| Title | : | Revolutionary Girl Utena Complete Deluxe Box Set |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1421585871 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781421585871 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 1131 |
| Publication | : | First published March 1, 2017 |
The classic manga returns in a deluxe box set! Hardcover editions of Revolutionary Girl Utena and The Adolescence of Utena are included in this two-volume collectors’ set with exclusive color pages and poster.
Utena strives to be strong and noble like the childhood prince she yearns to meet again. But when she finds herself seduced into the twisted duels of Ohtori Academy, can she become the prince she’s been waiting for?
Revolutionary Girl Utena Complete Deluxe Box Set Reviews
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So much more than beautiful art. This story is actually incredibly hard hitting and tackles issues such as abuse, trauma, sexism, and lgbtq issues. Intriguing lore, interesting and complex characters, and stunning, whimsical art. One of my favorite manga, it redefines the shojo genre.
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Hey Book Peeps
I feel like the people that are going to pick up this set are those who are familiar with the anime and want to relive the nostalgia of the series in manga form. Which is not a bad reason given that this box set is incredible and exquisite to hold and look at.
The story however was very much like the first time I watched Utena, a bit confusing. I especially think this is the case when dealing with the Adolescence of Utena in the second volume. I never understood it very much before and it is still a bit hazy now but I made it through and I was semi satisfied.
The one thing I felt was not really expressed in the manga was Anthy and Utena’s love for each other especially in the first volume. I remember that in the anime it seemed very apparent that Anthy and Utena had feelings for each other but in this first volume I could not tell really at all. By the second volume you can see a bit more develop in their relationship but it still isn’t much. By the time of get to The Adolescence Of Utena the relationship seems so extreme that it feels a bit off in a scary way which is exactly how I remember feeling watching the OAV.
In the end I still had a good time going through the manga and it would be a set I would look at purchasing for my shelves. If this set has done nothing else for me , it has reawakened my need to re watch the entire anime all over again. If you are thinking of venturing into this series at all I would start with the anime and then read this box set. I feel like the anime series brings information together a bit better than this set and so you are able to follow along easier. Once you’ve watched it then definitely read this to get a different feel of the story and its characters.
I hope you love either version though as it is ,overall, a well done story about love, strength and sacrifice and how those three things can help you revolutionize the world!!
Happy Reading
Jo -
As someone familiar with the Revolutionary Girl Utena anime, I was fascinated by the differences between it and the manga. Since Chiho Saito and Kunihiko Ikuhara are both members of the Be-Papas collective, they were able to take the same story in different directions within their media of choice.
An encounter with a mysterious prince as a young girl inspires Utena Tenjou to want to grow up to be a prince as well. She wears a boy's uniform at school, excels at sports, and generally acts the tomboy. But mysteries abound at her school, Ohtori Academy. Seeing one of the student council members striking a girl, Utena intervenes. Apparently the council hold regular duels, with the girl, Anthy Himemaya, as a prize. Utena quite rightly believes Anthy should belong to herself, and gets caught up in the duels, which seem to have metaphysical connotations, with the power to revolutionize the world as the ultimate prize. And then things get weird …
As with the anime, RGU works best on surreal and symbolic levels. It doesn't always make logical sense, but you feel in your heart--at least I did, anyway--the truth and rightness of it. There are definitely yuri overtones, particularly on the poster that was included in this lovely boxed set.
Unlike the anime, at least no one turns into a car here …
The main storyline comprises most of volume one, plus about the first third of volume two. The rest is side stories, elements of which will be familiar to fans of the anime, plus "The Adolescence of Utena," which is sort of a darker re-imagining of the original story. Again, while some parts of "Adolescence" will be familiar to fans of the movie, it's fairly different in the manga.
