Like Bloom Into You is cute, but the anime literally just up and ends halfway through the story with no conclusion or even climax to the story (yes, I went and read the manga afterwards and the complete story was good, particularly in how it reached a point where the characters all realized how silly the central driving internal conflicts of the first half were), and when I look at relevant MAL stacks it’s like “these aren’t bait - well ok this one is, and that was is, but uh…” or “alright so it’s an incestuous loli story but…” and all I can think is so this is basically the only place I trust to ask.
Side question, is there anywhere I can actually find translated light novels that’s better than nyaa.si? Because as consistent as that’s been there’s still occasionally things like the Bloom Into You spinoff that’s either not there or not complete.
Revolutionary Girl Utena. the show is the main part of the story and it completes in the movie, so watch them in that order.
people sometimes skip the show and go straight to the movie because a) it’s gayer and b) it seems like it’s retelling the same story except faster. it’s not. the movie takes place after the events of the show and it’s about the consequences of the events in the anime, with the benefit of substantial character growth.
the story is bizarre and benefits from multiple watches and a close reading. reality, surreality, and absurdity blend together constantly, so prepare for a lot of weird. it’s genuinely one of my favorite works of art, period.
and the gay isn’t bait. they kiss by the end - but only after destroying the patriarchy and escaping the cycle of trauma that’s entrapped their psyches as children, forever frozen in their most painful moments. the story messes with gender a lot too - I’ve never felt more seen.
CW for CSA, including familial. it’s implied but not exactly subtle.
I watched the first third or so before getting distracted and losing where I was in it. Also watched Yurikuma Arashi from the same director which was even more impenetrable and “everything is stilted symbolism, nothing is literal.”