Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie

"Alone, we have the power to revolutionize the world."

1999 1h 26m JA

👍

7.4

SOLID

⭐

7.2

IMDB

★7.4TMDB · 92★7.2IMDB · 1,935

AnimationDramaFantasyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In a loose retelling of the Revolutionary Girl Utena TV series, Utena Tenjou arrives at Ohtori Academy, only to be immediately swept up in a series of duels for the hand of her classmate Anthy Himemiya and the power she supposedly holds. At the same time, Utena reunites with Touga Kiryuu, a friend from her childhood who seems to know the secrets behind the duels. Utena must discover those secrets for herself, before the power that rules Ohtori claims her and her friends, new and old.

“Alone, we have the power to revolutionize the world.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Tomoko Kawakami
Utena Tenjou (voice)
Yuriko Fuchizaki
Anthy Himemiya (voice)
Mitsuhiro Oikawa
Akio Ohtori (voice)
Kotono Mitsuishi
Juri Arisugawa (voice)
Aya Hisakawa
Miki Kaoru (voice)
Takehito Koyasu
Touga Kiryuu (voice)
Takeshi Kusao
Kyoichi Saionji (voice)
Yuri Shiratori
Nanami Kiryuu (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kunihiko Ikuhara
Writers: Yoji Enokido, Takuya Igarashi, Toru Takahashi
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

86 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara, shot by Toyomitsu Nakajo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Shinkichi Mitsumune. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Shigeru Nishiyama shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Tomoko Kawakami and Yuriko Fuchizaki and Mitsuhiro Oikawa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Alone, we have the power to revolutionize the world.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0243558 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kunihiko Ikuhara directs. Toyomitsu Nakajo behind the camera. Shinkichi Mitsumune scores. Shigeru Nishiyama cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
227 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara, shot by Toyomitsu Nakajo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Shinkichi Mitsumune. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Shigeru Nishiyama shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Tomoko Kawakami and Yuriko Fuchizaki and Mitsuhiro Oikawa carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Alone, we have the power to revolutionize the world.".
8IMDB entry: tt0243558 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 92 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
10Classified under 28 themes, including "witch", "rose garden", "sexual identity", "adolescence".

The technical file

Cinematography: Toyomitsu Nakajo
Original score: Shinkichi Mitsumune
Editing: Shigeru Nishiyama
Runtime: 86 min · 1h 26m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie (1999)
IMDB rating: 7.2/10 · 1,935 votes
MPAA: Not Rated

Also by

Kunihiko Ikuhara

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Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Production companies

Who made it

J.C.STAFF
JP
King Records
JP
movic
JP
Shogakukan
JP
SH
Shôjo Kakumei Utena Production Co.
ST
Star Child Recording
TV Tokyo
JP
Tokyo Laboratory
JP

Key crew

Animation DirectorShinya Hasegawa
ProducerTomoji Matsukura
EditorShigeru Nishiyama
ProducerAtsushi Moriyama
Art DirectionShichiro Kobayashi
Key AnimationAkemi Hayashi
Key AnimationFumio Matsumoto
Key AnimationTakashi Hashimoto
Key AnimationHirofumi Masuda
Key AnimationNobutake Ito
Key AnimationRyo Tanaka
Key AnimationYoshihiko Umakoshi
Key AnimationSatoru Kobayashi
Storyboard ArtistTakuya Igarashi
Key AnimationNobuyuki Takeuchi
Key AnimationShuuji Sakamoto
Key AnimationHideki Takahashi
Storyboard ArtistToru Takahashi
Key AnimationYuichi Takahashi
Storyboard ArtistShingo Kaneko
Key AnimationToshihiro Kikuchi
Animation DirectorAkemi Kobayashi
Animation DirectorMasahiro Aizawa
Key AnimationSoichiro Matsuda

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

witch
rose garden
sexual identity
adolescence
sibling relationship
sexuality
revolution
bride
forbidden love
surrealism
coming of age
cross dressing
incest
gender roles
lgbt
shoujo
abuse
anime
child sexual abuse
psychological
girls' love (gl)
sapphic
cars
lesbianism
sword fighting
brother sister incest
incest rape
father son incest

Release history · US

When it landed

Premiere2000-05-30· Anime Expo
Theatrical2026-06-21
Physical2001-10-23PG-13· DVD / VHS
Physical2011-12-06· with Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Apocalypse Saga Set L.E. (Remastered Box Set 3) DVD
Physical2017-12-05PG-13· with Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Apocalypse Saga Part 3 Blu-ray
TV2007-05-05· FUNimation Channel