Revolutionary Girl Utena: Thoughts on Anthy
This is Anthy meta I wrote. I think Anthy is a fascinating character and has amazing development throughout Revolutionary Girl Utena.
I love Anthy. She's my favourite character in RGU, and one of my favourite characters out of all my fandoms. She's one of the most complex characters I've seen in any medium. When I last rewatched the series, I noticed something that was completely heartbreaking and beautiful to me.
Like many animes, Revolutionary Girl Utena uses internal monologue. I think the show uses it very effectively. Anthy only has two inner monologue throughout the series. One during Utena and Touga's dual in episode twelve, and another before leaving Ohtori in the last episode. I'd actually forgotten about the first one, and was a little surprised. It seemed strange, getting a glimpse into her thought processes at this point. But it works so well. The tone of Anthy's voice changes dramatically. She no longer sounds cheerful and gentle. Her voice is emotionless as she observes Utena and Touga's dual. Even when Anthy admits she pities Utena, her voice remains in an eerie monotone. The moment chillingly shows how numb and hopeless she's come to feel in her situation. However, Anthy does express surprise when Utena manages to win the dual; she's even moved to tears. I think it was the first time she felt such strong emotion like that in a very long time. It's a major turning point for Anthy and her relationship with Utena; she's starting to feel again.
I just want to say what an amazing job Anthy's voice actor did here. She deftly captures the subtleties of Anthy's character, and that's not an easy task!
This moment becomes much more poignant when rewatching the series, because we know the context behind it. We know about her past and her abusive relationship with Akio. It makes her later escape all the more beautiful. The characters' attempts to "leave their coffins" and change is a major theme throughout the series. Ohtori even means Phoenix in Japanese.
Akio said the Anthy could only be be saved a prince who she believed in. But Anthy had to develop a sense of self-worth and believe she was more than a "doll without a heart." Utena showed her she was deserving of love, so Anthy could finally leave her "coffin" herself. They managed to break out of Ohtori and its destructive narrative that limits people to the role of Prince, Princess or Witch.
Anthy's second internal monologue takes place just before she leaves Ohtori, and it's completely different from her first one.
"This time it's my turn to go.
No matter where are, I swear I'll find you.
Wait for me ... Utena."
Anthy now sounds happy, excited and hopeful. Like Utena left the world of Ohtori to start a new life outside of Akio's ideals, Anthy has left her role as the Rose Bride and been reborn.
I love Anthy. She's my favourite character in RGU, and one of my favourite characters out of all my fandoms. She's one of the most complex characters I've seen in any medium. When I last rewatched the series, I noticed something that was completely heartbreaking and beautiful to me.
Like many animes, Revolutionary Girl Utena uses internal monologue. I think the show uses it very effectively. Anthy only has two inner monologue throughout the series. One during Utena and Touga's dual in episode twelve, and another before leaving Ohtori in the last episode. I'd actually forgotten about the first one, and was a little surprised. It seemed strange, getting a glimpse into her thought processes at this point. But it works so well. The tone of Anthy's voice changes dramatically. She no longer sounds cheerful and gentle. Her voice is emotionless as she observes Utena and Touga's dual. Even when Anthy admits she pities Utena, her voice remains in an eerie monotone. The moment chillingly shows how numb and hopeless she's come to feel in her situation. However, Anthy does express surprise when Utena manages to win the dual; she's even moved to tears. I think it was the first time she felt such strong emotion like that in a very long time. It's a major turning point for Anthy and her relationship with Utena; she's starting to feel again.
I just want to say what an amazing job Anthy's voice actor did here. She deftly captures the subtleties of Anthy's character, and that's not an easy task!
This moment becomes much more poignant when rewatching the series, because we know the context behind it. We know about her past and her abusive relationship with Akio. It makes her later escape all the more beautiful. The characters' attempts to "leave their coffins" and change is a major theme throughout the series. Ohtori even means Phoenix in Japanese.
Akio said the Anthy could only be be saved a prince who she believed in. But Anthy had to develop a sense of self-worth and believe she was more than a "doll without a heart." Utena showed her she was deserving of love, so Anthy could finally leave her "coffin" herself. They managed to break out of Ohtori and its destructive narrative that limits people to the role of Prince, Princess or Witch.
Anthy's second internal monologue takes place just before she leaves Ohtori, and it's completely different from her first one.
"This time it's my turn to go.
No matter where are, I swear I'll find you.
Wait for me ... Utena."
Anthy now sounds happy, excited and hopeful. Like Utena left the world of Ohtori to start a new life outside of Akio's ideals, Anthy has left her role as the Rose Bride and been reborn.