So you wanna watch Utena but don't know where to start!

[@c-puff]

I made a mistake and said that Akio is the school principle. He's actually the school chairman (there is a different principle) but honestly, he's in a position of power and that's the main point.

[@bluelan9393]

I think you had another little mistake, Chiho Saito is not the creator of Uthena. It was a team work between Ikuhara (the leader of the group) and the team of Be Papas. Chiho Saito was the one in charge of the manga and the original designs, but is not a manga Ikuhara adapted, is a manga that adapted an early script of Be Papas work.

[@zainmudassir2964]

True. It's an original anime and the manga was an early treatment used as promotion for the anime. Neon Genesis Evangelion had something similar

[@Elektrochoke]

Thanks for the video! I love Utena ❤ so happy you’re reviewing it 🎉

[@Elektrochoke]

Don’t tell too much at first!!! Particularly for a video for people who have t watched it xD nobody needs to know about Akio yet, never mind his job 😂💜

[@Mamg-Art]

*slaps the roof of Utena-car* This baby can fit so much metaphors and trauma in it!

[@mokapeach1791]

i like the theory that the movie is a second cycle after the anime and anthy who broke free from the cycle by leaving the school stay to help utena break free too, that would explain why she's more proactive as a character

[@c-puff]

YEAH EXACTLY!! This is how I feel as well. It also better explains Anthy's direct and insistent personality while Utena in the movie seems almost lost. It also explains Touga's different more positive role in the story. And why Akio is the way he is in the movie. Both not there but also haunting the entire school.

[@tetitous]

I resent saying that Juri isn't a lesbian anymore in Adolescence of Utena just because she hits on Miki. That was clearly her trying to play into the mask of heterosexuality and failing at it by being the assertive one even though she's supposed to be the "girl" in that situation

[@tentaclest.tentacles5090]

To be honest I would want nothing more than the 9 hour video of everything about Utena ever, my adhd supplies unlimited attention to one thing and ine thing only

[@Elektrochoke]

Yeah. This one already it’s great but it has too many spoilers for someone who hasn’t watched it. 😂 just embrace it

[@_Indisisive_]

yes

[@Mitsu2040]

I never got the impression that the "incest" between the Kaoru siblings was physically sexual. It was always more emotional. Miki despises that Kozue is sexually active, not because he is jealous but because she is no longer a "child". He is disturbed by the prospect of her behaving that way, so I don't think that they engage in it. He wants to recapture the innocence of childhood. Its 'purity', untainted by maturity. He is not wanting to make Anthy do naughty things with him. He wants to keep her in a glass, untouched, forever. He also distrusts adults, including Akio, and is quite self-sufficient. This ties with Kozue talking about being "wild animals", which is in reference of them being left to fend for themselves when their parents split, just like the bird in the nest was abandoned by its parent in her episode.

[@masonpellazar6543]

I don't care if it makes me a terrible person, that cut to Anthy's thoughts was fucking funny

[@poprocks6576]

I loved the concept I was introduced to which was that the schools stuck in a time loop and that the movies the second round where Anthy is able to admit her feelings and be with Utena in her happy ending where the roles are swapped and Anthy is now the free flowing one it’s her post self actualization helping a now passive Utena on her journey and succeeding with both of them surviving to move forward

[@kyrroti]

I started watching the show based on your recommendation. I got to Episode 7 so far. I didn’t expect the show to also be funny from your summary. The show does a good job at different tones. When the show wants me to be uncomfortable I’m uncomfortable, when the characters share depth I’m invested. Thanks for letting me know this show exists

[@minnymoon1360]

Season 2 gets wild just fyi

[@ResplendentTrash]

I didn't really like the show until after the humour of the Nanami episode.

[@makotableh1856]

So did you finish it?

[@soapdispenserempty]

I will say, the Utena anime was not based on the Utena manga. They were created at the same time within the creative collective Be-Papas that Chiho Saito and Kunihiko Ikuhara were both apart of. Especially considering the manga started and ended serializing from 1996-1998 whereas the anime released 1997.

