Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie - The Real Moulin Rouge of Anime

As stated in my previous post, Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis was touted as "the Moulin Rouge of anime." What that really means is that it was a movie that took a favorite genre and mixed in all the best elements to make a new whole. What I find wrong about that statement is that calling the film "the Moulin Rouge of anime" is doing a disservice to animation in general.

Animation, specifically the anime style, is not a genre, it's a medium than can tell any number of stories. Anime is not just giant robots and girls with guns. It's limitless.
With that in mind, Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie is more a "Moulin Rouge of anime" than Metropolis. Rooted in the genre of Shojo Anime (anime written with a female perspective), Utena uses anime devices to explore the psyche of all these characters presented in the film, namely our main heroine Utena.
Utena has arrived at Ohtori Academy - a school that seems to be alive like the stairs in the Harry Potter movies- leaving a forgotten past behind. She is swept up accidentally into protecting Anthy, The Rose Bride. What follows is a visually stunning movie that tells it's story through symbolism, Freudian Dialogue and anime storytelling devices.

The music in the movie is very beautiful, led mostly by a piano and a symphonic orchestra. The movie does include two pop songs in two important moments. The effect is powerful.
Utena is not a movie you just watch, but it's a movie you watch and watch and watch as each layer is peeled to reveal an answer, or even more layers. It's also a movie that's full of personal interpretation. The film invites you in to leave the film with your own answers as to what just happened on screen. Don't let all the pink in the movie fool you, this movie deals with some serious themes.


You'll notice I didn't really delve into the plot. Yeah, I did that on purpose. If my review has peaked your curiosity a little, then I advise you check this movie out, and let it engulf you. The movie is like a little seed. Once you view, it will blossom into a beautiful big rose. Or just watch the series it's based off of. :-)

Images were taken from Empty Movement:Your Daily Dose of Shojo Kakumei Utena