History YMMV / RevolutionaryGirlUtena

** Guys who engage in DomesticAbuse & HeManWomanHater...Saionji, Touga & Akio anyone ?

** [[DomesticAbusers & HeManWomanHater...Saionji, Touga & Akio anyone ? ]] They're always [[ShirtlessScene removing their shirts dramaticly]] which is always portrayed as villainous. Saionji and [[spoiler:Akio]] are textbook {{Domestic Abuse}}rs, with the latter being a sexual predator who targets teenagers. Touga is a horrendous {{Jerkass}} even to his sister. Ruka callously abandons Shiori after having sex with her and later assaults Juri.

** [[DomesticAbusers &HeManWomanHater...Saionji,Touga & Akio anyone ? ]] They're always [[ShirtlessScene removing their shirts dramaticly]] which is always portrayed as villainous. Saionji and [[spoiler:Akio]] are textbook {{Domestic Abuse}}rs, with the latter being a sexual predator who targets teenagers. Touga is a horrendous {{Jerkass}} even to his sister. Ruka callously abandons Shiori after having sex with her and later assaults Juri.

** [[BeautyIsBad Handsome people]] who [[ShirtlessScene get their shirts open]] are always portrayed as villainous. Saionji and [[spoiler:Akio]] are textbook {{Domestic Abuse}}rs, with the latter being a sexual predator who targets teenagers. Touga is a horrendous {{Jerkass}} even to his sister. Ruka callously abandons Shiori after having sex with her and later assaults Juri.
** As a FeministFantasy, the series loves punishing [[HeManWomanHater sexists]], [[EffeminateMisogynisticGuy misogynists]], and [[DomesticAbuse abusers]] in varying degrees. [[TheBrute Saionji]] becomes the resident ButtMonkey in the series after Utena defeats him to free [[DesignatedVictim Anthy]] from his physical abuse. [[TheCasanova Touga's]] love for Utena ends up unrequited long after manipulating the athletic, outspoken ActionGirl into being passive and demure. [[BitchInSheepsClothing Miki]] has a case of MadonnaWhoreComplex about Anthy and Kozue (meaning he doesn't see them as full people in their own right), doesn't like Anthy as much when she's actually sticking up for herself instead of letting people slap her around, and has never won against Utena in the dueling game. [[DoggedNiceGuy Tsuwabuki]] gets called out for placing Nanami in a series of deadly situations [[RescueRomance so he can rescue her]]. [[WolfInSheepsClothing Ruka]] dies of an unspecified illness after abandoning Shiori, with whom he had sex, and [[AttemptedRape nearly raping]] Juri. [[BigBad Akio]] [[spoiler:abuses his own sister using every possible imaginable way, [[QuestionableConsent has sex with teenagers]] like Touga and Utena, tells Utena to [[StayInTheKitchen give up fighting to live happily ever after with his prince]], and ends up utterly powerless after Anthy leaves him for good]].
*** This being Utena, the series also sends up FeministFantasy tropes. The strong female hero? She's every bit as obsessed with her own role as prince and as oblivious to the needs of her princess as a male character would. The aforementioned princess? A vicious manipulator who preys on children [[spoiler: such as the 13 year old Miki]]. And so on. It's a FeministFantasy and an Anti-FeministFantasy at the same time. As the movie trailer put it: "Forget everything you've seen. Forget everything you know. Forget everyone you've met. Because nothing will ever be the same again".

* CompleteMonster: Akio Ohtori is the epitome of heartless, callous selfishness. Once the heroic Dios, Akio grew [[FallenHero disillusioned]] with being the hero and allowed his sister Anthy to be tortured for what amounts to centuries. As one of the prime figures at Ohtori Academy in the present, Akio [[TheCasanova seduces]] many high ranking figures (including his fiancée’s [[IBangedYourMom mother]]) in order to [[ManipulativeBastard manipulate them]], and runs the Rose Duels that essentially pimp his sister Anthy to the victors, abusive or otherwise. Akio gains a cold enjoyment out of [[MindRape mentally ripping apart]] those near him, including his fiancée, who it's possible he's physically poisoning to get her out of the way. He views Anthy as nothing more than a means to ultimate power and when at one point she's hesitant to [[BrotherSisterIncest continue their weekly tryst]] one night, he angrily rapes her anyways. Akio seduces Utena and takes her virginity, manipulating her feelings for him to send her into a final confrontation to be sacrificed for his "revolution," where [[AGodAmI he will rise above the world]]. Akio views people around him as nothing more than [[TheChessmaster pawns or toys]], to be mentally or physically used and discarded as his plans or his whims demand.

