Utena Adolescence

A question about the movie Adolescence of Utena…?

So I finished reading the complete Revolutionary Girl Utena manga but I don’t want to watch the anime (I find it hard to get into an anime when I’ve already read everything in the manga) and I want to watch the movie but I’ve read online that people who haven’t seen the anime won’t understand or get as much out of the movie as opposed to people who have viewed the anime. My question is will I be able to understand the movie as much as someone who’s seen the anime, or is it not a good idea for me to watch the movie without first watching the anime?

Seeing the anime series before watching the movie isn’t required, mostly because the movie has a different storyline from the series. Not only that, the character designs are vastly different: i.e. Anthy wears her hair down, no glasses, and her “Rose Bride” dress is quite different. The relationships of the characters are different too (example: Utena was involved with Touga before coming to the Ohtori Academy). There is a slight “gag” reference to the T.V. series in the movie that those who haven’t seen the series might miss, but otherwise it wouldn’t really matter.

I do recommend eventually watching the television series. Some “minor” characters that were in the manga get more of a role in the T.V. series, there is one “extra” duelist in the Student Counsel, and the ending of the anime is slightly different (although I feel is more dramatic) than the manga. On the other hand, you can still enjoy the movie without seeing the series.