she starts to fend off those who are after the Rose Bride. Anthy Himemiya is the other main character in the series. Seemingly docile and frail, she is the Rose Bride. Utena as well as members of the student council of Ohtori Academy bearing the rose crest fight in duels above the school in an isolated arena for Anthy. The goal is for Anthy to be their bride and “revolutionize the world”. Expect many “wtf” moments watching Anthy’s character progress throughout the series.

Utena 3

Anthy and Utena have quite the friendship…

Moving on to the Anime itself, there is much symbolism in this anime. Some symbolism used in this series is just random while others rather make sense, and others are obvious for the trained eye. The art is unique; I have not seen another Anime with such art style. Randomly placed staircases that touch the sky and buildings intertwining with each other are all typical of Revolutionary Girl Utena. Ohtori Academy, where the story takes place, is best described as a boarding school built by excellent French/Japanese (Frapanese?) architects with a rose flower obsession. Every building seems to have a ground-level arcade overlooking grass. There are even stained-glass windows opposite the lockers. This architectural inventiveness was amazing to look at; no freeways, no fluorescent lights. Utena offered a welcome relief to the air-conditioned nightmare of suburban life. Thinking back on it, I think I would like to go a school like that.

I very much enjoyed this Anime. It is very original and epic in its own way. Most Anime series these days will never achieve the groundbreaking “weirdness” that is Revolutionary Girl Utena. As I say that I realize it has some flaws, no Anime is perfect after all. You will most probably tend to skip the beginning of the fights, and the annoying female drama actors behind the rose wall shown in every other episode. Many scenes are repetitive and are replayed throughout the entire series. The soundtrack (aside from the OP & ED) is nothing special.

Other than that, I really think more people should watch this Anime and share their thoughts. It really is a good watch once you get the rhythm of it.

Art – (9/10) Sound – (8/10) Plot – (9/10) Enjoyment – (8/10)

Overall
8.5/10

Note: Females please be aware that there are many Bishies in this anime~

 

Tags: Anime Review
Share154Tweet96
Darkchao45

Darkchao45

Related Posts

REVIEW | JoJo: Golden Wind and the One Who Stole the Show
Anime

REVIEW | JoJo: Golden Wind and the One Who Stole the Show

August 5, 2019

Following a nearly 2-year drought since the release of Diamond is Unbreakable, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure makes its grand comeback with Golden Wind. David Production has saved us all.

REVIEW | Season 1 of “The Promised Neverland” is Sinister in its Subtlety
Anime

REVIEW | Season 1 of “The Promised Neverland” is Sinister in its Subtlety

April 28, 2019

Kaiu Shirai's ongoing manga The Promised Neverland was most recently adapted into its first season as an anime, bringing in a new slew of fans to the story - myself included. Set in a world not too far in...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

About Us

OH! Press

OH! Press

Asian Entertainment Bloggers & Translators

We offer unsolicited yet correct opinions as well as other exclusive and original content on Asian Entertainment.

Categories

  • Anime (42)
  • Announcement (10)
  • Beauty & Fashion (8)
  • Chinese Entertainment (87)
  • Drama Reviews (72)
  • Editorials (237)
  • espressOH! (48)
  • Events (11)
  • Featured (151)
  • Featured Corners (33)
  • Film Reviews (10)
  • Gaming (30)
  • Guides (1)
  • Interviews (39)
  • Japanese Entertainment (240)
  • Korean Entertainment (814)
  • Light Novel (42)
  • Light Novels (72)
  • Manga (47)
  • Manhwa (2)
  • Music Reviews (247)
  • New Music (34)
  • News (41)
  • OH! Chart (128)
  • OH! Press Picks (3)
  • OH! QUIZ (6)
  • Op-Ed (11)
  • Other Asian Entertainment (6)
  • Translations (74)
  • TV Reviews (24)
  • Unboxing (2)
  • Uncategorized (1)

Popular

  • Food Wars: Meeting the new Elite 10 Council of Totsuki Teahouse Culinary Academy!

    Food Wars: Meeting the new Elite 10 Council of Totsuki Teahouse Culinary Academy!

    36268 shares
    Share 14507 Tweet 9067
  • Is the ending of Reply 1988 really that unbelievable?

    9829 shares
    Share 3932 Tweet 2457
  • The Ultimate Guide to the Different Positions in K-Pop Groups

    5808 shares
    Share 2323 Tweet 1452
  • The Ultimate Guide to K-Pop Albums and its Types

    5385 shares
    Share 2154 Tweet 1346
  • Classroom of the Elite Volume 3 – Prologue

    5279 shares
    Share 2112 Tweet 1320
  • Home
  • About
  • Press Team
  • Forums
  • Contact

© Copyright 2020 OH! Press – Bringing you exclusive and original content on Asian Entertainment.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Korean Ent
    • Korean Music Reviews
    • Korean Drama and TV Reviews
    • Korean Interviews
    • Korean Film Reviews
  • Japanese Ent
    • Anime
    • Japanese Music Reviews
    • Japanese Interviews
    • Japanese Drama and Film Reviews
  • Chinese Ent
    • Chinese Music Reviews
    • Chinese Drama and TV reviews
    • Chinese Interviews
  • Misc.
    • Light Novel
    • espressOH!
    • Editorials
    • Gaming
  • Join Us
 

Loading Comments...