W
hen we introduce the director Kunihiko Ikuhara, we cannot do so without referring to the ever-popular "Sailor Moon" series that he directed for 4 years. After leaving Toei Animation, he formed a creators' group Be-Papas. The original work that resulted from this collaboration was this well prepared sensation, "Revolutionary Girl Utena". The members of Be-Papas are scriptwriter Yoji Enokido, animator Shinya Hasegawa, manga writer Chiho Saito and Yuichiro Oguro of Studio You.
  Utena Tenjo, is a 2nd year junior high school girl with a strong sense of justice. She remembers meeting with a prince when she was a little girl. And because she adored the prince so much she decided to become a prince herself. The new semester begins at Ohtori Junior high but she still attends the school wearing the boys' uniform together with a pair of tights. In the same class are her best friend Wakaba Shinohara and a girl who does not stand out too much that		 she spotted in the conservatory by the name of Ancy Himenomiya.
  One day, Utena finds a love letter pinned on the bulletin board that Wakaba sent to the captain of the kendo team who's also the school council vice-chairman, Kyoichi Saionji. Angry at the sight, she questions Saionji. She becomes furious with Saionji for being so unfeeling and challenges him to a duel. The place Saionji designated for the duel is a forest forbidden to the general student body. At the entrance, Utena holds up her ring with the rose crest, given to her by the prince when she was a child and thus unseals it. Up the spiral stairs and like magic, what she sees there is a mirage like castle and a curious place for dueling.
  The rule of the duel is if your foe makes the rose you wear on your chest scatter, you lose. The victor becomes engaged to Ancy Himemiya. Without really understanding the situation, Utena starts to fight Saionji with her bamboo sword. Even after Saionji breaks the bamboo
© 1997/ Be-Papas · SAITO CHIHO / SHOGAKUKAN · SHOKAKU · TV TOKYO
sword with his Japanese sword, she fights him back proud and courageous and wins the duel.
  The imaginary castle at the place of duel, mystery of Saionji's sword that jumped out from Himemiya's chest ... while Utena has no clear idea of what's going on, Ancy waits at the school gates. "I have waited for you Utena-sama. I am the bride of the rose. From today on, I am your flower..." What is Utena to think hearing these words...


Main Staff
Planning and Original Story : Be-Papas
Original Plans, Director : Kunihiko Ikuhara
Original Idea, Comics : Chiho Saito
Chief Screenwriter : Yoji Enokido
Character Design : Shinya Hasegawa
Concept Design : Hiroshi Nagahama
Animation Production : J.C. Staff

Representing : ENOKI FILMS, INC.
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