Review of Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie (1999) by Stephanie R — 18 Jul 2010

While this movie is not a sequel nor prequel to the earlier created anime series, nor is it related to the story, Adolescence of Utena (this movie) would be greater appreciated and more understood if you watched the series. It has a whole new quite different tale compared to the anime, more like what Ikuhara and the rest of the Utena fan would have wanted to see in the story.

For a general review, Utena is a movie or series NOT to be taken literally. It blooms symbolisms everywhere (the colors, actions, words, ideals, etc.) from the inside world of Ohtori, breaking through and out to the "Real World" making young Utena and Anthy Himemiya adults. Living inside Ohtori is like a living dead, a doll. Break the eggshell to live. Ohtori seems like one big ball of fantasy of Prince and Princesses, of going through roles and fantasies, which all the characters are stuck on and cannot therefore move forward.

I've always and always WILL (for future remark) think Utena as a marvellous movie of art! It's like a completely original idea but still manages to be wonderful! Compared to the common heroes defeating villains in strenght, sword fights, etc. this movie made the characters race cars and rode even knowing all the corrupted and terrible things this world has to offer. They came out of their coffin, from living like a dead just hanging on fantasies, dreams, etc. to face reality.

This anime is not for everyone though, but philosophers would love this movie and anime! :).

We all had secret dreams and fantasies that we all wish we could just stay on and live there, specially when we were kids..