[@desidominguez2876]

This whole video gives the vibe of your English teacher giving the class a basic rundown of a book's plot, characters and themes before assigned reading, but for a magical girl shoujo and I am *so here for it!*

[@wareforcoin5780]

When I was a kid I found Utena on accident. I bought it at a used book store because the artwork looked appealing. I didn't understand anything I was seeing, but I was _enthralled._ Never knew what would happen next. I got older and I now appreciate it as a deep and meaningful peace of artwork, but I don't think I'll ever get over how batshit insane it gets in between regular school scenes.

[@zainmudassir2964]

Nice 👍. I personally believe in revolution theory that the characters are stuck in a loop unless expelled (Utena) or leave (Nanami). That's why in the movie, the school seems to literally fall apart as Anthy is more proactive and no Akio to keep things together. Just a theory of course!

[@amberdawn868]

Technically this video isn't for me, since I've watched the Utena series AND the movie three times each, but oh my word I still love hearing you break it down so well. It puts into words stuff that I have a hard time expressing about the series and why I love it, especially the aspects of Anthy and Utena themselves. This anime is basically the sort of show my English Literature degree brain loves to try and pick apart like a classic novel.

[@KaraOfTheSea]

Man, I watched Utena when I was 12, 16, in my early 20's, in my late 20's, in my early 30's. I haven't watched it in my late 30's yet! I got to get on that!

[@TheWaterEater760]

When you wher talking about that blue haired boy I was like "ok this is interesting" but then that damm piano showed up and I remembered that you talked about it on a stream and I was like "OH GOD OH FU--"

[@theultimatezero2571]

I've been a fan of Utena for years and never knew about the utena website. Thank you for sharing it!

[@sats2407]

For the longest time i thought Rose of Versailles and Revolutionary Girl Utena was the same anime. Im fairly sure ive said the words "Rose of Utena" before

[@osets2117]

16 minutes in and I was not prepared for this show, I have no words and I feel like it's just gonna get even crazier!

[@c-puff]

I didn't even mention half of the insanity that happens in this show 😂 it's SO good but yeah... triggers for a reason.

[@osets2117]

@@c-puff I'm really hoping the incest twins are not themselves products of incest parents

[@thantrus]

I remember when I was in high school, I used to see so many fanmade anime music vids that used scenes from Utena. I really wanted to watch it, but never got around to it. Thanks for remind me! (20 years later).

[@c-puff]

Hahaha maybe for the best considering how dark Utena can get. High school me would not have been able to handle it.

[@yachatta5997]

Great video!! Every time I hear people talking about this series I'm reminded of how great it is. Did you know Utena was inspired by the book 'Demian' by Herman Hesse? I highly recommend it for people who love Utena, there are so many parallels. Obvious ones, like how growing up is compared to revolutionizing the world, but also smaller ones, like I think the rose rings might be inspired by the Mark of Cain. For people who watched the movie and are interested in a 'the shining'-deep analysis, I recommend the series by youtuber 'clearandsweet'. Even the flashy looking shots fit into the narrative on a symbolic level (if this was intended or not is another question). I might prefer the movie over the series only because there was too much repetition in the series for my 14yo brain at the time haha. Much love! 🌹

[@Dana_Brain]

Utena was one of those Revolutionary anime that I watched once and still don't understand everything. I can't wait to rewatch it some point with my sister and have her be super confused and I can probably only answer half the questions. Oh! I do remember comparing Akio to the character of Gonkutsuou from the Tales of Monte Crisco anime cause I saw that anime first, and in my head I was combining the two characters for the longest time. lol

[@sheridanlefanu.]

Three adults (not counting Mikage or Tokiko who are both 18) who appear in Utena: 1:Akio 2: Teacher who tells Utena off 3: creepy teacher that hits on Miki …is Ikuhara trying to tell us something I wonder…

[@NakanaiJP]

There's a schmoozing vice principal whom Juri foists off on the disciplinary teacher in her introduction episode, and a couple of suits sucking up to Mikage early in the Black Rose arc as well. They still fit the theme of adults being slimy, though.

[@docthe10th]

39:00 Once I saw the word “Throb”, the amount of disgust I vocalized while watching this multiplied with every line. Thanks for the video, even if I’m multiple levels of outside its target audience.

[@songweretson]

I would love, love, LOVE to see you analyze the whole series, with spoilers. Because I got so lost with the series, and would appreciate having it broken down.

[@halo_gen]

Ngl when I heard mentions of Utena here and there I didn't expect it to be so loaded or nuanced. Great crash course into the basics of this show!

