This is a static copy of In the Rose Garden, which existed as the center of the western Utena fandom for years. Enjoy. :)

#1 | Back to Top10-08-2009 01:51:30 AM

Ashnod
La poétesse revolutionnaire
From: Missouri, United States
Registered: 03-01-2007
Posts: 1243
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Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

Just something I noticed when watching the remasters today.

Duel #1 vs Saionji: Fights Right Handed
http://ohtori.nu/gallery/var/resizes/Series/Episodes/Student_Council_Arc/01/Series_ep01_171.jpg?m=1380825446
Duel #2 vs Saionji: Fights Left Handed
http://ohtori.nu/gallery/var/resizes/Series/Episodes/Student_Council_Arc/02/Series_ep02_157.jpg?m=1380825809
Duel #3 vs Miki: Fights Left Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/2740-2/Series_ep05_164.jpg
Duel #4 vs Juri: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/3532-1/Series_ep07_162.jpg
Duel #5 vs Nanami: Fights Left Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/4666-1/Series_ep10_154.jpg
Duel #6 vs Touga: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/5054-2/Series_ep11_157.jpg
Duel #7 vs Touga: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/5496-2/Series_ep12_183.jpg
Duel #8 vs Kanae: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/6040-1/Series_ep14_153.jpg
Duel #9 vs Kozue: Fights Left Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/6458-1/Series_ep15_160.jpg
Duel #10 vs Shiori: Fights Left Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/7242-1/Series_ep17_167.jpg
Duel #11 vs Mitsuru: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/7638-1/Series_ep18_171.jpg
Duel #12 vs Wakaba: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/8424-1/Series_ep20_177.jpg
Duel #13 vs Keiko: Fights Right Handed (no image available)
Duel #14 vs Mikage: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/9606-1/Series_ep23_159.jpg
Duel #15 vs Saionji: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/10456-2/Series_ep25_206.jpg
Duel #16 vs Miki: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/10948-1/Series_ep26_182.jpg
Duel #17 vs Ruka: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/11856-1/Series_ep28_202.jpg
Duel #18 vs Juri: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/12214-1/Series_ep29_150.jpg
Duel #19 vs Nanami: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/13708-1/Series_ep32_204.jpg
Duel #20 vs Touga: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/15272-1/Series_ep36_153.jpg
Duel #21 vs Akio: Fights Right Handed
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/16390-1/Series_ep38_252.jpg

Analysis:

Total Right Handed Duels: 16
Total Left Handed Duels: 5

Interesting facts:
1) Does not duel left handed again after facing Shiori
2) Dueled Juri right handed, but Shiori left handed.
3) Dueled Saionji, Miki, and Nanami both left and right handed
4) Dueled Juri and Touga only right handed, of opponents faced more than once.
5) Utena always draws the Sword of Dios left-handed
6) Utena duels Kozue and Shiori left-handed, but her Dios attack is right-handed.

Apologies if this has already been compiled.


Flowers without names blooming in the field can only sway in the wind. But I was born with a destiny of roses, born to live in passion and glory.

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#2 | Back to Top10-08-2009 06:44:27 AM

Giovanna
Ends of the Fandom
From: Edmonton, AB
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Posts: 8797
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Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

This is awesome. etc-love etc-love

Unless I'm mistaken the only time they make a point to show someone be ambidextrous is Mikage switching to the hand because of his busted shoulder. Are fencers trained to be ambidextrous? Apparently a lot of sushi chefs attempt to be.


Akio, you have nice turns of phrase, but your points aren't clear and you have no textual support. I can't give this a passing grade.
~ Professor Arisa Konno, Eng 1001 (Freshman Literature and Composition)

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#3 | Back to Top10-08-2009 09:49:21 AM

Ashnod
La poétesse revolutionnaire
From: Missouri, United States
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Posts: 1243
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Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

No, in fact, it's almost unheard of for someone to be ambidextrous as a fencer. Some coaches train themselves to be that way so they can train their students regardless of which hand is dominant for the student, but it is still quite a feat to be good at it both.

Last edited by Ashnod (10-08-2009 09:51:44 AM)


Flowers without names blooming in the field can only sway in the wind. But I was born with a destiny of roses, born to live in passion and glory.

