Back in the early 2000s, a treasure trove of Japanese animation titles took over North American video stores. Featuring stories involving various fantastical adventures, one subgenre (thanks to the international popularity of Sailor Moon) began to slowly make a bigger splash in the growing fandom — the Magical girl. Known for its bright colors, feminine aesthetics, and stylish protagonists, mahou shoujo (as it is called in Japan) focuses stories involving female protagonists who, through a series of odd circumstances, end up with magical abilities and incredible outfits to match. With themes of transformation, along with many super cute, cuddly side-kicks, these incredible heroines left a mark on the hearts of anime fans young and old. But no magical girl has left quite as unique an impression on this writer like Utena Tenjou.
Utena voiced by Tomoko Kawakami in ADOLESCENCE OF UTENA. Photo courtesy of GKIDS Films. © Shojo Kakumei Utena Seisakuiinkai. All Rights Reserved.
Created in 1996 by the anime collective Be-Papas, Revolutionary Girl Utena has become one of the most critically acclaimed animes for daring to push outside the boundaries of the artform. The story centers on a girl who aspires to be a metaphorical prince, only to discover that revolutionizing the world requires far more than magical powers. And while every incarnation within the franchise is fascinating in its own right, easily the boldest interpretation comes in the form of director Kunihiko Ikuhara’s (Sailor Moon R: The Movie – The Promise of the Rose) film reimagining, Adolescence of Utena. Now, thanks to GKIDS Films, fans finally get to see this wild anime classic on the big screen for a short weekend run. But does this slice of surreal, sparkly filmmaking still pack the same gut-punch it did back in 1999? Or will its chaotic parade of symbolism and metaphors be too much for modern anime audiences to handle? Those questions and more are what make this special re-release so revolutionary in the first place.
With its stark color palette and ‘70s anime influences infused into every frame, Adolescence of Utena takes us into the world of Ohtori Academy. It’s a school that’s one part fairy tale enchantment while also being an M.C. Escher architecture nightmare. Sitting amidst the chaos of ever-changing school boards, dressed to genderfluid perfection, is the film’s titular heroine, Utena Tenjou (voiced by Tomoko Kawakami). As we see her become accustomed to the daily lives of her fellow students, Utena finds herself intrigued by the impressive Fencing Club members, including “The Prince” leader of the club, Juri Arisugawa (Kotono Mitsuishi). But when Utena crosses paths with an old flame, Touga Kiryuu (Takehito Koyasu), Utena’s mind becomes a labyrinth of confusion.
Running after Touga into the darkest corners of the Academy, Utena encounters a mysterious white rose that magically places a ring into her hand. As the school grounds shift around her, our pink haired protagonist finds herself on the edge of a rooftop structure, covered in more roses. There she meets a purple haired beauty, Anthy Himemiya (Yuriko Fuchizaki), who tends to said garden. But as soon as the two cross each other’s paths, Utena learns that Anthy is part of a wild school ritual — one that involves sword dueling battles in order to “claim” Anthy as said winner’s “Rose Bride.” Whoever wins the duel gets access to Anthy’s magical sword and becomes the school’s twisted interpretation of a prince and princess.
Thus Utena finds herself thrust into the world of various violent sword duels, all in the hopes of protecting Anthy and uncovering more from Utena’s own past. It’s a story filled with everything from queer romances to haunting pastel imagery to incredible battle sequences to dances amongst starlight and rose petals to people turning (metaphorically and literally) into cars. To put simply, this isn’t your grandma’s (or any casual viewers) cozy anime movie.
Utena voiced by Tomoko Kawakami in ADOLESCENCE OF UTENA. Photo courtesy of GKIDS Films. © Shojo Kakumei Utena Seisakuiinkai. All Rights Reserved.
