Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Summary: Years ago, a tragic incident befell a young princess when both her parents died. Devastated, it seemed nothing would calm this poor soul. However, a prince traveling through the area came to see the princess, hoping to cheer her up. After wiping her sorrowful tears, the prince gave her a ring carrying a rose emblem and told her as long as she holds onto the ring, they are destined to meet again. The event leaves a deep impression on the girl, Utena Tenjou, leading her to become a prince herself.
Years later, Utena attends Ootori Academy, recognized by the same rose emblem as her precious ring's. There, attracted by the scent of roses, she witnesses Anthy Himemiya tending the flowers, accompanied by the Student Council President Touga Kiryuu and Vice President Kyouichi Saionji, who seem to be arguing over Anthy. While Utena thinks nothing of the occurrence, the Student Council gathers to discuss an important matter.
Subsequently, a misunderstanding leads to Utena being dragged into the world of Duelistsâthose with rings similar to her own. The Duelists fight for the ownership of the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya, who is said to possess great power. Wanting to prove her capabilities as a prince, and enraged that Anthy is being wronged and objectified, Utena resolves to fight against the Duelists to save her from the cruel fate.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Years ago, a tragic incident befell a young princess when both her parents died. Devastated, it seemed nothing would calm this poor soul. However, a prince traveling through the area came to see the princess, hoping to cheer her up. After wiping her sorrowful tears, the prince gave her a ring carrying a rose emblem and told her as long as she holds onto the ring, they are destined to meet again. The event leaves a deep impression on the girl, Utena Tenjou, leading her to become a prince herself.
Years later, Utena attends Ootori Academy, recognized by the same rose emblem as her precious ring's. There, attracted by the scent of roses, she witnesses Anthy Himemiya tending the flowers, accompanied by the Student Council President Touga Kiryuu and Vice President Kyouichi Saionji, who seem to be arguing over Anthy. While Utena thinks nothing of the occurrence, the Student Council gathers to discuss an important matter.
Subsequently, a misunderstanding leads to Utena being dragged into the world of Duelistsâthose with rings similar to her own. The Duelists fight for the ownership of the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya, who is said to possess great power. Wanting to prove her capabilities as a prince, and enraged that Anthy is being wronged and objectified, Utena resolves to fight against the Duelists to save her from the cruel fate.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Shoujo Kakumei Utena Review
Shoujo Kakumei Utena â Years ago, a tragic incident befell a young princess when both her parents died. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Award Winning, Drama conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.23). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood â whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative â is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone â quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape â score, incidental music, and sound design â complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good â one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Shoujo Kakumei Utena offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Award Winning, Drama, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Himemiya, Anthy
Main
Fuchizaki, Yuriko
Japanese
Himemiya, Anthy
Main
Fanfani, Donatella
Italian
Himemiya, Anthy
Main
Becker, Sharon
English
Himemiya, Anthy
Main
Choi, Mun Ja
Korean
Himemiya, Anthy
Main
Mulachs, Joël
Spanish
Tenjou, Utena
Main
Kawakami, Tomoko
Japanese
Tenjou, Utena
Main
Pacotto, Emanuela
Italian
Tenjou, Utena
Main
Lillis, Rachael
English
Tenjou, Utena
Main
Trifol, Nuria
Spanish
Tenjou, Utena
Main
Jeong, Mi Sook
Korean
Tenjou, Utena
Main
Arellano, Mayra
Spanish
Tenjou, Utena
Main
VĂĄzquez, Carola
Spanish
A-ko
Supporting
Kawamura, Maria
Japanese
A-ko
Supporting
Goodman, Amanda
English
A-ko
Supporting
Cericola, Dania
Italian
A-ko
Supporting
De Cesarei, Jenny
Italian
A-ko
Supporting
Romo, Isabel
Spanish
Arisugawa, Juri
Supporting
Mitsuishi, Kotono
Japanese
Arisugawa, Juri
Supporting
Goodman, Amanda
English
Arisugawa, Juri
Supporting
Morales, MarĂa Fernanda
Spanish
Staff
Ikeda, Shinichi
Producer
Kawasaki, Tomoko
Producer
Kobayashi, Noriko
Producer
Ikuhara, Kunihiko
Director, Script, Storyboard, Theme Song Lyrics, Original Creator
Tanaka, Hideyuki
Sound Director
Date, Hayato
Episode Director
Hoshikawa, Takafumi
Episode Director, Storyboard
Igarashi, Takuya
Episode Director, Script, Storyboard
Iwasaki, Yoshiaki
Episode Director
Kaneko, Shingo
Episode Director, Storyboard, Theme Song Performance, Assistant Director
Koshi, Shigeo
Episode Director
Nishiyama, Akihiko
Episode Director
Okazaki, Yukio
Episode Director
Sakurabi, Katsushi
Episode Director, Key Animation
Sakurai, Hiroaki
Episode Director, Storyboard
Takahashi, Tooru
Episode Director, Storyboard, Assistant Director
Takashima, Daisuke
Episode Director
Watanabe, Takashi
Episode Director
Enokido, Youji
Script, Series Composition
Yamaguchi, Ryota
Script