After watching Utena, my rating on Shitsurakuen dropped.
And indeed, Shitsurakuen is using a lot of Utena's elements with no surrealism. The new elements that the author add are:
- Virtual reality unlike the projector in Utena
- Harem instead of one girl
- More shoujo-ai elements (Like the Utena Movie)
- The protagonist is given a glove instead of a ring like in Utena
- It hasn't to do anything with revolution or the world
- More stupid characters
Okay, the first thing you wonder is, why the girls attend and they do not simple leave to attend to another when they face such circumstances. It is never explained but it is letting you to assume that they probably have a scholarship and they must attend to this reputed school. Or they are spied and they are unable to tell to their parents. Either way, it is not excused so it makes it more stupid.
And let's see... Utopia is an Academy where all of the guys torture the girls and the girls cling on them. It's just so pathetic... They enjoy being puppets. Basically all of them act like Anthy from Utena. And one day, the girl that wants to become a knight and save Princesses appear and start saving them. (And yes, in a male uniform like Utena.)
Sora is kind of annoying she is repeating like 4757383845 times that she will save each girl. And all of the guys are trying to eliminate her, except this guy that is pretty much like Akio. (Without the amazing car scenes of course.)
Sora's harem has no development at all. Take for example, Kohaku; She is a girl with no personality whatsoever. She is just blushing whenever she is around Sora. The second girl? Pretty much the same. It was only Reiko as a tsundere that showed something better. And we have the mysterious girl that is an old friend of Sora (And apparently Sora's yuri interest that is LIKE Anthy) whom she needs to be saved and later she has also a symbolic presence.)
Of course, the fairytale-like plot is not missing from here either; We see some scenes where the knight save the princess, etc. Utena much, again?
I have to admit though, that the designs are better than the ones in Utena. Although the fights suck and neither Utena did had any good fights.
I know I did a lot of comparison to Utena but it is just so damn similar. Anyways, entertaining for a one time read.