Shôjo kakumei Utena

This show is completely and totally incredible. It's so much more than just a simple shoujo drama. It's shoujo, it's drama, but it's also got action (sword duels, and they're just...awesome), comedy (yes, the quintessential Cute-Animal-Mascot, but even he's a little...different), and a plot that actually forces you to think. Who is End-of-the-World? Who is Mikage? What is the "power to revolutionize the world"? Why does Utena want to be a prince if she's a girl? What is free will? These questions and so many more arise over the course of the show. Every character has a deep psychological flaw and their own personal set of motivations and unique (often tragic) past. This is not a show for the faint of heart -or- mind. While the show is never explicit, it does contain mild violence (come on, sword duels without violence would be an oxymoron--blood is never shed though) and implied (never graphic) sexual situations. Another issue that may stand in the way of some narrow-minded types' enjoyment is the fact that nearly every character in the show has a--oh, shall we say, *flexible* sexual orientation. Just know that if you can't handle the original non-butchered "Sailor Moon", you won't be able to handle this. The Utena dub, by the way, is excellent (with the exception of a few voices). Juri and Touga were given voices that fit their characters extremely well. All in all, I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend this show.

Utena is one of the most remarkable anime there is. It has beautiful animation, wonderful storyline, character development, humor, and one of the chief reasons that this show doesn't have as big a following as it deserves, it's extremely surrealistic. There can be a lot read into this show and metaphors run rampant. If you don't like such an odd show, definitely do not watch the movie. Now THAT is weird. ^^;;

to put it in the most simple terms i can, Shoujo Kakumei Utena is among the best anime to ever come along. Whilst I'll admit many people could never understand it, let alone like it, any fan of anime in general has to give this series a chance. From the overall surrealism to the bits of sexual innuendo, this series delivers an intriguing world of roses, swords, roses, stopwatches, roses, princes, and did i mention roses? Images of death and hope fill the series. The characters are a wide range of personalities, all linked to these duels(and thus the End(s) of the World) in some way or another. The imagery is ongoing, and sometimes even takes me a second, third, even fourth watching to get it all(well, to get most of it, some of the series I believe is meant to never FULLY be understood.), and I dont usually need to see anything more than twice to catch it all. While not for everyone, fans of deeper, even more provocative series' will find Shoujo Kakumei Utena a very entertaining anime series.

Many people when they see this series for the first time take out the disk thinking, "what...was that?" These people are those who aren't thinking about what's going on. This is one of those shows that you need to pay attention to. You've got to notice the little things and remember them--if you don't however, it's okay, you just won't be able to understand the complete depth that this show has to offer.

This IS a controversial show--but ONLY when you DON'T look deeper into it. Every time you see this show, you'll notice something you missed before. No regrets on purchasing this at all! If you think that it's a little slow in the beginning, have no worries--it'll pick up right quick in no time. Although some may see it as somewhat pointless to the main plot line, the Black Rose Saga does wonders for understanding more about the minor characters. Then, you get led into the Apocalypse Saga and thats when it really becomes shockingly amazing.

Don't get caught up in its facade. This show is clearly for those who enjoy a bit of everything: action, comedy, romance, tragedy and above all, a refreshingly original plot line.

Some folks may find this show "bizaar", but I found this a deeply moving, thought-provoking, and at times absurdly hilarious show worthy of a watch by anyone who desires something a little bit more cerebral and twisted.

Set in a school covered in a rose motif, Utena is the tomboy protagonist, beloved by all, who finds herself suddenly enmeshed in the secretive dealings of the student council, and finds herself suddenly "engaged", to a girl, no less! And there's an upside-down floating castle, swords that pop out of chests--Freud would have a field day with this show--and surfing elephants. And explosive curry! So, um, suspend your disbelief for this show, because it truly is worth it.

The characterization of this show is what really sells it. You have kids playing at adulthood, and if you see Utena as a coming of age show, you can see between the lines of how all the characters are not trying to achieve a "revolution of the world" in that they're gonna start a civil war, but that they are actually just trying to reach adulthood, pressing beyond the threshold to the other side, which all but the heroine are unable to do.

Sound cerebral? It is. And it's very enjoyable, tugging at your heartstrings and then making you unexpectedly laugh at something that, when you think about it or try to explain to someone else, makes no sense. The music is overall wonderful, especially the background music--The Sunlit Garden is perhaps one of the best instrumental pieces I have ever heard on a Tv show, and is worth a DL any day--and the voice acting is done well, even on the English dub, which I generally think are foul, cursed things, but Software Sculptors, the American distributor, did an okay job.

This is a worthy series. Watch it! It's coming out on DVD! Rewatch it! You'll find something new every time, and it'll still be enjoyable even on third and fourth watches.

Oh, and though the box might say it's rated PG or PG-13, and that it's from the director of Sailor Moon, don't think that this is for kids. Though the first 13 episodes are all right, beyond that the show gets a little too hard to understand--though when you're a kid all that stuff makes sense--and also has some undertones that some of the more conservative might not like their children getting hints of(i.E. homosexuality and incest). In my opinion, if they're old enough to even understand what's going on--because these undertones are indeed only subtly hinted at--then they're old enough to deal with it.