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, directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara. It was followed by The Adolescence of Utena, a 1999 feature film directed by Ikuhara, which provides an alternate, more abstract development of the story. A manga adaptation by Chiho Saito, published by Shogakukan, presents a parallel interpretation with its own pacing and conclusions.

Reception and influence: Revolutionary Girl Utena has been widely noted for its ambitious symbolism, its deconstruction of shōjo tropes, and its exploration of gender and sexuality. It is regarded as a landmark work within anime and has influenced subsequent creators and discussions of feminist and LGBTQ themes in the medium.