History Anime / UtaKata

* PurpleEyes: Michiru.

* InvisibleToNormals: The Djinn, also [[spoiler: Manatsu at first.]]

* MeaningfulName: Manatsu can be written with the kanji for "midsummer" (真夏), indicating the time in which she appeared to Ichika.

* DarkIsNotEvil: The Djinn of Darkness, despite coming late in the series and being rather forbidding looking, is one of Ichika's more pleasant transformations.

* NotBloodSiblings: Sei and Kai are ambiguously romantic and they pass themselves off as twins. Of course, Kai is actually from the other side of the mirror, as Manatsu is.

* PaintItBlack: Ichika's final costume is a black coloured inversion of the white one she wears in the OpeningTheme.

Of special note is the fact that all of the costumes that Ichika transforms into (twelve of them -- [[OnceAnEpisode one for each episode]]) have been designed by different artists, known for their work on other manga, anime or figurines. Also notable is the [[RealPlaceBackground attention to the beautiful scenery of real life Kamakura,]] especially used to great effect in the beach scenes.

''Uta Kata'' starts out as a seemingly ordinary MagicalGirl show, but fairly quickly [[MoodWhiplash shifts toward a much more serious tone,]] when Ichika faces some big issues regarding the use of her powers, and how they affect her and her surroundings. The 12 episode anime, broadcasted in 2004, had quite an [[GainaxEnding ambigious ending]] that left some questions unanswered. The DVD release contained an extra [[{{OVA}} Original Video Animation]] episode in an attempt to bring some more closure to the story. The character designs and animation style are hallmarks of Creator/{{Gimik}}, a creative threesome consisting of director Keiji Gotoh, character designer Megumi Kadonosono, and screenwriter Hidefumi Kimura, who are perhaps better known for their work on ''Anime/KiddyGrade'' and ''Anime/KiddyGirlAnd.''

''Uta Kata'' starts out as a seemingly ordinary MagicalGirl show, but fairly quickly [[MoodWhiplash shifts toward a much more serious tone,]] when Ichika faces some big issues regarding the use of her powers, and how they affect her and her surroundings. The 12 episode anime, broadcasted in 2004, had quite an [[GainaxEnding ambigious ending]] that left some questions unanswered. The DVD release contained an extra {{OVA}} episode in an attempt to bring some more closure to the story. The character designs and animation style are hallmarks of Creator/{{Gimik}}, a creative threesome consisting of director Keiji Gotoh, character designer Megumi Kadonosono, and screenwriter Hidefumi Kimura, who are perhaps better known for their work on ''Anime/KiddyGrade'' and ''Anime/KiddyGirlAnd.''

* TransformationTrinket: The yin-yang charm. Unusually, it doesn't require a [[ByThePowerOfGreyskull catchphrase]] to activate it.

Being Ichika's reflection and representation of a part of her, Manatsu has some outward semblance to Ichika and shares some of her fears and likes, but is more outspoken and a lot less serious. Ichika takes her home and finds that her parents are strangely willing to accept this girl in their house.

In the following weeks strange things happen related to the yin-yang shaped charm that Ichika received from Sei, one of her homework tutors. Through this charm she can summon spirits that represent various earth elements (called Djinn), so she can see the world through their eyes -- which, incidentally, is the "homework" that Manatsu is supposed to do.

This thrills her immensely at first, but the more she uses this power the more she finds that it comes with a high cost, since she starts seeing herself and the world in an increasingly negative light. Ichika also appears to have had dreams about Manatsu for most of her life, but [[PlotBasedVoiceCancellation she can't quite remember what she tried to say to her]].

''Uta Kata'' starts out as a seemingly ordinary MagicalGirl show, but fairly quickly [[MoodWhiplash shifts toward a much more serious tone]], when Ichika faces some big issues regarding the use of her powers and how they affect her and her surroundings. The 12-episode anime, broadcasted in 2004, had quite an [[GainaxEnding ambigious ending]] that left some questions unanswered. The DVD-release contained an extra {{OVA}} episode in an attempt to bring some more closure to the story. The character designs and animation style are hallmarks of Creator/{{Gimik}}, a creative threesome consisting of director Keiji Gotoh, character designer Megumi Kadonosono and screenwriter Hidefumi Kimura, who are perhaps better known for their work on ''Anime/KiddyGrade'' and ''Anime/KiddyGirlAnd''.