[@Danariya1]

This title feels like you've read my mind 😂 I've started watching all the classic universally acclaimed animes recently and Utena was on my list, can't wait to watch it

[@n.clampitt]

This was a great video. I also appreciated the shout-out to Empty Movement, which I've been visiting for years.

[@TroySpace]

Oh, good timing! I was just saying I wanted to get into this anime. I was particularly interested in the sincere ways Japanese creatives like Ikuhara and Anno seemed to interact and discuss things, despite perhaps never collaborating. It really shows that how much there was of a deep-seated effort back then to push anime forward as an art form. Anyway, I look forward to your insights on this anime! I also want to try figure out its influences on Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, which everyone says is Revolutionary Girl Utena with Gundams. And I think it'll bear something for my own story.

[@TroySpace]

Oh wow, now I see a lot of Utena references in Witch from Mercury. So many references, the first two episodes are almost beat for beat the same.

[@c-puff]

Aw damn I need to get back to Gundam. I am still on 0079 but at least I am watching the films not the series. But I want to get both oo79 and 0083 under my belt. And I guess now I have to watch The Witch from Mercury 😂

[@zainmudassir2964]

Fun fact: Kaworu from Evangelion is modelled after Ikuhara and he pays lots of homage to Eva in Utena

[@LadyLeomon]

Oh wow I’m early! I absolutely loved your videos analysing High Guardian Spice and Cosplay Velma (that’s all she is Mindy) and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this classic too 😊😊😊 Thanks for the new video C-Puff Person and go hug your furbabies all 💙🐱💙

[@Effkin176]

A perfect video for a 5 Hour Long car ride. Timing could not have been more perfect.

[@lauraazure6462]

I missed alot of these messages when I watched this as a teenager

[@birdplushie]

really great video! utena is my favorite show of all time, and i agree with pretty much all of your interpretation and analysis in this video :) i hope this will get more people to watch it

[@Orkprof]

5:15 - I think I fell into a third category: people who knew nothing about it AND thought it was just "discount Versailles No Bara" 😅

[@c-puff]

Honestly? You're not entirely wrong 😂

[@Rozdlc]

"I've run out of red flag videos" It's a good thing he's basically wearing one then. I've always been curious about this show.

[@Kujofurioso]

You're probably doing a variety of gods work. Thanks.

[@kai8618]

Utena after Learning Anthy haS NO Will of her own as the Rose Bride after losing her to Touga: "OKAY, AND? She better off with me, anyway so GIVE HER BACK."

[@MollyGermek]

You dummy, Utena was right and Touga was talking nonsense. Anthy isn't metaphysically bound to follow the will of the duelist champion, she's pretending. Anthy really did mean it when she said she wanted more friends when Utena and Anthy were alone in their dorm room.

[@sinsofthefather]

this video made me start watching utena amazing! I sit here now, after I just finished watching it for the first time :)

[@PamsWorld101]

You always have a lot of passion and research in what you say, I relate and enjoy it in your content even if I’m not familiar/interested the topic at hand

[@c-puff]

That's great to hear! Thank you so much! I know this video won't do the numbers Velma and HGS did, so it makes me happy people are at least still interested.

[@TheDreamtuberMyah]

Utena was one of my all time favorite anime's it hits to be one of my top 3 anime's

[@TheDreamtuberMyah]

and still is one of my favorite top favorite animes

[@JTHMSqueeMrEffDBoy]

After watching this, I'm definitely interested in giving Utena another shot. I had tried to watch it once before, but I didn't really vibe with it, partially because I thought that it might be more for the LGBTQ crowd and not for me, but more so because it had that sort of "flowery melodrama" vibe that always puts me off and makes me skeptical if the work in question is actually going to be as impactful and interesting as it's trying to portray itself to be (or if it's just gonna come off like a cheap romance novel or something). Surprisingly, though, I actually realized that I picked up on a lot of the ideas that you talked about when describing this series, so maybe it will pay off for me this time around. Thank you for making this, I've thought off and on for a while if I should try Utena again, but kept backing out because I didn't want to be disappointed like I am with a lot of stuff from the anime world. This video, though, has renewed my interest in it, and plus, your videos are cool in general, so they're always a good time.

[@georgethompson1460]

4 weeks ago? Why have i been sleeping on this?