From its opening sequence to its final intense image, Adolescence of Utena feels like the closest thing to a Disney fairy tale directed by David Lynch. Much like the late-great Twin Peaks helmer, Ikuhara refuses to hold your hand throughout Utena’s hour-and-25-minute runtime. Instead, the Sailor Moon TV series director feels a bit like a cinematic Bugs Bunny — one who dangles clues in front of you, but yanks them as soon as you get close enough to understand the meaning behind each image. But that’s what has made Ikuhara (much like Lynch) generate such a loyal, niche fanbase; even if they don’t understand every single element of the work, it’s the bold energy within the message Ikuhara’s delivering that becomes the most thrilling aspect of all his artistic projects.
L-R: Anthy voiced by Yuriko Fuchizaki and Utena voiced by Tomoko Kawakami in ADOLESCENCE OF UTENA. Photo courtesy of GKIDS Films. © Shojo Kakumei Utena Seisakuiinkai. All Rights Reserved.
Another bit of boldness can be found in the franchise’s iconic musical score by Shinkichi Mitsumune (Love & Pop) and J.A. Seazer (Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets). Returning again after their collaboration on the Utena anime TV series, Mitsumune and Seazer give this world a unique rock-meets-classical edge that is unlike the sound of any other anime before or since. With choir-driven pieces that literally spell out the actions of the characters and haunting piano tunes that evoke the gothic romance beats of the story, both composers make Utena an unforgettable audio experience. It might not exactly be the kind of music you play in the background at an anime convention, but it definitely leaves a memorable impression.
Though, by far, the greatest achievement within this take on Utena is its visual presentation. From cinematographer Toyomitsu Nakajō’s (Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko) layered approach (captured in glorious 35 mm fashion) to Shinya Hasegawa’s (Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth) vivid character designs which give this interpretation of Utena such an audacious quality, this is a film that will never leave your imagination once you take it in. While the TV series certainly used the juxtaposition of fairy tale whimsy and gothic imagery brilliantly, the movie interpretation takes that vibe up to an 11 and beyond, making everything that was visually memorable about Utena’s story even more striking than before.
Yet, beneath the entire team’s artistic confidence, lies the biggest issue within this cinematic interpretation of Utena — the pacing. Unlike the TV series, which takes time delivering each complicated plot point, Adolescence comes across more like clips from a “Best of” compilation tape than a fully constructed film. For those watching the movie unfold who already know the story they’re getting into, this brisk run through the essential beats of the narrative won’t be too confusing. But if this is your introduction into the world of Utena, this might seem like an unfinished feature as opposed to the retelling it’s supposed to be.
Still, Adolescence of Utena remains a cult classic because of how fearless the final product is. The Be-Papas team clearly didn’t care about making an anime film that was going to be accessible to the typical moviegoer, but rather wanted to make something that pushed the boundaries of the artform, in both its visuals and its subject matter. Plus, considering this re-release is happening during Pride month, it’s clear how much the team wanted this film to be as unapologetically queer as humanly possible. Because, at the end of the day, Utena is a franchise about liberation from oppression and breaking away from the shackles of society that have kept victims of abuse and trauma in their place. And no visual better exemplifies that notion than a bi-sexual, pink-haired heroine grabbing a magical sword from the chest of her equally-queer love interest.
L-R: Utena voiced by Tomoko Kawakami and Anthy voiced by Yuriko Fuchizaki in ADOLESCENCE OF UTENA. Photo courtesy of GKIDS Films. © Shojo Kakumei Utena Seisakuiinkai. All Rights Reserved.
In short, Adolescence of Utena certainly won’t be the film to make a non-anime fan suddenly interested in the artform. It’s a story filled with subject matter that is absolutely not for younger fans, and isn’t interested in sugarcoating the real-life nightmares some princesses and princes lead. But for those already steeped in the basics, who are looking for something that paints outside the lines, this re-release might just be the film which scratches said itch. And, as someone who discovered Utena at a significant time in their youth, here is hoping this theatrical run introduces a new generation to a piece of media which can validate their feelings, one sword fight at a time.
In select theaters June 21st and 22nd, 2026 – only.
For more information, head to the official GKIDS Films Adolescence of Utena webpage.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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