Revolutionary Girl Utena: Apocalypse Saga (1998)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Original Story by Chiho Saito
Screenplay by Kunihiko Ikuhara and Yoji Enokido
Directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara
Music by Shinkichi Mitsumune and J.A. Seazer

Features:

• Running audio commentary track on Episode #10 with writer/director Ikuhara and creator Saito
• Art gallery
• Chu Chu video montage
• Academy yearbook video retrospective
• Voice actor interviews with Josh Mosby and Jimmy Zoppi
• Complete story arc synopsis
• Trailer collection

Dindrane's Anime Warnings:

• Hints of sexuality
• Hints of incest
• Violence
• Brief nudity
• Psychoactive weirdness

Released by: Central Park Media
Region: 1
Rating: 13+
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its original 1.33:1 format.

My Advice: At least give it a view.

This set includes the final four discs of the Utena saga, comprising some twelve episodes and 375 minutes of anime. The box set joins the show at Episode 27, which is somewhat outside of the larger storyline. Nanami has been convinced that she has lain an egg in her sleep; the girl isn't right in the head. With Episode 28, however, we rejoin the main, serious storyline; a new fencer arrives with a new bride from whom to draw his sword. When Utena beats him, the end comes quickly, finally leaving the fate of Ohtori Academy in the hands of Utena, Akio, and Anthy. But who will win, and why? Living and dead, this world, that world, and another world, roses red and white, signet rings, princes, and hope. And what does any of it mean?

Revolutionary Girl Utena has always been an enigma, which is, to many people, itself a good thing and reason enough for it to exist. It does indeed demand viewers pay attention and think, but other viewers complain that there is little reward for all the thinking in the world. The show decides nothing for viewers, from the real nature of various relationships to the purpose of the Rose Bride's coffin to why Utena has the fate she does, and maybe that's the point; or maybe the show's creators just wrote themselves into a rose-filled corner that was all flash and style and little substance. You must decide that for yourself as well. Like Twin Peaks, some surreal elements are in the show merely to be there, and others actually bear meaning. It's up to you to decide which is which. I rate this one as high as I do not because it was perfectly executed (it isn't) but rather because it takes chances and deserves to be rewarded for that. If only it could have seen it possible to have been a bit less sordid here and there.

The show looks fantastic. Not only the art itself, which is very Art Deco, but also the actual quality of the digital coding. The sound is also very good, and the English cast is even better than the Japanese cast. Just remember that teen angst is an integral part of the show, so expect the actors to play their parts to the hilt (no pun intended).

The features list is quite nice. The first star of the list is the interview with a pair of voice actors, Jimmy Zoppi (Jury/Juri, Wakaba, Saionji, and Miki) and Josh Mosby (Akio). They are interesting and entertaining themselves and provide a bit of insight into the show. The second star of the list is the commentary track with Chiho Saito (writer of the original manga) and Kunihiko Ikuhara (director). They explain a great deal that viewers might miss, though even with their comments, many aspects of the show remain a mystery. They discuss everything from the pointy finger marks back in the Black Rose Saga to the spiral staircase show all the way through, and demonstrate how Utena's saga is like the saga of all shoujo culture. We also get "Ohtori Academy Yearbook," which is a kind of visual representation of the show and the people in it, a montage of Chu Chu moments, a fine art gallery, a story arc synopsis that will come in handy more than once, and a trailer collection.

The set comes packaged with a little episode guide that, if you missed any of the earlier discs, will bring you up to speed. Given the complexity of the series, this is a manifestly Good Thing.

Overall, while I would suggest this for slightly older audiences than the 13+ allowed on the rating, it is a good show for those who want their anime or their entertainment in general to be "about" something, as opposed to sheer entertainment. It's not always clear exactly what it's about, but the show is so packed with metaphor and beauty that it's enough. Some will find this show a bit too pretentious and overwrought, but if you appreciate gorgeous design, then you should at least view it once and decide for yourself. You might just join the legions of devoted fans who love it. If you're left shaking your head in a confused way, just remember, nobody else knows what any of it means either--but the desire to escape, to revolutionize our world (all our worlds), our birth, and ourselves, never really leaves us, even if we change everything we can.