The second ending sequence. <- Previous • Next -> Aiko.
The stories of each character.
Aiko - Akio - Anthy - Chu-Chu - Dios - Juri - Kanae - Keiko - Kozue - Mamiya - Mikage - Miki - Mitsuru - Mrs. Ohtori - Nanami - nerd boys - Ruka - Saionji - shadow girls - Shiori - Tatsuya - Tokiko - Touga - Utena- Wakaba - Yuuko.
Main story: Akio - Anthy - Dios - Utena.
Student Council: Juri - Miki - Nanami - Saionji - Touga.
Black Rose: Mamiya - Mikage - Tokiko.
Nanami: Nanami - Mitsuru - Aiko - Keiko - Yuuko.
One-line sketches of the basic ideas behind some important characters. See the big idea - the main storyline for the allegorical roles of Akio, Dios, Anthy, and Utena. I believe that Utena’s specific goal is necessary for her power of miracles, and Anthy’s specific goal is necessary for her “magic”, her version of the power of miracles.
Akio - Seeks to control women by all means. Touga - Seeks to control women psychologically by deception. Saionji - Seeks to control women physically by violence.
Anthy - Sacrifices herself to support Akio. Utena - Sacrifices herself to try to rescue Anthy.
Juri - Supports the patriarchy for fear of its retribution. Nanami - Seeks to rebel against the patriarchy and take its power for herself.
Miki represents naivety; he is neither for nor against the patriarchy, until he learns more. Kozue represents betrayal. She feels betrayed and betrays others.
The nerd boys stand for conformity and the enforcement of conformity. Nanami’s minions stand for discord and rebellion in response to authority.
In the Student Council arc, Touga tries to deceive Utena emotionally. In the Black Rose, Mikage tries to deceive Utena intellectually. In the Apocalypse Saga, Akio (who uses all means) does both.
Love interests tend to coordinate with character goals.
Akio loves (if you can call it that) those he can exploit, and he loves Anthy most of all because he exploits her the most thoroughly. He’s honest in his twisted way when he claims to, or implies he does, love his victims Kanae, Mrs. Ohtori, and Utena. Anthy loves Akio because her role to believe in the patriarchy.
Utena loves Anthy because Anthy seeks rescue. Anthy loves Utena because Utena tries to rescue her, prince-like.
Touga the deceiver loves Utena because she is easy to deceive. Violent Saionji loves Anthy because Anthy quietly accepts violence. Touga and Saionji love each other because deception and violence need each other to exert lasting control over women.
Kozue is about family and betrayal, and her love of Miki constitutes a betrayal of her family.
Juri fears to admit her love of Shiori. Nanami rebels against admitting her lesbian desire, though I suspect that she may have admitted it to herself by episode 37 (she is almost friendly in trying to help out Utena).
What about Mitsuru-Nanami, Mikage-Tokiko, Wakaba?
Jay Scott <jay@satirist.org>
first posted 17 July 2023
updated 19 June 2026