In the Rose Garden / Utena parodies in other anime

tohubohu · Back to Top

Yesterday, my wife and I were watching Kyo Kara Maoh. We've gotten to the second season, and continue to be amused.

However.

The first episode on the DVD we got (apparently episode 45, "Betrothed vs. Fiancée") is such a blatant parody of Utena it had us gibbering and pointing at the TV:
- dueling
- "oniisama"
- "twins" in a rose garden
- the moth/butterfly reference
- becoming engaged by accident
- the UNIFORM OH GODS (white with red trim, epaulets, a large green stone at the throat leading to a rope of braid to the right shoulder)
- THE HAIR OMG (long blonde hair, with curls in front of the ears)
- the DUELING POSES (lots of still shots in combat)
- the ROSE SPECIAL ATTACK
- someone pinning a rose on someone else
- SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T NORMALLY WEAR GLASSES RANDOMLY WEARING GLASSES AT THE END OF THE EPISODE

The character of Elizabeth was sort of... Nanami and Juri supercollided, wearing a version of Touga's uniform with the Rose Bride's gem at the throat.

It hurt our brains.

Has anyone else found blatant Utena parodies in other anime?

Rae · Back to Top

Hmm ... there's Ouran High School Host Club. It mildly parodies Utena with the twincest, boyish girl, and sibling love (Nekozawa and his sister). Let's not forget the overuse of roses in ... pretty much every scene. Though I've always thought of Ouran as a parody of all shoujo anime in general.

Baka Kakumei Reanna · Back to Top

I've only seen the first episode of KKM, but I will be seeing the rest of it. I'll be looking forward to that episode. XD

satyreyes · Back to Top

Utena shares so many tropes of the shoujo genre with other anime that it's sometimes easy to find parodies where none exist emot-smile When I saw episode 1 of Maria-sama ga Miteru -- boarding school, lesbians, roses, roses set in stained glass, the prince, sort-of-engagements -- I was briefly convinced I was watching an Utena parody. Later I reluctantly accepted I wasn't.

tohubohu · Back to Top

satyreyes wrote:
Utena shares so many tropes of the shoujo genre with other anime that it's sometimes easy to find parodies where none exist

It's so true! My wife and I are half-convinced that there are references in We Love Katamari (the million roses level, for instance, but there are other little oddities of arrangements of roses elsewhere in the game). I was really bemused that the KKM was so transparently a parody.

Imaginary Bad Bug · Back to Top

Not a parody per se, but more of a blatant reference (an homage perhaps), would be Kannazuki no Miko.

Girl named Himemiya? Check.
Rose garden? Check.
European style academy? Check.

And it's a shoujo-ai series to boot. Though some of the series art is all but full blown yuri. Pencilboards, I'm looking at you. emot-wink

Raven Nightshade · Back to Top

Imaginary Bad Bug wrote:
Not a parody per se, but more of a blatant reference (an homage perhaps), would be Kannazuki no Miko.

Girl named Himemiya? Check.
Rose garden? Check.
European style academy? Check.

And it's a shoujo-ai series to boot. Though some of the series art is all but full blown yuri. Pencilboards, I'm looking at you.

Uniforms that would be cute if it wasn't for those gigantic puffy sleeves? Check.
Presumably Indian girl with purple hair and glasses? Check.

Recompense · Back to Top

I don't know if this counts, but in Cosplay Complex one of the characters wears the Utena version of the boys uniform.

Imaginary Bad Bug · Back to Top

Raven Nightshade wrote:
Imaginary Bad Bug wrote:
Not a parody per se, but more of a blatant reference (an homage perhaps), would be Kannazuki no Miko.

Girl named Himemiya? Check.
Rose garden? Check.
European style academy? Check.

And it's a shoujo-ai series to boot. Though some of the series art is all but full blown yuri. Pencilboards, I'm looking at you.
Uniforms that would be cute if it wasn't for those gigantic puffy sleeves? Check.
Presumably Indian girl with purple hair and glasses? Check.

Ah yes, I had forgotten those parts, but it has been almost a year since I've watched the series last...

Sevelle · Back to Top

I don't know about Utena . . . But I know ReBoot had spoofs of the Sailor Soldiers, and Sailor Moon was direct by Ikuhara.

Yes . . .

Shiva Indis · Back to Top

Imaginary Bad Bug wrote:
Not a parody per se, but more of a blatant reference (an homage perhaps), would be Kannazuki no Miko.

Girl named Himemiya? Check.
Rose garden? Check.
European style academy? Check.

And it's a shoujo-ai series to boot. Though some of the series art is all but full blown yuri. Pencilboards, I'm looking at you.

Exhibit A: Recreation of Utena OP with footage from KnM OP. http://youtube.com/watch?v=idLkzhX-jPY

Rae · Back to Top

Shiva Indis wrote:
Exhibit A: Recreation of Utena OP with footage from KnM OP. http://youtube.com/watch?v=idLkzhX-jPY

I find that creepy how the song perfectly syncs ... emot-aaa

Ragnarok · Back to Top

Wow, that's freaky in sync for certain parts.