Of special note is the fact that all of the costumes that Ichika transforms into (twelve of them - [[OnceAnEpisode one for each episode]]) have been designed by different artists, known for their work on other manga, anime or figurines. Also notable is the [[RealPlaceBackground attention to the beautiful scenery of real-life Kamakura]], especially used to great effect in the beach scenes.

!!Tropes:

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The series culminates in the heroine having to choose between killing herself or killing ''the entire rest of humanity''. She chooses to TakeAThirdOption, but that has a catch of its own: Manatsu ends up reverting into the form of an inanimate mirror, and the burden of decision is passed on to someone else at Saya's discretion.]]

* BookEnds: The TV series starts and ends in autumn with [[spoiler:Ichika remembering Manatsu]].
* BreakTheCutie: And how. [[spoiler:Happens to Ichika over the course of the series, but many of the supporting characters qualify.]]
* ButNowIMustGo: [[spoiler:Manatsu and Kai, in the OVA]].

* DarkIsNotEvil: The Djinn of Darkness, despite coming late in the series and being rather forbidding-looking, is one of Ichika's more pleasant transformations.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Ichika seriously contemplates it at one point.]]
* ElementalPowers: Ichika has quite a few.

* FreezeFrameBonus: There's a super-quick shot in the opening of [[spoiler:Ichika in front of a mass grave]].

* GenkiGirl: Satsuki, although not in a classical over-the-top sense. Manatsu is rather genki too.
* GirlishPigtails: Manatsu
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: [[spoiler:Ichika]].

* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Happens to [[spoiler: Ichika and Manatsu on opposite ends of a life-draining scythe]].

* InvisibleToNormals: The Djinn, also [[spoiler:Manatsu at first]].

* LethalHarmlessPowers: Ichika nearly kills someone with flower petals, as [[spoiler: they're deathly allergic to them]].

* LossOfIdentity: Gradually happens to [[spoiler:Ichika]], by way of the Djinns' powers and perceptions of humanity.
* LuckyCharmsTitle: Note that while it's commonly written (typed) as ''Uta~Kata'', it actually uses the much more rare reverse tilde: ''Uta∽Kata''. As for what that symbol means, God only knows.

** The kanji for "summer" also appears in Ichika's name (一夏), which literally means "one summer".
* MementoMacGuffin: [[spoiler:Manatsu's mirror shard and her soap bubble pipe.]]

* NotHimself: Happens to Ichika over the course of the series; she begins as someone who hates lying and slacking off, but increasingly tells more and more lies as it goes on--coinciding with a loss of morality.

* PaintItBlack: Ichika's final costume is a black-coloured inversion of the white one she wears in the OpeningTheme.

* ParentalAbandonment: Satsuki's mother and stepfather are almost always away.

* RedEyesTakeWarning: [[spoiler: Ichika]].
* TheReveal: Several, actually.

* SadisticChoice: [[spoiler:In the final episode, Saya forces Ichika to choose between her own death and the death of everyone else in the world. She [[TakeAThirdOption Takes A Third Option]]]]

* SecretTestOfCharacter: [[spoiler:Apparently, Saya is tasked by some unknown higher authority to test human children. However, the rules of these tests are that the children may not be let in on the fact that they're being tested.]]

* SinisterScythe: [[spoiler: Saya's scarf is this]].
* SnowMeansLove: In the OVA

* TakenForGranite: [[spoiler:Sei, by Saya]]

* VirtueViceCodification: [[spoiler: Part of Ichika's test is to experience the seven virtues and corresponding vices, as the Djinn see them manifested in humanity]].
* [[spoiler:WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Continued use of the djinn's powers takes a heavy toll on Ichika's emotional and psychological health.]]
* YouCantFightFate: [[spoiler: Ichicka finds that even if she tries to avoid using the Djinns, the transformations will occur even without her consent.]]

