I was ecstatic when I found out that I had been chosen to become a magical girl. The world of magic and adventure awaited me, and I couldn't wait to embark on this thrilling journey. Little did I know, I had made a grave mistake in choosing the candidate for my transformation. At first glance, she seemed perfect. She was kind, compassionate, and had a strong sense of justice. She had a genuine desire to protect others and make a positive impact on the world.
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These days, it s also not unusual to see magical-girl transformations parodied not only via gratuitous amounts of cleavage, but also through gender-bending. More than a few have demonstrated physical resilience that certainly implies that such attacks are ineffective, or at least less than lethal, and we all know that less than lethal attacks are worst than useless against Magical Girls.
She had a genuine desire to protect others and make a positive impact on the world. I thought she was the ideal candidate to become a magical girl. However, as I began the transformation process and delved deeper into our magical girl duties, it became clear that something was amiss.
I picked the wrong candidate for a magical girl transformation
But Anthy is.
Spoilers for Revolutionary Girl Utena.
“It’s a deconstruction of the magical girl genre.” has been uttered by countless geeks both in person and online to describe the anime Revolutionary Girl Utena. The show is about, Utena, a girl who seems…well, revolutionary. She insists on becoming a prince by wearing a boys uniform and valiantly fighting for what she believes is right. Of course, it’s not that simple. The series is heavily riddled in metaphors and mature themes expressed through everything from shadow puppetry to surfboard riding elephants. It’s a trip. (A “DEEP” trip at that.)
But I am starting to dislike how it feels like fans always shove Utena into the singular category of magical girl. Revolutionary Girl Utena is not a show that limits it’s storytelling to just that of the magical girl genre.
One of the reasons it’s logical to assume Utena does indeed belong standing next to the heroine Sailor Moon, is because the two series share the same director, Kunihiko Ikuhara. Specifically, he directed part of the original Sailor Moon anime (Sailor Moon S along with parts of Sailor Moon R) a few years before the premiere of Revolutionary Girl Utena (a work he had much more control over).
But Revolutionary Girl Utena is a show that plays with ideas from shoujo as a whole and can even be looked at in the broader sense of picking apart gendered media. Magical girl being a genre that falls under both of those umbrella-topics is “deconstructed” in the process but not by our hero: Utena, but instead I argue it is the character of Anthy who addresses the idea of a being a magical girl.
Transformations and Alter Egos
The most common interpretation I hear of Utena as a magical girl series is that Utena’s slight costume adjustment during her repetitive ascensions to the dueling arena stand in for what would be a Sailor Moon style transformation sequence.
I’ve always found this explanation not only vague but also annoying since it operates under the assumption that magical girls must be protagonists and therefore Utena is the only candidate for the role (ignoring that Anthy undergoes a much more lavish costume change during ascensions). But when Utena reaches the dueling area, she is still Utena. Her identity doesn’t waver. Anthy on the other hand, changes from common school girl to the graceful and elegant Rose Bride. She is clearly not just Utena’s quirky roommate anymore and takes on a new mysterious persona. While Anthy gladly admits to her role as the Rose Bride it’s not made clear to Utena or the viewer how committed Anthy is to the part until we reach the dueling Arena, and see Anthy’s new regal garb and watch her faithfully run to side of each duel’s victor. Anthy playing the role of smiling school girl by day and the Rose Bride by selected nights is not the only qualification Anthy has to be identified as the anime’s resident magical girl character.
The most obvious being that she is literally a magical girl. Anthy’s identities as a witch, the rose bride and a regular school girl are all treated as separate layers to Anthy’s identity. Anthy herself doesn’t seem to know which of her alter egos to remain faithful to in addition to whether it is Utena, her brother, or herself she cares most about until the very end of the story when our protagonist is erased and Anthy must choose what to do next with her princely companion gone. Now that Utena has disappeared Anthy gains proper candidacy for the role of protagonist and to drive her own story as both a magical girl and human being.
The Familiar
Chuchu is a cute little cross between a mouse and a monkey who wears a necktie and never leaves Anthy’s side. He provides comic relief and the occasional visual metaphor but other wise serves no other purpose but to be a mascot character for the show and a familiar for Anthy to complete her magical girl look.
But most familiars in magical girl stories are related to the powers granted to the magical girl in question. Revolutionary Girl Utena plays with the idea of a familiar’s role. Chuchu is nothing more than a pet and companion unlike, say, Luna in Sailor Moon who not only accompanies Sailor Moon but gives her and her fellow fighters their transformation artifacts and critical instructions during battle. Luna is a critical asset while Chuchu is just…Chuchu.
