One gloomy evening, as the sun set and darkness began to blanket the land, a young girl named Lily embarked on a journey that would forever change her life. Little did she know, she was about to receive a mystic present from a good witch. Lily had always felt a connection with the magical world. She believed in fairies, unicorns, and most importantly, witches. Her favorite storybook was filled with tales of enchantment and wonder, where witches were portrayed not as wicked, but as guardians of secret knowledge and protectors of harmony between realms. On this fateful night, Lily stumbled upon an old, dilapidated cottage hidden deep in the woods.
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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.
On this fateful night, Lily stumbled upon an old, dilapidated cottage hidden deep in the woods. The cottage had an aura of mystery surrounding it, beckoning Lily to explore further. Without hesitation, she pushed open the creaky door and entered the witch's abode.
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 cottage was enchanting, filled with potions, spell books, and trinkets that seemed to hold a magical energy. Home to the good witch, it emanated a welcoming warmth that put Lily at ease. As she cautiously made her way through the cottage, she felt a strong presence guiding her towards a hidden room. In this secret chamber, she discovered an intricately carved wooden box, decorated with symbols and patterns she had never seen before. The box radiated an otherworldly glow, inviting Lily to unlock its secrets. With trembling hands, she carefully opened the box. To her astonishment, inside the box lay a necklace adorned with a dazzling crystal pendant. As Lily beheld the necklace, she could sense the immense power it held. It was a channel to the mystical realm, a conduit through which she could access her own latent abilities. The good witch had chosen Lily as her successor, passing on her magical knowledge and legacy. This necklace was the bridge that would connect Lily to her true potential, enabling her to harness the forces of enchantment for the greater good. From that moment on, Lily embarked on a wondrous journey, where she honed her skills under the guidance of the good witch's teachings. The mystical necklace became an extension of her being, igniting her inner magic and enabling her to heal, protect, and bring joy to those around her. Through her newfound abilities, Lily transformed the lives of many, spreading love and light wherever she went. The mystic present from the good witch not only empowered Lily, but it also reinforced her belief in the power of magic and the importance of using it responsibly. Lily's story serves as a reminder that one should never underestimate the power of a kind gesture from an unexpected source. The mystic present she received opened doors to a world she had only dreamed of, proving that sometimes, the most extraordinary gifts come from the most unlikely of places..
Reviews for "Beyond the Ordinary: Embracing a Good Witch's Mystic Present"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I didn't find "Mystic present from a good witch" to be very enjoyable. The story was overly predictable and lacked any real depth. The characters were one-dimensional and I didn't feel any connection to them or their struggles. The writing style was also choppy and inconsistent, which made it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I was hoping for a more captivating and imaginative story from this book.
2. Chris - 1 star
I was highly disappointed with "Mystic present from a good witch". The plot was bland and unoriginal, following the same tired tropes of other fantasy novels. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the pacing was incredibly slow. I found myself struggling to stay interested in the story and had to force myself to finish it. The lack of character development also made it difficult for me to care about what was happening. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling and engaging fantasy read.
3. Lisa - 2 stars
"Mystic present from a good witch" was a letdown for me. The writing style was too simplistic, almost like reading a children's book. The plot was predictable and there were no real surprises or twists. The dialogue also felt forced and unrealistic, making it hard for me to connect with the characters. I was hoping for more depth and complexity from this book, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking fantasy story.