The opposite of simple.
The most powerful show I've ever watched.
Shoujo Kakumei Utena is a show that shoot deep into my emotions showing me a vulnerability I never expected from watching a show.
It is extremely unique and I think that every individual may have a different way to interpret it.
There are whole theories on it's vast symbolism, but I won't discuss them here.
It is psychological, sophisticated, symbolic and very deep. If you like it you'll probably find yourself pondering over the matters it brings on show, which you didn't expect.
I've watched it 2 times, the first one I was a child so I didn't understand what was going on really, I remember thinking it was very weird but I liked it a lot.
Almost 10 years later, last year, when I got back into anime I wanted to watch it again, I couldn't wait to meet something that fascinated me again, although I thought that maybe now I wouldn't see it as such a shiny thing as I had more experience and criticism. To my surprise, it really cut deep, I was ready to watch it this time and it did fascinate me again.
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Maybe you could divide the story in 2:
The apparent formal thread of the main protagonist trying to meet with her prince that she met at a crucial point of her life and gave her the strength to cope with life when she was about to give up, that ends in her becoming a prince herself out of admiration and idealism.
And the story itself that is the unwrapping of feelings and mental confrontations that take place in the character's mind.
I really liked the story but I don't give it a 10 because I felt like sometimes something lacked. I guess the makers made it on purpose to leave upon holes to make the watcher wonder over and over and simply incite their minds.
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Really aesthetically beautiful. Very gracious figures and movements. Stylish in a way.
The art is great and excellent back in it's time, nowadays it's not as much, but that's to be expected from technology.
What stands out a lot is the choice of colours, which really catches the eye and is varied and innovative (also, symbolic, as the rest of the show).
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Best opening song ever!
The soundtrack does a really good job at transmitting "epicness". It is simply outstanding, out there around Cowboy Bebop level (which I consider has the best OST). It reeeeally gets you pumped up. And I didn't expect to like apocalyptic like tunes, but they really fit the show well.
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I think I feel so attached to it because I could relate with the insecurities of the characters. You could say that all the characters are messed up, that's because they let their dark, insecure side dominate at some point, in a way that we also do sometimes, but it always has more impact when you see it and not when it's yourself.
I just can't help it but love Utena, she is very inspiring. I love how she stands up in the midst of the storm even if she falls over and over. Despite this, even she wants to give up eventually and becomes vulnerable. She loses her will, but rises again, stronger, more vulnerable than ever.
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When it comes to enjoyment, I personally found myself thinking, analyzing as I was watching. It was really stimulating and I had my mind working more than most times I'm studying, for example.
It brought a lot of internal controversies ashore and exposed them bare for you to see, which made a huge impact on me.
On the other hand I see why someone would not enjoy it. It is scary and conflicting at times. There are types and types of people and this show is not easy to watch (kind of reminds me of Evangelion in that sense, but it's much easier to watch, fret not!) It is a very dark show, but what I like is that it shows every side of things. The bad, and also the good. Some may not like how it is weird and kind of repetitive and moves around somehow obsessively over the character's troubles to an extent that could make someone's brain dizzy.
There's also the sexual factor that I almost even forgot to mention because that's not what I personally saw on the show. Many find it a relevant point of this anime but I just didn't, I saw struggling people and it didn't really cross my mind except for the male funny moments haha, I guess everyone sees in it their own things.
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Overall I give it a 10 because it shook my emotions like no other anime has, and the more anime I watch the more I love Utena and how unique it is. There's simply nothing like it around.
If you're up for a very beautiful, deep, psychological, troubling, touching, sparkly show with great human characters watch it.
But warning, if you're just looking to pass time and relax with something light, if you don't want to risk having your brain fried, you better not watch it!
I still cry when listening to the soundtrack!