* CompleteMonster: [[Characters/RevolutionaryGirlUtenaAkioOhtori Akio Ohtori]] is the epitome of heartless, callous selfishness. Once the heroic Dios, Akio grew [[FallenHero disillusioned]] with being the hero and allowed his sister Anthy to be tortured for what amounts to centuries. As one of the prime figures at Ohtori Academy in the present, Akio [[TheCasanova seduces]] many high ranking figures (including his fiancée’s [[IBangedYourMom mother]]) in order to [[ManipulativeBastard manipulate them]], and runs the Rose Duels that essentially pimp his sister Anthy to the victors, abusive or otherwise. Akio gains a cold enjoyment out of [[MindRape mentally ripping apart]] those near him, including his fiancée, who it's possible he's physically poisoning to get her out of the way. He views Anthy as nothing more than a means to ultimate power and when at one point she's hesitant to [[BrotherSisterIncest continue their weekly tryst]] one night, he angrily rapes her anyways. Akio seduces Utena and takes her virginity, manipulating her feelings for him to send her into a final confrontation to be sacrificed for his "revolution," where [[AGodAmI he will rise above the world]]. Akio views people around him as nothing more than [[TheChessmaster pawns or toys]], to be mentally or physically used and discarded as his plans or his whims demand.

*** Sexual abuse doesn't need to look like rape. Akio gets the consent of [[spoiler: definetely Anthy and probably Utena]] before initiating sexual intercouse with them, but this is obtained with lots of backhanded manipulation, hidden ulterior motives and emotional abuse, so even if they weren't technically raped they were still very much sexually abused which is just as despicable.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Coupled with ValuesDissonance, but some modern viewers, especially Western ones might see Utena as a little flat, all her quirks and ticks have been copied to death, the fact that she's tomboyish might fly over people's heads who now not only don't see anything odd with it unlike back in the day but in the west almost expect it and her motivation to protect Anthy like a prince to his princess by confronting her abusers is not easily understood since in the west that would be the logical, decent thing to do unlike the "don't get involved" Japanese custom, this can come to a point where they think Utena to be flat UNTIL she starts showing more emotional vulnerability and stereotypical feminine behavior later in the series, to make matters worse Utena herself is a very reactive character rather than proactive usually dealing with the stuff thrown at her for about the first 30 episodes.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Coupled with ValuesDissonance, but some modern viewers, especially Western ones might see Utena a little flat, all her quirks and ticks have been copied to death, the fact that she's tomboyish might fly over people's heads who now not only don't see anything odd with it unlike back in the day but in the west almost expect it and her motivation to protect Anthy like a prince to his princess by confronting her abusers is not easily understood since in the west that would be the logical, decent thing to do unlike the "don't get involved" Japanese custom, this can come to a point where they think Utena to be flat UNTIL she starts showing more emotional vulnerability and stereotypical feminine behavior later in the series, to make matters worse Utena herself is a very reactive character rather than proactive usually dealing with the stuff thrown at her for about the first 30 episodes.

** In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', Maya had [[IgnoredEnamoredUnderling crush]] on her superior Ritsuko, [[spoiler:who was tragically involved with ''her'' superior, Gendou]]. In RGU, her [[Creator/KotonoMitsuishi colleague]] [[spoiler:{{invert|edTrope}}s this dynamic―she has a crush on ''her'' inferior, who is tragically involved with ''her'' superior]].

