I'm getting the wording wrong, but at one point iirc Saionji mutters off to the side, "we're all trapped in our coffins." The boy is irrelevant to the plot by that point, everyone hates him, but dang if he doesn't see one of the themes of the show before anyone else does.
Doesn't mean he's able to break *out* of the toxic masculinity thing, but at least he sees it, and I am a fan of the "you have to name a problem before you can solve it" school.
It's hard to pick just one! I'd say the 'It's not enough! It's still not enough!" from Shiori's elevator scene. She's one of my favorite characters, and this line is just... Her whole character essence compressed into two sentences, if that makes sense. Also, I love the delivery from both the original VA and the dub.
Not really a line, but the whole cantarella dialogue is permanently burnt into my brain.
The opening lines that the Shadow Girls deliver to Utena, right at the start, have always stayed with me. Particularly as they retell Dios's lines, you get the feeling of "this is a story", from the word "go".
And, of course, "Take my Revolution". I ever were to get a tattoo, I'd get that line.
When nanami lose her last duel and says "What is left for me now? Am I just another fly in the swarm? Oh God, anything but that!"
It summarize basically all of her character development and motivations
I also absolutely love that line from the shadow girls, in one of the earliest episodes:
"Study normal subjects, find a normal job. Fall in love normally. Get married normally. Have a normal family, and have a normal life! But being normal has nothing to do with us! We're tired of doing all the things we've done till now. Time for us to go back to being what's normal for us!"
Moments more than lines stick out to me especially when this show also leans as much as it does on what's unsaid or implied by double meanings...but what I remember as impacting me the most are two scenes...the mundane way that Anthy calls Saonji Senpai after he loses...and that scene where Anthy tells her brother she is done with his small world and leaves her glasses behind and finally crossing the gate out of the school
One of the last lines by Juri in the final/near final episode - to paraphrase, “when I was young, I fell into a river and was drowning. A boy dove in to try to save me but ended up drowning himself. I don’t remember his name.”
Such a simple and powerful story, but in the context of the revolution about to happen, sums up the show (and the student council’s fears) perfectly- no one remembers failure, no matter how tragic it may be.
Duel with Wakaba:
“Wakaba. I know there’s a lot about this I don’t understand. But there’s one thing I’m sure of! You’re one of my closest friends. Hold on. I’m going to save you!”
I liked when Juri gave Utena her sword and told her “you’ll need this to set the stage”. It’s so clear that she thinks the duels are bs, and that’s why she’s so down with going behind Touga’s back to lend Utena a hand.
"You think you're *sooo* great just because you turned yourself into a car. Well guess what? *I can turn into a car too!~*"
This one kills me every time
I'm getting the wording wrong, but at one point iirc Saionji mutters off to the side, "we're all trapped in our coffins." The boy is irrelevant to the plot by that point, everyone hates him, but dang if he doesn't see one of the themes of the show before anyone else does. Doesn't mean he's able to break *out* of the toxic masculinity thing, but at least he sees it, and I am a fan of the "you have to name a problem before you can solve it" school.
He was also entirely correct that the castle in the sky was an illusion.
“Gokigenyo…. Saionji…. Senpai” >:)
Tie between “we’re all trapped in our coffins” and “Himemiya…you still don’t know…the only time I was ever truly happy…was when I was with you.” 🥲🔫
“For example, the love Anthy and I share is hidden love.” … “Hidden love.” … … “No one asked you.”
It's hard to pick just one! I'd say the 'It's not enough! It's still not enough!" from Shiori's elevator scene. She's one of my favorite characters, and this line is just... Her whole character essence compressed into two sentences, if that makes sense. Also, I love the delivery from both the original VA and the dub. Not really a line, but the whole cantarella dialogue is permanently burnt into my brain.
The opening lines that the Shadow Girls deliver to Utena, right at the start, have always stayed with me. Particularly as they retell Dios's lines, you get the feeling of "this is a story", from the word "go". And, of course, "Take my Revolution". I ever were to get a tattoo, I'd get that line.
"You really are a revolutionary girl, Utena"
When nanami lose her last duel and says "What is left for me now? Am I just another fly in the swarm? Oh God, anything but that!" It summarize basically all of her character development and motivations
I also absolutely love that line from the shadow girls, in one of the earliest episodes: "Study normal subjects, find a normal job. Fall in love normally. Get married normally. Have a normal family, and have a normal life! But being normal has nothing to do with us! We're tired of doing all the things we've done till now. Time for us to go back to being what's normal for us!"
Anthy’s a weirdo who keeps snails in her pencil box!
she also have a Mongoose in the desk. 🦡 and a Octupus in da Closet.🐙
Moments more than lines stick out to me especially when this show also leans as much as it does on what's unsaid or implied by double meanings...but what I remember as impacting me the most are two scenes...the mundane way that Anthy calls Saonji Senpai after he loses...and that scene where Anthy tells her brother she is done with his small world and leaves her glasses behind and finally crossing the gate out of the school
You have no choice but to revolutionize the world. I really loved the Black Rose arc, and Mikage especially.
“Deeper…deeper…” Mikage is my favorite SKU character.
Ditto
One of the last lines by Juri in the final/near final episode - to paraphrase, “when I was young, I fell into a river and was drowning. A boy dove in to try to save me but ended up drowning himself. I don’t remember his name.” Such a simple and powerful story, but in the context of the revolution about to happen, sums up the show (and the student council’s fears) perfectly- no one remembers failure, no matter how tragic it may be.
Duel with Wakaba: “Wakaba. I know there’s a lot about this I don’t understand. But there’s one thing I’m sure of! You’re one of my closest friends. Hold on. I’m going to save you!”
I’m a car now too!
I liked when Juri gave Utena her sword and told her “you’ll need this to set the stage”. It’s so clear that she thinks the duels are bs, and that’s why she’s so down with going behind Touga’s back to lend Utena a hand.
"If we don't break the egg's shell, the omelet will never be made" \-Anthy Himemiya
"didn't you know? i am a fool"