Genres: drama, magic, psychological, romance Themes: duels, feminism, school Objectionable content: Significant
Plot Summary: Just after Utena’s parents died she was consoled by a prince who gave her a ring with a rose crest on it. Utena was so impressed by the Prince that she vowed to become one herself one day. A few years later Utena is attending Ohtori Academy where she gives all the teachers headaches because she dresses in a boys uniform so she can be like the prince she met long ago. After Utena’s friend is insulted by a member of the Student Council, Utena fights in a duel for her friends honor. Utena’s rose crest allows her to enter the dueling arena where Utena wins the duel and becomes engaged to the Rose Bride. Unknowingly, Utena is pulled into a series of duels with other members of the Student Council for the possession of the Rose Bride. As she becomes fond of Anthy, the Rose Bride, she must fight to keep her friend safe and to discover the horrifying secret behind Ohtori Academy. Number of episodes: 39 Vintage: 1997-04-02 to 1997-12-24
I am very, very excited to see that this will be on the online player. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this series, and I will be watching it as soon as it is available. Can’t wait!
Slick
I have a few random DVD’s of Utena, but I’ve never been able to finish my collection. So it will be great to finally be able to finish the show on the online player. This may even get my best friend to sign up for it, as she loved the show, but also couldn’t finish it.
I really hope someone rescues this show at some point. I had some complaints about, mainly the same fight music and video sequence playing every time Utena entered battle, but it was still enjoyable.
When will this be avaible on the streaming site? August 6 as well? I’ve been looking forward to this since they announced they were playing it on VOD, and then of course Comcast got lame and dropped Anime Network . At least I’ll get to still watch this series though, completely this time too.
First episode is scheduled to show up on the Online Player on August 20th 2009. After that it looks like maybe two new episodes every 2 weeks. Least that is what it appears is going to happen.
I’m surprised you’re enjoying this. I thought it would be totally something not your style. There’s a lot of otaku symbolism and yuri aspects to it. It gets better and better as it goes along, though for a longer series like this (I do feel it drags in some spots).
The music is really great though.
If you like this, the movie needs to be seen too, especially if you like the music in this.
I have varring tastes like everyone else, but if you catch me in the right mood, I’ll like pretty much anything.
As with all things though, the main driving force behind me truely liking something is the soundtrack, and those dramatic choruses used in Utena really take precedence over anything else I may encounter in the series.
Though to its credit (thus far at least), even is they didn’t do such a good job with the soundtrack, Chuchu and his comedic actions would have kept me watching, regardless of how the story turns out.
I laughed so damn hard when Saionji came to challenge Utena to a rematch, and Chuchu came out with that fork in an agressive (as agressive as a little suffed bear can be at least) stance, and then proceeded to poke Saionji’s foot with it. Man that hilarious!
The dramatic choruses, do you mean the duel songs? Like Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku?
Love those, I also love the OP and ED themes. I love Rinbu Revolution, Toki ai wa (movie), Rose & Release, Kessen (movie), Fiance ni naritai (movie ED theme), Dios He No Inori.
The music is also the main thing that kept me interested in this series, as well.
I found it hard to watch not so much the older animation as the backgrounds and things are distracting rather than complementary. Other than that it was okay, but it felt like they were going for the kinds of things that get pulled of in Gankuotsu, but in an old-school manner.
Doubt I’ll be watching much of this. I think the plot is rather stupid. Being a princess and then wanting to be a prince? facepalm Not to mention I don’t really like the style of the animation. At least I can say I gave it a shot.
I started watching this on VOD and I’m positive I’ve seen this story before, although I do not recognize the characters and costumes in this particular anime. Has this story been done in another way? (different anime/movie?)
Although I remember seeing something similar to this before, I have no idea how it turns out (ie, the ending). Either I didn’t finish it or I got interrupted or something.
Anyway, I like the old-school feel of this and I like the story-line. Young girl goes tomboy - rescues maiden! HA! So, I look forward to seeing how this all works out for them and how she meets up with the prince who gave her the rose ring.
I got this Series on DVD when it came out a couple of years back.
I enjoyed it, but a lot of people may not like it because a lot of what’s going on is symbolic. (Especially when the Episodes are broken up by the Shadow Girls, who act like a Greek Chorus about what’s Really Going on in the episode. This show really makes you think, and there are a lot of interpretations about what the Academy is, and what happens to Utena in the end. (I could give my opinion but it would be way Spoilerific so I’ll pass)
Give it a chance, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, but it’s not for everybody.
Oh, come on, how can you go wrong with heavy lesbian undertones?
I mean the main character is engaged to one girl, has a best friend with a crush on her and girls in the school who idolize her, and that’s just the first couple of episodes. I think the TV Tropes site uses it as an example for several tropes -
Haha it’s those lesbian undertones that turn me off, yes I really like the voice of Utena, and I do like some aspects of the story. I watched ep 2, was intrigued at some parts, but there is something about Anthy that I can’t stand.
I don’t like that either - thinking about FastForwarding through that the next time. And if they continue to show all that walking up the stairs to the arena, might FF through all that too.
spoiler
So, it was pretty interesting that the original prince inhabited her body to make her win the duel. I still can’t figure out why she wanted to lose the duel, knowing that the Rose Bride would go back to that cruel guy. Must’ve been a lapse in judgment.
lol I already did the FF through the walking up the stairs thing when I realized it was the same song and everything… they make this one on a budget or what?
Yeah, I thought that was odd of her character to not care about that, too.
. At least I’ll get to still watch this series though, completely this time too.
There’s a lot of otaku symbolism and yuri aspects to it. It gets better and better as it goes along, though for a longer series like this (I do feel it drags in some spots).
