The manga, Revolutionary Girl Utena (1996-1998) is a perfect work, focused on individual autonomy and the rejection of traditional gender roles. Its adaptation, Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997), is also a gem, but it diverges from the manga in some points; it leaves an implicit hope for a collective change in that universe. The animated film, Utena's Adolescence (1999), completely deviates from the plot of the previous works – the manga and the anime are mandatory, but the film is optional.
What I like about Utena is that she is not "different from other girls" in the sense that she is a guy in the body of a hot woman who thinks that everything that is "girl stuff" is futile. No, she is "different from other girls" in the sense that she does not respect the gender roles imposed on her. And also in the fact that she tries to be a friend and protect the other girls.
Many queer people – especially those who were children and teenagers when it was released – like this work, I personally like the scene where Utena wears the female uniform, and it's as if she has lost her will to live. Some people find her prettier like this, but those who liked her notice that there is something wrong. I think that as a transgender person who was assigned female at birth, this has a stronger meaning for me.
The author of this manga is Chiho Saito, she is part of a collective called Be-Papas – By the way, research the works in which these names are involved. It's incredible how many have participated in more than one iconic work of the Shoujo genre.
#Shoujo #Utena #RevolutionaryGirlUtena #Manga #Anime #ChihoSaito #BePapas
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