Revolutionary Girl Utena: Episode 1 FULL LENGTH Reaction!
Added 2024-07-07 13:00:02 +0000 UTC*ROSE-COLORED HEADPHONE WARNINGS*
OH. A show that has romance? Is retro? Sailor Moon meets Neon Genesis Evangelion? OH, I am HIGHLY intrigued!
I have a feeling this series is going to be SO much fun to dissect and talk about with you all! Thank you, Anthony, for getting me the files - I'm SO hyped about this series!
LINK TO REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/suGqDHuvL6mDQbj5skC3Sn?
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
Oh gotcha! That makes more sense! And YES, the fact that Utena is not on a streaming service anymore IS a CRIME in my books! It's insane that they just "dropped it!"
Romaniablack
2024-07-18 12:58:19 +0000 UTCI didn't mean you in particular, I just meant in general Utena deserves much more love than it gets being seen as a companion piece to NGE, like you mention being close to being lost media at least as far as new watchers go is a crime. It's a classic in its own right and should be easily accessible to everyone who's interested.
Alex Kornejo
2024-07-13 18:37:26 +0000 UTCI don't think what I said shortchanges NGE or Utena - influence is a compliment! But I see what you mean. That sucks about the letter incident that happened to you! That's awful that you had to experience that with that letter - that is terrifying!! I can't say I ever got a love letter or wrote a love letter (probably subconsciously out of fear it'd be discovered), though I did kiss a boy on the cheek and run out of class in high school on Valentine's Day and then had to face the mortifying gossip the next day. Thankfully, he was okay with it all. I was an awkward kid in high school! But weren't we all? Thank you for sharing that story and for the comment! POOR Wakaba, indeed!
Romaniablack
2024-07-13 13:15:14 +0000 UTCAhhh, thank you for this information! I really appreciate it! It's neat to see other mangaka take inspiration for it as well! I appreciate the comment and information! I'm so excited to start this series!
Romaniablack
2024-07-13 13:06:53 +0000 UTCI'm SO excited for this series!! I'm so in for the ride and glad y'all are digging the commentary so far! And yes, it definitely has that 80s/90s vibe and I feel so nostalgic watching it! I would definitely be open to seeing the episode commentary's transcripts - as long as the stuff that spoils/hints at overall themes/plot points/character development is left out. Thank you for the comment and offering! :D
Romaniablack
2024-07-12 22:41:12 +0000 UTCHahahaha, I am SOOOO excited and OH WOW YES, this IS the OG Pink and Purple duo! So happy about that - thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2024-07-11 14:31:25 +0000 UTCI am so excited to be diving into this series! Thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2024-07-11 14:30:58 +0000 UTCI have honestly been waiting for this as well since NGE - I'm so excited to sit down and break down my thoughts and theories about it! Thank you for the comment and kind words!
Romaniablack
2024-07-11 14:27:50 +0000 UTCThank you so much! I'm SO excited for this series and to watch it with you all!
