Alternative TitlesEnglish: Revolutionary Girl Utena Synonyms: Shoujo Kakumei Utena, Utena Japanese: 少女革命ウテナ
Information
Type: TV
Episodes: 39
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Apr 2, 1997 to Dec 24, 1997
Duration:
23 min. per episode Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 8.041 (scored by 3961 users)
Ranked: #3122
Popularity: #504
Members: 8,857
Favorites: 464 1 indicates a weighted score
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Recommendations Submitted by Users
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Princess Tutu is often referred to as "Utena 101" by fans of the series. While it lacks some of the complexities that Utena has, it still has a similar feeling. Fairy tales/ballets permeate the story, the concepts of what it means to be a "prince" and ideas of protecting others for love, and they both have their fair share of bittersweet moments with characters who are neither black nor white, but rather varying shades of gray.
Both Utena and Tutu contain a strong fairy tale motif and themes of accepting or defying one's fairy tale role. In a way, Utena feels like a more sophisticated/jaded exploration of the same themes touched upon in Tutu. They also both have a little bit of that surreal/reality-bending element, though Tutu never gets quite as surreal or symbolic as Utena. Basically, they're both really great series that you should watch, period.
Both series have the feel of a modern fairytale. Despite being a more family friendly anime, Princess Tutu is not afraid to have stories as rich in symbolism as Utena.
It's no surprise that Princess Tutu has been called Utena-lite. Both series look like they're made for young girls and have, to some degree, fairly typical shoujo plots in the beginning. Soon, though, they become much more complex, twisting the definitions of friend and foe; of what it means to be yourself or to grow up. In addition, they're both heavily influenced by traditional fairy tales yet eventually change the norms of those tales to be something completely different.
Princess Tutu and Revolutionary Girl Utena have quite a bit in common. Both have the feel of a "modern fairy tale" and start off feeling like your typical, light-hearted shojo or magical girl series. However, both eventually obtain a darker atmosphere, become something new, and make themselves stand out in certain ways. Tutu is more family friendly and has more of a "magical girl" feel to it, while Utena is more intense and has more of a "girl warrior" feel to it. The heroines of both stories mature quite a bit throughout the story and learn concepts such as love, romance, friendship, self-sacrifice, and selflessness. Both series also have a lot of plot twists to the point that you aren't exactly sure which characters are the "good guys" and which are the "bad guys" until you're practically at the end. Love them or hate them, these series certainly aren't forgettable.
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Both feature young women blurring the gender line with sword fights.
Rose of Versailles seems an obvious inspiration for Revolutionary Girl Utena. Set in Revolutionary France the main character is a woman raised as a man fulfilling a man's role. Much of the setting from Versailles seems to be the inspiration for the style of Utena.
Rose of Versailles and Revolutionary Girl Utena bring to the front the issues of gender identity. The titular heroines in these series choose to take on traditionally male roles which create a tension in these characters as they struggle to conciliate feelings with duty. In both series there is a recurring theme of roses and sword fighting; they both deal with Revolutions albeit of a very different nature and are concerned with moral nobility. Rose of Versailles has a more social and linear approach while Utena spins into a heavy psychological study that renders narrative almost obsolete. Breaking through illusions, be them class based or emotional hang-ups, is at the heart of these two anime.
Both have strong female leads. Both of which meet their fragility and strive to over come it, while dealing with battles, schemes and traces of love.
If you liked Utena this is another anime/manga I believe you should enjoy. Utena drew inspiration from this both in setting and characters. While Rose of Versailles takes place in the country of France and isn't confined to a school setting, the focus on fighting with swords plays a big part in both anime. The decadent European lifestyle that is acted out in Utena is very much the same as is acted out in Oscar's France (balls, food, elaborate dressing, even many high culture interests).
