Revolutionary Girl Utena (1999)
"Shôjo kakumei Utena: Adolescence mokushiroku" (original title)

A handsome youth by the name of Tenjo Utena transfers to the distinguished Ohtori Academy. But Utena's true identity is actually a girl, who due to a certain event from her past, has ... See full summary »

Director:

Kunihiko Ikuhara

Writers:

Yoji Enokido (screenplay), Kunihiko Ikuhara (story)

Stars:

Tomoko Kawakami, Yuriko Fuchizaki, Leah Applebaum

Cast

Credited cast:
Tomoko Kawakami	...	Utena Tenjou
Yuriko Fuchizaki	...	Anthy Himemiya
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leah Applebaum	...	Nanami (voice)
Roxanne Beck	...	Kozue Kaoru / Wakaba Shinohara / Shadow Girl C-Ko (voice)
Sharon Becker	...	Anthy Himemiya (voice)
Mandy Bonhomme	...	Juri Arisugawa / Shadow Girl F-Ko (voice)
Crispin Freeman	...	Touga Kiryuu / Prince (voice)
Aya Hisakawa	...	Miki Kaoru
Chieko Honda	...	Kozue Kaoru
Kunihiko Ikuhara	...	Art Teacher
Yuka Imai	...	Wakaba Shinohara
Maria Kawamura	...	Shadow Girl E-Ko
Satomi Koorogi	...	Shadow Girl F-Ko
Takehito Koyasu	...	Touga Kiryuu
Takeshi Kusao	...	Kyoichi Saionji

Storyline

A handsome youth by the name of Tenjo Utena transfers to the distinguished Ohtori Academy. But Utena's true identity is actually a girl, who due to a certain event from her past, has decided to cross-dress in order to fulfill the highest of ambitions. But at Ohtori Academy she meets none other than her old lover, Kiryuu Touga, who wears the Mark of the Rose on his finger, which is the sign of a duellist. Because of her possessing the exact same ring, Utena is challenged by the student body vice president, Saionji Kyouichi, to a duel in the floating rose garden. The reason for this duel is none other than the acquisition of the "Rose Bride"'s body, for with it comes the "power to revolutionize the world."

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Plot Keywords:

rose | duel | memory | ring | witchcraft | 

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Site (us)

Country:

Japan

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

14 August 1999 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Box Office

Budget:

JPY 120,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

J.C. Staff, King Record Co., Movic

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[Akio checks on a seemingly unconscious, unclothed Anthy]
Akio Ohtori: Uh... You weren't asleep?
[backs away]
Akio Ohtori: How long? How long have you been awake? Have you never been asleep? Were you only PRETENDING?
Anthy Himemiya: [sits up] Don't worry. You are my Prince, dear Brother. You can do with me as you please.
Akio Ohtori: [yelling] Don't talk like that!... I'm not like THAT!

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Connections

Featured in Brows Held High: Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Fiancé ni Naritai"
Performed by 'Mitsuhiro Oikawa'

User Reviews

Utena is wonderful

I first saw this at a friend's place. It has quickly joined other anime greats such as Neon Genesis: Evangelion and Ghost in The Shell (to name some well known titles) as a Personal Favourite. The characters both male and female are beautiful and the soundtrack is both striking and complimentary.

I fear however that the plot may seem a little too tenuous for a western audience and they may not understand what is happening. I do look forward to seeing more of this sort of thing readily available outside of Japan. :)