[@dasytaylor]

Your humour though, I cackled a lot at your jokes, especially at the Akio part. Thanks a lot for making this excellent essay, omw to recommend this to my friend and hope that it convinces them to finally get into the show. Also your little comment made me wonder what gets revealed about a person based on who they say their favorite character is. If it means they're alike, well, that's a lot of baggage in one answer indeed 😅

[@Bunnymannn7]

You were actually the one who got me interested in this anime 😊 I’m only on episode 4, but I already love it. I was… not aware of how messed up and complex it was. That’s gonna make a rewatch interesting later on

[@jaredthaler1017]

I really want to see your take on the ending of the Anime, spoilers included, and possibly contrasting with the ending of the movie.

[@FallenDaffodil]

AMAAZINNGG video. You really broke things down nicely and I really enjoyed watching this , even if I've seen the series multiple times ^^ However... 1:00:02 I really don't think thats the case ! There are multiple scenes of Utena and Anthy interacting in a romantic manner in the manga. Hell, Anthy stares at Utena while she is sleeping , cries over her, and even does the Wakaba glomp midway through. Contrary to popular belif , Saito wasn't against them being queer for funsies - she had trouble finding editors/publishers who'd even accept the watered down version of Utena, and wasn't sure how it'd be received. Utena and Anthy are still in love in the manga , and Anthy still searches for Utena and the end - their feelings for one another are very real. I really don't want to come off as preachy, I just dislike Saito being framed as someone against queer love 🥲 Saitos Black Rose chapter is even more queer than the show depiction , with Souji and Mamiya being similar in age and outwardly romantic. After the Revolution even gives us Juriori and Utenanthy in their full glory heh.

[@Balevolt]

Ok, watched the first Three Episodes. The songs are bangers so far. It's literally my favorite part.

[@obadakhalid713]

i actually did watch the movie when I was a 14 year old and......poor 14 year old me was so confused

[@c-puff]

Don't worry, 30 something me is still confused.

[@Wellworm]

My favorite show of all time!!

[@itskevinjustkevin]

Happy 25th birthday revolutionary girl utina!

[@CompSomAnichi]

Finally, C Puff has an essay about magical girls that isn't HGS XD /lh /j (coz i know you do have others, but jusst happy ur covering something you like and is a palette cleanser from Velma) XD

[@phoenixsoren]

40:41 Speaking of animals, thanks for reminding me I planned on rewatching Elfen Lied, I'll do that in between bouts of Utena :3 Edit: It's been about four months, and I just finished Utena. Easily one of the best shows I've ever seen, anyone still on the fence about it is a fool

[@alyseb630channel3]

This video was so good! Would love to hear your spoiler thoughts on the anime.

[@kai8618]

Cpuff: There's no "Onii-chan" garbage. Me: *POINTS AT NANAMI* Cpuff: She gets a pass because it is Different and she's being Manipulated.

[@hamishfox]

For a second after I read the title I thought this was going to be about Hiiragi Utena from gusting over magical girls, but now I'm wondering if her name is a subtle nod to this anime. Either way, I'm definitely going to have to check it out.

[@ResplendentTrash]

I would love to hear you explain the whole series as I know I missed loads of the symbolism! My head cannon for how that magic of the school works is related to the book The Last Universe by William Sleator. In the book, a young girl and her wheel-chair bound brother find a maze deep in the elaborate garden created by their late uncle. As they travel through the maze, when they exit they come out in a different universe. The brother desperately wants to go back to search for the universe where he can walk, but each return comes with a horrifying cost. To me everything in the world of Utena seems like it's in an undefined state. Perception and interpretation seem to alter reality or change which reality is actively real. This allows the weird changes of the movie to make more sense as the magic is iterating through different universes. This gives the school a kind of horror dimension as nothing and no one has a true past or future. Without Akio in control of this power by controling Anthy, the school and himself become more detached from reality.

[@thomasderosso5625]

I was shown the movie before anything else, while sleep-deprived, which was... an experience. Years later I watched the series, and while I feel like 60% of it deflected off my glass-smooth brain, I fell in love with it.

