Forum - View topicI watched Revolutionary Girl Utena for the 3rd time and OMG.
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Predatory_Instinct
 Posts: 9 |
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Let me just say that this post may contain spoilers, so if you would like to remain oblivious, please stop reading now.
Okay, first, this anime was recommended to me by several different people, several times over the past few years but I had never been able to muster up enough interest to watch it. So about a month ago, I decided to check it out and watch the series. Now, some of the themes didn't really surprise me all that much (Incest, pedophilia, etc etc) since i've been around the block with different kinds of anime using these kinds of themes for dramatic effect. After the first watch, my interpretation was that it was an okay series but failed to really wrap up many loose endings. It hadn't answered a lot of questions I had, and I was disappointed since many people who have always had great taste in anime told me to watch it. I called up a friend and he said, "Watch it again, and you'll probably understand it better. I'm not going to give anything away, just that you should watch it again, but with a sharper eye." So, a few days later, I watched the series again and while I did pick up on some things that I didn't catch the first time around, it just left me more confused than ever. Then, while re-watching Paranoia Agent (One of my favorite psych anime), I had a random thought.... Maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way? What if there's something underneath but all I'm seeing is the surface? I called my friend again and all he would say was, "One word: Symbolism. Lots and lots of symbolism." So sure enough, yesterday, I watched this series again, only this time I analyzed everything and paid close attention to what the characters said, did, the setting and surroundings. After the final episode, lo and behold, the light bulb came on..... ....AND HOLY MOTHER OF ALL ANIME YOU GUYS. You see, my problem was that I was watching the show as a shoujo-esque, magical girl series albeit with darker themes than one would usually see in that particular genre. I didn't look any deeper because I didn't think it would be that damn complex. I also wasn't forewarned that it would be anything other than what it looks like at first glance. I have to say, Revolutionary Girl Utena is easily one of the best I have ever seen in terms of style, visuals, complexity, symbolism. It's intelligent, it's thought-provoking, it's incredibly deep, it's Art. It's a freaking masterpiece is what it is. The whole series is also sitting on my shelf with the rest of my classics, as of four hours ago. I created this thread because I wanted to know if anyone else had my problem when they first watched this show? |
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HaruhiToy
 Posts: 4118 |
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I would say it is very very good but it is hard to call it a masterpiece. It breaks new ground in a number of ways, like the use of the "greek chorus" and the surreal elements. I also liked the sly humor. There are a couple of things that struck me as cheap. spoiler[ For example, the use of "erase everyone's memory effect" at several spots, such as the end of the Black Rose arc and then the way Utena completely disappears from the Academy at the finale. ] Whenever you see this in a story, the chances are that the writers took the easy way out of a corner they painted themselves into. The other problem is how "adult" all the main players are. They're 15 years old (I think Utena is 14) and they have the philosophical outlook (except for Nanami) of post-grads, as wells as fighting skills of a combat instructor. And just how did Utena get those fighting skills anyway? The artwork is interesting, and it grows on you. The character designs seem a bit odd/retro, but again as you relate to the characters you want to see more of them. This show didn't need it really, but it wouldn't have been hurt by more body detail. BTW, the DVDs I have seem like they were transferred from a VHS copy -- fuzzy lines etc. Does anyone know if there could ever be a new digital master made from the original cels? I would buy it if were ever made. |
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hissatsu01
 Posts: 963 Location: NYC |
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An HD remaster was done recently. Two limited edition DVD boxes. No Blu-ray as of yet. Utena HD remaster DVD Box 1 Utena HD remaster DVD Box 2 I don't expect to ever see the HD remaster outside Japan. Last edited by hissatsu01 on Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Predatory_Instinct
Posts: 9 |
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Maybe I'm just still coming off of the excitement of finally "getting" it. 
As for the DVDs, yes there is a digital remastered collection that you can buy. I got mine from a comic store. |
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luffypirate
 Posts: 3187 |
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No, it is actually, in fact, a masterpiece. Glad I got those R1's when I had the chance. |
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HaruhiToy
Posts: 4118 |
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[quote="luffypirate85"]
Time will tell. It has a lot to recommend it. It isn't encouraging that there seems to be no commercial interest in extending the products life -- the R1 disks I had were mostly bought second hand. There's some new ones out there but the owners want a lot of money for them. I clicked on those links above for the HD remastered versions and wow -- not sure I am into it to the tune of $200US per box. |
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littlegreenwolf
 Posts: 4796 Location: Seattle, WA |
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I'm of this opinion too. In terms of visual style, characters, story themes as well as complexity, soundtrack, and just about everything else all mixed together to make a viewable and entertaining story, Utena is like no other anime. All this makes Utena nothing short of a masterpiece for me. I can't give that much high praise to any other series. Then again I might have a slight biase for the show since I've been watching it over and over from the impressionable age of 13 (24 now) and I still have yet to tire of it. |
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luffypirate
Posts: 3187 |
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[quote="HaruhiToy"]
It's been almost 13 years since the show aired. I think that's far more than enough time. And on the HD remaster boxes; if English subtitles were included I would have bought them in a heartbeat. Seeing the comparison of that to the first CPM DVD's makes me weep. |
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nightjuan
 Posts: 1473 |
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Even if it's not a masterpiece, at the very least I would definitely have to say that the series is great.
