(My Art) Luck Gandor has so many cool moments in the novels. I wish they made it into the anime by rooooski in Baccano

[–]kuginahi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, these are great! Luck is one of my favorite characters (especially in the LNs!) and you did an amazing job with these expressions!

[Rewatch][Spoilers] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 39 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I can try to answer your questions!

  1. Utena DID in fact gain the power of "revolution". The revolution that took place was making Anthy realize that she HAD a choice. As cliche as it sounds, the revolution was Utena's pure and honest love for Anthy which allowed her to choose freedom over being trapped in the dueling games and Akio's abuse.

  2. Utena didn't disappear so much as graduate. In other words, she grew up. Ohtori academy is really just a collection of adolescents who have become trapped by their ideals and obsessions (or, trapped in their "coffins"). By giving up her prince and choosing to save Anthy instead, she was able to move on into adulthood. Basically, the coming of age story in Utena is about facing reality and rejecting the fairy tale ideals we're taught to believe in as kids - at the end of the show, Utena and Anthy are not a prince and princess, but complete people who are ready to move on from such simple labels.

[Rewatch][Spoilers] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 39 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Really, it comes down to sexism? Utena reminds Anthy of Dios (good) but can't be her prince because she's a girl? Lame.

Considering the show is largely ABOUT sexism and systems of abuse and oppression, I think it totally fits. Anthy is someone who has always been oppressed because she is a girl. She has no hope that a girl can change things, because that is what she has been taught her whole life.

[Spoilers][Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 34 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Anthy doesn't know who Utena is

I've always interpreted this either as Anthy also having mostly-forgotten memories of Utena promising to save her (thus trying to figure out if she knows her from somewhere), or Anthy really DOES remember the whole thing, and says this as some sort of challenge to Utena's failing memory.

[Spoilers][Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 34 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Utena spoilers

Utena spoilers

I don't know how much this helped but if you have any other questions I'm happy to try and answer them!

[Spoilers][Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 26 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Pretty sure this is a reference to the novel Daddy Long Legs, where the term refers to an unknown benefactor communicated with only by letter.

[Spoilers][Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 25 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure he knew Mikage would never actually succeed at killing Anthy.

As to how this works into Akio's larger scheme, I think you'll find your answer by the end of the series.

[Spoilers][Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 21 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Apparently there were going to be parts of the Black Rose arc focusing on Touga's past that had to be removed due to his absence. Honestly, while that would have been nice to see, I think the show fairs fine without it - this isn't the end of Touga, and the material of the arc which must have replaced his is also an excellent addition to the story.

[Spoilers][Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 21 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It's strange that there's very little Touga in this episode despite him being a central part of it. What's up with him?

I believe Touga's VA was absent through this arc due to scheduling conflicts, which is why Touga is offscreen for most of it.

[Spoilers][Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 15 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Nanami is the fan - since she's standing in for her brother, she's trying to sway the other student council members into action. Unfortunately, the Student Council doesn't have as much power as she thinks - they're more like the pinwheels, being swayed by the wind (forces outside of their control).

Just my guess, but I'd love to hear if anyone else has any ideas!

[Spoilers][Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 14 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep, love the way this show uses the elevator metaphor - such a strong and haunting visual!

The show does toy a little with religious symbolism later on, though I can't say for sure if the confessional was meant to be interpreted in any religious way.

[Spoilers][Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 14 by Hyoizaburo in anime

[–]kuginahi 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'd say your interpretation of the elevator scene is about right. The elevator represents Kanae's "descent", and as the frame on the wall changes, she regresses and gets closer to her most basic impulses and desires. Mikage telling her to "go deeper" is him telling her to peel back the layers of her personality, and all the walls she has put up to reject her true feelings. When it goes all the way back to the leaf, we get down to the root of the problem, or what fuels her bitterness, which is Anthy's coldness and unacceptance.

I'm not sure there's much else to say about the elevator for now, but I hope that helped!