[[caption-width-right:320:Manatsu & Ichika]]

Ichika Tachibana is an ordinary 14-year old girl who one day finds that her mobile phone wound up on the other side of a huge mirror at school. When she tries to retrieve it, she sees another girl inside the mirror, who promptly exits it. This girl, Manatsu, promises to take care of her for the summer holiday, as long as Ichika does her "homework" for her.

* DreamingOfThingsToCome: Ichika's prophetic dreams about Manatsu.

In the following weeks strange things happen related to the yin-yang shaped charm that Ichika received from Sei, one of her homework tutors. Through this charm she can summon spirits that represent various earth elements (called Djinn), so she can see the world through their eyes – which, incidentally, is the "homework" that Manatsu is supposed to do.

[[quoteright:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uta_kata_02_04.jpg]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uta_kata_02_04.jpg
[[caption-width:320:Manatsu & Ichika]]

!!This anime contains examples of:

* AnimeFirst: A one-volume manga adaptation, containing a significantly higher amount of {{fanservice}}, was released after the series.

* BonusEpisode: To promote the DVD release, a thirteenth episode was produced, serving as an epilogue to the story.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The series culminates in the heroine having to choose between [[spoiler: killing herself or killing ''the entire rest of humanity''. She chooses to TakeAThirdOption, but that has a catch of its own: Manatsu ends up reverting into the form of an inanimate mirror, and the burden of decision is passed on to someone else at Saya's discretion.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The series culminates in the heroine having to choose between [[spoiler: killing herself or killing ''the entire rest of humanity''. She chooses to TakeAThirdOption, but that has a catch of its own: Manatsu ends up reverting into the form of an inanimate mirror, and the burden of decision is passed on to someone else at Saya's discretion]].]]

* BaitAndSwitchCredits: The opening suggest the series is a fluffy shoujo story. It's a seinen series, and things get ''very'' dark later as mature issues are explored in detail. It culminates in the heroine having to choose between [[spoiler: killing herself or killing ''the entire rest of humanity'']].

* BittersweetEnding

* YouCantFightFate: [[spoiler: Ichicka finds that even if she tries to avoid using the jins, the transformations will occur even without her consent.]]

* SpoiledSweet: Keiko.

''Uta Kata'' starts out as a seemingly ordinary MagicalGirl show, but fairly quickly [[MoodWhiplash shifts toward a much more serious tone]], when Ichika faces some big issues regarding the use of her powers and how they affect her and her surroundings. The 12-episode anime, broadcasted in 2004, had quite an [[GainaxEnding ambigious ending]] that left some questions unanswered. The DVD-release contained an extra {{OVA}} episode in an attempt to bring some more closure to the story. The character designs and animation style are hallmarks of gímik, a creative threesome consisting of director Keiji Gotoh, character designer Megumi Kadonosono and screenwriter Hidefumi Kimura, who are perhaps better known for their work on ''Anime/KiddyGrade'' and ''Anime/KiddyGirlAnd''.

* BakersDozen: To promote the DVD release, a thirteenth episode was produced, serving as an epilogue to the story.

* IHaveTheHighGround: Saya, all the time.

* [[spoiler:SecretTestOfCharacter]]: [[spoiler:Apparently, Saya is tasked by some unknown higher authority to test human children. However, the rules of these tests are that the children may not be let in on the fact that they're being tested.]]

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: [[spoiler:Sei and Ichika get crucified against the mirror]].

''Uta Kata'' starts out as a seemingly ordinary MagicalGirl show, but fairly quickly [[MoodWhiplash shifts toward a much more serious tone]], when Ichika faces some big issues regarding the use of her powers and how they affect her and her surroundings. The 12-episode anime, broadcasted in 2004, had quite an [[GainaxEnding ambigious ending]] that left some questions unanswered. The DVD-release contained an extra {{OVA}} episode in an attempt to bring some more closure to the story. The character designs and animation style are hallmarks of gímik, a creative threesome consisting of director Keiji Gotoh, character designer Megumi Kadonosono and screenwriter Hidefumi Kimura, who are perhaps better known for their work on ''KiddyGrade'' and ''{{Kiddy Girl-and}}''.

* {{Miko}}: Michiru and her younger sister Rui.

* YouCantFightFate