Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Revolution this, Revolution this. Look, you angsty, Calvin Klein anorexic student council freaks, I don't care WHAT kinda chick you think you are, or what "shell" you're in, we all know one thing! Utena herself is cooler than all of you. :P
Ok, to say that the tomboyish , superpopular at school, Tenjou Utena is a favorite anime character of mine is a bit of a givein. She's got the whole determined heroic personality along with a befuddlement that's just endearing. And she's cute. :P Sure she's anorexic and nothing but paint on cells, but she's cute. Along with her, we meet her friend Shinohara Wakaba who's cheerfully energetic. But she's not important, so neener. There is Himemiya Anthy, the quiet girl who tends the rose garden.. appropriately enough, she is also the Rose Bride, a sort of prize for duels. What duels? We'll get into that once we meet the Duelists, who also make up the Student Council. Sure, you've met Utena, but who else is there? First, there's Saionji. He's a butthole for the most part, and good friends with Kiryuu Touga. Touga is the leader of the Student Council, as well as a perpetual flirt with any ladies. He has a sister, Nanami, who has a bit too much of a 'healthy infatuation' with her brother.. she provides the majority of the comic relief. Also there is Miki, a shy boy who always carts around a stopwatch, and Arisugawa Juri, who has an angsty, love triangle of a past. And this does not include the vast array of secondary and not so secondary characters: The aforementioned Wakaba, the Shadowplay girls, Kageshoujo Eiko, Biiko, and Siiko who provide mysterious commentary, Anthy's pet mousemonkey Chu-chu, Nanami's slave-boy Tsuwabuki, Ohtori Akio who is Anthy's brother, and more! *gasp* ..but enough on the characters.. because we could be here all day if I didn't give you just the minimal.
The basic plot of the series is dueling. For the first three storyline arcs, and playing a more minor part in the fourth and final arc, dueling is the main part of the action. Duel's basically consist of each fighter having a rose on their chest, and when it's knocked off, you lose. What does the winner get? Himemiya Anthy, the rose bride. She who holds the key to Revolutionizing the World. While this is a minimalist approach to the plot, much of it are various parties attempting to retrive Anthy in order to possess or kill her, and in the meantime coming into conflict with Utena. Don't trust my rambling - the plot is FAR more detailed than this, and each character is richly characterized. From plain out action to incestual intrigue, Utena has it all in the plot department.
And the artwork! Utena is a beautiful series to sit back and watch, or listen, to. The Ohtori Gakuen is a surreal campus, interspersing fantasy and reality in an odd blend that must be seen to be believed. And even more so for the movie, but that's for another review! Character designs are clean and appealing, and I personally like every character with the possible exceptions of Ruka and Saionji. Prominent throughout the series are, of course, roses, oftentimes going into a "rose cam" which puts a frame around the action with spinning roses in the corners. All very nice. The music has a very fantasy feel to it, and the opening song Rinbu Revolution is a personal favorite of mine. No poor words I could type would do the music justice.. it's just wonderful stuff.
And that goes for my entire review. Have you been getting a feel of apathy from this? Well let me tell you.. it's because words are inadequate. Shoujo Kakumei Utena, la fille revolutionaire utena, Revolutionary Girl Utena. It's not an anime, it's an experience. And it's not an experience for everyone.. some do not like the overall feel, some don't like the lesbian undercurrent between Anthy and Utena, some just don't like the characters. But this series is, in a word.. amazing. And that is why it receives my highest score ever.
Final Rating: 10
Released by: Episodes 1-13 ~ Central Park Media (I think) 14-39 ~ Fansubs
Available: Dubbed and Subtitled
Retail Price: Varies