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#4 | Back to Top10-08-2009 11:25:42 AM

Nanami's Rose Groom
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Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

Most of the fencers I've been training with are not ambidextrous, but trained only to fight right-handed opponents. The thing is getting tricky, when you face someone left-handed... then you're not used to his mirror-like movements and you quickly get defeated


"Get back to the surface, where the sunlight is so dazzling"

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#5 | Back to Top10-08-2009 11:35:31 AM

lex
Master Dominus of SRS BZN
From: in absolute splendor
Registered: 11-27-2007
Posts: 1784

Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

Wow, never noticed that one before, ah yes Utena the new representative for ambidextrous peoples....unite!
Wonder what else she can do with both hands? o.O !


http://i47.tinypic.com/x6cz5y.jpg

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#6 | Back to Top10-08-2009 01:00:45 PM

Arreat
Ohtori Paramouri
From: Grans Pulse
Registered: 10-08-2009
Posts: 94

Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

This probably has been the biggest thing I've noticed during the duels. .___. *Lame*

I've caught other duelists doing it as well. The one that comes to mind most is actually Ruka. ( These were taken from episode 28. Please excuse the quality and if these have been posted before. ><; )

Right handed here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Arreat/Rukaone.jpg
Dives in left handed here. Utena parries with her left hand as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Arreat/Rukatwo.jpg
The clash for a little. Back to right hand use.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Arreat/rukathree.jpg
Ruka is talking. Sword in right hand still.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Arreat/rukafour.jpg
However, seconds later when he goes back in it's switched to his left hand.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Arreat/rukafive.jpg

( Dio-fusion then happens, etc. Utena also does this in the movie. With Saionji she charges with her right hand. The whole duel with Juri is with her left though. )

Last edited by Arreat (10-21-2009 06:01:09 PM)

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#7 | Back to Top10-08-2009 01:34:37 PM

hollow_rose
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Posts: 1074

Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

Some teachers will train fencing students in both hands, just so they can be more prepared in facing a fencer coming at them left-handed. I never was especially good at left hand, but I was trained both hands.

And I never noticed that before, about Utena and her skills. That's pretty interesting!


20 threads dead so far.

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#8 | Back to Top10-08-2009 08:24:44 PM

sharnii
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From: Melbourne Australia
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Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

That's a cool post, Ashnod, thanks for all the evidence. emot-biggrin

My personal theory is that the different artists drawing Utena just didn't pay attention to detail or to each other. Thus prob all the duelists are ambidextrous, and have varying size breasts, noses, appendages, and very strange features. school-devil

But I like the idea of Utena being ambidextrous in canon. It makes her more formidable.

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#9 | Back to Top10-08-2009 11:03:04 PM

allegoriest
Delicious Duellist
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Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

You know, I've pretty much always assumed it was just... animation discontinuity. Or something like that. Kinda like how there are so many traced action movements from other duels. Not to mention, the fighting in Utena IS kinda silly...


I've been rather... involved with with an apparently fantastic sabeur. (However the fuck you spell that person who does the meaner apparently harder one.) They were fantastically ambidextrous to the point that both hands were at an insane level. However, the only other thing they could do left handed was smoke... sorta. It kinda didn't cross over to anything else. They taught lessons for a while then completely dropped it after like... over 25 years straight.


My brother and I did kendo for a long time, and he's ambidextrous, however, we were never allowed to fight left hand dominant under fear of SHAME. ...I guess that's a bit unrelated though. *shrug*

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#10 | Back to Top10-09-2009 09:49:05 AM

satyreyes
no, definitely no cons
From: New Orleans, Louisiana
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Posts: 10328
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Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

Huh.  Normally I'd say "they flipped the animation cels," but in three out of five of the left-handed shots, Utena's rose is clearly visible on the correct (left) side of her chest.  Either she fights ambidextrously* or someone didn't notice until after Shiori's duel that the animators had been inconsistent and decided to put their foot down.

* One of the longest English words I know that doesn't repeat a letter.  The only longer common word like this I know is "uncopyrightable."

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#11 | Back to Top10-09-2009 10:13:24 AM

spoon-san
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Registered: 03-18-2009
Posts: 3423

Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

allegoriest wrote:

You know, I've pretty much always assumed it was just... animation discontinuity. Or something like that. Kinda like how there are so many traced action movements from other duels. Not to mention, the fighting in Utena IS kinda silly...

Yeah, I agree with this.  I saw it mostly as carelessness from the animators.  And yet this just boosts up the charm of SKU, the TV anime.

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#12 | Back to Top10-09-2009 04:33:54 PM

Vesko
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Registered: 05-24-2008
Posts: 10

Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

Great observation Ashnod! I never noticed this before, and if I did I would discarded it as an animators mistake( they did have a low budget), and even tho it may very well be just that, it wouldn't be unheard of for SKU to have messages that are easily overlooked even after many re-watchings. So based on the information you have provided, I have a theory.

