This is just a comprehensive collection of both official promotional art and cels from the tv series and movie, separated into two books.

Aside from a handful (literally), pretty much all of the artwork is available elsewhere (and in some cases, they're bigger elsewhere!). But don't quote me on that, as I don't have every single art book out there. The only artwork I noticed that's new (in a book) is the individual DVD artwork. Sadly, the artwork from the remastered Japanese DVD and Blu-Ray sets isn't included. Also, no manga-style artwork is included.

Hope that helps.

There are maybe five images not in another collection in Hardcore. Where it excels is image quality--it's chock full of very high resolution images from the show, of cels directly. (You even see the edges.) Again, that's nothing you can't get elsewhere but it does mean there's some very high-res stuff compared to previous resources.

I'll try to hurry up with the putting up the actual no-where else images, but you're not going to hit a treasure trove by buying it. Same is true of the Utena/Penguindrum book.

Just check out the link below, it's exactly what you're getting. I'd have liked to have a clean copy but I got mine to butcher for the gallery, so.

What you're missing isn't technically a book, but the Maison de Chu-Chu CD-ROM. I'm not even sure one could actually run the thing now, it's Win95 era. But it actually has a lot of art that never did really show up elsewhere before the Hardcore book.

Actually...if I rip the disc would people be able to play with it?

Thanks for the information everyone!  The quality of the paper/printing looks really good from the scans you provided, cscratch!  But I think I'll need to hold off for the time being on getting The hard core of UTENA.  I did just spend a stupid amount of money buying most of the rest of the things on the list though x.x;;  Also, while not exactly a resource book, I came across an interesting analytic/criticism book specifically about Utena called 螺旋の薔薇―ウテナにおける神話考察 (The Rose Spiral - A Study of Mythology in Utena) [(here's the URL: http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4757 … ge_o07_s00).  I hope it provides some interesting insights! 

Also, you guys may already know about this, but I'm really excited for the release of Kanashimi no Belladonna here in the States (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 … ilm/.80564).  For those who don't know, it's a psychedelic journey set in medieval France of a woman who becomes persecuted as a witch but awakens to her own sexuality and power.  Ikuhara has stated that this film was an inspiration for him when he first saw it as a student and that the movie really made him conscious of animation.  I have the Japanese DVD of the movie, but hope that this release means we'll get a Blu-ray version and hopefully lots of people can see this IMHO great film.

Angel Androgynous wrote:

The Rose Spiral - A Study of Mythology in Utena) [(here's the URL: http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4757 … ge_o07_s00).  I hope it provides some interesting insights!

I've seen this pop up a few times and have always been so interested, but language barrier, and all. Is there any possibility of translating the points it hits on or such?

PS All over this movie needs to hurry to release.