Utena
Utena, commonly known as Revolutionary Girl Utena, is a Japanese anime and manga franchise created by Kunihiko Ikuhara and Chiho Saito. The story follows Utena Tenjou, a high school student who aspires to be a prince after defending a friend at Ohtori Academy. She becomes entangled with the school's Student Council, whose members stage duels among students to win the right to interact with the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya, a quiet classmate bound by a secret contract. The duels are stylized sword battles set in a surreal arena, and their outcomes reveal issues of power, gender roles, and personal agency. The series explores identity, autonomy, and rebellion against oppressive structures, often in symbolic, fairy-tale-inspired imagery.
The franchise comprises a 39-episode anime television series produced by J.C.Staff and aired from 1997 to 1998,
Reception and influence: Revolutionary Girl Utena has been widely noted for its ambitious symbolism, its deconstruction