As I said, the boxed two volume set is lovely. Definitely worth buying over any Kindle version. The packaging will delight anyone who revels in physical media. I think that, ultimately, I like the anime better. But this is definitely some prime manga. Highly recommended! -
Increíble ❤️
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I read this on and off for a while but never updated my status on GR. I think a lot of the story and stuff went over my head, so I didn’t really enjoy this a ton. I’ve heard that this inspired Sailor Moon some so I wanted to give it a shot, but I think Sailor Moon is better, at least for me. I also have Rose of Versailles, which I originally thought was the English manga’s name for Utena (god was I confused), and from what I read that was partially inspiration for this series so I’ll try reading that soon and see what I think. I hope that all made sense lol
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Utena don't turn into a car/10
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mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo mokushi kushimo shimoku kumoshi moshiku shikumo
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3.5
I'm still not sure on how to process what I think about this one so I'll be back eventually with a review maybe. -
It took me a while to warm up to the entire 'Revolutionary Girl Utena' manga. Much like I did with the anime.
I started watching RVU as a teenager, which really wasn't the right age stage to see much less understand such a complex and symbolic series in order to "get it". It wasn't until years later - as an adult whose worldviews have changed significantly, and who has reached a realization about and a respect for the line between childhood illusions and reality - that I finally rewatched and finished the anime properly, so I could fully appreciate it for the work of art that it is. Now 'Revolutionary Girl Utena' is one of my favourite anime of all time. To this day, twenty years after it first aired, there has been nothing else like it. An early, refined shoujo and Magical Girl anomaly (it barely fits into those genres, it is that unique), it cannot and should not be compared to anything else. It is a feat in visual and structural storytelling, fairy tale deconstruction, and feminist narratives. Weird, harrowing, uncomfortable, but necessary; full of heart and genius for an allegorical coming-of-age story. What does it mean to be revolutionary? Indeed, there are fine bursts of ways RVU is revolutionary. I could go on and on about its countless themes, symbols and metaphors throughout its 39-episode run (seriously, each is like a painting; not a single dud (bad bud?) among them, they blossom fully in potential), but that's for another time and place.
After that unplanned long praise, here is a review of the manga series.
It is a condensed adaptation of the anime, by the original creators, Be-Papas, and Chiho Saitō, with mixed results. The characters are fine and easy to connect to, especially Utena Tenjou, who is a badass youth, and the story takes a slightly different yet interesting approach to the fairy tale and growing-up themes from the anime. Uena asks a lot of questions and is much more suspicious of the Ohtori Academy student council and its duels and the Rose Bride/Dios/World's End cult than in the anime, by and large making her a stronger, more relatable main character. The whole box set makes for an entertaining read.
But on the other hand, it is much less subtle than the anime, which respects its audience's intelligence enough not to overtly reveal too much too soon, and it almost never uses dialogue for exposition dumps. The manga does explain more about the plot and characters, notably towards the end, which can hinder it a bit.
There are major character changes: Miki is in love with Utena here, not Anthy, thus depriving Utena of a good male friend who isn't a love interest; Touga is given way too much sympathy and panel time with Utena, in my opinion; but worst of all, in the absence of Shiori, Juri is made to be in love with Touga, and another male character. Yeah, she's heterosexual now. And she is easily manipulated by both men. This is the only change which seriously angered me, and it is not the only "straight-washed" aspect of the manga, which I'll refer to in a bit. Another disappointment is that Nanami literally only appears in a photograph in one panel. Out of the entire manga collection. She ends up being utterly pointless. Poor girl, she can never catch a break, can she?
Utena, Anthy and Akio are treated well, at least - the closest to staying true to their characters. There is less of an indication of a romance between Utena and Anthy, however - it's barely even subtext in the manga - and their relationship doesn't pick up in development until the last few volumes, in time for when its needed resolution reaches the climax; the story's epic peak. By all accounts the girls are just friends. What a slap in the face to the anime and its director's intentions.
The manga also has questionable moments for its "feminism" and subverting traditional and dangerously limited gender roles, which the anime manages beautifully, especially for its time. In some parts the manga seems smart, nonconforming and self-aware, but there are others that left me with one eyebrow raised (a figure of speech, since I sadly can't actually do this proper). One example is Utena forgiving the boys in the Ohtori student council too easily for abhorrent acts, such as kissing her when she's asleep (Miki), and never leaving her alone no matter how many times she tells him to bugger off (Touga). She's a great swordswoman, a lovely friend, and possesses a caring heart - embracing her feminine as well as her masculine personality traits - but she still falters sometimes as a heroine who rejects fairy tale conventions and roles for females; being too much obsessed with finding her "prince" (whom she calls "Mr Licky-Lick". Ew), who saved her life as a tragic, recently-orphaned child. This takes precedence over spending time with her "princess", Anthy.
