Utena and Psychological anime

[KaidoYuji8Adam]

Hello everyone. It has been awhile since I've posted in this part of the forums.
I have watched the first 2 DVD's of Utena, and while I agree it's good, its not that great. I would like to know if I should continue since it could get amazing.

I like "thinking" anime. Anime like EVA, RahXephon, and KareKano. These shows deconstruct their characters and dive into them. I love that.
I also like character and plot driven shows.
So I would like suggestions on those as well.

I have quite a bit of anime, but I'm not sure which are "psychological"

Favorite anime:
Cowboy Bebop
Eva
Escaflowne
Berserk
Last Exile
RahXephon
Blue Gender
Fruits Basket
Kenshin OVAs

Movies: Grave of the Fireflies, Jin-Roh

[Chuplayer]

I'd say keep with Utena, but that's mostly because I like it so much. I've only watched a little bit more than you have, the movie and the next five episodes to be exact, but the bit more I have watched has been really good.

[KaidoYuji8Adam]

Yea, from what everyone says, it gets just amazing.

[Dagger]

The first season of Utena is nothing compared to what comes later on. It's one of those shows that gets steadily (astronomically, IMO) better and better as it goes along.

[Chuplayer]

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Dagger said:
The first season of Utena is nothing compared to what comes later on. It's one of those shows that gets steadily (astronomically, IMO) better and better as it goes along.

[/ QUOTE ]

The only thing I think the first season has over the second season (well, the first five episodes that I have seen) is that the duels are better.

I <3 the cheaper box sets. I can't wait for the end of next month for the Apocalypse Saga set.

[Herufaiya]

[ QUOTE ]
Dagger said:
The first season of Utena is nothing compared to what comes later on. It's one of those shows that gets steadily (astronomically, IMO) better and better as it goes along.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you kidding, the first season has as many psychological and character-based implications as the following seasons, they're just more subtle, more real, and so much a part of an overall anime style that you might not even consider some of them a factor, but make no mistake, if you're looking, you'll see them.
As for other psychological anime, just to rattle them off in a general sense: Utena, Lain, Eva, RahX, Narutaru, Devil Lady(to some degree), Requiem from the Darkness, Divergence Eve 1&2, Noir, Generator Gawl, Big O, Berserk, Paranoia Agent, Kino's Journey, SaiKano, Boogiepop Phantom

I don't recommend RftD, Devil Lady, or Narutaru, though they're all quite psychological, the rest of the titles generaly hold the title strongly, but with shows like Generator Gawl, Noir and Big O S1, you might have to do some looking, depends how in-tune you are to the style, I suppose, or just your state-of-mind.
But hey, that's me.

[JackProton]

Well, have you ever wondered what a shoujo anime by David Lynch might look like? The owls are not what they seem. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Dagger]

[ QUOTE ]
Herufaiya said:
[ QUOTE ]
Dagger said:
The first season of Utena is nothing compared to what comes later on. It's one of those shows that gets steadily (astronomically, IMO) better and better as it goes along.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you kidding, the first season has as many psychological and character-based implications as the following seasons, they're just more subtle, more real, and so much a part of an overall anime style that you might not even consider some of them a factor, but make no mistake, if you're looking, you'll see them.

[/ QUOTE ]
Er, I didn't say anything about its psychological or character-based implications. I just said that the following seasons are "better," as in, I enjoyed them more (and still do, whenever I re-watch the series). Not that it's worth arguing over... Utena is my all-time favorite anime, after all.

[Herufaiya]

[ QUOTE ]
Dagger said:
[ QUOTE ]
Herufaiya said:
[ QUOTE ]
Dagger said:
The first season of Utena is nothing compared to what comes later on. It's one of those shows that gets steadily (astronomically, IMO) better and better as it goes along.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you kidding, the first season has as many psychological and character-based implications as the following seasons, they're just more subtle, more real, and so much a part of an overall anime style that you might not even consider some of them a factor, but make no mistake, if you're looking, you'll see them.

[/ QUOTE ]
Er, I didn't say anything about its psychological or character-based implications. I just said that the following seasons are "better," as in, I enjoyed them more (and still do, whenever I re-watch the series). Not that it's worth arguing over... Utena is my all-time favorite anime, after all.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry about the semi-defensive response, I get drawn into semantics about this stuff often enough to snap a bit too...frequently.
Another anime is the GitS & Utena movie(s), as well as Voices of a Distant Star, and the short series Alien Nine.

[KaidoYuji8Adam]

I dont know..Utena's first 13 episodes did not really impress me that much.
But I think Ill continue.

I have Noir, which started out great then weakened a little bit
Big O I still love to this day, even the second season.
RahX: LOVED it
Eva: FAVORITE show
GitS: Need to buy it when the boxsets come out.
There are more..im just tired.
Thank you everybody.. the people on these forums really help out.

