Adolescence of Utena

ADOLESCENCE OF UTENA is a standalone genre classic that brings together the creative genius of director Kunihiko Ikuhara (REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA, SAILOR MOON), writer Yoji Enokido (EVANGELION franchise), and art director Shichiro Kobayashi (ANGEL’S EGG) with J.A. Seazer’s transcendent music. Straddling the line between fairytale and surrealist opera, the film stands as a bold display of the ways social roles chain us — and demands we smash through them.

Utena enrolls in the prestigious Ohtori Academy on her quest to become a prince, and stumbles into a mysterious cabal of students dueling for possession of the “Rose Bride.” The role belongs to their classmate Anthy, an enigmatic girl who equally captivates and confuses Utena. While fending off powerful rivals, Utena must uncover the secrets surrounding Anthy and her own desires. As the relationship between the girls intensifies, their thirst for freedom crescendoes into a need for revolution.

In Japanese with English subtitles.

“Utena is a towering achievement of late-90s animation… a major touchstone in queer anime discourse, praised for the emotional intimacy and complexity at the heart of Utena and Anthy’s relationship at a time when that kind of representation remained exceedingly rare in the medium.” Ryan Epps, Polygon