The artwork is wonderful and fits the anime series magnificently. I will leave off by mentioning that the side story of one of the volumes, where Anthy's monkey Chu-Chu accidentally causes Utena and Anthy to switch bodies, is one of the funniest things I've ever read in any manga. 'The Adolescence of Utena', based on the anime movie, is also included in this box set. It is... okay. In a number of ways it is better than the film, in fact, except there is no overt lesbianism (can Touga just go away, already?). Plus I can't decide whether I'm relieved or disappointed that Utena doesn't turn into a car at the end...
So the 'Revolutionary Girl Utena Complete Deluxe Box Set' is a decent if disadvantageously-truncated retelling for any RGU fan to check out and own. If this review reads as being vague and confusing, well, the anime can be like that too, though I am nowhere near as smart. I'm rambling, really. What a muddle.
I'll end it all with: Consider this revolutionary product reviewed. And recommended. In order for other, various interesting conclusions to be reached, like the stars.
Final Score: 3.5/5 -
The first half of this series was pretty good. The last part... not so much. I felt like I was reading bad fan fiction.
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This new edition is absolutely fucking gorgeous. I've become an Utena fan all over again ;w;
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CW for rape in The Adolescence of Utena in Volume 2 of this box set.
Vol 1 review: I didn't really care for this part of the story, tbh. I confused by everything and that obviously kills most of the enjoyment. It was alright, not much else to say.
Vol 2 review: I did like this volume better than the first, probably because I was more used to the story and all the weirdness of everything (taking a break between volumes was probably also helpful). And even though this is a pretty short series, Utena "falling in love" with Akio happened very quickly and really I just wanted her to kiss Anthy at that point.
I really enjoyed how, after Utena .
Adolescence gave me whiplash it went by so fast, which is understandable since its an adaptation of a movie that went through the whole (adapted) plot of the manga. And honestly I didn't like Anthy in Adolescence since she was basically a different character, though I did like that she and Utena . -
this is possibly the weirdest manga I've ever read, like a surrealist, Exquisite-Corpse mash-up of (barely) a boarding school Bildungsroman and fairy tales. I don't remember ever lowering a book in order to just exclaim wtf! What is happening?! so many times ever. So, obvs it's amazing. Sexuality and gender: so weird. Narrative: so weird. There are four bonus pieces, two side stories and a 2-part apparent remix of the original story, as if someone was given a one line description of the Utena story and a list of characters and then just retold the story with everything else different. !!!??? I love this, but I can't believe it was popular. Proof that masses can adore the avant-garde.
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The boxset is gorgeous: 2 hard cover volumes, with full color illustrations. Trully, this manga couldn't be published in a better edition.
But maybe because I grow up with the anime, the manga felt somehow a little disappointing.
I wanted to understand the anime reading the original manga, but I find out that the story doesn't go the same way (even the characters felt different, but I can't tell that for sure since it's been years since the last episode I saw).
The story is good nevertheless, although I think I liked more the anime. -
General Thoughts: (Sans spoilers!)
First and foremost? To anyone new to Utena looking for a "yuri" or lesbian love story - this is NOT that. People often market Utena like that (which I partially disagree with as it is often overplayed to potential readers/watchers), but I will warn you that the manga is especially sparse (in comparison to the anime) on the genuine portrayals of LGBT+ characters, actually managing to remove a few prevalent ones that I enjoyed in the anime.
With that out of the way...
As someone who has watched the anime and movie several times, I went into the manga with mixed expectations. I was aware there were several changes to the plot (in comparison to the anime/movie) and that the story was more of Chiho Saito's brainchild than Kunihiko Ikuhara's piece. That said, as an Utena enjoyer, I wanted to read the manga anyways to get more of a contextualization of the series.
