Shoujo Kakumei Utena

Plot
The Utena television series can be divided into three distinct story arcs:

The Student Council Saga
This encompasses the first thirteen episodes from the series.

This saga introduces us to Utena Tenjou as she enters Ohtori Academy on the first day of school. Ohtori is a massive, baroque-esque complex that sits atop a large hill. Utena is extremely tomboyish, and wants to be "A handsome prince who rescues princesses." Her best friend Wakaba asks her about the mysterious ring she always wears, which bears a rose seal identical to Ohtori's rose symbol. Utena says that a handsome prince gave it to her when she was little, saying that "Someday, this ring shall lead you to me."

One of the members of the Student Council, Kyouichi Saionji, insults Wakaba and hurts her feelings. Enraged, Utena challenges him to a duel (which is appropriate, considering that he is the captain of the Kendo team). Utena is surprised when Saoinji tells her to meet him in the dueling forest, a forbidden area for students. She is even more surprised when her rose ring opens the gates to the dueling forest, revealing a massive staircase that she ascends to reach the Dueling Arena high in the sky. Above the arena floats an upside down castle.

Utena manages to defeat Saionji in the duel, but now finds herself engaged to his former girlfriend, Anthy Himemiya! Anthy explains that the rose ring marks Utena as a Duelist, one who must battle other Duelists so that she can possess the Rose Bride, the Sword Of Dios, and the power to bring the world Revolution. Anthy is the Rose Bride, and the Sword of Dios is pulled out of her chest before duels.

During this arc, Utena meets the other Duelists - Touga Kiryuu, president of the Student Council and every girl's playboy; Kyouichi Saionji, vice president of the Student Council and overly possesive of Anthy; Miki Kaoru, the gentle boy genius; Juri Arisugawa, the master fencer with a heart of stone; and Nanami Kiryuu, Touga's spoiled and clingy younger sister. Unknown to Utena is the fact that the members of the Student Council (Touga, Saionji, Miki, Juri) are recieving letters and instructions from an entity refered to as "End of the World," telling them what to do to bring about Revolution.

The Black Rose Saga
This saga encompasses episodes 14-24. In this saga, Mikage (seemingly the male version of Utena) sets up a rival society of Duelists, the Black Rose Duelists, who try to usurp Utena as Victor of the Duel and install their own Rose Bride to replace Anthy. Mikage recruits his Duelists by turning the friends of the true Duelists against them. This saga is far more thought-provoking and dramatic than the previous one.

The Apocalypse
This encompasses episodes 25-39. Focusing this arc on Akio, Anthy's older brother and Dean of Students at Ohtori, launches the entire series into a darker tone. Akio attempts to turn the Duelists against Utena, but also seduces her. Akio realizes that Utena is the key to the power of Dios, and sets in motion events designed to break her and the other Duelists phsycologically. Utena struggles against the "Dark Prince," but in the end. . . . Well, the ending is very vague and ambigous. Not dissapointing, but definitely not "happily-ever-after."

Plot
A handsome youth by the name of Tenjo Utena transfers to the distinguished Ohtori Academy. But Utena's true identity is actually a girl, who due to a certain event from her past, has decided to cross-dress in order to fulfill the highest of ambitions. But at Ohtori Academy she meets none other than her old lover, Kiryuu Touga, who wears the Mark of the Rose on his finger, which is the sign of a duellist. Because of her possessing the exact same ring, Utena is challenged by the student body vice president, Saionji Kyouichi, to a duel in the floating rose garden. The reason for this duel is none other than the acquisition of the "Rose Bride"'s body, for with it comes the "power to revolutionize the world."