Adolescence of Utena Thoughts

Thoughts after rewatching the movie (I sadly didn't see it in theaters though)

In the movie the tops (shirts) of the student council are black or alot darker on the top instead of white, maybe it symbolizes the opposite of like the “purity” the white is supposed to show in the show. Especially since Akio is gone, so Diso is too and Dio's color is white and the color of the prince is white. With him being gone there is less of a symbolism of princliness. Touga and Saionji have a black top and Juri’s is mainly orange, compared to the shows counterparts. Also in the beginning of the movie maybe utena was more flirty to wakaba to show how she was more "princely" and showing the difference from trying to be a prince and then finding how it’s useless to.

She likely (Anthy) has memories of the past and more control of at least the inside of ohtori. Why are things so different from the original too, is it because it’s a different time loop thing, so it has to be different, and when they leave does Utena still forget everything in the first series, because I feel that would kind of suck. Also Utena taking the sword from Anthy at the beginning was so cool, I think it shows how much autonomy Anthy now has, by being able to make these things happen, plus also by being alot more flirty. With Anthy telling Utena to take the sword. But that is probably because Anthy has all the memories and power and knows everyone.

And in this version Shiori liked Touga as a kid but Touga died saving Juri. Is that why Shiori and Touga are seen together? Because of that bond? Do the sheets symbolize something? Because white sheets pop up alot. Utena’s outfit is really like an optical illusion, with the black and white like that, and the sheets also look really pretty too. I really love the visuals. But if Touga is dead why is he at the acadmey, is it Anthys doing? Because touga is important maybe? But does that mean he’s dead in the outside world too, if Anthy just controls the academy and could maybe control peoples memories. Plus i feel the scene with the pool where Anthy and Utena get wet has some symbolism, maybe symbolism towards Utena and Anthy’s relationship with the “you can’t help but get wet in the pool” maybe they were talking about Anthy’s actions and how that affects Utena and Anthy.

And the fairytale story is cool because it shows how Akio can’t do what he can without Anthy, referencing how abusers aren’t as powerful without somebody to abuse or how for Akio to live without getting the “swords” like in the show he needs somebody to always be his rose bride. Or maybe it means Akio was always a fraud. And the school is there to keep Akios power. Why does Shiori pop up so much? And why the butterflies and her growing wings Why is Utena more violent in the movie, like pinning Anthy. Is it just there to show Utenas mental strain? Anthy doesn’t want Utena to duel but then later wants her to? Or teases her about it? And theyre overly freaked out in the drawing scene, but I think it has some symbolism, and obviously gets dark very soon and backstory happens. They were probably naked to show them opening up and to show the rose brides "secret" but then Shiori has to blame Anthy, showing how the patriarchy blames girls otten for things guys do. And the duels are for picking a prince, but Utena says there never was really a prince, showing the meaning of the show, how we can’t perfectly conform to the patriarchy and be a perfect “prince” or how those wanting to be a “prince” ideals uphold the patriarchy (and even society) and also how Akio is dead so there really is no prince. I think it’s cool Anthy gives Utena a choice to see if she wants to stay, to show how much (in the story) Utena grew, since there’s less time to show character growth in a movie.