Romaniablack
2024-07-11 13:48:27 +0000 UTCAhhh, I am SO excited and I can already see why you all enjoy it! Thank you for the comment! :D
Romaniablack
2024-07-11 13:04:16 +0000 UTCUtena has been one of my all time favorites since I watched it for the first time in high school and I'm excited to rewatch it again with you! It's a show with a lot of room for discussion and I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to say about it each week. I hope you grow to enjoy it as much as I do! Some context that might be interesting to know is that Utena's character takes inspiration from the Takarazuka Revue. This is never explained in the show and it's something the average Japanese viewer is likely familiar with, so I hope this background information is helpful or interesting in some way. The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese theater company consisting of 5 main troupes and known for having an all-female performing cast. Women play both male roles (Otokoyaku, lit. male role) and female roles (Musumeyaku, lit. young girl/daughter role). They often put on elaborate, Western-style musicals, performing both Takarazuka originals and preexisting shows like Elisabeth or Me and My Girl. Otokoyaku are generally more popular, and the leading otokoyaku in each troupe is officially referred to as the "Top Star." They play the lead in every major, Grand Theater performance the troupe puts on until they retire. Also, while having women play male roles does bring up the idea of gender roles and how gender is constructed, the Takarazuka is a very traditional and conservative institution, whose motto is "be pure, be proper, be beautiful," which I think is important to keep in mind when talking about it. I think the best way to get an idea of what it's like and how Utena may have taken inspiration is to see it, so here are some links: This is a promotional video for the Flower Troupe's 2019 production of "Casanova" with Asumi Rio as Top Star: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1SK7s-mdl0 This is footage from Asumi Rio's graduation/retirement, seeing off her fans one last time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X0mO2KDNkY Those are both modern because I like the Flower Troupe and it's easier to find, but if you're curious about 90s era Takarazuka, here's an edit to a chinese pop song of Amami Yuuki (Top Star of the Moon Troupe from 1993-1995) and Asano Kayo (Top Musumeyaku of the Moon Troupe from 1990-1995): https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Fw411f78P/ Many writers have taken inspiration from the Takarazuka, like Osamu Tezuka for Princess Knight, and Ikeda Riyoko for Rose of Versailles. They both draw from the model of the Otokoyaku, forming the archetype of the 'princely girl' which I think is also present in Utena. This is longer than I thought it would be and I'm unsure how much of it is relevant, but I hope you found some part of it interesting! (Extra: The modern series Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight and Kageki Shoujo! are also inspired by Takarazuka, though in quite a different way. Revue Starlight takes inspiration from Utena as well, so it might be worth checking out in the future if you enjoy this.)
Jasmine
2024-07-08 00:24:52 +0000 UTCI've watched utena 5 times, getting ready for rewatch number 6 lol. Utena holds a very special place in my heart.
Zachiel
2024-07-07 17:05:56 +0000 UTCI'm as big fan of Eva as anyone but I feel saying Utena is Sailor Moon meets Eva, short changes it a little bit, because it's Anno who's been simping and dropping hints of wanting to work with Ikuhara for like the last 30 years and not the other way around... Personal Love Letter Trauma Story: Back in middle school I got an anonymous love letter, it was a bit racier than your standard 'I like you and I want to go out with you' talking how they liked my legs and stuff so I thought it was a joke and threw it out of the window instead of the trash. BAD MOVE. someone in the school staff must have found it because a day or two later one of the nuns running the school came to the class room, asked me to stand up, and then proceeded to tell the class about the letter that I got and how inappropriate that was and how it could lead to teen pregnancy and stuff and that if I or anybody else knew who wrote it they should come forward so they could discuss the situation. That shit was traumatic, please don't make people's love letters public knowledge, and if anyone gets one and you're not gonna keep it, BURN IT, BURN IT TO HELL. In short, poor Wakaba.
Alex Kornejo
2024-07-07 16:24:06 +0000 UTCI'm so happy you've started this! You're already digging really deep into the analysis even with how little the first episode gives you to work with, just like I hoped! I can't wait to hear more of your theories. You're in for a wild ride Also, you're right about Utena feeling very 80s even though it's a 90s show! It took a LOT of influence from older shows (its almost a culmination of the shoujo genre as a whole up to that point). The stylistic similarities to Sailor Moon you noticed in the character designs also isn't a coincidence- most of the Be-Papas team worked together on Sailor Moon! One thing I'd like to ask: Ikuhara has director commentaries for every episode. Most of them are contained to just the single episodes and while some are pretty straight forward, most are just as surreal as the show itself. With the exception of the few that reference the show's overarching vision or other episodes, are these something you'd be interested in seeing commented?
XanEcho
2024-07-07 14:26:48 +0000 UTCI read a reply to a comment saying how you didn’t think there would be any magical girl series that would compare to Madoka… mhmm let’s see about that while we get into the og pink and purple duo
♆
2024-07-07 14:05:20 +0000 UTCOh wow, I voted for this, but so so glad it won. This'll be a ride!
Generation Wumbo
2024-07-07 13:12:08 +0000 UTCI've been waiting for this so long. This is one of my favorite animes. The amount of metaphors it has is beautiful. I've seen so many people make their theories and interpretations. I can't wait to see yours ❤️❤️❤️
Sorem_x
2024-07-07 13:05:57 +0000 UTCYAYYY I've been so excited for this one!!!!!
Francesca White
2024-07-07 13:01:48 +0000 UTC