[edit] - Get out of my head!! emot-wink

Last edited by Ragnarok (08-02-2007 08:25:46 PM)

Imaginary Bad Bug · Back to Top

Shiva Indis wrote:
Exhibit A: Recreation of Utena OP with footage from KnM OP. http://youtube.com/watch?v=idLkzhX-jPY

Wow! That can't be coincidental. emot-biggrin

Shiva Indis · Back to Top

It's very intentional, I'm sure, and done by a Japanese fan who also made note of the similarities. I thought the clasped hands and the chillin' in the garden scene in particular were too perfect.

Raven Nightshade · Back to Top

Holy crap, that was unreal. emot-aaa

satyreyes · Back to Top

THAT WAS AWESOME. emot-rofl

Now, if I understand correctly, the video is edited, correct? It doesn't synch up like that as aired, does it? Because if it does, DUDE.

Sevelle · Back to Top

Shiva Indis wrote:
Exhibit A: Recreation of Utena OP with footage from KnM OP. http://youtube.com/watch?v=idLkzhX-jPY

Ahhhhhhh!!!!

emot-aaa

ShatteredMirror · Back to Top

Dude, that is SO COOL. I have to check out this series now, just because it seems so like Utena.

Baka Kakumei Reanna · Back to Top

Shiva Indis wrote:
Imaginary Bad Bug wrote:
Not a parody per se, but more of a blatant reference (an homage perhaps), would be Kannazuki no Miko.

Girl named Himemiya? Check.
Rose garden? Check.
European style academy? Check.

And it's a shoujo-ai series to boot. Though some of the series art is all but full blown yuri. Pencilboards, I'm looking at you.
Exhibit A: Recreation of Utena OP with footage from KnM OP. http://youtube.com/watch?v=idLkzhX-jPY

Well, some of it synced up pretty well. Especially the beginning.

allegoriest · Back to Top

I have a friend who always tells me something about shadow girls in Fruits Basket. Never seen it, so no idea.

Maarika · Back to Top

Sevelle wrote:
Shiva Indis wrote:
Exhibit A: Recreation of Utena OP with footage from KnM OP. http://youtube.com/watch?v=idLkzhX-jPY
Ahhhhhhh!!!!

That's too disturbing to be a coincidence! emot-aaa

Btw, did anyone else have images of the actual Utena opening in their mind while watching that? emot-tongue I think I've seen too much Utena.

And Utena OP is still much more awesome. cool

ShatteredMirror wrote:
Dude, that is SO COOL. I have to check out this series now, just because it seems so like Utena.

The series is actually nothing like Utena, but I think it's worth watching anyway.

satyreyes wrote:
Now, if I understand correctly, the video is edited, correct?

Edit: I guess you're right. The original OP has just some of the scenes in a different order. But still, most of it is the same!

Last edited by Maarika (08-05-2007 12:45:43 AM)

Pandora · Back to Top

Something someone else noticed- theres an episode of Pokemon which briefly visually parodies the swirling rose frame.

http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/compariso … ep026.html

Theres some pictures of a comparison- its pretty similar!

Baka Kakumei Reanna · Back to Top

If anyone's read the yaoi manga "Hoshi no Yakata" by Tori Maia, there's a very obvious homage to Miki. Here, let me make you guys a pic...

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v600/ … miki-1.jpg

And yes, his name is even Miki.

Last edited by Baka Kakumei Reanna (08-05-2007 10:03:07 AM)

Hiraku · Back to Top

HOLY SHIT! Even his uniform looks similar. If there's a colored page of that character, and it's got blue lace and all that crap, I'd scream in sheer terror and excitement emot-dance

#1 | Back to Top08-02-2007 08:23:27 AM

Utena parodies in other anime

#2 | Back to Top08-02-2007 09:13:08 AM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#3 | Back to Top08-02-2007 11:23:06 AM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#4 | Back to Top08-02-2007 02:25:31 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#5 | Back to Top08-02-2007 02:50:49 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

satyreyes wrote:

#6 | Back to Top08-02-2007 04:18:52 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#7 | Back to Top08-02-2007 04:29:02 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

Imaginary Bad Bug wrote:

#8 | Back to Top08-02-2007 05:24:15 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#9 | Back to Top08-02-2007 07:05:34 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

Raven Nightshade wrote:

Imaginary Bad Bug wrote:

#10 | Back to Top08-02-2007 07:27:49 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#11 | Back to Top08-02-2007 08:22:13 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

Imaginary Bad Bug wrote:

#12 | Back to Top08-02-2007 08:25:19 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

Shiva Indis wrote:

#13 | Back to Top08-02-2007 08:25:19 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#14 | Back to Top08-02-2007 08:26:23 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

Shiva Indis wrote:

#15 | Back to Top08-02-2007 08:49:48 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#16 | Back to Top08-02-2007 08:56:16 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#17 | Back to Top08-02-2007 08:59:10 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#18 | Back to Top08-02-2007 10:04:07 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

Shiva Indis wrote:

#19 | Back to Top08-02-2007 11:21:13 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#20 | Back to Top08-02-2007 11:26:59 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

Shiva Indis wrote:

Imaginary Bad Bug wrote:

#21 | Back to Top08-04-2007 11:58:30 PM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#22 | Back to Top08-05-2007 12:36:34 AM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

Sevelle wrote:

Shiva Indis wrote:

ShatteredMirror wrote:

satyreyes wrote:

#23 | Back to Top08-05-2007 06:30:15 AM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#24 | Back to Top08-05-2007 10:02:30 AM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

#25 | Back to Top08-05-2007 10:30:06 AM

Re: Utena parodies in other anime

Board footer