The main character in Rose of Versailles is Oscar, a woman who got a mans name because her father was stricken with grief that his wife bore a girl,and who was then raised as a male. You can see that Utena's 'Prince' complex (her desire to become a prince) is very much comparable, such as dressing like a boy acting like one but maintaining a certain unbreakable feminine beauty and fragility in both looks and personality (as Oscar is unable to overcome her feminine qualities even dressing more like a guy plus cutting her hair). Both characters are also tested by male characters who try to get them to lose this strength they have by treating them as women but not equals. The main difference between the two characters is Utena has chosen to become what she likes to call a 'prince' while Oscar was raised like a boy.
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Both are confusing as hell. Both have three-dimensional characters that drive the plot. And if you include End of Evangelion and ignore the last two episodes, both have bitter, confusing endings (one sweeter than another though).
A jump I know, but I love these shows for the same reasons: Complicated plot, deep chock full of symbolism, and complicated flawed characters.
When watching revolutionary girl utena, it somehow made me feel like "This is kinda like NGE but for girls" Both have in-depth character analysis implemented somewhere inside the series, and the style of them is similar. Both have metaphors and symbolism, and some parts/things that make you think a bit.
However, NGE's Angel fights have been replaced by sword fighting in utena, and there are some other differences aswell, but they have the same feeling when watching, at least near Utena's end.
Both are extremely bizarre series with hidden meanings and psychologically messed-up characters. Fun stuff!
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Both series center around a naive girl adapting to her strange surroundings in a new school -- they involve many characters with deep emotional and psychological scars. In addition, both have elements of yuri.
In a lot of ways, Oniisama e feels like a spiritual predecessor to Utena. You have a classy private school setting, a large cast of primary, secondary, and tertiary characters, dark secrets, complex motivations, twisted relationships, and a unique atmosphere created by combining lush shoujo imagery and visual symbolism with music. Oh yeah, and lesbians.
The creators of Utena drew ideas from the original manga written by Riyoko Ikeda as well as the anime based on the manga. The setting in an upper class school and the new student going against the established traditions of her senior classmates, classmates which externally seem to have their lives completely togehter. Nanako has to overcome many external obstacles for her as well as her friends but most of the story revolves around the bitter internal struggles for all the characters which leads to a lot of self reflection to finally find out what she really wants as well her attempts to shatters the distorted world views of her seemingly more 'together' classmates. All extremely similar to the structure of 'Revolutionary Girl Utena' as Utena changes many of the characters outlooks on life.
'Revolutionary Girl Utena' seems to have a stronger tone than the more subtle style of 'Brother, Dear Brother' One example of this can be seen in the lesbian overtones of both shows, while Utena uses more blunt hints that can come across as comical, the tone of 'Brother, Dear Brother' is seemingly more complex and real. Also unlike Utena, Nanako (the main character) comes across initially as weak and naive, but she sticks to her principles although they are tested many times. The strength of Utena's character (I believe) comes more from the anime Rose of Versailles which is another anime I recommend if you liked Utena.
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Subtle conflics,mixed, feelings, drama, deep characters all glossed with astonish art
Drama, romance, sword fights, revenge, conflicts, complex relationships.
Both have deep, interesting, well-developed characters, unique art and direction, and nice, fitting music.
You'll surely notice an elegant, luxurious, aristocratic aura in both series.
While Utena has some shoujo-ai in it, Gankutsuou has subtle shounen-ai. Ah, both have, surprise surprise, incest.
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Its not a garantee that if you liked yami to you'll like utena, but the series are similair. they both have a strong tomboy-ish heroine that tries to save her lover though she's secretly betraying her. they also share the girls love element, the sword fighting, the magical worlds, the funny/annoying little pet and a lot of bishie characters :)
Both have:
- A strong and tomboyish female lead who's good at using the sword (Hazuki/Utena)
- A strange, kind, quiet, and seemingly innocent co-protagonist (Hatsumi/Anthy)
- A funny and/or annoying little creature (Ken/ChuChu)
- Magic and fantasy
- Shoujo-ai
- Incest
- Bishounen
- The same glossy appearance and feeling
- A plot which is confusing and complex at times.
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If your favourite parts of Code Geass are the elite private school hijinks and crazy student council members you will love Utena.
