Mentioned adolescence of utena in my German film class essay
Basically the essay was about architecture and art direction in two films from the professor’s class (metropolis and Nosferatu). I included stuff outside of the course (namely Utena, Bioshock, and Gravity Rush) due to that being how I work best on assignments. I also included visuals to the essay as the professor was unfamiliar.
In the 1999 follow-up film to the 1997 anime tv series, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Adolescence of Utena (directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara, with architecture designed by Shichiro Kobayashi), the architecture of the academy is used as symbolism. This is a staple of Ikuhara works as he often uses visual metaphors. some literal, others abstract.
the layout of the academy is constantly moving which represents the theme of adolescence present in the film as Utena and Anthy struggle to move past their pasts and confusion of what the future holds. A good example of this can be seen in Utena’s duel with Juri. In the scene, which takes place after Shiori convinces Juri to duel her pink haired rival via blackmail to halt Utena and Anthy from breaking free of the academy. (Image 1)
The slash or slant in the rose garden/arena gate represents a loss of innocence foreshadowing the revelation of Touga’s lack of interaction with people outside of Utena and Shiori with only a few characters being aware of his existence. The arena being a rose garden is to be emblematic of the pedestal Anthy is put on by the other duelists and how said pedestal harms Anthy’s agency as a character. (Image 2)
Near the car chase scene that concludes the movie, there is a shot of the watchtower centered on the rose garden creating an illusion that the watchtower is close to the rose garden. This positioning makes the watchtower resemble a tombstone representing how Utena has moved past Touga’s death and how Touga was observing Utena. This is also a callback to the opening scene with the watchtower and rose garden being far apart showing a sense of distance between Anthy and Utena initially. I also took notice of the lighting in the scene at the beginning. (Image 3)
The contrast between the red (shadows, blood) and white (light) of the left and right of the building foreshadows how Akio (on the left) is evil and how the path to connect with Anthy (on the right) is a labyrinthian castle depicted by the zoom out to the rose garden. (Image 4)
In regards to art direction, Utena, like many other Ikuhara works utilizes symbolism. An example can be seen in the image above. With Akio’s side of the building being bathed in blood red shadows representing a sense of evil in him, foreshadowing how he is using his charisma hide the evils he hides. While Anthy’s side is on the left as she still needs to break free and escape. By the way, Japanese comics are read right to left, with akio on her right meaning that she is being held back by his presence.