Revolutionary Girl Utena Ep.38 - (SPOILER) Utena versus Akio 

But in the end Utena is like "Guess I couldn't be a prince after all" so she was still trying to play prince while rescuing Himemiya...

I always thought it was because Himemiya feared change, Utena always wanted to be a prince in so far as saving the princess but she never wanted to marry Himemiya and live happily ever after in a castle. She just wanted to free her from this sick fantasy world/life where Himemiya would have more control over her own life.

The perfect climax to the story. After watching the last episode, though, I assumed that Anthy was planning to betray Utena from the very beginning--even if she felt conflicted about it later in the series. She was probably never loyal to Utena and never expected her to be a "prince." Her loyalties were always with her brother, and Utena just refused to see what was going on. This is why there really couldn't have been a more satisfying climax to the series than this one. Anthy slowly reveals herself to Utena throughout the series, but Utena refuses to see both her pain and the manipulative things that she does. Finally, in one grand gesture, Anthy reveals herself fully by stabbing Utena. This also explains why Anthy tries to kill herself a few episodes back. Towards the end of the last arc, she's developed affection--maybe even love--for Utena, but she knows that she must betray her eventually, so she tries to kill herself to spare Utena.

I think that Anthy backstabbed utena because she didn't really believe that a woman could be strong enough to beat akio, he taught her to be as misogynist as he was, so she didn't really believe that utena could save her.

i always thought that this moment, like many in the series, was internalized homophobia. if utena wins it would change everything, and even if you might be happy its terrifying and some primal part of you fears it because youve been taught to fear it your entire life. she stabbed utena because she loves her so much and that terrifies her, but if utena loses, all the abuse she’s suffered is justified, shes inferior and deserves all the swords in her back, and she can just sleep forever in her cozy coffin. thats why its important that anthy reaches back in the end, her finally setting aside her fear and accepting her love for utena, and for herself

not to mention, the fear of the abuse continuing - but with a different person.

Basically Stockholm syndrome

Because RGU is on a different level of storytelling, which you won't see a lot or never in modern anime again. But to summarize it, from what I heard, this anime is hailed as one of the best in Japan, and probably a lot of curious people come to watch and love it.

I'm in the middle of showing it to my millennial roommates.

It’s because, just like Neon Genesis Evangelion, it was revolutionary (pun intended) the themes and ways it’s showed it was WAY ahead of its time, and even had LGBTQ+ representation in 1997.

It is found by new audiences and should be seen and discussed and praised.

Nvm I disagree with this take now lmao

@@trol_8889 good.

@@solarydays Makes sense

Thats funny. I think she did it to save Utena and because she couldnt stand the thought of Utena becoming as corrupt as Akio. "I cant do it, not again" etc etc

I think that a part of anthy still loved Akio despite everything. As a victim of abuse, she was completely brainwashed.

She did it because it was part of her plan to acquire Utena, after completely destroying earth, in order to use her power to then leave Earth as a celestial being to go abuse others on other star systems.

So what did he wanted, then?

@@aidacailar1126 Retaining the power that he has even as the former prince

He wanted Dios power. He wanted to use Anthy and everyone else to get it. The thing is, Dios only had power because of Anthy. And he never took her into consideration. He didn't knew Anthy was there.

@@SirEriol I think the reason Anthy was there it was because it was what Utena desired, her freedom. if Akio had opened it, he would have found power, ironically he would need a pure heart to open the door which is the reason he lost his powers in the first place.