Overall? I enjoyed it, though not nearly as much as I enjoyed the other Utena media.
I would definitely recommend watching the anime and movie first before reading the manga, as even with that context, this story feels a bit confusing... but not for the same reasons as the anime. While it's true there are surrealistic moments here and there, the manga's story feels difficult to grasp onto due to pacing. It moves fairly quickly, unlike the anime, and unfortunately, that makes the story's plot have a lot less of a pay off in the end. Personally, I also found this ending to be a bit odd/not as impactful as the anime/movie endings.
Also, for the anime fans - several characters are changed drastically, with some minor characters/side characters with plot relevance never appearing at all. If you want a 1 to 1 story, this manga is not going to satisfy your desires. But, if you're open to simply reading this story and having a bit more context/a different take on the anime's story, this might be a good one to try out. Due to this product's high price tag (I struggled a LOT to find it for it's market price) I would say it's best to simply read the normal manga volumes if you are more of a casual fan who isn't looking for a display piece.
As far as the books/box go, I LOVED the designs. The colored artwork in the books was a treat, and I adore the box design. I personally had little issue fitting the books inside (it's snug, which I like), and my only real gripe is I'm not the biggest fan of the poster included, as I would rather not put (censored by hair/limbs thankfully!) nude figures of high schoolers on my walls... but hey, that's just me.
Characters and Plot: (SPOILERS BELOW - read at your own risk!)
Now, moving into spoiler territory because darn do I have a lot to say about the characters in this manga! More specifically, how the manga butchered a lot of the characters into blander, more one dimensional elements of the plot.
Utena Tenjou: She's a mixed bag for me here. I do quite enjoy her dedication to being a prince, and I really enjoyed seeing a bit more of an origin story for her (how she was living with her aunt and transferred to Ohtori due to the letters she was sent from "her prince"). I was surprisingly interested in her internal monologue, and I even felt that at certain times, the manga did a lot better with that than in the anime. Where she, as a character, was at her worst in the manga I felt was when interacting with the other student council members and Akio. Her relationship with Touga at times and Akio (literally all the time) was extremely uncomfortable, and I was not a huge fan of how these relationships were displayed. That said, I loved some of the Anthy and Wakaba interactions, and found myself awwing at certain panels.
Anthy Himemiya: Anthy is... there. She's around and she does rose bride things. Yay? Now, I loved Anthy to bits in the anime. Took me a couple of watch throughs, but the subtly of her character? Mwah, perfect! In the manga? She loses that. What is most disturbing is how the "casual" relationship between her and her brother is not criticized or scrutinized. It's very off-putting to see the lack of thought put into how messed up her relationship with him is (which is... not her fault, by the way - her brother is a sick, sick guy). There's a couple cute moments she has with Utena, sure, but overall, I don't really care for the blandness of her character in this adaptation.
Juri Arisugawa: Look. Look how they massacred my girl! Honestly? I felt like I wasn't reading things right when Juri showed up pining for men and insulting Utena just for show. It felt like an alternate reality. To put it simply: I hated her character in this adaptation. In the anime? I loved her. She was such an interesting, thought out character who was clearly struggling with a lot of internal issues and external pressure from an abusive friendship. The manga manages to throw all of that away in favor of a heterosexual relationship that is bland, boring, and has zero payoff or reason for existing. I think I'd have preferred not seeing her at all than to see such an uncomfortable, uninteresting rendition of Juri.
Touga Kiryuu: Man, I did NOT expect Touga to be so different here. Unlike the anime, he genuinely seems to care for Utena at times, and I found him following her after she won against him to be moderately amusing. He is a much more redeemable character here and I'm a bit torn on how to feel about him. Ultimately, I do prefer the anime adaptation of him though because I feel like he works best not as a love interest, but as more of an antagonistic character. I can see why people might like this interpretation better, though.
Kyouichi Saionji: Well, he was... there? He was mean to Anthy and that was about it. I was pretty disappointed by his lack of relevance and the fact he barely showed up at all. He was very amusing to me in the anime, and I feel he's much more one note in the manga. Not much else to say about him besides that.
