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 Top03-09-2009 07:52:50 AM
- Nickyhabac
- Wakaba Wrangler
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Hidden horses in the op sequence
While doing a series re-watch something caught my eye from the least-expected of places.*
It appears that they have animated two people on rearing horses during the crumbling area sequence of the opening film.
For the sake of example I'm using some Youtube clip of the op I found
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL25C0H9vVw
In about 1.08-1.13 of this
Its def two people facing other on horses. Is it just nice imagery in the same way as Utena/Anthy on horseback towards the end or dare we delve?
* I tend to not really read in too much into the opening film but that's probably quite stupid.
Last edited by Nickyhabac (03-09-2009 09:16:51 AM)
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#2 | Back to Top03-09-2009 09:46:25 AM
- KissingT.Kiryuu
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Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
Its probably just the same reason they are on horses at the end..... which i don't know why they are. Ever notice the colors of Utena's Horse?
White (princely) horse with a purpleish colored mane and tail and blue/green eyes.... where have we seen that before...
Last edited by KissingT.Kiryuu (03-09-2009 09:46:56 AM)
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#3 | Back to Top03-09-2009 10:42:37 AM
- Fallen Rose
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Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
That's really interesting. I never noticed it before. Also you can see that Anthy is riding the dark version of the same horse. This is almost certainly in reference to the prince and Akio.
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#4 | Back to Top03-09-2009 05:56:13 PM
- Aelanie
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Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
According to Ikuhara, his original idea is that they would actually ride flying horses up into the castle in the sky, just as you see in the OP. They'd be wearing that armor and everything. It was going to be the finale of the show in his early ideas, and while it was obviously scrapped at some point, they kept it for the OP sequence.
Which is good, because it works great as symbolism too. 
Last edited by Aelanie (03-09-2009 05:58:04 PM)
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#5 | Back to Top03-09-2009 06:30:06 PM
Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
Considering the colour of the mane, I would state that the horse is Kozue as Miki's hair is slightly lighter, so hows that for a visual?
Last edited by Tamago (03-09-2009 06:35:44 PM)
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#6 | Back to Top03-09-2009 06:32:28 PM
Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
Tamago wrote:
considering the colour of the mane, I would state that the horse is either Miki or Kozue instead, so hows that for a visual?
Judging from the eye lashes, it looks more female, so given those chooses, it would most likely be Kozue. Though Miki can be rather feminine at times.
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#9 | Back to Top03-09-2009 08:14:20 PM
- Baka Kakumei Reanna
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Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
I dunno, I really think it's closer to Dios' "color scheme," and that seems to make more sense... unless someone can show me how Kozue or Miki being an armored horse for Utena to ride on is an allegory that makes sense.
Really, even if it's a theory that's just pulled out of someone's ass, I want to hear it because it'd be fun. 
We see things not as they are, we see things as we are.
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#10 | Back to Top03-09-2009 08:18:55 PM
Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
Baka Kakumei Reanna wrote:
I dunno, I really think it's closer to Dios' "color scheme," and that seems to make more sense... unless someone can show me how Kozue or Miki being an armored horse for Utena to ride on is an allegory that makes sense.
Really, even if it's a theory that's just pulled out of someone's ass, I want to hear it because it'd be fun.
Well Kozue did seem to be turned into a car in the movie for no reason at all, so why not have her turn into a horse in the series for no reason at all.
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#12 | Back to Top03-09-2009 08:58:28 PM
- Mock Puppet
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Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
satyreyes wrote:
Insert obligatory "everyone rides her anyway" joke here.
She may be the school's ride but somehow she avoided the stigma that usually comes with a rep like that, she really must be THAT good.
“Eat right, exercise regularly, die anyway.”
-A. Nonymous-
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#13 | Back to Top03-09-2009 09:16:08 PM
- Aelanie
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Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
Aelanie wrote:
According to Ikuhara, his original idea is that they would actually ride flying horses up into the castle in the sky, just as you see in the OP. They'd be wearing that armor and everything. It was going to be the finale of the show in his early ideas, and while it was obviously scrapped at some point, they kept it for the OP sequence.
Which is good, because it works great as symbolism too.
Seems like this got lost amid all the screenshots and speculation... 
As for Kozue turning into a car in the movie....my thought process on the car symbolism isn't complete, but in simple terms, the iconography of becoming a car represents the journey between childhood and adulthood. The world of Ohtori is (as the title says) adolescence, the "road" between those two parts of life, and the journey down that road can have positive or negative results. For Kozue, it means that her childhood dream of being together with her brother forever has been lost - left behind on the "roadside", as it were.
Last edited by Aelanie (03-09-2009 09:30:08 PM)
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#14 | Back to Top03-10-2009 01:10:26 AM
- Soukougnan
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Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
i never did notice those two horses.
that's curious. speculation, speculation. gotta love it.
hm. i'm... here again? catch me in the discord-- im fairybull
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#15 | Back to Top03-10-2009 01:28:32 AM
- Katzenklavier
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Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
Wait...I thought those horses were a given. 
I always thought they were just there. I mean, they have the long legs and the kicking hooves and everything. But now that I watch it again, it is rather vague. Hm. Interesting. I wonder what it means, if anything.
We must go forward, not backward. Upward, not forward. And always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom.
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#16 | Back to Top03-10-2009 08:44:49 PM
- brian
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Re: Hidden horses in the op sequence
I had always wondered about those horse in the debris and always assumed that they were Dios and Akio.
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