Likewise, Utena fans who enjoyed the series' action sequences and Machiavellian scheming should enjoy Code Geass.
I wonder why no one mentioned the Anthy/C.C. parallel. IMO, C.C. is second to The Rose Bride in rose-briding (and there are even outright visual quotes from Utena lampshading this role of hers). Also, character designs in Utena and CG bear some similarity.
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As I looked through the list of recommendations on Utena's list, I was surprised by the complete lack of Ouran High School Host club. First of all, I noticed extreme similarities in the art styles. Both are drawn very angular. Both center around a boyish female that (in the Utena Movie) are confused for male.
I realize there are some differences in the plots. But I just got this strong feeling that OHSHC was based of Utena.
Both feature a masculine girl for a main character, lots of male characters drawn to look attractive to female viewers, a big and beautifully built academy, and focus on friendship and growing up. Roses play a significant role in both stories, and nearly everybody has some decent character development.
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When I watched Sailor Moon S, I was reminded much of Revolutionary Girl Utena (though if memory serves me correctly, Sailor Moon S came around before Utena). There are several aspects of this particular season which simply scream Utena.
First of all, Sailor Moon S is darker than the previous two seasons, and the Death Busters seem much more evil than the Black Moon Clan and the Dark Kingdom, primarily because the Death Busters seek to destroy the universe instead of conquer it. The darker mood of it all strongly mirrors the dark and somewhat mysterious mood that surrounds Utena (especially in later seasons of Utena).
Likewise, both series feature very mysterious characters. The three new sailor senshi which come about in this season are very hard to figure out - Are they truly good or bad? Very much like the Utena characters, which are simply gray instead of black or white. Several members of the Death Busters and two of the new sailor senshi are only seen in shadow form before they are seen clearly, much like the shadow girls in Utena.
And, last but not least, roses are featured as a strong point in both of these stories. I don't find it surprising that Sailor Moon S and Utena were directed by the same man.
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Juliet Capulet, the heroine of Romeo x Juliet, is the Utena Tenjou of a new generation. She's tomboyish, independent, and passionate, but, like Utena, her romantic dilemma slowly comes into conflict with her tasks as a hero. If you're tired of seeing moe schoolgirls and crabby tsunderes as female leads and want more heroines like Utena, give Romeo x Juliet a try. You might just end up rooting for the House of Capulet.
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A wide, strong, and interesting female cast, fantasy, magic, romance, fights, shoujo-ai, roses, bishounen.
They have an overall similar mood, prettiness, and imagery.
Note: I’m referring to all the Sailor Moon seasons altogether.
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In both you'll see swords coming out from people's bodies.
Both anime are about apocalypse (even though in Utena is a metaphor, and in X is literal), revolution, and the world. Both also are psychological and have sword fights.
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Both are produced by JC Staff, and have very nice direction, but also, sadly, many recycled scenes.
They both have a glossy, shiny character design, and sometimes a weird sense of humor.
In both you’ll also find action, fantasy, magic, and blood-free violence, even though Orphen is a shounen, and it's much more light-hearted, and Utena is a shoujo, and it's way more psychological and complex.
In both there are at least 2 pairs of siblings, and some of the characters are quite similar: there’s the tomboyish girl (Utena/Creao) who's friends with the quiet meganekko with a trauma in her childhood (Anthy/Lycoris), and there's a weird animal who always follows them around (Chuchu/Reki & Pam).
Also, the dramatic scenes in Orphen (mainly the Lycoris/Esperanza ones) are very similar, for style, to the ones in Utena, and these 2 anime even have pretty similar endings.
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While Utena is by far more complicated, what both animes have in common is a brother/sister incest motive.
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Both series deconstruct the shoujo genre heavily (though Utena is unmatched in this field, Escaflowne also gives it a try).
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Personally I don't think that the NGE series could stand comparison with Utena. However, here's an ending that nearly matches Utena's finale in ideas and emotions.