Miki Kaoru: Yikes. Miki in the manga was very, very off-putting to me. I did not like his fixation on Utena, and I found him to be a distorted shadow of his anime self. The only thing I can give him is that he was drawn well and was... nice at times? Yeah.
Akio Ohtori: Woof. Another one of my least favorite character adaptations. He's given a more solid backstory, sure, but I do not like the idea of him being a god and Anthy a goddess. I found the anime backstory of princes and princesses far more relevant and engaging. Plus here, he's still a creep but is never called out on his crap. Which... is disturbing. He's a sick, twisted man and the way he's almost romanticized in some sections of the story is nauseating. Granted, he is a bad guy, but there's no real "hey this is messed up you're doing this weird crap with KIDS," only a "hey bro maybe don't use people like tools?" Overall I prefer the anime adaptation of him because it is FAR better at displaying how truly disgusting and heinous this man is.
Other character notes: Nanami come backkkkkk. I miss her so much, and was so sad to see her never show up! Wakaba was actually one of the few characters I enjoyed seeing, so my only gripe is I wanted to see her show up more. Kozue is awful, but again, like Akio - her actions and their destructive effects are better seen in the anime. Shiori, for as much as she's an awful person, should have been here to save Juri from her bland heterosexual pining that never really goes anywhere. Ruka here is meh, his relationship with Juri is also meh because it lacks any sort of depth. Chu-chu is... Chu-chu? He's cute, but also not incredibly relevant.
FINAL NOTES:
This manga was... okay. The overall plot diverges pretty early on from the anime, and I must say... I prefer the anime more. The art in the manga was nice, and I liked the backgrounds, but... eh. That alone can't make up for an inferior plot. Rushed, less thought out, and full of obligatory straight ships that don't really do anything useful, this manga is sort of a mess. That said, I did find it shockingly helpful for understanding the context of the Utena movie. Touga, for example, is much closer to his movie counterpart, and to a lesser extent, so are Anthy and Akio.
In the end, this is a book set I do not regret purchasing. It is flawed, yes, but the beauty of this set (design-wise and color-wise) is undeniable, and I did find interest in picking apart the different adaptations of the Utena characters. If you're as big of an Utena fan as I am, I'd definitely say give the manga a try! Though ... maybe check it out of a library if you're not sure you want to dish out big money for a read through. -
Revolutionary Girl Utena, in all of its forms, is very dear to me. The anime resonated with me when I was a kid. Getting older, I kept expecting to grow out of it, to find some fatal flaw in the story that would make me put it aside for good, but each time I revisited it - in high school, in college, now on the cusp of my 30s - it became, conversely, more and more meaningful.
The manga is a distilled version of the anime. It cuts away a lot of the fluff and subplots and repetition that bog down the TV series at times. The art is unbelievable, just stunning, and the hardcover boxset is the most eye-catching thing on my shelf. A huge part of RGU's appeal is its aesthetics, and the manga, especially in this form, is no exception. It is a treasure.
There are a few differences between the manga and the anime that are worth mentioning, in case these are important to a particular reader. I don't think anything qualifies as a spoiler, but if you want to delve into the story without expectations, skip the next paragraph.
Though Juri's personality is somewhat consistent between the two mediums, her motivations could not be more opposite. In the manga, she is shockingly, childishly petty and also firmly heterosexual; there is no Shiori, and her jealousy has a very difference source. Nanami is mentioned only once and does not appear in person. Miki, Juri, and Saionji don't get much screen time, so to speak, because the manga is focused on Utena's experience almost exclusively. We get more of her backstory and how she arrived at Ohtori. The entirety of the Black Rose saga is a brief side story at the end of the series with no accompanying duels. Touga is a surprisingly dynamic character, particularly in the "Adolescence of Utena" bonus story. The ending of the manga is a little different, but not by much.
Which leads me to one last thing.