@@Cloverfr Kiiiiiind of? Anthy _is_ the one who takes away his powers of Dios and locks them up to save his brother, but the people of the world saw this little girls as a witch and punished her with the Swords of Hatred. That's why she calls Akio's first meeting with Utena as his last act of selflessness and the first one of cruelty: he is worried about Anthy, but doesn't think he has anything to do with it. "She kinda deserves it", he thinks, "but she's still my sister". "I wish I could save her", he thinks, "but I can't because of her own actions". He makes sure somebody cares about her, being a good action, but he washes his hands and won't help Anthy himself, being an egoist act. Anthy takes away his power because she _does_ care. A Prince can only exist if he has no option and Princesses have no will. Dios has no power of his own, a Prince just takes power from others and ignores his own imprisonment. That's why Utena failing to become Anthy's prince is what revolutionizes the world: no one should aspire to be a Prince, nor to have one. Being selfless and thinking of yourself as such are entirely different actions. So, Anthy's impotence is Dios power. Akio has no regard for her kinda-her-own-curse sister, so he never considers Anthy's worth. That's his coffin: an adult seeing the world with the lies he was told as a child, instead of breaking the world's shell and embracing his own view. Utena wants Anthy, and more important, wants to help Anthy. So she uses her own hands after being stabbed and broken (her sword, which Akio broke without a care), and that desperation to stop Anthy's suffering is what brings them together. Anthy is there. And when Anthy is confounded at Utena's total disregard for her wounds and Anthys downright cruelty, Utena just reaches out. She offers her hand, and doing so is enough for making Anthy want to hold it. They do so, and therefore, even if it seems tragic, the arena collapses, a world destroyed. Utena knew about the Swords, That's the reason she becomes an adult: she acknowledges that adults are no better just for being older, and still makes an effort against their cynicism. And while she can no longer be in the garden where nobody dies, the freaking graveyard rosebush of Ohtori, now the studends start talking about leaving, and with each a foreshadowing of their own revolution. But Anthy now leaves. She held her hand, after all. Now it's her turn to go after her, and embrace each other in a world that has every card against them. Still, a hand is far more stronger than a sword, and capable of much more things. Akio plays around in his coffin, but if anyone is determined enough to do so, they too can break free and, someday, shine together.

It makes Utena's act of pure love and acceptance in the next all the more poignant.

Así es

なるほ。。。

utena was aired on a kids channel, at first! so maybe thats why

Utena and ohtori all play parts in a theater ish form of story telling. That is why we dont get to see real blood. The message is subtle

Even Akira Kurosawa does not bleed. If the screen is full of blood and red, it's not beautiful, so I always shoot that way in Japan.

それで本当に「刺した」んだと印象付けられましたね。 今までは胸につけた薔薇を散らすだけで良かった。

Fafnir perfect kars

Ultimate Kars?

Unlimited Car works

cars in this anime is a metaphor for sex btw

Yo. * levanta la mano * Aunque después de ver esto leí el manga y el final es MUCHO MEJOR en mi opinión... esto no pasa. Me hubiera gustado que animen el final del manga también...

Hay dos teorías de porque lo hizo: (En ambas es un hecho que Anthy se da cuenta que Utena ganaría el duelo) 1.- Ella no conocía otra manera que de vivir, es común en las víctimas de abuso tener miedo a romper el ciclo, pues no conocen otra vida más que la que su abusador les dibuja, Anthy no conocía otro mundo y al ver que éste podía desmoronarse, ataca a Utena. 2.- Anthy se había dado cuenta que Utena se convertiría en un príncipe y estaba consciente de que esa tarea tan agotadora y sin sentido terminaría matándola como mató a su hermano, así que para protegerla le entierra la espada.

No voy a negar que ese momento me hizo odiarla, me dolió tanto la escena, pero luego momentos después uno entiende lo que está pasando.

@@antonioheji O puede que, por no ser hombre, tiene menos posibilidades de ser príncipe, algo contradictorio

@@Cloverfr Yo también la odié y me dejó helado cuando Utena escuchas la espada cruzar el cuerpo de Utena y las letras en rojo de "Continuará"

There is also probably some fear of the unknown so even if her relationship with Akio is toxic it's still better then the unknown.

this is late, but PLEASE do watch revolutionary girl utena. it's one of the best anime series ever made.

