The Kawaii Menace

Comment by Fellini 8.5

November 10, 2007 @ 11:46 pm

As far as Utena goes, you’re about right where I was having watched that disc. It’s a farked up show for sure. Every now and then some redeeming quality will leak through. Then there’s this loooong arc in the middle where it seems extremely pointless and I wouldn’t have continued past it without encouragement. The final arc has some surprising qualities, though to this day I’m not sure if it’s because the rest of it wore me down so much that I lowered my expectations otherwise. I loved and hated the ending. Simultaneously. I wasn’t sober, but really, how could you be with this show?

A better bout of surreality would be the movie. It doesn’t really “spoil” anything, and it’s really quite a visual treat. And kind of hawt. *ahem*

Comment by Kacie Landrum

December 2, 2007 @ 5:32 am

Yeah, Utena’s like a bad drug trip, but I love it. I’ve seen in through three time, and by the end of the final time through I was beginning to understand it… or maybe that was the point of permanent brain damage.

You’re in the first story arc, where they introduce most of the major characters. The plot begins developing with the Black Rose arc in episode 14. This arc mainly involves the minor characters and for that reason may seem unconnected with the main plot, but I think it’s interesting to look at the central character Mikage as a kind of ‘failed prince,’ and his story a mirror of Utena’s.

And then there’s the final Apocalypse arc, where the plot thickens dramatically! And finally all answers are revealed!

Sort of.

Once you watch through the series a couple more times.

One thing I can say, I will never look at roses the same way again. Or red sports cars. ::shudders::

I’d second the movie recommendation. It makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER and for some reason they totally screwed up all the characters, but the animation’s gorgeous, and the music’s beautiful. Definitely worth watching just to gaze at the pretty colors.