The anime, I think, blends the original manga story with some aspects from the manga version of "Adolescence of Utena," the latter apparently being the source material for the anime's more adult content (consider that a warning, but if you've seen the anime, it is nothing you haven't already seen or know to expect). What makes Revolutionary Girl Utena such a fascinating series is how it takes so many different forms, but the core of the story is always the same. It reinforces those themes of absolute destiny and the pursuit of something eternal - different details, same outcomes. Looking back, it also makes the ending of the anime - Anthy, empowered, rejecting and ending her violent, cyclical hell - that much more special. -
Omg, it's been so long since I've read manga. Om nom nom, just like candy.
Shojo Kakumei Utena is the rare example of a work that was greatly improved by television adaptation. I'm not going to insult Utena by calling it "conventional." Its visuals, characters, and plot are stirringly original. But Kunihiko Ikuhara is a peerless genius, and he injected more depth, conflict, comedy, drama, and characterization into every adaptational choice. He gives the sense that underneath the world we see is a sickening darkness. It's grand and glorious, and I immediately started rematching the series. Zetai! Unmei! Mokushiroku!
Thank you, god, for letting me enjoy the shit out of melodramatic Japanese comics with strong lesbian undertones well into my twilight years. (I am 31, where is my caaaaane!) -
Book one - The revolution begins.
Starting off each book has a beautiful hardcover shaded in pink for volume 1 and purple for volume 2 with gold highlights along the left and right side of the of the book covers and highlighting the Rose Seal predominant within the story found on the back of each cover over a field of actual roses matching the color of the corresponding book. In addition to these books covering the Revolutionary Girl Utena manga and the Adolescence of Utena manga there are some other interesting things to note including the lovely full color images at the beginning of each volume, a solid slip cover to protect your volumes that shares coloration primarily with the 1st volume of the set, and a poster that I would not want to hang on my wall if any children were to visit showing a bare Anthy and Utena appropriately posed to avoid showing nipples or private parts over a light blue colored rose theme.
As part 1 of a 2 book set we see how the heroine of the story Utena Tenjo is thrust in a potentially world changing event (at least from what I can tell having only read the first book so far) while she seeks out her prince that has been keeping in touch with her through rose scented letters for years after he saved her at a young age. As Utena seeks out her prince she discovers an interesting group of students who eventually brings her to the truth behind the strange power of Dios that can help grant the power to revolutionize the world. Will her noble heart bloom like a rose or wilt away? Be sure to read the story that revolutionized the manga world. Then stay for the story extras at the end of the volume. :)
Book two - As World's End shows himself will Utena have the strength to resist his pull?
Volume 2 of the 2 book set finishes the original run of the Revolutionary Girl Utena manga as Utena is tempted by the love for her lost prince once more and is faced with a decision that will change her world and lead her to the castle floating in the sky. Destiny is a fickle mistress as lives are gambled and results are established as we discover Anthy and her brother have a little family secret that could affect the whole world. Trying not spoil the story story while explaining it is a challenge as the action and character interactions will keep you chasing after Utena as she reaches for the heavens.
Now after reading the manga series for the first time I have to be honest that when I heard about this story when I was younger I had imagined it being a bit of a yuri story between Utena and Anthy but it turned out to be a pretty nice tale where instead of being in love with each other the interactions between the two of them make each of them stronger in their own ways making the main series not super sexualized leaving space for romance, misunderstandings, and nobility that I did not expect.
Then we get to see an alternative narrative in the last two chapters of the book as we discover the Adolescence of Utena which is a similar tale but the characters within the first telling of the story take on new roles as a comforting love is lost, many of the main cast of characters are far less shy about being intimate (including Anthy who is no longer a timid doll of a girl), and less mysterious though still exciting ending as Utena and Anthy find a new destiny together. Honestly I am more then a little sure it is this series that established the view that the two of them were in love with one another (though it is possible it was some strange translation or other book I do not know of based on this series) and it is definitely the inspiration of that poster that comes with the set. And thus the revolution ends and I hope you enjoyed this classic tale as much if not more then I if you decide to read it too. :) -
I liked it. The story is surprisingly gram and dramatic, and you can see very clearly how this was an early shoujo/magical girl manga. Like, some of the aspects are barely there. It's easy to see how other works saw and expanded on the more fantastical elements. Ironcally, they are actually the weakest part of the story! Revolutionary Girl Utena was at it's best when the focus wasn't on the kind of weird, psychedelic, mostly nonsense plot about the whole 'power to revolutionize the world' thing.
