Love Sailor Moon? If so, there's a 90s anime you might have missed that you better watch ASAP

Many anime fans consider Naoko Takeuchi's character iconic Sailor Moon franchise for being one of the best in history, often suggested as a great anime for beginners and which has awakened the passion of many fans of the media. Its approach to the Shojo genre was revolutionary, focusing on themes that other series of its time did not dare to address. Serena's quest to save the universe from dark forces changed the industry forever, inspiring many other incredible shows in the process.

One of these franchises is the least known Revolutionary Girl Utenaan incredibly complex series that many fans consider one of the most advanced of its time. The story of the titular swordswoman is one that everyone Sailor Moon fans who haven't given it a chance should consider watching it, as its themes and story will resonate strongly with them.

Sailor Moon director Kunihiko Ikuhara's sequel Revolutionary Girl Utena is a must-see

The series can be considered a spiritual successor to Usagi's adventure

Revolutionary Girl Utena tells the story of the titular student, a girl who grew up admiring princes after a chance encounter with one of them when she was little. Once she was old enough to enter the prestigious Ohtori Academy, she decided to become like her idols, a noble warrior who would fight for justice and peace. On her first day at her new school, Utena takes part in a fencing competition, in which the winner will win a prize like no other. Without thinking twice, the protagonist accepts, winning the first game.

His triumph gave him the chance to become the bride of Anthy Himemiya, also known as the Rose Bride, a woman who supposedly holds the power to start a revolution across the world. Utena, who does not wish to use this power and wants to keep her new friend safe, decides to become Anthy's protector, fighting against the members of one of the worst student councils in anime. The story of this incredible anime is one of bravery, friendship and responsibility, with many striking action scenes that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

The anime series was based on the manga written and illustrated by Chiho Saito. The director of this series was none other than Kunihiko Ikuhara, who previously worked as leadership during the first four seasons of the Sailor Moon anime. Both wanted to create a story that broke the mold of a typical shojo anime, an objective they fulfilled perfectly. Revolutionary Girl Utena.

Revolutionary girl Uten takes many of Sailor Moon's themes even further

Utena has it all, from women's liberation to LGBTQ+ representation

One of the main features that helped the Sailor Moon anime remains relevant for more than two decades is its approach to themes unusual for the time. Usagi goes through a journey that mainly focuses on her fight against evil and awakening to her power rather than love. Sailor Moon it's also a show that includes incredible representation from many marginalized communities. Revolutionary Girl Utenainspired by Takeuchi's work, he did something similar, only a little more radical.

The protagonist is a young woman who is confident in who she is, deciding to present himself as a prince despite having no desire to become a man. She is brave, bold and not afraid to fight for what she believes in. His relationship with Anthy, while never explicitly confirmed to be romantic, feels unique and special, as the two girls share a deep connection and have enormous affection for each other. Furthermore, the Rose Bride is a black person whose ethnicity is never openly stated, although it is heavily implied that she is of Indian descent.

Having non-white main characters were extremely rare for the timemaking this another incredible step taken by the series. Due to its main audience being more mature than Sailor Moon's, aimed mainly at girls, Utena didn't hold back when approaching heavier subjects. Along her journey, the heroine encounters many survivors of abuse, discrimination and manipulation. The villains are also not portrayed as completely evil, as most of them have genuine reasons for following their morally gray ways.

Utena deconstructs many of Shojo's biggest elements

The series subverts all expectations

Over the years, Utena has been praised for its unique and shocking take on the shojo anime genre. While the series may seem like a standard magical girl show, it quickly reveals the true complexities of its story. The protagonist, who should play the role of the female heroine, prefers to present herself in a more masculine way. Utena doesn't fight for love and justice like in many of the best magical girl anime, but rather to keep Anthy safe from the people who want to control her power.

The love interest itself goes against everything shojo tends to portray, as she is far from being a pure and helpless maiden. Anthy is manipulative, like many of the characters Utena fights, something Rose Bride herself admits throughout the show. General, Revolutionary Girl Utena is a critic of unfair systems that affect disadvantaged communities, in this case, people without money or influence, like heroin. The series portrays the power imbalances that exist at Ohtori Academy in a realistic and raw way, without holding anything back.

Utena's journey is filled with obstacles and dangers posed by people who don't care who they need to hurt to achieve their goals. The series strongly criticizes the patriarchal system that forces women to become objects of men's desire, as exemplified by Anthy's role as the Rose Bride. However, it does not portray women as helpless or pure, as a plethora of female characters are portrayed as just as flawed as their male co-stars. It is a truly complex anime that will challenge the perceptions that fans of the Shojo genre have about similar shows.

Fans looking for a series that makes them reflect on life and the systems that govern society should watch it Revolutionary Girl Utena. Its entertaining yet surreal plot and incredibly complex characters will leave a mark on anyone who gives it a chance.