Utena Tenjou is a new student at the Ohtori Academy, where everyone seems in
awe of certain sword-wielding students called duelists.
Surprised to see her ex-boyfriend Touga in campus, Utena receives a signet
ring from a rose similar to the one he is wearing. Utena then meets a strange
girl named Anthy Himemiya tending to the rose garden.
But Anthy Himemiya is also the Rose Bride, and her current prince Saionji is
offended by Utena's presence. After seeing the signet ring in Utena's hand,
Saionji accepts Utena sa a fellow duelist and challenges her to a duel.
Utena is confused. She only accepts the challenge after witnessing Saionji's
rough manner with Anthy. Utena starts to fight, not knowing why... but this
will mark the beginning of Utena's search for answers, and ultimately, Utena's
search for herself.
Review: Revolutionary Girl Utena Adolescence Apocalypse
As in the Revolutionary Girl Utena TV series, for one to be able to appreciate this movie, one must
take things in the Utena universe's context. Everything that happens is
dictated by their own set of realities, which is to say the least, different
from what we're used to.
I can't really say that this is a sequel to the TV series. The cast is made up
of the same familiar faces, but they are new people at the same time. Anthy is
no longer the overly silent and docile girl that she was on TV; she has
somehow grown a spine for this movie. The new Anthy is more assertive, and is
even a bit naughty and flirtatious... she also looks a lot better.
The movie Utena is not as self-assured as the TV Utena -- she is more
withdrawn, and it seems that her originally more impulsive nature has been
traded in for a more cautious attitude.
Revolutionary Girl Utena: Adolescence Apocalypse's plot is difficult to explain without giving away spoilers. I can't
elaborate further than what I summarized above without revealing any of the
surprise twists.
What I can tell you is, this movie is loaded with various symbolisms. It gets
as wild as Utena herself transforming into a car. While some fans were miffed
by this outrageous development, it didn't really bother me because I actually
got the message it was trying to convey.
The art and animation are no less than magnificent. Everything and everyone
are drawn and portrayed beautifully. The movements are incredibly fluid --
from the characters' wind-blown hair to their graceful sword swings.
The music shares the TV series' strange but fitting style. I must admit that
there were a few unclear parts for me, but overall, I find this movie an
exceptional piece of work.
You need not have watched the TV series but having a bit of Utena background
would make things easier to understand. Truly a work of art and a must-see for
Utena anime fans... but I wouldn't use it as an introductory piece for the
uninitiated.
Miscellanies: Revolutionary Girl Utena Adolescence Apocalypse
Only 10,000 copies of the limited edition Revolutionary Girl Utena: Adolescence Apocalypse DVD were released.
Revolutionary Girl Utena: Adolescence Apocalypse (Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku) | |
| Genre | Avant Garde, Drama, Fantasy, Girls Love, Romance |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 1 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Aug 14, 1999 |
| Producers | Audio Tanaka |
| Studio | J.C.Staff |
| Rating | R+ |
| Themes | Mahou Shoujo |
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