This year Revolutionary Girl Utena, otherwise known simply as Utena, celebrated its 20th anniversary! This was one of the first anime I ever watched on VHS tape (borrowed from a fellow student in high school). I even had cassette tapes of the soundtrack. It marked the beginning of my love for Shojo anime (anime primarily targeted at girls that is mainly about relationships and is VERY pretty). I love how the show focuses on a young girl that was waiting for her prince, but while waiting, she became her own prince. She wore a boy’s uniform to school and did not follow rules that she deemed unnecessary. There are strange and intriguing styles used for some of the storytelling including silhouette shadows and stained glass art.
VIZ Media recently released a very special Utena manga box set that includes ALL of Revolutionary Girl Utena and The Adolescence of Utena in two hardcover volumes. There are exclusive color pages and a poster included. This set is absolutely gorgeous! I never had a chance to read the manga but I am happy this complete box set has finally come out. Sometimes it can be rather difficult to find older manga/anime and when a complete set comes out it is awesome! If you are a fan of Utena, then this box set is a wonderful addition to your collection. If Utena is new to you, but you like strong female characters, sword fighting, mystery, LGBT subject matter, and beautiful art, then you should check out this box set as well.
The set is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will be published under the Shojo Beat imprint with an MSRP of $49.99 U.S.
“REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA is a series that spearheaded the manga and anime wave sweeping North America in the early 2000s,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Senior Editor. “The series is renowned for its beautiful artwork and imaginative storytelling in its depiction of female empowerment and LGBT themes. This new complete deluxe box set edition is a fitting tribute to this modern classic.”
REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA was created by Be-PaPas, a group of highly creative people founded by director Kunkihiko Ikuhara (SAILOR MOON, Schell Bullet) and includes such storied members as master manga artist Chiho Saito (Waltz Wa Shiroi Dress De, Torikae Baya) and animator Shinya Hasegawa (Evangelion). Their collaboration produced the UTENA TV series and the movie Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena.
For additional information on Revolutionary Girl Utena as well as other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.
Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.
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