includedmiddle

Jewish Transbian (Greater Seattle)

Frantically pantomiming behind a one way mirror



xenofem
@xenofem

we've got:

  • an absolute disaster lesbian who's on at least two drugs at all times, is really good at throwing knives, and lives in an apartment with nothing except a bed, a shit-ton of mirrors, and a fridge containing a single expired microwave pizza
  • a pair of characters who are somehow Juri & Shiori, and Nanami & Touga, and Miki & Kozue, all at the same time
  • the actual best "childhood best friend" character, who puts up with way too much bullshit but stands up for her own needs and refuses to be quietly sidelined or walked over
  • Riyoko Ikeda is literally incapable of not writing about the French Revolution, even when she's doing a story about high schoolers in '70s Japan
  • a several-episode-long subplot about political organizing
  • a disappointing bury-your-gays ending :/

the anime adaptation came out ~5 years before Utena; what you realize watching it is that Ikuhara took a lot of inspiration from it, and that in some respects he actually toned down just how fucked up everyone is. the best description I've heard is "Oniisama e is a mystery horror anime, and the mystery is why the fuck are these girls like this"

(also, I do think Oniisama e is interesting to have in your reference pool while watching g-witch, even if you've already seen Utena - there's some specific character moments with Suletta where her vibes aren't really Utena at all, but are 100% Nanako)