[@ЕвгенияКострикина-ы2б]

Great video! I might be wrong but... anime is not an adaptation of manga? As i know, both was created by Bi-Papas (Ikuhara's group) as part of big franchise. Autor of manga made a designs for characters, but main story beats, i believe, was disscused with Ikuhara since the begining. So manga was published earlier as promotion material for anime with much simplier story. I don't really remember where I find this information so it is might be mistake but this is what I believed for looooong time.

[@zainmudassir2964]

True. Manga started around same time anime production began and it's lackluster compared to the later imo

[@CaitiffPrimogen]

Shiori might be a manipulative little cow, but she's a victim too. Even though Juri is my favourite character, Shiori doesn't deserve all the hate she gets. (Actually the Shadow Play Girls are my real favourites, but they dont really count)

[@c-puff]

I really dislike Shiori but in a way where I really appreciate her character, if that makes sense. I dislike her because I absolutely hate how much pain she inflicts on Juri, but it's a role in the story that makes the story stronger for existing. I've read quite a few people's first time reactions to Utena and many of them also pointed out how uncomfortable Shiori makes them because she is such a perfect representation of suppressing her lesbian feelings. And people who can relate start getting uncomfortable at seeing their younger selves represented so accurately.

[@Ramsey276one]

9:02 excuse meWUT 0_o XD *Where* did you see a fleshy minotaur, my fellow HUMAN?!

[@KariIzumi1]

10:50 “Dumb of ass” Say less fam, I’m in now

[@0meAcat1]

Fun and very coherent! Feel like I've been, txtx ❤🎉

[@nananamamana3591]

"Some of them crossdress, but hey, so do I." Holy shit, this man is _genuinely_ based.

[@indiiedreamer]

My favorite anime too ♥

[@juniperjuniperjuniper]

i'd really like a overview with your thoughts on spoilers + the movie. but i do appreciate everything youve crafted with this one!

[@Sealinkchin]

I found you due to your long Velma Video and I regret not finding you sooner.... By the way, I was 16 when I went to an anime meet up...and we watched the movie and I had no idea what was going on and was very confused the entire time. I later learned there was a series,

[@monsterslurpee7212]

After seeing a dozen shows with this anime being the obvious influence, and doing a bad job of translating it, it’s good to see what it’s more or less about!

[@kyoneko87]

I did read the manga, and while Utena's and Anthy's relationship was not as blatant, I definitely read them as being in love with each other. It was also interesting how the relationships in the manga were a bit different, including Miki's. And I don't wasn't a lesbian in the movie. It was just more subtle because it is Ikuhara. Also Anthy in all incarnations is not only the victim but also the perpetrator. And Akio is both the perpetrator and victim. Both are pushed by society to do certain things and fit certain roles. Although, Akio is absolutely a monster. As for weather the movie is a sequal or retelling I see it as a sequal in the sense that it is a new probably final time loop. See, I see the manga as the first time loop, the anime as the second time loop, and the movie as the third and final time loop. Anthy seems to grow with each time loop until she fully realizes her own agency and autonomy. But this is one of my favorite shows, and will continue to be. This and Princess Tutu, made by the other director of the Sailor Moon Anime

[@GaussTheWarframe]

Oddly enough as a teenage guy I’m now interested in watching this.

[@FallenDaffodil]

I'd highly recommend it, honestly! I watched it as a 17 year old teen as well, and it really helped me come to terms with a lot of ...s t u f f , heh. At 19 (almost 20 ) I'm still afraid of stepping into adulthood , but the series genuinely helped me come to terms with the concept of growing up and rejecting the boxes society tries to push us into. Do give it a watch and see what you think ^^

[@daysgoby4966]

as soon as you got to Akio I started sneezing. I think I'm allergic to him

[@PyroShadow117]

at first I didn't recognize her, but her laugh, I cannot forget her laugh

[@PyroShadow117]

I'm only 10 minutes in, but now I'm scared to continue due to there are probably spoilers (I've seen only bits and pieces of this show, and I want to watch more)

[@c-puff]

@@PyroShadow117 Don't worry! I purposefully avoided major spoilers because I want people to watch the show :)

[@The-Random-Hamlet]

I hope you feel better now.