It was poorly explained, and seemed wedged into the much more interesting human drama going on. The relationships between the characters, their feelings, and interactions were way more interesting. It's like it was going to be a story about a mysterious, kind of fucked up hierarchical boarding school but then terribly paced magical bs was sprinkled on. I really think this was supposed to be a murder mystery or something similar in it's first draft.
And really, the pacing is ATROCIOUS. It's bad but bearable in the first half, but the second half is appallingly rushed. New characters, deus ex machina, Utena falling in love with a menacing stranger all occur over what feels like about two days. It's ridiculous and disappointed me a lot. I'm interested in seeing if the anime adaption fixed this, because this is a rare case of needing filler or something. Seriously, she goes on one car ride with a guy and is to in love with him to stop him from attempted murder???
I focused on the negative, but the first half of the series is much better and I kind of liked the weirdness and the dark tone. I'm glad this exists because of what it lead to. -
Certainement une lecture intéressante, mais je ne peux pas dire que j'ai compris tout ce qui se passait tout le temps. Les symboliques autour de la rose sont certainement intéressants et bien explorés, la palette graphique est superbe, l'esthétique général du manga est vraiment unique et travaillé. Je dois avouer que c'est au niveau du scénario que j'ai commencé à me perdre bien que je comprenais les grandes lignes (et une bonne partie s'éclaire à la lecture).
Les personnages manipulateurs et séducteurs sont assez intéressants comme avertissement de technique de manipulation au lectorat de ce manga et le gender-bending de la protagoniste, bien qu'un peu de base, est quand même cool et rafraichissant à voir. La protagoniste étant une adolescente encore à la découverte du monde, elle tombe souvent dans des pièges qu'un public plus âgé pourrait reconnaître et être désespéré de voir, mais je pense que c'est vraiment adressé à un plus jeune lectorat qui peut apprendre de ces erreurs.
J'ai apprécié l'ajout de petites histoires autour de l'histoire principale (surtout dans le premier volume), je dois toutefois avouer ne pas avoir compris la réécriture complète de l'histoire dans la deuxième partie du volume. C'est une drôle de nouvelle (et longue!) réécriture de l'histoire d'Utena avec une fin alternative qui arrive quand même vite après un récit principal.
J'imagine que voir l'anime pourrait répondre à plusieurs de mes questions ou je vais peut-être jeter un coup d'oeil à des vidéos d'analyses sur YT pour comprendre un peu mieux comment tout ça s'enchaîne. -
For as long as I have been watching anime, I've had this intense infatuation with this series, there is a chance that my young 10 year-old-self felt very draw to Utena as a character. Someone strong and independent yet honourable and likable. Regardless, I finally caved and bought this boxset a few years ago when it was released. Seeing as the individual volumes were almost impossible to find nowadays, I was happy with my purchased and jumped right in to experience the "ground-breaking" shojo series.
First, let me preface this by saying that the boxset, as well as the hardcovers, are beautiful! Virtually perfect in every way. The pages are stitched remarkably well, the cover is matte with a glossy finish over key elements creating a beautiful attraction, not to mention the gorgeous golden trimming.
Although, It’s the substance that's lacking. It might have something to do with the fact I was a little young for the show when it first came out, but I don't remember it being nearly as confusing as it is. The characters, specifically any male characters are incredibly stale and boring. The plot might be interesting in a way, but the execution just doesn't do it for me.
That being said, the 90s shojo art is truly a remarkable spectacle. Wherever the story lacked, the artwork made up for it, Chiho Saito has a lovely and distinctive style that is enough to keep this series in my collection regardless of how little I care for the story. -
*sigh* this was so bad. In fact the only thing I liked were the last 2 pages. It got so bad I broke out in a song and serenaded to my partner. Yes, I also don't know why. It doesn't make sense but so didn't this story. I'm tempted to give this 1 star but I did liked the art.