During the battles in Revolutionary Girl Utena, or duels to be specific, Anthy is responsible for initiating Utena’s costume change and then providing Utena her sword and later placing a spell on that sword for an extra boost in power. In the duels, Anthy is Utena’s familar, a critical asset like Luna in both her production of items, lent magic and in the fact that protecting her is Utena’s motivation in participating in the duels over and over again. Anthy sometimes cheers Utena on from the sidelines to reinforce this.
Anthy masquerades as a familiar to help hide her identity as a witch but once her secrets are out to both Utena and the audience, it becomes apparent that Utena was actually Anthy’s familiar in the sense that Utena ends up becoming a critical asset to Anthy. Not only does the ascension stock footage update to have Utena’s presence trigger Anthy’s dramatic transformation into the Rose Bride but Utena becomes critical to Anthy’s life, saving Anthy from suicide and granting Anthy the power to finally abandon her abusive older brother all for the sake of Anthy living her own story.
Luna the black cat might be more fitting for a witch but with Utena gone no longer cheering Anthy on or giving her instructions (at least not in the physical world) Chuchu remains to accompany Anthy on her travels and stake his place as her proper familiar.
But the familiar dynamic is not the core of Anthy and Utena’s relationship. The two are friends, fiancees, fellow victims, master and servant, prince and damsel, traitor and betrayed, the list goes on. These more apparent character dynamics illustrate how Revolutionary Girl Utena actually addresses so much more than the magical girl genre or the director’s work on Sailor Moon. So it’s not fair to say “Utena is a deconstruction of the magical genre” when it’s doing so much more. Being a magical girl is one part of Anthy’s character and it’s only projected onto Utena since she is the show’s female protagonist.
So when analyzing this show that begs to be interpreted, I hope more fans will widen their scope and realize the magical girl genre is just one part of the big picture.
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*Minion and Bad Guy both indulge in megalomaniacal laughter*
**The candidate I had chosen lacked the necessary determination and strength to handle the challenges that came with being a magical girl**. Instead of embracing her newfound powers, she was overwhelmed by them. She struggled to control even the simplest of spells, often causing more harm than good. Her lack of confidence hindered our ability to work as a team, and it jeopardized the safety of those we were supposed to protect. **It became evident that I had picked the wrong candidate for a magical girl transformation**. As time went on, it became increasingly apparent that she simply wasn't cut out for the role. She constantly doubted herself and her abilities, second-guessed every decision, and lacked the resilience needed to face the darkness that lurked within our world. **Her lack of conviction put not only herself but also everyone around her in danger**. Despite numerous attempts to guide and support her, she continued to crumble under the pressure. It was a heart-wrenching realization, but I had to accept that **the candidate I had chosen was simply not fit to be a magical girl**. In the end, we had to revoke her transformation and find a new candidate to take her place. It was a difficult decision, but one that had to be made in order to protect the innocent and maintain the balance of good in the world. This experience taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of choosing the right candidate for a magical girl transformation. **It is not enough for someone to possess a kind heart and a desire to do good**. They must also have the strength, determination, and unwavering belief in their abilities to rise above any challenge or adversity. While it was a disappointing and challenging experience, I am grateful for the lessons it taught me. It has made me more cautious and discerning in selecting future candidates for magical girl transformations. **I have learned that a true magical girl must possess both a kind heart and the inner strength to overcome any obstacle that comes her way**..
Reviews for "Finding Redemption: The Quest to Correct the Choice of the Wrong Candidate for a Magical Girl Transformation"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "I picked the wrong candidate for a magical girl transformation". The plot was dull and predictable, with hardly any originality. The main character lacked depth and development, making it difficult to connect with her. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, this book just did not captivate me or hold my interest.
2. Mark - 1 star
I couldn't even finish reading "I picked the wrong candidate for a magical girl transformation". The story felt disjointed and rushed, with little coherence between the scenes. The writing style was subpar, filled with grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. The concept of a magical girl transformation had potential, but it was poorly executed in this book. I would not recommend wasting your time on this disappointing read.
3. Samantha - 2 stars
"I picked the wrong candidate for a magical girl transformation" was a letdown for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took forever for anything interesting to happen. The characters were one-dimensional, lacking depth or relatability. The world-building was weak, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, it failed to deliver on its promising premise and left me feeling unsatisfied.
4. Mike - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "I picked the wrong candidate for a magical girl transformation", but it fell short of my expectations. The story lacked originality and felt like a rehash of other magical girl tales. The magical elements were underdeveloped, and the action scenes lacked excitement and suspense. The writing style was mediocre at best, failing to engage me as a reader. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling magical girl story.