Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku

*Adolescence Apocalypse* is a beautiful retelling of Utena. With new character designs; Utena is more masculine like in aesthetics her hair looks cropped shorter and her uniform is less stylized and is just a white and black of the light green and soft green of the other male students. Anthy has her hair unpinned and straight — they both has swapped personalities and hairstyles Utena pins her cropped though hers is wavy and Anthy wears her long and straight. To be honest I like their character designs in this film more. With more stunning visuals the world awakens to Ohtori Academy which moves and breathes as a living organism. Watching the director commentary is important; while in the TV series shadows played an integral role here water does; Water is a full fledged symbol it becomes turned into many mediums: paintings, ripples, rain and the birth of an ocean of release. Utena comes into this world mysteriously to forget her past and she meets it in Touga who seems to be her childhood friend. And Anthy becomes a rival to Touga's attention. From detail to hair to scrunches on the bed is paved like water and everything has this tint of red, or halo light of blue and warm light of gold with the ambiguous positions of light and darkness being beautifully orchestrated. This movie has some very beautiful scenes that stay with you. Unlike the dynamic of Utena and Anthy in the series the sensuality and intimacy develops quickly but not disturbingly. Utena is not shy but she is reserved like Anthy was in the series but Anthy is talkative and friendly like Utena was in the series! Not to mention Anthy has this added dimension of being seductive and very enigmatic more than Utena. That makes her in a way more dangerous than her series counterpart as we might be wondering what is she up to. As usual the prince and the witch figures play prominently but then again these are again questioned and we must reevaluate what it means to be people in those positions. Of course this movie is more for fans and some fans hated some characters being reduced or excluded or even exaggerated wrongly like Saionji but I think at the end they kept his basic longing for Anthy as someone his Tsundere attitude wants to rely on. People like Miki grow extra courageous too like Anthy to see that side of them was very well received. Juri also turns a bit more playful and Shiori more sinister. If you are a newcomer please read a bit of details before venturing into this. But then again don't not watch this — they don't usually make good animes like this anymore especially retellings which such enthusiastic spirit and aesthetics not to mention beautiful music and well pace storylines.

The Adolescence Of Utena leaves you more confused than the show did, but it's also waaay more gay and just as interesting.