Part of it is because of the translation? It felt sort of clunky. I have this feeling that in Japanese I still would be lost on the story but at least I would've enjoyed the rhythm of the language used more. (I'm guessing that of course. Maybe even in the original language I would feel the same)
Also the person who said this had lesbian undertones... No. You scammed me. I feel scammed. I thought it would be like Yuri on Ice or Demon Diary. Or even like Kikker en Pad or Bert and Ernie. You don't know for sure but it could read that way. The ending felt like a slap in my face. I actually said out loud "Oh fuck off".
I'm so mad. I won't get rid of it though.
A) because I'm a sucker for pretty books and it looks good on the shelf.
B) it will be a reminder to stick with my gut and even though someone else likes it, I should at least find out if it's something I also enjoy.
Oh I almost forgot, I've also read volume 2 for the Manga Olympics Reading Challenge. I’ve read this manga for the prompt: 9. Fencing: Read a fantasy manga -
What do you get when you join producers that worked in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon and Neon Genesis Evangelion back in the early 90's together? A revolutionary Mahou Shoujo (or Magical Girl), with a Lynchian surrealist touch.
Utena is the ultimate girl that defies every definition out there. A girl that vowed to become her own Prince and to ever follow the noblest sentiments of her heart.
Revolutionary back in late 90's, Utena is remarkably contemporary as it deals with themes such as gender roles, femininity vs. masculinity (if it actually needs to exist such dichotomy), what means to be human and the role of God (Do we really need one? Or each one of us has all the light and darkness within to become whole?).
Utena revealed itself a defiant reading, with multiple themes at display and a dream-like story, that gives plenty of metaphors and reflections to think about. I highly recommend it. -
I love Utena from the show but ... I think I love the manga a little more after reading it. The show has more time for these characters to grow and battle but the manga is more straightforward with the story in an equally as beautiful way and, oddly, with less of the plot points from the show, the characters come out even better in the manga. I think some are somewhat overlooked like Miki and Juri but all the men that I despised from the show, I came to enjoy their presence (slightly! cant give them all the credit here.) The story is truly so incredible from the obvious theme of women choosing to embrace who they are to embracing your faults as a means of achieving your goals and bettering yourself. The art is stunning, as per usual. And the relationships between characters is so well done!! One of my new favorite manga series.
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LOVE this box set, quality wise, it'd be hard to beat. The box set has a lovely design on it, the books inside are hardcover with glossy pages and a poster is included. I didn't get to read all of the manga when it was originally published, did get to watch the movie "Adolescence of Utena" back in the day (the manga adaption is included in the set!) but never got the chance to read the original story. So I was very excited when this collector's edition was released! The story for Utena is an English's major's dream, it works on a ton of different levels with a lot of different filters applied. I could write a freaking dissertation about this series, but oh goodness, I would get into so many spoilers. Very much enjoyed, highly recommend, it's a good story in a great package!
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I really wish good reads would count this as 2 books instead of 1. But anyway this is one of the most underrated lady Shonen/magical girl/Yuri mangas of the 90s era. You may have heard of Sailor Moon but let me tell you this is much better. If you want to talk Asian feminist (lgbtq) icons look no further. Utena and Anthy got you covered. My favorite parts in the manga are when you are learning about Anthy's powers. She is literally the most understated OP character ever because she is treated like a pawn for her power instead of a heroine. Which is crazy considering she saves Utena in the end. Her character development is honestly the best in the whole series. If you want faith in humanity again maybe read this series and go watch the anime. It's worth it.
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The stars are for the box set, because obviously I had already known and loved the story. It is the prettiest thing and the production quality is topnotch.
It is the first time that I read the manga even though I have watched the anime three times and the movie, one. It is not as bizarre as the anime? Surprisingly enough (in my experience, it's the other way around). The anime has more space to develop the ideas and a wider character cast but the manga adds some background information that I really appreciated (a plausible reason why Utena is in the academy and can actually afford it, for example). The ending is easier to understand in the manga, which is something.
