Mikage Souji
From UtenaWiki
| Mikage Souji | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Role | Black Rose Duelist | |
| Family Name | Mikage ("honorable shadow") | |
| Given Name | Souji ("grass time") | |
| Hair | Pink | |
| Eyes | Black | |
| Rose | Black | |
| Grade | 12th | |
| Birthday | November 30 (Sagittarius) | |
| Blood Type | AB | |
| Height | 165 cm (5'5") | |
| Japanese Seiyuu | Midorikawa Hikaru | |
| English Voice Actor | Dan Green | |
In the TV version of Utena, Mikage Souji (御影 草時) is the genius student in charge of the Mikage Seminar. Through the Seminar, he seeks to kill the Rose Bride and replace her with Chida Mamiya in pursuit of world revolution.
Contents |
Background
Main article: Professor Nemuro
Long ago, Mikage was known as Professor Nemuro. He was brought to Ohtori Academy to study a problem related to world revolution -- though the precise nature of his work was kept secret even from him. Nemuro was introduced to Chida Tokiko, who he developed a crush on, and her sick younger brother Mamiya, with whom he became fascinated. Nemuro rarely showed the two much tenderness, however, due in part to his "computerlike" nature. Shortly after Ohtori Akio seduced Tokiko, an enraged Nemuro burned down the building now called Nemuro Memorial Hall, killing the hundred researchers inside.
At this moment -- or shortly thereafter -- Nemuro's nature changed and he became Mikage. It is unclear whether Nemuro dies and his spirit lingers on as Mikage, or whether he ceases to age, or whether he leaves and is re-imagined into being by Akio. Either way, he takes on his new identity and remains at Ohtori Academy years later.
Personality
While he remains reserved and analytical, Mikage seems more at ease with his emotions than Professor Nemuro. He manifests both sexuality and a dry sense of humor, not to mention a determination to achieve revolution that was notably absent in Nemuro.
Also in contrast to Nemuro, who until the arson incident seemed more or less sane, Mikage is clearly mentally unbalanced. Apart from his attempts to kill the Rose Bride, his insanity is best evidenced by his hallucinations; Mikage selectively perceives Himemiya Anthy as Mamiya and Tenjou Utena as Tokiko. Anthy and Ohtori Akio are able to exploit Mikage's hallucinations to manipulate him, leading to fan speculation that Akio and Anthy are in some sense responsible for the hallucinations and even for Mikage's continued existence at Ohtori.
Parallels with Utena
Fans often remark upon the visual similarity between Mikage and Utena; in certain poses, they can even be mistaken for each other. The two have similar hair colors and are the same height, making Mikage by far the shortest male in the series who's graduated middle school. Furthermore, both Mikage and Utena have ambiguously romantic relationships with Anthy, and both have had their innocence preyed upon by Akio. While the series does not explicitly remark upon these parallels -- Utena is portrayed as parallel to Tokiko, not to Mikage, at the end of the Black Rose arc -- some fans view them as more than coincidence and ascribe meaning to the relationship between the two characters.
Relationships
- Was Professor Nemuro
- Friends (more?) with Himemiya Anthy (impersonating Chida Mamiya)
- Recruits Ohtori Kanae, Kaoru Kozue, Takatsuki Shiori, Tsuwabuki Mitsuru, Shinohara Wakaba, and Sonoda Keiko
- Rejects Kazami Tatsuya
- Trying to kill Himemiya Anthy
- Exploited by Ohtori Akio
- Parallels Tenjou Utena
Analysis
All analysis essays are hosted on Empty Movement
- Genius: Giovanna explores how Utena's two prodigies -- Miki and Mikage -- are linked by their formidable intellects.
- Manet and Titian: Celeste catches a frame of animation that's a direct ripoff of a Manet painting; win ensues.