Weren’t they made at the same time as like different interpretations of the story?

The manga is not the source material tho, the manga and the anime are created simultaneously, but because the manga is faster to finish the manga release first and then a year after that I believe the anime release. Also creating an anime is hella expensive, so they need to double down the animation.

@@trol_8889 yepp you are correct.

+Dmithry Petrov There is a theory that Antiy is Utena that she has be abused to the point where she created an alter ego to fight to free herself from the exploitation of being the rose bride and her power and the sexual abuse she endures at the hands of her brother and other's in the movie Utena changes into a car which anthea and Utena use to shatter and break out of the academy. Anthy's power creates and mantain a dead system of rank and power which she is victim and Queen of Utena is shattered by her past and tying to fight her way out through theses battles. I think Anty and utena are not the same person but are two people who life and choices brought them together to create or destroy to free themselves and maybe other people equally trapped in the entropy of the false world of the academy.

+Karen Lacey My theory was that the show was always based around Anthy. Utena is a figment of her imagination; or a physical representation of confidence so she can grow as a human. Given the very end sequence of the TV series, it could also be that Utena does exist as a soulmate Anthy will meet in the future. Or rather, she is seeking someone like Utena and won't necessarily look like her.

I think Anthy and Utena are connected they bring the change together, but certain things were so cryptic it's never is answered clearly. But the connect between Utena and Anthy is clear when the real Anthy leaves to go find Utena in the "real world"

Gareth Adamson that kinda hurts 😢❤️💜

She turned me into a NEWT! BURN HER!

Agree about the part about Anthy. Not Akio though.

@@blushingsigh Thinking more deeply, I realized that the people who stabbed Anthy were wrong. If they were that concerned about their daughters, they could have gone to help them together instead of sending one man to save all of them. We all have to help one another. It wouldn't be a good thing for Utena to become like that either. Maybe that's what Anthy doesn't wants.

Are they the same voice actor?

@@lifehelpexpress9504 I don't know.

Lo hubiese ganado Utena y ¿después qué? Hubiese continuado ese sistema de príncpies y princesas que Akio inventó para imponer sus ideales sobre ellas dos. Utena al final no rescató a nadie, sino que ayudó a Anthy a darse cuenta de que no necesita un príncipe para ser liberada; logro que Anthy descubriera que por ella misa, tiene la voluntad para encontrar su empoderamiento y salir del ataúd de su hermano.

kiki yeah. Utena has gone from Ohtori, which is Akio's world and went to the Real World. Is there official illustrations where we can see Utena and Anthy (with pink clothes from ending series) together and happy, it means they got to be together in the real world. So, is a happy ending

Mia Everitt Akio: I'm not a Duelist. Unlike your previous duels, this is not a game. Utena: I've never once played at dueling! Akio: No. You only know the game. But if you do not put away your sword now, you will learn how terrifying true battle is. Utena: I won't lose to you! Akio: A child like you cannot understand my ideals. You fought for the rose bride without knowing why. (I think) Utena: What kind of ideals means you have to fool everyone in this room?! That's absurd! Akio: A child like you cannot grasp the value of this room. Utena: What IS the value of this room? It just continues Himemiya's suffering! Akio: She is the rose bride by her own will. There is no need for you to interfere. Anthy: I am the rose bride... from this day forward I am yours. Anthy: In truth I- Anthy: I'm sorry Utena-sama... I'm so sorry! Utena: I'm going to free Himemiya from you! Akio: Do you even know what you're saying? Utena: I do! I'll become a prince, right? Utena: Why.....? Himemiya....! Why....? *Gasps* (You're welcome.)

Era actuado. En los duelos anteriores nadie podía resultar herido de verdad.

Utena means Tower in Japanese

I think Akio could be influenced by Lucifer, the Morning Star. Anime tells us before, so I think it may not be influenced by Greek mythology.

@@kkerem26 Could be possible.