[itsuka]

[ QUOTE ]
KaidoYuji 8 Shinji-kun said:
I dont know..Utena's first 13 episodes did not really impress me that much.
But I think Ill continue.

I have Noir, which started out great then weakened a little bit
Big O I still love to this day, even the second season.
RahX: LOVED it
Eva: FAVORITE show
GitS: Need to buy it when the boxsets come out.
There are more..im just tired.
Thank you everybody.. the people on these forums really help out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe it's the style of the show that doesn't work that well for you? I see that you don't have a lot of shoujo, except Fruits Basket, and maybe the pastels and the roses don't sit well with you. Utena delves a lot into psychology, but it does present itself in a strong shoujo package.

The second 13 parts of Utena deal with various students complaining about their lives and getting set up for duels. Meantime, one of the big manipulators of the show turns up, and more sinister plot elements get revealed. I found this part getting more creepy. In the last 13 episodes, the real struggle begins to unravel the mystery behind the duelling, the castle and the rose rings. I have to say it remains very allegorically, and many things are hinted at rather than said aloud. It might take you several viewings to figure out the many layers of the show.

Some of the layers are already there in the first 13 episodes, but more hidden. I'm a bit at a loss what to recommend. It could be the case that the package in which the theme is presented doesn't work for you, and that the next 26 episodes give you the same vibe as the first 13. But it could be that the underlying weirdness will come out better in the later seasons, and that you'll see the first 13 episodes differently after that.

[Johnny]

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KaidoYuji 8 Shinji-kun said:
I dont know..Utena's first 13 episodes did not really impress me that much.
But I think Ill continue.



[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't like Utena's first 13 episodes either. I was ready to give up but from episode 14 on, the show gets so much better and more trippy.

[ohtori_akio]

Keep going with Utena, if you already like it, there's a great chance you will keep liking it + they boxsets are quite cheap. It is one of the greatest purchases I've experienced. Especially in show quality!

[Shsway]

Utena is my number one show as well, but honestly, I wouldn't advise you to keep going if you haven't really been grabbed by it, even at this point. I myself hate being told to tune in to half of a show's run so I can see the massive improvement/glory. Unless you're just renting it, than I'd say, yeah, keep going if you feel you can.

I do have to say that if you loved Eva, it's pretty likely that you'll at least enjoy this one.

I second the recommendation for Kino's Journey to you.

[ibby]

The next arc of Utena is my favourite the black rose saga and this arc is darker than the student saga arc. You have listed some on my all time favourite shows and would recommend the following shows to you:

Melody Of Oblivion - Though not heavy in character development there's some thinking required to get the jokes from the monster union agents.

Paranoia Agent- A good show though the ending is not so good, but better than most shows out on the market.

[Redcoffin]

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KaidoYuji 8 Shinji-kun said:
I dont know..Utena's first 13 episodes did not really impress me that much.
But I think Ill continue.

I have Noir, which started out great then weakened a little bit
Big O I still love to this day, even the second season.
RahX: LOVED it
Eva: FAVORITE show
GitS: Need to buy it when the boxsets come out.
There are more..im just tired.
Thank you everybody.. the people on these forums really help out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Utena is not just a psychological show -- it is a very *theatrical* show, and it is theatrical in a rather unusual way. I think to really love Utena, you sort of have to be in a state of mind where (for example) Utena's repeated visits to the duelling ground -- which repeat essentially the same lengthy sequence from show to show -- feel like a really theatrical build-up to something great, not just recycling the anime in order to save money on production. If you find yourself fast-forwarding through those repeated or lengthy scenes, you probably won't make it all the way through Revolutionary Girl Utena. I happen to think it's one of the all time great animes ever.

[Redcoffin]

If you liked all those shows, let me recommend "Soul Taker." It's very dark, stylish, sometimes hard to follow, elliptical, and great fun.

[ZhenJi]

All this talk about Utena got me buying it. I watched this show long time ago and enjoyed it a lot so it is time for me to buy it /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif.

--Zhen Ji

[KaidoYuji8Adam]

Ok, you guys sealed it for me.. I will buy Utena when I get the money. Sadly that might be awhile, and I am looking forward to the rest of the show.. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[Njr Scrawl]

Gasaraki, Paranoid Agent, GiTS:SAC/2nd Gig & movies, Patlabor movies 2 & 3, Perfect Blue, Jin Roh all have psychological elements.

[Jonathan Klein]

Being an extremely objective individual /images/graemlins/wink.gif , I'll add my name to the Paranoia Agent recommendations. But I'll one up it by saying you can check it out for free (and legally) on Adultswim.com right now, because episode #1 is on their streaming video content right now.

I'll also agree if you like Utena, and want a little more action, check out Melody of Oblivion.

Regards,

JK