[@vulpiixfoxx]

1:00:24 tbh as someone from the US I think this happens with a lot of anime with queer characters (or at least heavily implied queer characters) that have complex and nuanced stories, where a lot of the nuance will get thrown out the window and what the anime is about and is trying to say (including with its queer themes) will often get severely boiled down/misconstrued. Obviously you don’t have to make like essays if you just wanna simply talk about the anime but at some point it does kinda get annoying. Or maybe I’m just kinda off-handedly salty with how the tumblr side of the Madoka Magica fandom has kinda misconstrued the anime as the “pink-haired and black-haired lesbian anime” and how other people make it seem like Madoka Magica is all super grim-dark, which yeah it does get dark at times but I feel for a lot of people what anime was actually trying to say completely missed their heads, but I’m getting off topic lol (I feel like I’m kinda making it seem like I don’t like it when people discuss queer parts of anime with queer themes and characters in it which isn’t what I’m trying to say at all, I like it when people discuss and celebrate queer aspects of certain anime, and I love it whenever anime have canonically queer characters, I’m just trying to say in a long-winded way that I agree w/ you and I think this happens to other anime too)

[@mpd1732]

Mmm yes, C-puff gushing about a series time, haha. Had this series on my watch later radar from your stream chatterings but a little extra insensitive video doesn't hurt 😉. Honestly, glad to hear it's best watched spaced out, it genuinely feels like I get told that I *have* to binge anything that's recommended to me right this second and I should if it's put in my face enough times, it's tiring lol didn't mean to drag my friend group like that, I'm just genuinely slow to actually sit down and watch stuff if there's not a time limit to it 😅

[@improvwithlions4173]

I can confirm that attempting to watch this show all at once is incredibly frustrating. I had an experience where I got very tired of the repetition, and got annoyed by things like how season 2 pans out where it felt like nothing that happened mattered. And how season 3 has so many cars. I had to delay watching Princess Tutu because any mention of princes or princesses gave me a headache 😂 I'm gonna give it another try someday, maybe I'll like it more the second time and pick up on all the little things or maybe I'll give up for good. The movie might be more on the nose but I enjoy it much more. Its only fault is that Nanami isn't really a character. But I guess that's just more evidence that it's a sequel....

[@c-puff]

Nanami escaped that school SO fast after Anthy left. Good for her. We stan.

[@jymjym7995]

i watched half this video about a month ago. now i came back after finishing utena. and i must say, although i'm not sure how i feel about some parts of it, its pretty damn good anime. and i enjoyed the hell out of it. glad o watched it glad i watched this video. favourite characters are probably juri and nanami although saionji, utena and a lot more aren't far behind. i'm impressed with what was done with all the characters. i'd like to add, i really like Akio... no hear me out. he is one of the most hideous villains, and that is what works so well. he's a great antagonist. it feels so good when he gets fucked over in the end. also no one is talking about the most underrated characters. the shadow theater girls. also also 27:14 god i hate the hand addition

[@osets2117]

Oh my God this anime was A Song of Fire and Ice before GRRM wrote it! And that's just from the first 3 minutes of the video!

[@TroySpace]

A Game of Thrones was published in 1996 and Utena first aired in 1997. The manga was first published in May 1996, GoT in August. Just brilliant minds thinking alike :)

[@osets2117]

@@TroySpace the manga adaptation was in early 96 so yeah I'd have to agree

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

I came here hoping for a series/episode number to start with, and stayed for the full experience.

[@Elektrochoke]

55:07 in my opinion the movie is a continuation of the series. It’s long to explain but really, think about it.

[@chasecubed]

but... please. i want that 9 hr video.

[@80yearoldman98]

Wowzers!!11!How did you know!1!1!?11!

[@80yearoldman98]

(Th at I wanted to watch Utena but didn’t know what ere to start)

[@casin0circus]

i get the desire to prime people for what they're getting into, and trigger warnings are important to warn people of! but a LOT of this is needless spoilers imo, even just the bit about nanami before the intro even started... i love analysis of this show and its characters but as a fan, is this really what you would want someone's FIRST exposure to the story to be, instead of the story itself in its intended form? I personally would not want someone else's interpretation to color my own first watch of it. despite the preface, this isn't an intro to the series, this is a condensed supercut of the main ideas the show takes 39 episodes to explore being beamed into your brain over the course of an hour that alludes to there being more. i don't mind that as someone who has already seen it many times, but BRUH. the background information was really good, as was the stuff that was actually introductory material, but telling us about the twins' dynamic? who Anthy really is a person when the show has it as a slow reveal, just like that? Deconstructing the prince as a concept? that's just a worse version of what the show seeks to accomplish as the piece of art that it is.

