Akio Ohtori is one of the most insidious villains in anime because of his predatory nature. He is disgusting and terrifying because he’s a realistic depiction of the kind of man who uses and abuses women and children regularly. He’s socially charming and beloved by everyone, even being compared to a Prince. As the main villain in Revolutionary Girl Utena, Akio is a serial rapist who preys on most of the characters.
This post isn’t exactly about Akio, though. It’s about what happens when evil people like him achieve major victories and gain increased power. On November 5th, those who support human rights, democracy, and science suffered a huge loss in a major country. The effects have yet to be seen. With any luck, democracy will remain in tact and we will avoid further wars and genocides. But that isn’t remotely certain.
It would be easy for me to act hateful or unproductively lash out at others who contributed to this loss. (Like eligible voters in the USA who didn’t vote.) But in the interest of actually helping people, I’m not going to play the blame game. Rather, I will talk about what we should do now. Utena has been stabbed in the back and cast out of the world, while the power and victory went to Akio. What can we do when evil wins?
We are basically Anthy right now. We’ve lost the hope we had – Utena – and we seem doomed to another cycle of quietly obeying Akio, our predatory sociopath brother. But at the end of the anime series Revolutionary Girl Utena, Anthy doesn’t just give up after all. She tells Akio she’s leaving and begins a journey to find the version of the world where she can save Utena and achieve true freedom. Though she may continue to suffer on her dangerous journey, Anthy leaves feeling hopeful and empowered.
Don’t forget – because Anthy doesn’t give up, she finds Utena once more in the movie Adolescence of Utena. The two women fall in love again and together, they break free from Akio’s world. “Breaking free” may mean different things for different people. Maybe it means achieving the human rights that women and queer people deserve. Maybe it means we stop supporting genocides. It’s the promise of future improvement that lurks on the horizon for those who decide to press onward.
If you are part of a marginalized group in the USA, such as the LGBT+ community, then I can tell you right now that the most important thing to do is stay alive. Akio may yet continue to drug us and dominate us at night, but day will surely come. We will find Utena – our hope in humanity, our security – yet again. So, don’t forget – we are going to have tea and laugh together again in ten years. If I have to stay alive, then so do you.
Let’s help each other through this. Queer people, trans people. People with uteruses who need healthcare and bodily autonomy. Members of ethnic minorities and people of color. Democratic thinkers who don’t tolerate fascism. Atheists and/or anyone who stands against tyrannical Christian Nationalism. Let’s just try to keep each other’s heads above water. This is not the end.
What do we do when evil wins? We stick together and stay alive to fight another day.
~Thank you for reading~
Resources
Here are a few options for people in the USA who are struggling.
- Suicide Prevention Hotline: Dial 988 from anywhere in the country.
- Crisis Hotlines: This page has a lot of good info and phone numbers.
- The Trevor Project: This resource is specifically for queer people who may need support. Their main phoneline is: (212) 695-8650.
- Recovering From Religion: Get help from people who are trained to work with religious trauma. They can hook you up with a secular therapist.
- Other: You can also google “Community Service Board near me.” Many localities in the USA will have these places where you can be seen by a therapist or psychiatrist for little to no cost. It’s usually a sliding scale based on your income.
Additionally, if you plan to leave the USA, you might start with these links.
Anime Rants 