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Half the staff list, that's the similarity. Hence the same aestheticism, surrealism, mixture of reality and fairy-tale... Main characters are also pretty similar, and some images and devices from Utena have been reused in MoO. Only MoO has much more parody and fanservice elements, but still it's a must-see for Utena fans.
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Enjoyed girls-with-swords? On to girls-with-guns (and vice versa)! The stories of Utena/Anthy and Mireille/Kirika have quite a number of similar moments. Also, both series are overflowing with aestheticism, and it's hard to decide which one has more splendid music.
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They have a somewhat similar “gorgeous” mood and feeling. Roses play an important role in both anime. Also, Nanami and Ayumi are really similar.
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Definitely, Utena has been a source of inspiration for the GK21 production team. The main character, Ayane, is similar to Himemiya in appearance and in some character traits. Both series feature shoujo-ai lines, in both works dark and funny scenes are mixed and melted together... And yes, those rocks flying apart all around the main characters in the opening of Utena are back in GK21.
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Both Shion and Utena are girls who are competing in a game that by some is seen to be intended for only men. They, and other female competitors, deal with a lot of prejudice. Partly because of this both series have someone cross-dressing.
Characters are well developed and might not be who they seem at first.
The duels and shochi-matches play an important part in these series, and during these matches the personalities of the characters are further developed.
Also, interestingly enough, there's not just the competition around which everything resolves, but a mystery to be solved. Both Shion and Utena had a traumatic experience when their parents died, and can't remember everything that happened. In these series the viewer will be wondering who was involved and why.
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Not only do these two series have similar art styles, but they both have a seemingly innocent beginning but turn out to have deep, complex plots.
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First off, they have similar atmospheres. Also, both center around a character forced into a strange form of combat, and both involve many unconventional relationships (romantic, sexual, and otherwise).
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Both series have a surreal fantasy element that leaves you wondering what is actually happening even though they both are set in a modern school setting. Theres a character driving a car recklessly all around campus in both series. There are characters that are 'characters' in all sense of the word; they are simplistic and comedic in their focus. There is even plenty of shoujo-ai for everyone in both.
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Sarasa and Utena are brave girls who lost their families at a young age and now have to start a revolution. Both are fighters who dress up as boys.
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Both protagonists are naive, well-meaning people who by chance end up engaged to a member of the same-sex due to long-held tradition which somehow end up in a duel in both titles. Both seem unimpressed by unfair traditions. Both show strong friendship with their engaged but seem averse to attributing a romantic context to their relationship. Both deal with aristocracy, fighting against abuse of power, and the royal uniform of one of the protagonists is rather similar to the dueling uniform of the other.
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These two series have different look and feel, yet they take you to the same depths and heights. If you believe that Utena is just about sword-fighting or weird relationships or runaway kangaroos, just skip this recommendation. However, if you're into the spiritual/mystery layer of Utena, then welcome to the town of Glie for another bunch of shockingly right questions and answers. Likewise, if you're a Haibane fan in search of another mind-blowing story of true Friendship and Forgiveness, then Ohtori Gakuen is waiting for you (if only you don't mind some sword-fighting / weird relationships / runaway kangaroos).
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Both animes have very deep character development, unique style and, of course, gorgeous music.
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both have psicoligical drama, female point of view and beautifull art
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Maybe to some, this isn't a particularily obvious recommendation. I think Revolutionary Girl Utena is similar to Le Chevalier D'eon, because they both feature characters that manipulate others and because trust and betrayal are central concepts in both of these shows.
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The aesthetics of these two anime are quite similar; in both the thematic of flowers plays a very important role, as do the prevalence of strong leading female characters. In the movie, Sailor Moon's most childish aspects have been somewhat toned down, establishing a connection with the more adult content of Utena. Both series and movie share a certain atmosphere of classic animation that is akin despite the differences the approaches followed. Sailor Moon R The Movie can be followed as gripping but straight forward entertainment, while Utena is an exercise in psychological complexity. Still, there is enough in common regarding imagery and overall mood to warrant a recommendation.
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