I just finished watching the Utena Movie again (IN THEATERS) and it's DELTARUNE tomorrow! So here are some of my thoughts about similarities in the two.
There is one character in Deltarune that almost perfectly mirrors Anthys character and I NEVER see people make the comparison!!! And that character is Ralsei.
Ralsei, a character so familiar to Kris & Susie, yet unknown...
(Especially with all the themes about childhood, and unreliable memory. In both medias!)
Utena tells Anthy something along the lines of "do you think we've met before" and YOU the player get that exact feeling when meeting Ralsei. Because their name is just Asriel's scrambled, but Ralsei isn't Kris's brother.
Not only do Ralsei and Anthy share very similar glasses, but personality.
Ralsei and Anthy both have moments were they are sweet, or silly, comforting to the audience and to other characters. But their actions are not always their own will...
Ralsei knows the prophecy and their own fate, Ralsei is set to be the Heros guide, to be a stepping stone towards the end goal of the prophecy. Anthy knows her fate, she knows beyond the curtain. Anthy is the bride, the stepping stone to the power of Dios and revolution. They both didn't ask to be put in this position and they are clearly suffering from it.
Both are incredibly lonely, they aren't supposed to be making friends. They are just tools. Yet Susie, and if the player decides, Kris, are Ralseis friends. Just like how Utena is Anthys friend and wishes for Anthy to find more friends.
It's not a perfect comparison but I also think Susie could be like Utena. Not caring about the system, and being one of the only people who actually cares about what Ralsei wants. I mean when Susie learns the truth of the prophecy, she swears to be by Ralseis side during it all. And she swears that she won't let whatever 'it' is come to pass.
I wouldn't be surprised if Toby Fox was an Utena fan, RGU is obscure yes, but also very influential media. And Toby LOVES weird Japanese media. Toby seems like the type of nerd to like Utena...
Anyways this was just a long rant about media I really enjoy... I hope it makes sense haha