[@casin0circus]

also im bitter you called utena dumb!!! she's not dumb!!! she failed ONE test because of the stress of the dueling game, but she's good at school! she's just naive about some things because she's a teenager who was orphaned as a small child and has no real adults in her life to guide her! i know it was a joke but im literally going to bite everyone who thinks utena is a herbo LIKE DEADASS!! >:O

[@annieks]

honestly I think these just feel like spoilers bc you HAVE watched the show. most of the stuff said in the video is just gonna be out of context confusing character analysis that they won’t understand

[@casin0circus]

@@annieks I think you're not giving people enough credit. Someone watching this with actual intent on getting into the series, will absorb this information and it will color their perception of the series and the characters within it. It will give them certain expectations and assumptions based on the OP's personal analysis of the characters which might be better suited to something like a retrospective than telling someone HOW to watch a show, as if the answer couldn't be something as simple as "while keeping in mind it uses heavy visual metaphors and subtext that you need to be on the lookout for." Outside of preparing one's self for that, I don't think it's fair to try and pack all of these ideas that the show does a much better job of exploring on its own in the way that was intended by the artist collective that worked on it into a condensed shot infodump and then clarify only at the very end that your interpretations might be wrong on some things, and also not even give the trigger warnings for the upsetting concepts until already talking about them and showing certain visuals pertaining to them? It just feels like a friend infodumping at me, not a very well structured introduction to strangers. The parts about ikuni were great! That gives people a lot to work with in terms of understanding what the vibe is. Telling people what the entirety of arc 1 is about without letting them experience it or its best moments on their own? Significantly less cool. Telling us who anthy and utena really are and what their flaws are as they're exposed slowly over the course of the show? Gimme a break.

[@annieks]

@@casin0circus I think you’re giving most people way too much credit lmao not everyone is gonna be remembering everything that the video talked about, and not everyone is that influenced by what people say on a KZbin video. most stuff is just gonna go over their head

[@casin0circus]

most people who take the time out of their day to watch an hour long video on purpose about something because they're interested in it generally retain the information idk what to tell you@@annieks

[@nananamamana3591]

"I don't kn ow why I kept mentioning Eva in this video either" _You Can (not) Escape EVA comparisons_

[@realhhreaper]

I only ever watched this series because of an rpg maker parody of fnaf that markiplier played like 7 or 8 years ago and all I can say is that it's pretty good

[@Will0wisp_]

Proceeds to type 100 trigger warnings if you are thinking of watching this show 😭

[@fabledredeyes]

Ah, Utena. For when you think Evangelion makes too much sense and the teenagers aren't damaged enough. Edit: I made this comment ^ before watching the video past the Nanami intro, lmao More than half a decade ago, I started watching Utena, but even though I liked the first two episodes, and I *knew* I would like the anime (especially because Absolute Destiny Apocalypse hit me like a truck) I wasn't in the right moment to enjoy it. I was right, and after having finished it recently I can say the 'final boss of shoujo' completely owns and deserves that title. I still need to watch Adolescence of Utena but considering people lose their shit at Utena Car while in the actual series Nanami turns into a cow and nobody thinks twice about it, I think I am more than ready. Edit 2: I was not ready.

[@tVt2000]

I’m not gonna watch the show but I’m just gonna enjoy the essay.

[@scrollandsurf]

haven't finish watching the video but I gotta say it cause it keeps coming up in the video and it bugs me: Revolutionary Girl Utena the anime IS NOT an adaptation of the manga Revolutionary Girl Utena; the anime was conceived first but both anime and manga were worked simultaneously. The manga is a different take or interpretation of the anime by manga artist Chiho Saito (who was part of Be-Papas). In my opinion, the anime and manga are separate works of the same concepts instead of being adaptations of one another. good got it out of my system, the video is going great btw!!

[@c-puff]

Ah ok I see! I was fully convinced it was an adaptation with the way Ikuhara and Saito would discuss it in interviews! I guess I messed up an that part 😅 Luckily it wasn't the core focus of this video or I'd have to redo it.