** Anthy, Anthy, ''Anthy''... see AlternativeCharacterInterpretation above for just some of the details. There's '''''no''''' middle ground on a character as complex as she is, especially on [[spoiler: her relationship with Akio]] and [[spoiler: her stabbing Utena at the end]]. Is she the ultimate example of TheWoobie who [[spoiler: is broken beyond belief after a millenia of pain and abuse]] and therefore is not responsible for anything either good or bad that she does, or an evil {{Manipulative B|astard}}itch who played everyone as fools as either [[spoiler: her revenge for said millennia of pain and abuse]], or as her way to [[spoiler: grasp power for herself after having been powerless for so long, and torture everyone (Akio included)]]? Either way, don't ask: the mere mention of Anthy can send the whole fandom into hategasms or lovegasms.

** Is Saonji just a jerk who constantly abuses Anthy? Or a sweet but troubled guy with little hold of his emotions and ambitions? He only is a cruel abusive jerk when engaged to Anthy at any other moment he's actually pretty capable of showing a lot of sweet emotions even exchanging diaries and constantly trying to woo her, on the other side that is pretty common on abusive people to act nice after abusing their victim, to muddle things further he's nothing but sweet while living in Wakaba's dorm until he's presented with the opportunity of returning to the council as if his ambitions turn everything else secondary, even then he's still just a teen and a troubled one at that, victim of manipulation himself.

*** Especially for places where minors are considered to be pure and sexless or where you're only considered a kid as long as you look like one: Teens, even middle or late ones, even those who have phisically developed and may seem mature for their age and may be indistinguishable from adults are still vulnerable to being emotionally and psychologically manipulated by abusive adults.

** Anthy, Anthy, ''Anthy''... see AlternativeCharacterInterpretation above for just some of the details. There's '''''no''''' middle ground on a character as complex as she is, specially on [[spoiler: her relationship with Akio]] and [[spoiler: her stabbing Utena at the end]]. Is she the ultimate example of TheWoobie who [[spoiler: is broken beyond belief after a millenia of pain and abuse]] and therefore is not responsible for anything either good or bad that she does, or an evil {{Manipulative B|astard}}itch who played everyone as fools as either [[spoiler: her revenge for said millennia of pain and abuse]], or as her way to [[spoiler: grasp power for herself after having been powerless for so long, and torture everyone (Akio included)]]? Either way, don't ask: the mere mention of Anthy can send the whole fandom into hategasms or lovegasms.

*** Specially for places where minors are considered to be pure and sexless or where you're only considered a kid as long as you look like one: Teens, even middle or late ones, even those who have phisically developed and may seem mature for their age and may be indistinguishable from adults are still vulnerable to being emotionally and psychologically manipulated by abusive adults.

*** Specially for places where minors are considered to be pure and sexless or where you're only considered a kid as long as you look like one: Sexual abuse doesn't need to look like rape. Akio gets the consent of [[spoiler: definetely Anthy and probably Utena]] before initiating sexual intercouse with them, but this is obtained with lots of backhanded manipulation, hidden ulterior motives and emotional abuse, so even if they weren't technically raped they were still very much sexually abused which is just as despicable.
*** On the same note, teens, even middle or late ones, even those who have phisically developed and may seem mature for their age and may be indistinguishable from adults are still vulnerable to being emotionally and psychologically manipulated by abusive adults.

*** Sexual abuse doesn't need to look like rape. Akio gets the consent of [[spoiler: definetely Anthy and probably Utena]] before initiating sexual intercouse with them, but this is obtained with lots of backhanded manipulation, hidden ulterior motives and emotional abuse, so even if they weren't technically raped they were still very much sexually abused which is just as despicable.

** Don't hate on women, and double if you're [[FemaleMisogynist a woman yourself]]. Because a woman who hates other women '''''will never be able to love herself'''''.

* CultClassic: The series as a whole has become this to fans who had either grown up with it or don’t disregard is due to its tropes being later done to death. It’s viewed as one of Kunihiko Ikuhara’s better shows that used his often repetitive tropes well, [[ToughActToFollow making some of his latter works pale in comparison to some of his fans]]. In fact, it wasn’t until the release of Anime/{{Sarazanmai}} that any of his shows following ''Utena'' had gotten any mainstream recognition on it’s level while they were airing, with ''Sarazanmai'' being popular enough to retain its fanbase after it concluded in the same way that ''Utena'' had.