Utena is definitely ambidextrous, but she is more skillful with her right hand. She fights exclusively with her right hand with opponents for witch she knows are STRONG( Saonji, Touga, kendo masters), she starts duels with her left hand with opponents for who she thinks that are not very skillful( Nanami, Shiori,) in order to make the fight more interesting.  When she switches to her right is when she realizes  that her opponent is better than she thought. I just watched both duels with Juri and she fight BOTH duels with her RIGHT hand, I couldn't find the scene from the picture you posted, maybe they changed something in the re-mastered version? Or, sometimes she switched hands because its, for example, more convenient in that moment to parry with her left hand. As for Miki, in their first duel she definitely fights with her left, in their second duel she seems to switch hands. I think Miki is not as good as Touga or Juri and thats why Utena fights him with her left hand, to make the duel more challenging. That said,  she is a very skillful sword master who can fight with her both hand at will, for the fun of it, or if the situation demands it, but still better with her right hand.

Last edited by Vesko (10-10-2009 06:48:17 AM)

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#13 | Back to Top10-15-2009 12:49:32 PM

tohubohu
Precious One
From: Boston metro area
Registered: 11-02-2006
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Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

Inigo Montoya: You are wonderful.
Man in Black: Thank you; I've worked hard to become so.
Inigo Montoya: I admit it, you are better than I am.
Man in Black: Then why are you smiling?
Inigo Montoya: Because I know something you don't know.
Man in Black: And what is that?
Inigo Montoya: I... am not left-handed.
[Moves his sword to his right hand and gains an advantage]
Man in Black: You are amazing.
Inigo Montoya: I ought to be, after 20 years.
Man in Black: Oh, there's something I ought to tell you.
Inigo Montoya: Tell me.
Man in Black: I'm not left-handed either.
[Moves his sword to his right hand and regains his advantage]

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#14 | Back to Top04-27-2010 08:40:22 PM

teyhy
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From: Ecuador
Registered: 04-27-2010
Posts: 245
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Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

I know this is an old topic, but my fingers have a life of their own (dammit!) anyway... emot-redface when I first saw Utena's ambidexterity I too thought it way just an error, but seeing as it is SKU maybe there is a meaning to it, school-sherlock I read somewhere (don't remember where, I think it was a book about dreams) that your right hand means reason and your left hand mean intuition.

It could mean nothing, but in the movie Utena fights Juri left handed, it probably means that at the time Utena intuitively knew that  believing in Anthy was the right choice despite having to participate in the dueling game, hence using her left arm during the fight or maybe one of the animators said "hey guys Utena is using different hands during the duels!" then Mr. Ikuhara said "don't worry fans probably won't realize it, and if they do, they'll think is symbolism and spend hours trying to give it meaning "school-devil .


Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - H. Berlioz.
http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad133/teyhy/for%20fo/Untitled-1copy.jpg?t=1280266589

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#15 | Back to Top02-16-2013 11:54:19 AM

Pinchi
Miki Molester
From: Santiago, Chile
Registered: 02-12-2013
Posts: 30

Re: Ambidextrous Utena (Warning: Image Intensive)

First, I'm sorry if my following comment isn't worthy of reviving this discussion, but I want to contribute my grain of salt.


I also noticed Utena's ambidexterity in the show. Just like satyreyes said, I thought they just flipped the images, but this is also present in the movie, so I believe it's not a coincidence.

While dueling Saionji in the movie, Utena uses her right hand:

http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie2/d/3387-1/Movie_Screen_0219.jpg
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie2/d/3465-1/Movie_Screen_0258.jpg

In Juri's duel, Utena draws the sword from Anthy with her right hand (contrary to the series)

http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie2/d/4243-1/Movie_Screen_0646.jpg
http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie2/d/4253-1/Movie_Screen_0651.jpg

However, just a few seconds later, Utena changes her sword to her left hand.

http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie2/d/4263-1/Movie_Screen_0656.jpg

And she keeps it that way until the end of the duel.

I'm not so sure about what to conclude about these facts. I think it makes sense Utena uses her right hand for more powerful strikes (therefore why she used it against opponents physically stronger than her) and her left hand for quick, agile movements. I also believe it'd awesome if Utena was ambidextrous in canon emot-keke

Last edited by Pinchi (02-16-2013 11:57:26 AM)

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