[@Crooked_Mantis]

Loved the video. Already watched both the show and the movie myself before starting this, and watched this video mostly because I wanted to hear your thoughts on the series. You made a lot of points about the characters that I never heard out so concisely and I very much appreciate that as someone who tended to lose the thread when first watching. I do want to say that I think it’s unfair to say American cartoons are tricking people into thinking Utena is just about lesbians and swords. Because well, you expressed yourself how hard it is to explain what Utena is actually about in a concise manner. How could we expect anyone to tackle what the show is actually about through an homage alone? Is it even the job of an homage to explain the material it points back to? Maybe you could make an homage that avoids the surface level and references the heart of Utena, but how would you try and do that, really? If Utena is a core aspect of your media literacy experience, a touchstone that inspires you creatively, but your own creation doesn’t retread RGU’s plot points… what do you draw from to use as a callback? Mikage’s therapy elevator? How would that work? The cars? No, because that’s also a surface level meme to many. The Betrayal? (keeping that indirect to avoid spoiling people, but you know) Visually referencing half of these would likely bend your own narrative out of shape. How do you dig deeper than surface level in an homage, without your product shifting to match the shape of Utena? That shirt you show in the compilation is something I would actually say is misleading people, but these shows have their own narrative and their own identities to be concerned primarily with. I believe their homages are only scratching the surface level as a necessity. And if other people see the visual connections but fail to do any deeper digging on like, the actual subject matter of RGU, that is their own fault.

[@E3AloeLi]

I Kin anthy

[@alexanderthemagnifcent2573]

My dad worked on the dub for this show.

[@BluntmanEXE]

I remember watching the first four eps of Utena WAAAAAAY back when it was on VHS, and I only know three things. 1. The soundtrack was an absolute banger. 2. Lesbians 3. Whole mess of weird shit. I'm still on the fence on whether or not to give the show another shot, but great video nonetheless!

[@Muffs39]

really good video! slightly misleading title, but i genuinely might recommend this in the future if anyone i know is in a situation of having some interest in watching utena but isn't sure what to expect. but i do have one complaint i feel like is important. i'm glad that the flashing lights warning was mentioned at all, but i think describing it as "comedic" compared to the other content warnings is wrong to say. i know it only affects a small percentage of people, but for those with really severe epilepsy/photo sensitivity, sudden flashing lights can genuinely send people to the hospital so it SHOULD be taken just as seriously as the other warnings. and if you're going to show an example of the flashing lights, maybe next time give the warning BEFORE showing the example rather than during it? still great summary and analysis of the most important themes, but this really felt important for me to say.

[@AlexanderTF]

Yeah after Velma I'd suggest watching anything less traumatising like "Mystery Incorporated" to hopefully wash away the poor taste in relation to Scooby Dooo or anything better like "Super Cub" which is my personal stress relief or generally anything to wash away the taste ... I'd say "To your Eternity" is worth it, but only if ya want some trauma ...

[@NixFaerie]

I'm curious, now, what you think of g-witch and its use of references and parallels to utena, and if they're just a shallow way to say 'this is about lesbians' like american cartoons do, or have a deeper purpose, despite how different the messages and purposes of the shows are. For one it never struck me how much Guel and Saionji are alike in their arcs until this video. And despite some superficial similarities and use of duels in order to win an important bride, their power dynamics are completely reversed.

[@scatmanjohnfan22]

I'm sorry but this is the first time ive heard someone compare utena to big mouth 😂

[@yuliannaartybasheva331]

23:50 Okay, my favourite character is Mikage....what could that mean...

[@chlozentimes]

42:44 bookmark

[@Prophet_of_Puns]

Whelp that does it, I’m adding Utena to my watch list. Side note: I almost hit send when I noticed autocorrect changed “Utena” to “Utensils” XD

[@c-puff]

Revolutionary Grill Utensils

[@mpd1732]

Not to bring up my hyperfixatiom, but that whole deal about Utena's perception of how gender roles "should" be and how it falls in line with sexist limits and negatively impacts her character and gender expression's motives really reminds me of why I really didn't like HGS's 11th episode subplot and the choice of flashback paired with it... Personally uncomfortable at best and sus at the meta at worst. But that's just me, a gender-spicy person who absolutely loves thinking about the concept of the varieties of gender identities and expressions and thinks they're freaking awesome and completely make sense.

[@Ramsey276one]

8:40 FFS and I thought Flatearthers are really stretching it! XD