Although I haven't read the manga yet (and I just seriously spoiled myself but oh well lol) I have to say, the ending of the anime was very strong to me. When Utena finally collapses, and apologizes for not being able to become a prince,  I found that a very powerful moment. It also brought one of the series' many themes, that of the prince/princess archetypes, full force. Early on in the story we think that Utena is a strong character because she is subverting gender roles, which is a nice thing in of itself. However, the conclusion that the series comes to, I think, is a great deal more radical and even anarchically than merely suggesting that it's all right for girls to fill traditionally male roles and vice verse. Instead, it shows that the entire nature of these roles, these archetypes, these princes and princesses, just can't exist. It's not because she's a girl that she can't become a prince, it is because prince's simply are not real. Instead of that being a debilitating realization, instead it comes as empowering, if somewhat scary. Princes and princesses aren't useful archetypes, according to the show, (and my interpretation of it lol) in fact roles and archetypes in general are not useful. Instead, we should break past them all, and enter into a create a new world. Utena, once she realizes how shallow and meaningless the current world Ohtori is, with is ingrained ideals, archetype idolization, and refusal to let go of the past & inability to resolve old problems, she is able to grow and leave that world. I feel like there are several ways you can apply the ending of the show to varies themes it's trying to portray, such as the passage from childhood into adulthood, or feminism & equality breaking free from misogyny, (all of which are valid too imo, just different aspects of Utena's very layered narrative)  but I think that this proposal of throwing aside the current rules of the world, breaking free into the new and remaking it entirely, this very anarchic idea, is one of the ending's principal messages. And I love it for that.

Also, Utena and Anthy's love is fantastic and complex too, both on a narrative and thematic level, so yeah, woot Utena x Anthy. lol

Thank you very much for responding, satyreyes! It makes me feel good that my analysis has inspired discussion. I think you have made some fair points, especially in regards to Anthy. The anime ending is very Anthy-centric, yes, while the manga ending is more about Utena fulfilling her potential, or at the very least about both gals equally.

You can find it (technically illegally, to be sure) scanlated on most scanlation sites, but fair warning, the most commonly found fan translation is HORRIBLE. Like I felt a bit embarassed at times using those scans in my MMVs because the grammar and syntax is awful, some sentences don't even make sense at all, and they insist on leaving a few common Japanese words such as "gomen nasai"(i'm sorry) untranslated which is awkward and unnecessary. It just really doesn't do the manga justice at all.
The Viz unflipped Shojo edition is worth the $$$ in my opinion, as it's a gazillion times better than that. It's not always a perfect word-for-word translation(I know because I own the first volume in Japanese, my Japanese reading comprehension is at least an intermediate/JLPT N3 level so I can get the gist of it), but the way they sometimes embellished the dialogue never really changes the meaning that much, it just makes it flow very naturally in English.

Kae-Leah wrote:

You can find it (technically illegally, to be sure) scanlated on most scanlation sites, but fair warning, the most commonly found fan translation is HORRIBLE. Like I felt a bit embarassed at times using those scans in my MMVs because the grammar and syntax is awful, some sentences don't even make sense at all, and they insist on leaving a few common Japanese words such as "gomen nasai"(i'm sorry) untranslated which is awkward and unnecessary. It just really doesn't do the manga justice at all.
The Viz unflipped Shojo edition is worth the $$$ in my opinion, as it's a gazillion times better than that. It's not always a perfect word-for-word translation(I know because I own the first volume in Japanese, my Japanese reading comprehension is at least an intermediate/JLPT N3 level so I can get the gist of it), but the way they sometimes embellished the dialogue never really changes the meaning that much, it just makes it flow very naturally in English.

How you tempt me lol. I might just start looking for any somewhat reasonable ebay auctions...the artwork in the manga looks beautiful and I can't wait to read it at some point! (Whether that be shelling out or the lucky chance of getting a better scanlation or, even more unlikely, a new licensor)

@satyreyes Seeing so many long-time fans on this site with their, by now, well developed (one would hope lol) opinions makes me really want to better develop my own. I have had a few theories/interpretations on the show, but I really want to start fleshing them out and making them come somewhere close to as eloquent as all of yours lol.