Perhaps I should have payed attention to the other duelist (not just Utena), but I'll get round to that when I find some time, yup. About the [ep 2] Saionji observation, a thought crossed my mind that it might have something to do with conflicting opinnions. Because, usually the duelists fight for something that Utena either doesn't understand or doesn't agree with. That might even make sense, considering the [ep 7] when both Juri and Utena hold their swords in their right hand. But I can't make a conclusion based on two duels. Bleh, if only schoolwork hadn't cought up on me, I'd give it way more though. Dunno about the ring, though.

Situation update:

[ep 14] Against Kanae, right hand
[ep 15] Against Kozue, left hand until Anthy assists by touching the sword
[ep 17] Against Shiori, left hand, except in the repeated Dios sequence
[ep 18] Against Tsuwabuki, right hand
[ep 20] Against wakaba, none? Utena takes off Wakaba's rose using her right hand
[ep 21] Against Keiko, right hand (this one I had to pause to see)
[ep 22] Against Mikage - right hand (Mikage goes from left to right hand, after getting injured)

UtenaFanGirl wrote:

i think it could have been change in animator groups

...in some episode you can totally tell when a different set of animators drew an episode vs another

Much as I hate to say it, because this is the kind of detail Ikuni wouldn't normally miss, I think you may be right.  Saionji is left-handed in episode 1, but right-handed in 2 and 25.  (He holds the sword with both hands throughout 2, but his right hand is uppermost.)  Touga is left-handed in 11, right-handed in 12 (though he hands the sword to Anthy with his left), and right-handed in 36.  But Miki is right-handed in both 5 and 26, Juri is right-handed in 7 and 29 (vs. both Ruka and Utena), and Nanami is right-handed in both 10 and 32.  So I think there's something to be said for the "different artists" theory.

Interestingly, all the duelists (except maybe Utena; I didn't check) in the last season fight right-handed.  I think this is so they can use the dramatic shot of the duelist running in a curved line parallel to a car racing along the border of the arena.  It looks more dramatic if the sword is held on the side closer to the car, which forces all the duelists to be right-handed.

Again, it really surprises me, though, that this isn't consistent.  I want there to be a symbolic reason.  So I'm going to go with my original theory, which is that... oh.  Oh ho ho.  You know what it is?

The duelists that always fight with the same hand (Miki, Juri, and Nanami) are also the least bisexual.  (Miki may have had an "experience" with Touga, but he's definitely primarily het.)  Saionji and Touga, however, switch-hit.  How 'bout that?  Even the animators make fun of Utena's "engagement!"  Or so I will tell myself because I cannot stomach the thought that there is an error in my favorite anime.

Last edited by satyreyes (10-31-2006 04:19:12 PM)

I always thought this corresponded to the hand of the duelist Utena was facing. I was happy with this answer and thus didn't look to closely to see if it was accurate. Now I don't know what to think!

Giovanna wrote:

Perhaps they've made a point to learn to fight with both hands as Mikage obviously did. (And he's the least like a swordsman, so you'd expect his skill level to be lower. LOL nerds don't do sports LOL)

He's the least like a swordsmen, but so is Utena! And he was supposedly undefeated against the hundred duelists. So in my same mindset as before, I figured his display of ambidexterity was meant to reflect Utena's habit of changing the hand she used depending on the duel.

Cell reversal was actually my first thought, but the ring is always on Utena's left hand. Maybe they did reverse cells, but gave it enough attention to switch the ring every time. But if they payed attention to such a minor detail, it wouldn't make sense for them not to notice the hand thing. My conclusion; It's a bonus for the really, really obsessive fans. (Who else would notice something like that and consider it relevant? :) Just another thing to confuse the watchers.

Giovanna wrote:

Edit: If that were it, Akio would have been dueling with his right and left hands and feet. :tongue:

Can't... Stop... Laughing... XD

Isn't it obvious? They're using their left hands when they're being sinister.

[/bad pun]

"My name is Saionji Kyouichi. You stole my Rose Bride. Prepare to die."

And Utena is the Dread Crossdresser Roberts, because no one would fear the Dread Crossdresser Utena.

Last edited by Ivy-chan (10-31-2006 11:08:20 PM)

Giovanna wrote:

If that were it, Akio would have been dueling with his right and left hands and feet.

Actually I'm sure he could use his biggest appendage as you can be sure its prehensile enough to hold a sword.

lol but hell that theory works

Arki wrote:

Wow, this is a revolutionary discovery! Since character sexuality must be one of the most disputed things in anime in general. Now we have an answer even to that.

Seriously. Mikage makes quite a display of switching hands...but for switching hands to say something about sexuality, one of Mikage's hands must be much, much younger than the other.

Lightice wrote:

As I understood, the Rose signet is in the left hand to resemble an engagement ring and that symbolism I leave for others to decipher.

Everyone's engaged to Akio except Kanae. (She has no ring to show their engagement.)

In all seriousness, I'd say the symbolism there, of them wearing the signet on their left ring finger, well...'till death do they part? Or...a form of death. Any way we can work eggs into wedding vows?

Gio wrote:

In all seriousness, I'd say the symbolism there, of them wearing the signet on their left ring finger, well...'till death do they part? Or...a form of death. Any way we can work eggs into wedding vows?

Well... the Champion Duelist is "the One Engaged."  Naturally they have to wear an engagement ring.  It shows commitment to the Rose Bride (who, plz note, does not wear an engagement ring), and metaphorically to world revolution.  If you take your ring off you're abandoning that commitment, a symbolic act that's played with throughout the last two seasons.

...But Utena... ah, beautiful Utena.  She thinks of her ring as a symbol of commitment to becoming a prince, not to Anthy or to revolution.  She drives the point home constantly.  "Guys, she is not my fricking fiancée already -- shut up!"  And the fact that she doesn't consider herself engaged to Anthy helps her engage with Anthy in a way none of the other duelists do.  So Utena's ring is different.

As for working eggs into wedding vows, I suppose that'll happen when Nanami gets married in Massachusetts.  She's the kind of girl that lays eggs.