ever since i made this post i've been thinking about how often utena avoids eye contact with akio.
and comparing that to her relationship with anthy where all they do is look at each other. it's the most prevalent form of intimacy between them along with the handholding.
and of course it shows how comfortable she is being with anthy compared to how nervous she always is around akio. but also, utena and anthy's relationship is all about learning to see each other for who they both really are. what they see isn't always positive, and it isn't always what they want to see, but they are always looking. while utena (understandably) often tries to avoid seeing akio for who he is.
[ID: A Revolutionary Utena gifset. Anthy is shown speaking with a placid smile to different duelists on the dueling grounds.
1 and 2: Anthy smiles, "Cheer up, Saionji... senpai." Saionji looks absolutely shocked and horrified.
Anthy smiles, "I'd like to study with you again." Miki looks stunned.
Anthy holds out an orange rose, saying, "One day, they will know your feelings." Juri scoffs angrily and walks away, saying, "Mind your own business!"
Anthy, standing against Touga, says, "Cheer up, Miss Tenjou." Her smile is very slight, but her expression is still pleasant. Utena looks stunned and upset, and tears fall from her eyes. End ID]
[Plain text: Anthy taking her shots where she can. End PT]
Reblog this with your favorite Anthy thing! Repeats allowed, multiple things allowed, fanart allowed, official art allowed, essays/meta allowed, fanfic allowed-- just lovingly place some Anthy in here and reblog it so that someone else does the same!
I'll kick it off with a couple things:
Yuka Yamauchi had an AMAZING take on Anthy in the new musicals and I honestly wish I could just get a cd of her alone singing the tracks-- her voice is gorgeous! Well, either that or a ten hour remix of her Anthy laugh, which is terrifying and yet somehow inspiring.
(picture source)
youtube
Hoo boy. I remember when this video came out. You would NOT believe just how much Evanescence was the soundtrack to the early fandom. Pretty much as soon as Evanescence's debut, Fallen, dropped, aaaaaaaalllllllll the Utena fans ran to their writing programs to write songfics. Still, I've always loved the choices the creator made in this particular video, and despite being potato quality, I think it still holds up.
Your turn! Put some Anthy in here to celebrate her birthday! Uh, you don't have to write them up like I did though, I'm just yappy.