Revolutionary Girl Utena
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Revolutionary Girl Utena is a series of related works:
- manga by Chiho Saito (begun 1996 in June issue of Ciao)
- anime series directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara (broadcast in 1997)
- an anime film, "Adolescence of Utena" (1999)
- musical in the mid 1990s
The basic premise of all versions of the story is the determination of the main character, Tenjou Utena, to become a prince, after having met a prince once as a child. The anime, in particular, engages in a feminist manner with many controversial subjects, including gender roles, sexuality, incest, and sexual abuse. The movie has become the poster child of the shojo-ai/yuri genre, with several scenes showing Utena kissing Himemiya Anthy, the Rose Bride. However, the movie does not engage in nearly so much exploration as the anime. The manga is likewise shallower than the anime.
Popularly referred to in fandom as "SKU", an abbreviation of its romanji name, Shoujo Kakumei Utena.