* CultClassic: The series as a whole has become this to fans who had either grown up with it or [[SeinfieldIsUnfunny don’t disregard is due to its tropes being later done to death]]. It’s viewed as one of Kunihiko Ikuhara’s better shows that used his often repetitive tropes well, [[ToughActToFollow making some of his latter works pale in comparison to some of his fans]]. In fact, it wasn’t until the release of Anime/{{Sarazanmai}} that any of his shows following ''Utena'' had gotten any mainstream recognition on ''Utena''’s level while they were airing, with ''Sarazanmai'' being popular enough to retain its fanbase after it concluded in the same way ''Utena'' had.

*** This being Utena, the series also sends up FeministFantasy tropes. The strong female hero? She's every bit as obsessed with her own role as prince and as oblivious to the needs of her princess as a male character would. The aforementioned princess? A vicious manipulator who preys on children [[spoiler: such as the 13 year old Miki]]. And so on. It's a FeministFantasy and an Anti-FeministFantasy at the same time. As the movie trailer put it: "Forget everything you've seen. Forget everything you know. Forget everyone you've met. Because nothing will ever be the same again"

** Don't hate on women, and double if you're a woman yourself. Because a woman who hates other women '''''will never be able to love herself'''''.

* TakeThatScrappy:
** Shiori in TheMovie has even fewer redeeming qualities than in the series, being even more manipulative, petty and spiteful--with much less reason. ([[spoiler: Her boyfriend died when saving Juri, but it's not as if Juri could control that.]]) It's very satisfying near the end when [[spoiler:Anthy causes Shiori-Car to crash and explode while she's in the middle of EvilGloating]].
** For Nanami detractors, she gets only a brief scene in TheMovie as a cow. Where she's still the ButtMonkey.

** Touga's actor Takehito Koyasu also voiced Prince Hans in the Japanese dub of ''Disney/{{Frozen}}''. Guess brutal deconstructions of KnightInShiningArmor princes are kind of his thing.

** Nanami is revealed in episode 10 to have crossed it [[spoiler:when, as a child, she killed the kitten she gave her brother because she thought it was taking away too much of his attention.]]

!!YMMV Tropes with Their Own Pages

** As a FeministFantasy, the series loves punishing [[HeManWomanHater sexists]], [[EffeminateMisogynisticGuy misogynists]], and [[DomesticAbuse abusers]] in varying degrees. [[TheBrute Saionji]] becomes the resident ButtMonkey in the series after Utena defeats him to free [[DesignatedVictim Anthy]] from his physical abuse. [[TheCasanova Touga's]] love for Utena ends up unrequited long after manipulating the athletic, outspoken ActionGirl into being passive and demure. [[BitchInSheepsClothing Miki]] has a case of MadonnaWhoreComplex about Anthy and Kozue (meaning he doesn't see them as full people in their own right), doesn't like Anthy as much when she's actually sticking up for herself instead of letting people slap her around, and has never won against Utena in the dueling game. [[DoggedNiceGuy Tsuwabuki]] gets called out for placing Nanami in a series of deadly situations [[RescueRomance so he can rescue her]]. [[WolfInSheepsClothing Ruka]] dies of an unspecified illness after abandoning Shiori, with whom he had sex, and [[AttemptedRape nearly raping]] [[BadassGay Juri]]. [[BigBad Akio]] [[spoiler:abuses his own sister using every possible imaginable way, [[QuestionableConsent has sex with teenagers]] like Touga and Utena, tells Utena to [[StayInTheKitchen give up fighting to live happily ever after with his prince]], and ends up utterly powerless after Anthy leaves him for good]].

** Juri is one of the most popular characters by far, mostly for her BadassGay moments and (relatable) {{gayngst}}-esque misery over ([[IncompatibleOrientation Ruka-crushing]]) Shiori.

* EnsembleDarkHorse: Juri is one of the most popular characters by far, mostly for her BadassGay moments and (relatable) {{gayngst}}-esque misery over ([[IncompatibleOrientation Ruka-crushing]]) Shiori.