Anthy/Utena
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Himemiya Anthy/Tenjou Utena |
| Alternative name(s): | Utenanthy |
| Gender category: | femslash |
| Fandom: | Revolutionary Girl Utena |
| Canonical?: | yes, though more or less explicitly or ambiguously so depending on media |
| Prevalence: | |
| Archives: | |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article or section needs expansion. |
Anthy/Utena is the central relationship in the medium-crossing series Revolutionary Girl Utena. The nature of the relationship as platonic or romantic is still strongly contested in some fandom circles,[1] though in other circles, they are considered unambiguously canonically romantic.
Background
Revolutionary Girl Utena is a 1997 anime (with manga, movie, and live-action adaptations) revolving around Utena, a popular, tomboyish school girl, and her acquaintance with Anthy through the school's duelling club and its hidden motivations. Its themes are frequently opaque and allegorical, as it serves to deconstruct classic fairy tales, and in particular the gender roles thereof. Part of the appeal of the pairing stems from the shifting roles of the two characters, which lend their relationship a certain ambiguity. Anthy acts as a gentle princess archetype with Utena as her white knight, but also has a darker hidden side which is gradually exposed, casting the relationship in a new light.
As a deconstruction, Utena and Anthy's canonical interaction uses many popular fannish tropes, such as Accidental Marriage, shared dormitory, school dances, crossdressing and others. For many fans, Utena/Anthy was their first femslash ship, or their first ship altogether.
Fandom
In canon, the ship revolves around themes of self-sacrifice and fairy tale tropes, and is represented by a floral motif. Post-canon stories delve into Utena and Anthy finding each other again, as the series finale shows Anthy leaving Ohtori behind stating that she knows Utena is still out there. Such fics can range from happy reunions to angst-filled struggles; either the memories of the past are still strong and get in the way of their happiness, or Utena loses her memories altogether.
Notable Fanworks
Art
- Some Utena by hamletmachine
- In 10 years, I hope we can still be drinking tea together like we are now by avaruuskala
- you misjudged me yesterday, and maybe you’ve misjudged me today, but i remain myself by 6-hours
- 輪舞revolution by かる
- the only time I was truly happy was when I was with you by amei zhao
Fic
- Untangled by emilyenrose, "Rapunzel is lost to you. You will never see her again." The king's son was beside himself with pain, and in his despair he leapt down from the tower. He escaped with his life, but the thorns into which he fell pierced his eyes. Anthy searches the world for Utena Tenjou.
- Archimage Ao3 link by Jude, What happened to Utena after the end of the series?
- Seinen Kakumei Utena by gorgeousshutin, “The Revolution succeeded; it crumbled afterwards only because those whose lives got revolutionized did not follow up on the revolutionary success,” said the Bride, her words setting their closed hearts aflame. “This time, will you help us help you?”
- Abstraction White Rose by Moonsheen, “Why don't we say that we are two people who have not met in some time? It is a perfectly normal reaction, when it's something like that.” Anthy promised that she would find Utena after the end of the world. She does. Now, it's up to Utena to find herself.
- In Cloud Country by signalbeam, Anthy takes an amnesiac Utena to a dairy farm in America to meet her cows. And to see some mountains, and to do some B&E. The usual itinerary. (Post-canon amnesia fic)
- the good ambassador by signalbeam, Anthy helps Akio seduce their newest groom. (Canon compliant missing scene fic, Anthy introspection)
- the lady of shallots by signalbeam, Utena finds Wakaba some years after Ohtori. Wakaba finds a ring. (Post-canon fic, with some one-sided Utena/Wakaba)
- the world was gonna roll me by halfeatenmoon, What if Anthy freed herself from the role of Rose Bride before she met Utena, and went to live alone in a swamp? What if the prince who saved Utena as a child decided to lock her away in a tower? What if the years start coming and they don't stop coming? What if Revolutionary Girl Utena were more like Shrek?
- Glue For a Fractured Fairy Tale by SaraJaye, Ohtori's holding a ball to celebrate Utena's near-victory. Utena has bigger things to worry about.
Cosplay
Gallery
A version of the Barbie mugshot meme by sushimassacre featuring Anthy and Utena.
Resources & Fannish Links
- Works tagged Himemiya Anthy/Tenjou Utena on Archive of Our Own
- Stories tagged as the pairing [Anthy, Utena] and stories with both Anthy and Utena on FanFiction.net in the Utena fandom
- Utenanthy on Shipping Wiki
- Utena-x-Anthy, a DeviantArt group
References
- ^ See this nsfw picspam and the comment that sparked it.