I had enough problems just getting to watch the show, but not so much during my first viewing. Nothing in it seemed appealing at first sight and I was still of the opinion that "girly" shows should be for girls only. Now I can happily look back and laugh at my old self. 
I might agree with you about the first of those, though I also found it amusingly bold, but absolutely not as far as the second one is concerned. spoiler[Utena's disappearance, I feel, was actually making a point about how her heroism and sacrifice was seemingly all for nothing...until you realize what, in fact, she had truly accomplished. Then, depending on your interpretation, she's either dead or alive but Anthy herself was finally freed.] I don't really mind the relative lack of realism involved, especially considering this is a series that's full of symbolic and surreal events, so the rest of the factors you've listed don't really concern me too much. |
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Predatory_Instinct
Posts: 9 |
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did any of you guys have the same problem I did? That you didn't get it the first time?
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littlegreenwolf
Posts: 4796 Location: Seattle, WA |
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Well, I don't think anyone can say they watched Utena the first time around and understood everything. Anyone who can say that is more than likely lying because to this day I still discover little things about the plot or things in the background I didn't notice before. I think before when I originally watched it I thought of the show as just another magical girl show that was just a total mind$#^@, and I didn't even begin to understand the ending. As I've grown older, I've understood the series more as a coming of age story, and how they're portraying growing up. Heck, it was only a couple years ago (again, been rewatching the show several times over the years) that I realized Akiospoiler[ actually slipped GHB into Utena's drink at some point ecessntially raped her,] and why, and to this day I'm still picking up various implied sexual symbolism. And even now after a ton of art history classes am I noticing bits of visual references from Michelangelo to artist like Alphonse Mucha. I like Utena, I like it a lot. |
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bahamut623
 Posts: 1463 |
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I skimmed through to avoid spoilers. I'm currently watching it on Anime Network and I just finished the Black Rose arc.
I had heard about it for years, but never really paid much attention to it. So when I did finally see it I was kind of floored by it, and have been since the first episode. Even though I'm not done yet, I can tell it will be worth rewatching. There's a lot going on, maybe more then Evangelion. And the duel songs! Fantastic! I await them as much as I do the duels. |
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EireformContinent
 Posts: 977 Location: Łódź/Poland (The Promised Land) |
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After I saw Utena for first time I was pretty upset- I was sure that
spoiler[She died at all, and everything was for nothing] But after re-watching series and movie I completly changed my mind spoiler[ Whole Rose game was a fake. Dios never existed, Tale of the Rose was an imagination that took place of the real events. Akio wanted to be a god and king so he created virtual world where he invites those who have so much troubles in their life that they want to reject real world at all and replace it by imaginated one. It was taken so serious and took so long that everyone- even Akio and Anthy believed thet's real. Anthy accepts her role as a Witch because it's safe- imaginated swords hurt her, but in the bottom of her heart she bellives it's better than facing real problems. Because of that Anthy tries to kill Utena- her revolt against rules could destroy her " world of comfort pain". Akio can't destroy the gate, because he didn't want to- he wants the game to last as long as it's possible. Utena says "sorry" because she took part in it. She apologises for being an Akio's puppet and a part of the sick game. Disappearing from arena is her victory- she will take everyone with her. Not only Anthy leave Academy, but everyone change his life, even just a bit. ] |
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Spastic Minnow
 Bargain HunterExempt from Grammar Rules  Posts: 4634 Location: Gainesville, FL |
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If anyone has a membership there and is interested. Toonzone's Anime Fourm has it as this month's anime of the month.
http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showthread.php?t=263481 Between there and here I've been talking some about my current attempt to watch it. Basically I'm having a hard time because it is an aesthetic nightmare to my senses. The designs, the music, the repeated animation. I just do not like it. And normally I do not let animation design get in my way of a story- I usually like everything. Well, music is a different story, I can be a bit of a music snob and have little patience for stuff I don't like and tend to skip the themes and ffwd the rock opera greek chorus stuff... only during the recap episode did I realize the lyrics changed due to the duelist. There are other things I don't like and some things I do so I am determined to eventually get through it because of all of the acclaim, but it's taking me awhile because I need to take breaks to catch my breath. I got through the first arc this weekend, moving onto the Black Rose arc this weekend and will try to get as I can, but I think I can safely say I will not be watching it again no matter what my final opinion of the story is. I going to have totrust my comprehension abilities enough to get myself most of the way and if I need more clarification I'll search for it on the web. |
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Mylene
 Posts: 2792 Location: Indiana |
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Wait, so prior to that you spoiler[didn't realized they'd had sex]? Or didn't realize he'd spoiler[slipped something into her drink]. If it's the latter, at what is there evidence of that? I've only watched the series twice, but I didn't notice anything specific like that, and certainly have never heard that particular interpretation. I've always been of the view of the young girl getting in over her head and getting washed away in the moment by the one she has a crush on, but I would certainly be interested in hearing more on this. |
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